by James Martin Davis

reprinted from the Omaha World Herald, November 1987

Deep in the recesses of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., hidden for nearly four decades lie thousands of pages of yellowing and dusty documents stamped “Top Secret”. These documents, now declassified, are the plans for Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan during World War II. Only a few Americans in 1945 were aware of the elaborate plans that had been prepared for the Allied Invasion of the Japanese home islands. Even fewer today are aware of the defenses the Japanese had prepared to counter the invasion had it been launched. Operation Downfall was finalized during the spring and summer of 1945. It called for two massive military undertakings to be carried out in succession and aimed at the heart of the Japanese Empire.

In the first invasion code named Operation Olympic American combat troops would land on Japan by amphibious assault during the early morning hours of November 1, 1945 50 years ago. Fourteen combat divisions of soldiers and Marines would land on heavily fortified and defended Kyushu, the southernmost of the Japanese home islands, after an unprecedented naval and aerial bombardment. (Note – The 11th and 13th Airborne Divisions based on Okinawa would be used to fill in the gaps of those units destroyed in the amphibious assault. G L Wells)

The second invasion on March 1, 1946 code named Operation Coronet would send at least 22 divisions against 1 million Japanese defenders on the main island of Honshu and the Tokyo Plain. It’s goal: the unconditional surrender of Japan. With the exception of a part of the British Pacific Fleet, Operation Downfall was to be a strictly American operation. It called for using the entire Marine Corps, the entire Pacific Navy, elements of the 7th Army Air Force, the 8th Air Force (recently redeployed from Europe), 10th Air Force and the American Far Eastern Air Force. More than 1.5 million combat soldiers, with 3 million more in support or more than 40% of all servicemen still in uniform in 1945 – would be directly involved in the two amphibious assaults. Casualties were expected to be extremely heavy. &nb sp;

Admiral William Leahy estimated that there would be more than 250,000 Americans killed or wounded on Kyushu alone. General Charles Willoughby, chief of intelligence for General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific, estimated American casualties would be one million men by the fall of 1946. Willoughby’s own intelligence staff considered this to be a conservative estimate.

During the summer of 1945, America had little time to prepare for such an endeavor, but top military leaders were in almost unanimous agreement that an invasion was necessary.

While naval blockade and strategic bombing of Japan was considered to be useful, General MacArthur, for instance, did not believe a blockade would bring about an unconditional surrender. The advocates for invasion agreed that while a naval blockade chokes, it does not kill; and though strategic bombing might destroy cities, it leaves whole armies intact.

So on May 25, 1945, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after extensive deliberation, issued to General MacArthur, Admiral Chester Nimitz, and Army Air Force General Henry Arnold, the top secret directive to proceed with the invasion of Kyushu. The target date was after the typhoon season

President Truman approved the plans for the invasions July 24, 1945. Two days later, the United Nations issued the Potsdam Proclamation, which called upon Japan to surrender unconditionally or face total destruction. Three days later, the Japanese governmental news agency broadcast to the world that Japan would ignore the proclamation and would refuse to surrender. During this same period it was learned via monitoring Japanese radio broadcasts that Japan had closed all schools and mobilized its school children, was arming its civilian population and was fortifying caves and building underground defenses.

Operation Olympic called for a four pronged assault on Kyushu. Its purpose was to seize and control the southern one-third of that island and establish naval and air bases, to tighten the naval blockade of the home islands, to destroy units of the main Japanese army and to support the later invasion of the Tokyo Plain.

The preliminary invasion would began October 27, 1945 when the 40th Infantry Division would land on a series of small islands west and southwest of Kyushu. At the same time, the 158th Regimental Combat Team would invade and occupy a small island 28 miles south of Kyushu. On these islands, seaplane bases would be established and radar would be set up to provide advance air warning for the invasion fleet, to serve as fighter direction centers for the carrier-based aircraft and to provide an emergency anchorage for the invasion fleet, should things not go well on the day of the invasion. As the invasion grew imminent, the massive firepower of the Navy the Third and Fifth Fleets would approach Japan. The Third Fleet, under Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, with its big guns and naval aircraft, would provide strategic support for the operation against Honshu and Hokkaido. Halsey’s fleet would be composed of battleships, heavy cruisers, destroyers, dozens of support ships and three fast carrier task groups. From these carriers, hundreds of Navy fighters, dive bombers and torpedo planes would hit targets all over the island of Honshu. The 3,000 ship Fifth Fleet, under Admiral Raymond Spruance, would carry the invasion troops.

Several days before the invasion, the battleships, heavy cruisers and destroyers would pour thousands of tons of high explosives into the target areas. They would not cease the bombardment until after the land forces had been launched. During the early morning hours of November 1, 1945 the invasion would begin. Thousands of soldiers and Marines would pour ashore on beaches all along the eastern, southeastern, southern and western coasts of Kyushu. Waves of Helldivers, Dauntless dive bombers, Avengers, Corsairs, and Hellcats from 66 aircraft carriers would bomb, rocket and strafe enemy defenses, gun emplacements and troop concentrations along the beaches.

The Eastern Assault Force consisting of the 25th, 33rd and 41st Infantry Divisions would land near Miyaski, at beaches called Austin, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford, and move inland to attempt to capture the city and its nearby airfield. The Southern Assault Force, consisting of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 43rd Division and Americal Division would land inside Ariake Bay at beaches labeled DeSoto, Dusenberg, Essex, Ford, and Franklin and attempt to capture Shibushi and the city of Kanoya and its airfield.

On the western shore of Kyushu, at beaches Pontiac, Reo, Rolls Royce, Saxon, Star, Studebaker, Stutz, Winston and Zephyr, the V Amphibious Corps would land the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions, sending half of its force inland to Sendai and the other half to the port city of Kagoshima.

On November 4, 1945 the Reserve Force, consisting of the 81st and 98th Infantry Divisions and the 11th Airborne Division, after feigning an attack of the island of Shikoku, would be landed if not needed elsewhere near Kaimondake, near the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Bay, at the beaches designated Locomobile, Lincoln, LaSalle, Hupmobile, Moon, Mercedes, Maxwell, Overland, Oldsmobile, Packard and Plymouth.

Olympic was not just a plan for invasion, but for conquest and occupation as well. It was expected to take four months to achieve its objective, with the three fresh American divisions per month to be landed in support of that operation if needed.

If all went well with Olympic, Coronet would be launched March 1, 1946. Coronet would be twice the size of Olympic, with as many as 28 divisions landing on Honshu.

All along the coast east of Tokyo, the American 1st Army would land the 5th, 7th, 27th, 44th, 86th, and 96th Infantry Divisions along with the 4th and 6th Marine Divisions.

At Sagami Bay, just south of Tokyo, the entire 8th and 10th Armies would strike north and east to clear the long western shore of Tokyo Bay and attempt to go as far as Yokohama. The assault troops landing south of Tokyo would be the 4th, 6th, 8th, 24th, 31st, 37th, 38th and 8th Infantry Divisions, along with the 13th and 20th Armored Divisions.

Following the initial assault, eight more divisions the 2nd, 28th, 35th, 91st, 95th, 97th and 104th Infantry Divisions and the 11th Airborne Division would be landed. If additional troops were needed, as expected, other divisions redeployed from Europe and undergoing training in the United States would be shipped to Japan in what was hoped to be the final push.

Captured Japanese documents and post war interrogations of Japanese military leaders disclose that information concerning the number of Japanese planes available for the defense of the home islands was dangerously in error.

During the sea battle at Okinawa alone, Japanese kamakaze aircraft sank 32 Allied ships and damaged more than 400 others. But during the summer of 1945, American top brass concluded that the Japanese had spent their air force since American bombers and fighters daily flew unmolested over Japan.

What the military leaders did not know was that by the end of July the Japanese had been saving all aircraft, fuel, and pilots in reserve, and had been feverishly building new planes for the decisive battle for their homeland.

As part of Ketsu-Go, the name for the plan to defend Japan the Japanese were building 20 suicide takeoff strips in southern Kyushu with underground hangars. They also had 35 camouflaged airfields and nine seaplane bases.

On the night before the expected invasion, 50 Japanese seaplane bombers, 100 former carrier aircraft and 50 land based army planes were to be launched in a suicide attack on the fleet.

The Japanese had 58 more airfields in Korea, western Honshu and Shikoku, which also were to be used for massive suicide attacks.

Allied intelligence had established that the Japanese had no more than 2,500 aircraft of which they guessed 300 would be deployed in suicide attacks.

In August 1945, however, unknown to Allied intelligence, the Japanese still had 5,651 army and 7,074 navy aircraft, for a total of 12,725 planes of all types. Every village had some type of aircraft manufacturing activity. Hidden in mines, railway tunnels, under viaducts and in basements of department stores, work was being done to construct new planes.

Additionally, the Japanese were building newer and more effective models of the Okka, a rocket-propelled bomb much like the German V-1, but flown by a suicide pilot.

When the invasion became imminent, Ketsu-Go called for a fourfold aerial plan of attack to destroy up to 800 Allied ships.

While Allied ships were approaching Japan, but still in the open seas, an initial force of 2,000 army and navy fighters were to fight to the death to control the skies over kyushu. A second force of 330 navy combat pilots were to attack the main body of the task force to keep it from using its fire support and air cover to protect the troop carrying transports. While these two forces were engaged, a third force of 825 suicide planes was to hit the American transports.

As the invasion convoys approached their anchorages, another 2,000 suicide planes were to be launched in waves of 200 to 300, to be used in hour by hour attacks.

By mid-morning of the first day of the invasion, most of the American land-based aircraft would be forced to return to their bases, leaving the defense against the suicide planes to the carrier pilots and the shipboard gunners.

Carrier pilots crippled by fatigue would have to land time and time again to rearm and refuel. Guns would malfunction from the heat of continuous firing and ammunition would become scarce. Gun crews would be exhausted by nightfall, but still the waves of kamikaze would continue. With the fleet hovering off the beaches, all remaining Japanese aircraft would be committed to nonstop suicide attacks, which the Japanese hoped could be sustained for 10 days. The Japanese planned to coordinate their air strikes with attacks from the 40 remaining submarines from the Imperial Navy some armed with Long Lance torpedoes with a range of 20 miles when the invasion fleet was 180 miles off Kyushu.

The Imperial Navy had 23 destroyers and two cruisers which were operational. These ships were to be used to counterattack the American invasion. A number of the destroyers were to be beached at the last minute to be used as anti-invasion gun platforms.

Once offshore, the invasion fleet would be forced to defend not only against the attacks from the air, but would also be confronted with suicide attacks from sea. Japan had established a suicide naval attack unit of midget submarines, human torpedoes and exploding motorboats

The goal of the Japanese was to shatter the invasion before the landing. The Japanese were convinced the Americans would back off or become so demoralized that they would then accept a less-than-unconditional surrender and a more honorable and face-saving end for the Japanese.

But as horrible as the battle of Japan would be off the beaches, it would be on Japanese soil that the American forces would face the most rugged and fanatical defense encountered during the war.

Throughout the island-hopping Pacific campaign, Allied troops had always out numbered the Japanese by 2 to 1 and sometimes 3 to 1. In Japan it would be different. By virtue of a combination of cunning, guesswork, and brilliant military reasoning, a number of Japan’s top military leaders were able to deduce, not only when, but where, the United States would land its first invasion forces.

Facing the 14 American divisions landing at Kyushu would be 14 Japanese divisions, 7 independent mixed brigades, 3 tank brigades and thousands of naval troops. On Kyushu the odds would be 3 to 2 in favor of the Japanese, with 790,000 enemy defenders against 550,000 Americans. This time the bulk of the Japanese defenders would not be the poorly trained and ill-equipped labor battalions that the Americans had faced in the earlier campaigns.

The Japanese defenders would be the hard core of the home army. These troops were well-fed and well equipped. They were familiar with the terrain, had stockpiles of arms and ammunition, and had developed an effective system of transportation and supply almost invisible from the air. Many of these Japanese troops were the elite of the army, and they were swollen with a fanatical fighting spirit.

Japan’s network of beach defenses consisted of offshore mines, thousands of suicide scuba divers attacking landing craft, and mines planted on the beaches. Coming ashore, the American Eastern amphibious assault forces at Miyazaki would face three Japanese divisions, and two others poised for counterattack. Awaiting the Southeastern attack force at Ariake Bay was an entire division and at least one mixed infantry brigade.

On the western shores of Kyushu, the Marines would face the most brutal opposition. Along the invasion beaches would be the three Japanese divisions, a tank brigade, a mixed infantry brigade and an artillery command. Components of two divisions would also be poised to launch counterattacks.

If not needed to reinforce the primary landing beaches, the American Reserve Force would be landed at the base of Kagoshima Bay November 4, 1945, where they would be confronted by two mixed infantry brigades, parts of two infantry divisions and thousands of naval troops.

All along the invasion beaches, American troops would face coastal batteries, anti-landing obstacles and a network of heavily fortified pillboxes, bunkers, and underground fortresses. As Americans waded ashore, they would face intense artillery and mortar fire as they worked their way through concrete rubble and barbed-wire entanglements arranged to funnel them into the muzzles of these Japanese guns.

On the beaches and beyond would be hundreds of Japanese machine gun positions, beach mines, booby traps, trip-wire mines and sniper units. Suicide units concealed in “spider holes” would engage the troops as they passed nearby. In the heat of battle, Japanese infiltration units would be sent to reap havoc in the American lines by cutting phone and communication lines. Some of the Japanese troops would be in American uniform, English-speaking Japanese officers were assigned to break in on American radio traffic to call off artillery fire, to order retreats and to further confuse troops. Other infiltration with demolition charges strapped on their chests or backs wold attempt to blow up american tanks, artillery pieces and ammunition stores as they were unloaded ashore. < o:p>

Beyond the beaches were large artillery pieces situated to bring down a curtain of fire on the beach. Some of these large guns were mounted on railroad tracks running in and out of caves protected by concrete and steel.

The battle for Japan would be won by what Simon Bolivar Buckner, a lieutenant general in the Confederate army during the Civil War, had called “Prairie Dog Warfare.” This type of fighting was almost unknown to the ground troops in Europe and the Mediterranean. It was peculiar only to the soldiers and Marines who fought the Japanese on islands all over the Pacific at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Prairie Dog Warfare was a battle for yards, feet and sometimes inches. It was brutal, deadly and dangerous form of combat aimed at an underground, heavily fortified, non-retreating enemy.

In the mountains behind the Japanese beaches were underground networks of caves, bunkers, command posts and hospitals connected by miles of tunnels with dozens of entrances and exits. Some of these complexes could hold up to 1,000 troops.

In addition to the use of poison gas and bacteriological warfare (which the Japanese had experimented with), Japan mobilized its citizenry.

Had Olympic come about, the Japanese civilian population, inflamed by a national slogan “One Hundred Million Will Die for the Emperor and Nation” were prepared to fight to the death. Twenty Eight Million Japanese had become a part of the National Volunteer Combat Force. They were armed with ancient rifles, lunge mines, satchel charges, Molotov cocktails and one-shot black powder mortars. Others were armed with swords, long bows, axes and bamboo spears. The civilian units were to be used in nighttime attacks, hit and run maneuvers, delaying actions and massive suicide charges at the weaker American positions.

At the early stage of the invasion, 1,000 Japanese and American soldiers would be dying every hour.

The invasion of Japan never became a reality because on August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was exploded over Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Within days the war with Japan was at a close.

Had these bombs not been dropped and had the invasion been launched as scheduled, combat casualties in Japan would have been at a minimum of the tens of thousands. Every foot of Japanese soil would have been paid for by Japanese and American lives.

One can only guess at how many civilians would have committed suicide in their homes or in futile mass military attacks.

In retrospect, the 1 million American men who were to be the casualties of the invasion, were instead lucky enough to survive the war.

Intelligence studies and military estimates made 50 years ago, and not latter-day speculation, clearly indicate that the battle for Japan might well have resulted in the biggest blood-bath in the history of modern warfare.

Far worse would be what might have happened to Japan as a nation and as a culture. When the invasion came, it would have come after several months of fire bombing all of the remaining Japanese cities. The cost in human life that resulted from the two atomic blasts would be small in comparison to the total number of Japanese lives that would have been lost by this aerial devastation.

With American forces locked in combat in the south of Japan, little could have prevented the Soviet Union from marching into the northern half of the Japanese home islands. Japan today cold be divided much like Korea and Germany.

The world was spared the cost of Operation Downfall, however, because Japan formally surrendered to the United Nations September 2, 1945, and World War II was over.

The aircraft carriers, cruisers and transport ships scheduled to carry the invasion troops to Japan, ferried home American troops in a gigantic operation called Magic Carpet.

In the fall of 1945, in the aftermath of the war, few people concerned themselves with the invasion plans. Following the surrender, the classified documents, maps, diagrams and appendices for Operation Downfall were packed away in boxes and eventually stored at the National Archives. These plans that called for the invasion of Japan paint a vivid description of what might have been one of the most horrible campaigns in the history of man. The fact that the story of the invasion of Japan is locked up in the National Archives and is not told in our history books is something for which all Americans can be thankful.

Alabama State Veteran’s Benefits

The state of Alabama provides several veteran benefits. A brief description of each of the following benefits.

* Housing Benefits

* Financial Assistance Benefits

* Employment Benefits

* Veterans Business Benefits

* Education Benefits

* Other State Veteran Benefits

Alabama Veteran Housing Programs

Alabama State Veterans Home Program

The State of Alabama is extending this special kind of care to veterans through a partnership with the federal government and private industry. The Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City has been “home” to hundreds of veterans since its opening in 1989. In January 1995, Alabama opened two more homes to veterans, the Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville, and the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette.

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Alabama Financial Assistance Programs

Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions

Homes of Totally Disabled Persons or Those Over Age 65:

Exemption is provided from ad valorem taxation of the home of any person who is totally disabled or who is 65 years of age or older, and who had a net annual income of $7,500.00 or less for income tax purposes for the last preceding year.

Homes of Veterans/Widows Acquired Under Public Law 702:

The home of any veteran which is or was acquired by him pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 702, 80th Congress (specially adapted housing grant) as amended by (38 USC) regardless of its value shall be exempt as long as the same is owned and occupied as a home by the veteran or his un-remarried widow.

Incompetent Veterans:

The property of all incompetent veterans to the value of $3,000.00 is exempt from ad valorem taxation.

Motor Vehicle Paid for by VA Grant:

Any disabled veteran of WW II or of any hostilities in which the United States was, is or shall be engaged against any foreign state who owns an automobile which has been, is or shall hereafter be all or partly paid for with funds furnished for such purposes by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), under the authority of any act of the Congress of the United States is entitled to exemptions from all license fees and ad valorem taxes on such motor vehicle provided the veteran keeps the vehicle only for private use.

Veterans Organizations:

All property owned by the American Legion or by Veterans of Foreign Wars or by the Disabled American Veterans, or any post thereof; provided, that such property is used and occupied exclusively by their organization.

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Bonus for Southeast Asian War Prisoners

A gratuity in the amount of $500.00 shall be paid to any person who entered the armed services while a bona fide resident of the state of Alabama and who was imprisoned as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. If the person qualified for the payment of this bonus died while a prisoner, the gratuity shall be paid to the next of kin. All applications for bonus or gratuity payments must be made to the State Department of Veterans Affairs. No payment shall be made except on applications duly received and approved by the said agency.

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Exemption of Debts Incurred Pursuant to National Housing Act or Veterans’ Benefits

All debts or extensions of credit incurred pursuant to any provision of the act of Congress known as the National Housing Act, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended or supplemented, and all debts or extensions of credit incurred pursuant to any act of Congress relating to veterans’ benefits, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended or supplemented, are exempt from any law of this state relating to usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates.

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Military Retiree Income Tax Exemption

Effective January 1, 1989, and for all successive tax years, all retirement or compensation received as retirement benefits by any person retired from the military service of the United States of America and survivor benefits derived therefrom is hereby exempt from any state, county or municipal income tax or like tax whatever name called.

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Unemployment Compensation

A person who served in the armed forces of the United States and who is unemployed may be entitled to unemployment compensation based on their honorable military or naval service. Contact the nearest State Employment Compensation Claims Office. Pension or disability payments provided by the United States to the individuals who have completed the period of military service may disqualify such individual from receiving unemployment compensation.

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Military Combat Pay Income Tax Exemption

Money paid by the United States to a person as compensation for active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States in a combat zone designed by executive order of the President of the United States shall not be subject to income taxes levied by the State of Alabama for the calendar year 1965 or any subsequent year.

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Alabama Veteran Employment Programs

Job Status and Reemployment Rights

County and municipal officials who enter the military or naval service at a time when a state of national emergency has been declared to exist by the President of the United States, have preservation of job status and reemployment rights.

Any teacher entering the military service of the United States, who is not on continuing service status but who has accumulated one or more years of teaching experience immediately prior to entering military service, shall be given credit for such experience if such teacher is re-imposed within one year after release from military service.

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Preference in State Classified Employment

All persons who have been honorably discharged from the United States armed forces at any time shall have five points added to any earned ratings in examination for entrance to the state classified service. Those honorably discharged veterans with the present existence of a service-connected disability and entitled to pension, compensation or disability allowance under existing laws shall have 10 points added to any earned ratings. Wives and widows of certain disabled or deceased veterans may have the 10 point preference extended to them and added to any earned ratings.

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Membership in State Employees’/Teachers’ Retirement System

Retirement benefits rights of state employees and teachers who enter the armed forces and return to state employment after discharge are preserved. A member who enter the armed services and does not withdraw contributions, and who returns to said employment within one year after being honorably discharged, may be granted credit for military service up to four years, provided the employee pays an amount equal to four percent of the average compensation paid to a state employee during each claimed year of full-time military service, plus and together there with eight percent interest compounded from the last date of such claimed military service. The contributions must be made within a period of time equal to the length of service in the armed forces or before attainment of age 60, or in the case of a state policeman, age 56, whichever occurs first. No credit for military service shall be granted if such member is receiving military service retirement benefits.

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Alabama Veterans Business Benefits

Business and Occupation License Exemptions for Disabled Veterans

Any bona fide permanent resident of Alabama who is a veteran of the Spanish American War, WW I, WW II or at any time past, present or future, when the United States was, is or shall be engaged in hostilities with any foreign state and who has physical disabilities of 25% or more whether service-connected or not, who conducts their business as a means of livelihood through their personal efforts and has no more than one employee and whose property (both real and personal) is valued at less than $5,000.00 and net income is less than $2,500.00 is entitled to businesses and occupations license exemptions of $25.00 for each state, county and municipality. There is not a deadline on these exemptions.

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Business and Occupation License Exemptions for Veterans of WW II

Alabama veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States between September 16, 1940 and the termination of WW II or at any subsequent time when the United States was, is or shall be engaged in hostilities with any foreign state are entitled to exceptions on business of occupation license of $35.00 for each the state, county and municipality for a period, as to WW II veterans, or six years from July 24, 1953, or six years after date of discharge from military service, whichever is later. Post Korean veterans (Vietnam) have for a period of six years from January 1, 1964 until May 7, 1975, or six years after date of discharge, whichever is later. Such veterans whose property is valued at $7,000.00 or more, or whose net annual income is $3,000.00 or more, is limited to $15.00 exemptions from the state, county and municipality.

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Forfeiture of Franchise

No corporate franchise shall be forfeited for non-use, if any of the managing officers of such corporation become engaged in military service of the United States and as a result thereof the corporation suspends operations, if the corporation has paid all its franchise and other taxes to the State.

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Alabama Education Assistance Programs

G. I. Dependents’ Scholarship Program

This nationally renowned program was created by Act 633 and approved October 1947 by the Alabama Legislature. It is administered by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and is governed by the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 31-6-1. The veteran must meet the following qualifications to establish eligibility of his/her dependents. A dependent is defined as a child, stepchild, spouse or the un-remarried widow (er) of the veteran.

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Other Alabama State Veteran Benefits

Armed Forces Voter Registration and Absentee Voting

Members of the armed forces of the United States and their dependents may register and receive an absentee ballot for voting in the county of their Alabama permanent address by completing the federal postcard application form, “Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Request” (Standard Form 76). This form may be obtained from the military unit’s voting officer. The completed form should be mailed to the Board of Registrars in the county of his/her Alabama permanent address.

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Commitment of Incompetent Veteran

Whenever it appears that an incompetent veteran of any war, military occupation or expedition is eligible for treatment in a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center is necessary for the proper care and treatment of such veteran, the courts of this state are hereby authorized to communicate with the administration with reference to available facilities and eligibility and, upon receipt of a certificate from the administration stating that there are facilities available in a VA Medical Center is entitled to hospitalization therein, the court may then direct such veteran’s commitment to such hospital. Notice of such pending proceedings shall be furnished the person so committed, and his right to appear and defend shall not be denied.

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Executive, Attestation and Acknowledgment Certification

Acknowledgments, proof of conveyance and affidavits may be taken by certain government, state or municipal officials or by any commissioned officer of any of the armed forces of the United States, within or outside the limits of the United States, and when such acknowledgment is taken by the latter, no seal of office is required and the signature of such commissioned officer is prima facie proof of his authority, and is retroactive as of December 7, 1941.

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Fiduciaries in War Service

Any fiduciary engaged in war service may be removed from this office as such upon petition filed in the proper court having jurisdiction and again serve as such fiduciary at any time after the termination of their war service upon petition of the court.

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Fishing License

Any person who is totally disabled and who has been a bona fide resident of this state for not less than six months preceding the date of application may, upon the payment of a license fee of $1.00, procure a special annual fishing license.

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Guardianship for Veterans and Minor Dependents

The Uniform Veterans’ Guardianship Act provides for the appointment of a guardian for veterans and their minor dependents who are mentally or physically incapacitated. This Act outlines the appointment process, duties, responsibilities, limits, taxing of costs and fees of guardianship. The control and accountability of the beneficiary’s estate and income include only moneys received by the guardian from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and all earnings, interest and profits derived.

Learn more about Guardianship for Veterans and Minor Dependents

Hunting License

No exemption is available for hunting license due to disability.

Learn more about Hunting Licenses

Military Leave of Absence

All officers and employees of the State of Alabama, or of any county, municipality, or other agency or political subdivision thereof, who shall be active members of the Alabama National Guard or naval militia, or of the Officers’ Reserve Corps of the United States Army, or of the reserve components of the United Stated armed forces, shall be entitled to military or naval leave of absence from their respective civil duties and occupations on all days that they shall be engaged in field or coast defense or other training or on other service ordered under the provision of the below cited statute, or of the National Defense Act, or of the federal laws governing the United States reserves, without loss of pay, time, efficiency rating, annual vacation, or sick leave, but no such person granted such leave of absence with pay shall be paid for more than 21 working days at any one time.

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Notice of Armed Forces Death

A written notice or communication from the Department of Defense, the Adjutant General of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy or other officer charged with the duty of sending such notice or communication to the effect that any person in the armed forces of our country, or serving as auxiliary thereto, is dead shall be accepted as evidence of the death of such person.

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Official Report of Person Missing, Etc

An official written report or record or duly certified copy thereof, that a person is missing, missing in action, interned in a neutral country, or beleaguered, besieged or captured by an enemy or is dead or is alive, made by any officer or employee of the United States authorized by any law of the United States to make same, shall be received in any court, office or other place in this State as evidence as to the status of the person.

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Peace Officers’ Credit for Military Service

Any peace officer who becomes a member of the fund and who left employment and entered directly into the armed forces of the United States and who returned to work as a peace office within six months after release or discharge shall receive prior employment service credit for service in the military not to exceed five years.

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Public Records

One copy of any public record (birth or marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) is furnished free of charge when required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in benefits made available by their federal agency.

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Recording of Discharges

Honorable discharges and certificates of honorable service are recorded free of charge by probate judges.

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Validation of Marriage of Divorced Persons

Marriages of all persons subsequent to a divorce decree granted in the State and not prohibiting the person from remarrying, are declared to be valid, notwithstanding that the decree of divorce did not specifically confer on such person the right to remarry. Many claims for pension and compensation against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been made effective by this law.

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Wills

The will of a person, executed while in the armed forces, is admitted to probate when subscribing witness or witnesses are out of the state at the time the will is offered for probate; or when places of address of witnesses are unknown, upon oath of at least three persons that the signature to said will is in the handwriting of the person whose will it intends to be. Such will is acceptable when so proved.

Learn more about Wills

[Source: www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/alabama-state-veterans-benefits Jun 2010 ++]

Of the 5518 House and 3482 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. Bill titles in green (if any) are new additions to this summary, titles in orange have either passed either the House or Senate and been passed to the other for consideration or been incorporated into another bill, and those highlighted in blue have become public law. A good indication on the likelihood a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html. To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html. The key to increasing cosponsorship is letting legislators know of their constituent’s views on issues. Those bills that include a website in red are being pushed by various veterans groups for passage and by clicking on that website you can forward a preformatted message to your legislator requesting he/she support the bill.

House

H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (168)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12497121

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H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.315

Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (41)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .

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H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.

Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.43 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.

Sponsor: Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (181) Related bill S.46

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO

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H.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.84 : Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (90)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12922516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.162 : Senior Citizens’ Tax Elimination Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region.

Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Companion Bill S.239.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals.

Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.644.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (146)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials and /or http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=13672261&azip=92571&bzip=7311

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H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.

Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .

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H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Rules; House Budget

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B.

Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12921516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans’ memorials on State or local government property.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

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H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731.

Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (72)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12923561&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False

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H.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize appropriations for the veterans’ workforce investment programs.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

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H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.514

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (131)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.309 : American Heroes’ Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (154)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12406456&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12888756

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H.R.341 : Suspend Limitations Period for Tax Refund on VA Retroactive Payments. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the running of periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income tax by veterans while their service-connected compensation determinations are pending with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (297) – Related bill S.1055

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 5/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill S.35.

Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (26)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000.

Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (41)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.

Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists’ Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary replacement employees.

Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (40)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.442 : Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (186)

Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

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H.R.449 : Health Care for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting the income level for certain priority veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program.

Sponsor: Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Small Business

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

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H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services.

Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.

Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (49)

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

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H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.

Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (45)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers.

Sponsor: Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 1/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (44)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12918951&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (61)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12489731&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans.

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: H.R.4443

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (128) Related Bill S.235 Companion Bill S.414

Committees: House Financial Services

House Reports: 111-88

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-24

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H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without incurring a 10 percent additional tax.

Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (46)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill S.307

Sponsor: Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that service.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.731 : Jenny’s Law to amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 1/27/2009) Cosponsors (25)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/27/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.746 : Safeguarding America’s Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey Shea Act). To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries.

Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.3949

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R.3949 .

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H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation.

Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (337) Companion Bill S.535

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Jones. Petition No: 111-10.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746

To support the Discharge Petition send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14825891&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.543

Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12993371

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H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill S.546

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.

Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (199)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12591151&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12603596 or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12607551 or http://capwiz.com/trea/issues/alert/?alertid=12710751

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H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date.

Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures.

Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private health insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury.

Sponsor: Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.919 : Veterans’ Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit with respect to certain unemployed veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.4443

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises.

Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

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H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (26)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.952 : Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (95)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.953 : Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deduction for travel expenses to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities.

Sponsor: Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (68)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12992881

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H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/11/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (125)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

House Reports: 111-171

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-81

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12704096

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H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (37) Related bill S.1204

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1034 : Honor and Remember Flag. To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

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H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (24)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

House Reports: 111-162

Latest Major 10/7/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

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H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program.

Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.

Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local veterans’ employment representatives by National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1098 : Veterans’ Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national cemeteries located in that geographic area.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 2/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.

Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/24/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

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H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

House Reports: 111-164

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (208)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009 to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans who are recipients of the medal of honor.

Sponsor: Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

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H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (213)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.597

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (51)

House Reports: 111-165

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12833716&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a full service hospital in Far South Texas.

Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act to provide for the issuance of a forever stamp to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill S.572

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (81)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

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H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who pay their mortgages on time.

Sponsor: Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (40)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (2) Companion Bill S.404.

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-137

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H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (37) Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277

Committees: House Education and Labor,

House Reports: 111-37

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13

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H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military.

Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

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H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey.

Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson’s Disease Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/11/2009) Cosponsors (83)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12986021&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (28)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 267.

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H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1513 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (10) Related bill S.407

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048376&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to provide that service of the members of the organization known as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (25)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war.

Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241

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H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1647 : Veterans’ Employment Transition Support Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans.

Sponsor: Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants. To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability.

Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care to members and the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (12) Related Bill S.1168

Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 3/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302.

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H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.

Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (49)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a special review board for certain former members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.700.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (109)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Transportation and Infrastructure

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

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H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment Commission to make recommendations for alternative forms of investment of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund.

Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (21)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals whether or not they itemize other deductions.

Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to permanently extend the credit.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees’ Retirement System, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (4) Related Bill H.R.108

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam.

Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009 to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (101) Related Bill S.760

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

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H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of Labor before separating from active duty service.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty.

Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.

Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805

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H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1919 : Federal Withholding Tax Repeal Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes.

Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services, to require that such members receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical examination they receive as part of their separation from active duty, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation of disability retired pay for members wounded in action.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award. To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”).

Sponsor: Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (337) Companion Bill S.614

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (140) Companion Bill S.832 Related Bill S.1449

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

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H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Sponsor: Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility and service-connected disability rating requirements for the veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] (introduced 4/27/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts.

Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/28/2009) Cosponsors (32) Related Bill S.902

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

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H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 4/29/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

House Reports: 111-163

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81.

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H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (77)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13303636&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax liability of the individual required to pay such support by the amount of the unpaid child support.

Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (257)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13301656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie B [TX-30] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (None) – Related Bill S.315

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and Medicare, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying service.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/6/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (5) Companion bill S.1008

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver program to furnish support services to family members certified as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/12/2009) Cosponsors (60)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 5/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.2379 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans’ Group Life Insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

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H.R.2389 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans’ Access to Local Health Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered health services through facilities other than those of the Department.

Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act.

Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (21)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 5/18/2009) Cosponsors (34) Related Bills: H.R.2561, S.1603

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

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H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a State in which the public institutions charge only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts payable for the established charges for the program of education to pay any amount of the individual’s tuition or fees for that program of education.

Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of tinnitus be conducted.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.

Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (56)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances.

Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (16) Related bill S.1128

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless.

Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act to amend section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to forgive certain loans for servicemembers who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (21) Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

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H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment of the member’s retired pay.

Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option. To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans’ families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold flag recitation, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (46)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries.

Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December 7, 1941 and May 6, 1942.

Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (50)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain travel expenses.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp.

Sponsor: Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 6/2/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2990

Committees: House Armed Services

House Reports: 111-166, 111-166 Part 2

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-84

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H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (35)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title 38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the pension amount paid to such veterans.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program.

Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Administration

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

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H.R.2689 : D-Day Memorial. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as a unit of the National Park System.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related bill S.1207

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.2696 : Servicemembers’ Rights Protection Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act.

Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .

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H.R.2698 : Veterans’ and Survivors’ Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (37)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the service disabled veterans’ insurance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.2734 : Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 to amend section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

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H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 6/8/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.2771 : Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the extension of the duration of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

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H.R.2788 : Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] (introduced 6/10/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 3/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

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H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8.

Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2836 : National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

Sponsor: Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/15/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program. To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.: Amended with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach).

Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Small Business; House Science and Technology

House Reports: 111-190 Part 1, 111-190 Part 2

Latest Major Action: 7/13/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

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H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit. To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

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H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health savings accounts.

Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran’s survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 6/23/2009) Cosponsors (25) Related Bill H.R.2647

Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 572 , H.R. 2990 is laid on the table.

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H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage by small businesses, to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/10/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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H.R.3200 : America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Budget

Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168.

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H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/15/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill S.1485

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans’ Children Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Sponsor: Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training.

Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related Bill S.1520

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

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H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (31)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

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H.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (27)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.3467 : Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: S.3118

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

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H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3507 : VA Survivor Education Rate Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the rates of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3522 : Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system.

Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via

http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571

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H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (99)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.2562

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.3575 : Vet Mortgage Life Insurance Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum amount of veterans’ mortgage life insurance available under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.3577 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (24)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

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H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces.

Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 9/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/25/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution and benefit base to occur.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors’ Social Security Act of 2009 to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

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H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website.

Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 10/6/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

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H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time. To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 10/8/2009) Cosponsors (39) Related bill: S.1780

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistor’s Per Diem Grants. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/14/2009) Cosponsors (15) Related bills: S.3171

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.3843 : Transparency for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website of the Department.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability if the veteran is unable to work.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 10/26/2009) Cosponsors (45)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (169) Related Bill S.

Committees: House Education and Labor; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

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H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory courses, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (30)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

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H.R.3949 : Veterans’ Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.761

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury.

Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services for veterans residing in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Wu, David [OR-1] (introduced 11/5/2009) Cosponsors (21)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

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H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through the presentation of an official lapel button.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for eligible persons.

Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (37)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (41)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (41) Related bill: S.2743

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles.

Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (71) Related Bill: S.2759

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals, especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal. To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard that served during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses.

Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/16/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans’ benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to housing for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

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H.R.4203 : Direct Deposit of Vet Education Payments. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance payments through direct deposit.

Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 12/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4220 : Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business

Latest Major Action: 1/4/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

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H.R.4221 : Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improved acquisition practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.4241 : State Veteran Home Payments. To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes.

Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (43)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4279 : Vet Accelerated Educational Assistance Payments. To amend titles 38 and 10, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments of educational assistance to certain veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.

Sponsor: Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] (introduced 12/10/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4319 : Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] (introduced 12/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4320 : Post-9/11 GI Education Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the types of approved programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Murphy, Scott [NY-20] (introduced 12/15/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4350 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2009 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Sponsor: Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 3/1/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

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H.R.4359 : WARMER Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4403 : SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for unremarried surviving spouses of retired members of the uniformed services and the unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected or compensable disability, and for the dependents of such spouses.

Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (25)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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H.R.4429 : Restoring the Social Security COLA Act to provide for an increase of $250 in benefits under certain Federal cash benefit programs for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year.

Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/13/2010) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Appropriations; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Transportation and Infrastructure

Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.4443 : Veterans Employment Today Act of 2010 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 1/13/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related Bills: H.R.620, H.R.931, S.274

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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H.R.4465 : Vet Financial Status for Hospital Care. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take into account each child a veteran has when determining the veteran’s financial status when receiving hospital care or medical services.

Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 1/19/2010) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4525 : Chapter 61 Concurrent Receipt Entitlement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members’ disability rating percentage.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/26/2010) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=15039641&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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H.R.4551 : Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 1/27/2010) Cosponsors (32)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4555 : Janey Ensminger Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (35)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4559 : State Disabled Vet Benefits Review. To establish a commission to review benefits provided by each State to disabled veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4568 : TBI Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4569 : Expanded Housing for America’s Veterans Act to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 relating to the amount of rental assistance available under the veterans affairs supported housing program.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

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H.R.4592 : Vet Energy Related Jobs Pilot Program. To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 2/3/2010) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4593 : Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act of 2010 to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military retirees (i.e. those who entered the service prior to December 7, 1956).

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/3/2010) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/3/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.4632 : Renovate and Enhance Veterans’ Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2010 to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to set-aside community development block grant amounts in each fiscal year for grants to local chapters of veterans service organizations for rehabilitation of their facilities.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 2/22/2010) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 2/22/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

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H.R.4639 : Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the adoption of a military working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded member of the Armed Forces who was the handler of the dog.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 2/22/2010) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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H.R.4656 : VA Child Care Center. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program establishing a child-care center for children of veterans receiving treatment and other individuals.

Sponsor: Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] (introduced 2/23/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/23/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4664 : OIF/OEF Survivor Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium. To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sponsor: Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] (introduced 2/23/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4667 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, 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 for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/23/2010) Cosponsors (8) Related bills: H.R.1513 & S.407 & S.3107

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4765 : VA Work Study Allowances. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (12) Related bill: S.3082

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

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H.R.4810 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/10/2010) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4845 : VA Children Housing Loan Benefits. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide housing loan benefits for children of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die from service-connected disabilities.

Sponsor: Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] (introduced 3/15/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage.

Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Ways and Means; Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Signed by President.

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H.R.4912 : CRSC Payments to Chap 61 Vets. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of combat-related special compensation paid to disabled combat-related uniformed services retirees retired under chapter 61 of such title whose disability is attributable to an injury for which the members were awarded the Purple Heart.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/22/2010) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/8/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4923 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26.

Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/24/2010) Cosponsors (89) Related bills: S.3201

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.4947 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service.

Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 3/25/2010) Cosponsors (35) Related bills: S.3406

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=14876641

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H.R.5014 : VA Minimal Essential Coverage. To clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/14/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-173 [GPO: Text, PDF]

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H.R.5045 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 4/15/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: S.3192, H.R.5064

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.5120 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 4/22/2010) Cosponsors (16) Related bills: S.3234

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business; House Energy and Commerce; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

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H.R.5185 : Fair Health Care for Military Families Act to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the TRICARE program and the CHAMPVA program.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 4/29/2010) Cosponsors (2) Related Bill H.R.5206

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

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H.R.5225 : Improving Veterans’ Electronic Transition Services Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly develop and implement an electronic personnel file system, and to jointly conduct a study on improving the access of veterans to files related to military service and veterans benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 5/5/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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H.R.5226 : Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 5/5/2010) Cosponsors (22) Related bill: S.3314

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Transportation and Infrastructure

Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

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H.R.5259 : Equal Access to Preseparation Counseling Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to require preseparation counseling for members of the reserve components upon their retirement or separation from service.

Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 5/11/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/11/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.5303 : VA Post-9/11 EAP Housing Stipends. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve housing stipends for veterans receiving educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.5360 : Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 5/20/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

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H.R.5371 : William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act. To direct the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] (introduced 5/24/2010) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.5403 : Alaska Tricare Reimbursement Rates. To direct the Secretary of Defense to temporarily adjust the reimbursement rates for TRICARE claims in Alaska.

Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.5404 : Reserve Space A Travel. To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age and for dependents of the member who accompany the retiree.

Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.5428 : Disseminate Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Info. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.5449 : Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay Extension. To amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted.

Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

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H.R.5484 : VetStar Veteran-Friendly Business Act of 2010. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an annual award program to recognize businesses for their contributions to veterans’ employment, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/8/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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H.R.5516 : Vet Immunizations. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the immunization of veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 6/10/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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Senate

S.46 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.

Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (30) Related Bill: H.R.43

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via

http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO

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S.66 : Disabled Vet Space A. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.67 : Disabled POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.68 : Filipino Service Certification. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.94 : Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a nonrefundable tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums.

Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Major Action: 1/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.239 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State.

Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (1) Companion Bill H.R.190

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.246 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.252 : Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/dav/issues/alert/?alertid=14008476&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.263 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1474.

Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.274 : Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an incentive to hire unemployed veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.4443

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.296 : Fair Tax Act of 2009. A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.307 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill H.R.668

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.315 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.32

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (2) Related Bill H.R.2257

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.347 : Vet Hand Loss Traumatic Injury Protection. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/29/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.402 : Keeping Our Promise to America’s Military Veterans Act. A bill to improve the lives of our Nation’s veterans and their families and provide them with the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.404 : Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1377.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.407 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, 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 for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (17) Related bill H.R.1513

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Senate Reports: 111-24

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-37 [GPO: Text, PDF]

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S.423 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (56)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 101.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12703276

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S.491 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (48) Companion Bill H.R.1203

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.498 : Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.514 : Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.297.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.535 : SBP DIC Offset Elimination. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.775.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (56)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senator send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14275496&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.543 : Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support Act of 2009. A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (14) Companion Bill H.R.785.

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.546 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service of Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill H.R.811.

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (44)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12904686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.572 : Purple Heart Forever Stamp. A bill to provide for the issuance of a “forever stamp” to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill H.R.1305.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/11/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security.

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S.597 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1211

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.606 : Veterans Corps Program. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Veterans Corps program.

Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S.614 : WASP Gold Medal Award. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”).

Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (75) Companion Bill H.R.2014

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-40 [GPO: Text, PDF]

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S.642 : Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.644 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (13) Companion Bill H.R.208 Related Bill S.831

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=12995086&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12960556

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S.658 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.663 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (51)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.669 : Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/23/2009) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/16/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 78.

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S.691 : Colorado National Cemetery for Veterans. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.699 : South Texas Veterans’ Hospital. A bill to provide for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a full service hospital in Far South Texas.

Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.700 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1708.

Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (21)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.728 : Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans’ insurance benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 155.

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S.731 : TRICARE Coverage For “Gray Area” Reservists. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill H.R.270

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ‘

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False

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S.734 : Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/30/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.746 : Nebraska National Cemetery. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.760 : National World War I Memorial. A bill to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the “National World War I Memorial”.

Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.1849

Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

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S.768 : Bataan Gold Medal Initiative. A bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the soldiers from the United States who were prisoners of war at Bataan during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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S.772 : Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.793 : Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.

Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.801 : Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family members accompanying veterans severely injured after September 11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (27)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13104956&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.820 : Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.821 : VA Copay Collection Prohibition. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read the second time and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.831 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/20/2009) Cosponsors (29) Related Bill S.644

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805

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S.832 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 4/20/2009) Cosponsors (41) Companion Bill H.R.2017 Related Bill S.1449

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-95 [GPO: Text, PDF]

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S.842 : VA Home Loan Payoff to Mortgagers. A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.847 : SBP Education Assistance Limitation Exclusion. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.883 : Medal of Honor Coin. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (85)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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S.902 : Veteran’s Treatment Courts. A bill to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/27/2009) Cosponsors (4) Related Bill H.R.2127

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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S. 944 – The Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining on active duty during the transition process in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 4/30/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13266571&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.977 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.998 : Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.1008 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit requirements of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (7) Companion bill H.R.2302

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.1015 : Enhanced Disability Compensation for Certain Disabled Veterans. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1016 : Vet Disability Compensation Award upon Separation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans who are retired or separated from the Uniformed services for disability.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1042 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act. A bill to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits.

Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.1055 : Gold Medal Award for 100th Inf Bn & 442nd RCT. A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (58) Related bill H.R.347

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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S.1106 : Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of medical and dental readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve based on medical need, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/20/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.1109 : PRO-VETS Act of 2009. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/20/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1118 : DIC Compensation Rate Increase to 55%. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1128 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act. A bill to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances.

Sponsor: Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (3) Related bill H.R.2553

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.1160 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/1/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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S.1166 : Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund to support reservists and National Guard members.

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.1168 : Nationally Significant Battlefields Protection. A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.1694

Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92.

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S.1169 : Uniformed Services with Autism (USA) Heroes Act . A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.1204 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/8/2009) Cosponsors (9) Related bill H.R.1017

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1237 : Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 360.

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S.1337 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2009. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/24/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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S.1347 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009. A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/24/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13791596&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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S.1394 : Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by claimants, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 7/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1427 : Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1429 : Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act. A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care providers to assist such veterans and members, to ensure such veterans are not discriminated against, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1449 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill H.R.2017 & S.832

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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S.1450 : Deceased Servicemen Parental Nursing Home Care. A bill to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces.

Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1452 : COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1467 : Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 7/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1495 : Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 7/22/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related Bill H.R.3266

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1518 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 7/27/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1520 : NAIV Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated.

Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.3349

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 7/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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S.1543 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Major Action: 7/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S.1547 : Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Reed, Jack [RI] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1556 : Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 8/3/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1558 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 8/3/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.1668 : National Guard Education Equality Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 9/14/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571

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S.1685 : Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act of 2009. A bill to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for such year, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 9/17/2009) Cosponsors (10) Related Bills: H.R.3597

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.1695 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. A bill to authorize the award of a Congressional gold medal to the Montford Point Marines of World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Burris, Roland [IL] (introduced 9/23/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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S.1717 : VA Facility Leases. A bill to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 9/25/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill S.1310

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-82

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S.1752 : Parkinson’s Disease VA Compensation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1753 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1779 : Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 10/14/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1780 : Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 10/14/2009) Cosponsors (9) Related bill: H.R.3787

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1798 : Automatic Reserve Component Enrollment Act of 2009. A bill to provide for the automatic enrollment of demobilizing members of the National Guard and Reserve in health care and dental care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.1932 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Major Action:

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S.1939 : Vet Presumptive Exposure in Vietnam. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.1963 : Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-163 [GPO: Text, PDF]

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S.2096 : Parent VA Burial Eligibility. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 10/29/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.2743 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 11/5/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related bill: H.R.4051

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.2759 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles.

Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 11/10/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.4054

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.2760 : VA Homeless Vets Appropriations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 11/10/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.2769 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 11/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.2770 : Veterans Business Center Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans Business Center program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 11/10/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

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S.3082 : VA Work Study Allowances. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 3/5/2010) Cosponsors (1) Related bill: H.R.4765

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3107 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38 , United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2010, in 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 for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/11/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill: H.R.4667

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.3118 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/16/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.3485

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3162 : VA Minimum Essential Coverage. A bill to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/24/2010) Cosponsors (59) Related bills: H.R.5014

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/13/2010 Held at the desk.

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S.3171 : Veterans Training Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 3/25/2010) Cosponsors (9) Related bills: H.R. 3813

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3192 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/12/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.5045, H.R.5064

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/12/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3201 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26.

Sponsor: Sen Udall, Mark [CO] (introduced 4/14/2010) Cosponsors (31) Related bills: H.R.4923

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.3234 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010. A bill to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 4/20/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related bills: H.R.5120

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.3286 : VA Vet Claim Assistance Pilot Program. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the award of grants to State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.3356 : CHAMPVA Children Maximum Age increase. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3359 : Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Thune, John [SD] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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S.3367 : VA Pension Increase for Disabled Couples. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of pension for disabled veterans who are married to one another and both of whom require regular aid and attendance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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S.3371 : TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve access to mental health care counselors under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.3378 : Examination of Exposures to Environmental Hazards During Military Service and Health Care for Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility Veterans and their Families Act of 2010. An original bill to authorize health care for individuals exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and the Atsugi Naval Air Facility, to establish an advisory board to examine exposures to environmental hazards during military service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/17/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Senate Reports: 111-189

Latest Major Action: 5/17/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 377.

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S.3394 : Strengthening Entrepreneurship for America’s Veterans Act of 2010. A bill to establish the veterans’ business center program, to improve the programs for veterans of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] (introduced 5/20/2010) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

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S.3398 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 5/24/2010) Cosponsors (3) Related bills: H.R.5400

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.3406 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service.

Sponsor: Sen Hagan, Kay [NC] (introduced 5/24/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.4947

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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S.3447 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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[Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Jun 09 ++]

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES

== ISP’s Blocking RAO Bulletin [04] — (More AOL Deletions)

== Mobilized Reserve 8 JUN 2010 ————— (3,967 Decrease)

== Medicare Part D [34] ——————- (Donut Hole Phase out)

== Connecticut Veteran’ Home [01] ———- (Prescription Drugs)

== Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 [13] – (Vote Imminent)

== VA Copay [10] ——————————– (PRI 7/8 Increase)

== USFSPA & Divorce [14] ————— (Oklahoma H.B.1053)

== VA Claim Form ——————————– (New 21-526EZ)

== Arlington National Cemetery [09] ——– (Corrective Action)

== Health Care Fraud & Abuse ———— (HCFAC 2009 Report)

== Space “A” Travel Policy [02] ———————— (H.R.5404)

== Sleep Apnea [02] ————————– (VA Sees Sharp Rise)

== PTSD [49] ———————————– (Iraqi Freedom Vets)

== AmeriCorps ——————————- (Vet Programs Added)

== Nebraska Vet Cemetery [02] ——- (VA Accepting Proposals)

== Mental Illness Education Program ——— (Family to Family)

== VA Homeless Vets [17] ——————————— (Hotline)

== VA Homeless Vets [18] ————– (HUD Voucher Program)

== Florida State Park Vet Passes ———– (Available 1 Jul 2010)

== VA Vocational Rehabilitation [04] — (Claim Submission Tips)

== Health Care Reform [35] ———– (W-2 Benefit Value Entry)

== VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases [05] —— (Spending Hold)

== NDAA 2011 [03] —————– (Military Hospital Abortions)

== GI BILL [78] ————————– (Change Hold Requested)

== Florida Vet Legislation [01] ——————— (3 Bills Signed)

== Washington Vet Cemetery [01] — (1st State Cemetery Opens)

== Virginia Vet Cemetery [01] ————- (Struggle to Maintain)

== Minnesota Vet Cemetery [01] —————– (3 More Planned)

== SBA Vet Issues [11] ———— (Owner Verification Problems)

== California Vet Home [07] ————- (3 New Homes Planned)

== AO Thailand & Korea ————- (Claim Handling Procedure)

== Vaccination Schedules for Children —— (Infant Delay Study)

== Thrift Savings Plan YTD 2010 ——————– (Dismal May)

== New Jersey Disabled Vet Benefit ———- (Hunting & Fishing)

== Vietnam Memorial Wall [06] ———————– (Virtual Wall)

== Seniors Benefit Checkup [01] ————– (Web-based Service)

== Funeral Honors [05] ——————————- (How to Obtain)

== Debt Collector’s Rules [01] ———————- (FDCPA Rights)

== IRS Tax Return Penalties ———————————— (2009)

== National Park Passports [03] —————- (Non-Senior Passes)

== Medicare Fraud [41] —————————— (1-15 Jun 2010)

== Medicad Fraud [15] ——————————- (1-15 Jun 2010)

== State Veteran’s Benefits ——————————— (Alabama)

== Military History ——————- (WWII Japan Invasion Plans)

== Military History Anniversaries ———– (Jun 15-30 Summary)

== Military Trivia 6 ————————————— (Number 06)

== Tax Burden for New Hampshire Retirees —————– (2009)

== Congressional Alphalist ———————————- (Index B)

== Veteran Legislation Status 13 JUN 2010 — (Where we stand)

== Have You Heard? ——————————- (Late at WalMart)

Attachment – Alabama State Veteran’s Benefits

Attachment – WWII Japan Invasion Plans

Attachment – Veteran Legislation

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ISP’s Blocking RAO Bulletin Update 04: There were no additional blockages of Juno & Netzero email addees on the 1 JUN Bulletin. However, AOL’s response to the 1 JUN transmission reaffirmed their policy of blocking it. I received back an additional 1146 AOL addees that stated, “Email address does not exist or has been cancelled”. To these addees I sent two separate messages asking for confirmation and apparently none got past AOL’s filters as none were responded to. Since I could no longer communicate with these subscribers I deleted them all bringing the total AOL deletions to over 4,000 in the last six weeks. Not sure what will happen with this Bulletin but the remaining 9000 AOL subscribers should be aware that they may be deleted if I do not have an alternate non-AOL email addee on file to send their Bulletin to. Especially if I can no longer communicate with them as happened on the last Bulletin.

Those deleted who see this notice on the website http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html who want to be reinstated need to send me an email that addresses the following questions:

* Do you have a non-AOL email addee for me to use or can you obtain one?

* If not, have you contacted AOL to find out what to do to continue to get Bulletins?

* If so, what did they tell you? Others would be interested.

Be aware that I most likely will not be able to get past AOL’s spam filter to give you an email response so if you do not receive one give me a call at (951) 238-1246. [Source: RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher 14 Jun 2010 ++]

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Mobilized Reserve 8 JUN 2010: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 8 JUN 2010. The net collective result is 3.967 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 JUN 2010 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 93,476; Navy Reserve, 6,225; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 18,359; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,193; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 841. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 129,061 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100608ngr.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 474-10 dtd 9 Jun 2010 ++]

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Medicare Part D Update 34: Medicare beneficiaries who enter the prescription drug Donut Hole anytime before the end 2010 should receive a onetime $250 rebate check from Medicare. The first checks, for people who hit the Donut Hole by 31 MAR should arrive around 10 JUN 2010, according to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. Under current law through the end of 2010, if beneficiaries enter the Donut Hole, they have to pay 100% of the cost of covered drugs until they reach the catastrophic threshold, at which point cost-sharing is reduced to $2.50 (generic)/$6.30 (brand name) or 5% co-insurance, whichever is greater. In essence, the benefit structure for Part D remains the same this year as it has been since Part D first went into effect in 2006. The Affordable Care Act took a small step to mitigate the effects of the Donut Hole in 2010 by providing the one-time $250 rebate check to anyone entering the gap. Although the law itself gives the Secretary about two-and-a-half months after the end of the quarter in which the individual enters the gap to get the rebate check out, the Secretary and CMS are expecting checks to go out monthly, shortly after an individual enters the Donut Hole. Generally speaking, individuals should receive their checks within 45 days of entering the Donut Hole. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that administers Medicare, estimates that about four million individuals will receive such checks this year. Important points to remember about the one-time rebate program are:

* Beneficiaries do not have to sign up for the one-time $250 rebate check or take any particular steps other than to have incurred Part D prescription drug costs that have landed them in the Donut Hole for 2010.

* In determining whether a beneficiary is eligible for the rebate check, Medicare will review records sent from the beneficiary’s pharmacy to his/her Part D prescription drug plan.

* The rebate checks will come from Medicare and not from an eligible beneficiary’s prescription drug plan.

* The rebate checks are not available to anyone receiving “Extra Help,” that is, the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, because those individuals never have a gap in their Part D coverage.

CMS has created a consumer brochure in English and Spanish describing the rebate program which is available at www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11464.pdf . The brochure emphasizes the ease of getting this rebate: the beneficiary does not need to take any action to get the rebate. Highlighted in the brochure is CMS’s warning “Don’t give your personal information to anyone who calls you about the $250 rebate check.” It encourages the reader to report anyone who seeks such information by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.) According to a recent e-mail from CMS, the envelope in which the check is mailed will have the US Department of Health and Human Services symbol on it and will say ‘Medicare Part D.’ Beneficiaries don’t need to provide any personal information such as Medicare, Social Security, or bank account numbers to get the rebate check.” The $250 is not taxable. CMS has not issued guidance on whether its value is counted in determining eligibility for public benefits. Nor has CMS issued a clear statement to nursing facilities, as it did with stimulus checks mailed out under authority of the Recovery Act last year, that the checks belong to nursing facility residents who have the right to determine how the money is spent. Another unresolved question relates to whether the amount is protected from recoupment by creditors who have judgments against a recipient after it has been deposited into a bank account.

The checks will be mailed (not deposited electronically into bank accounts) to the individual beneficiary at the address that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has on record. Beneficiaries should know when they have entered the Donut Hole by the monthly Explanation of Benefits sent by their Part D plan. If they do not receive the check within about 45 days of entering the Donut Hole, they should check with their plan to see if it has sent the information to CMS and check with SSA to be sure it has the correct address. If the answers from both are yes, they should call 1-800-MEDICARE. Beginning in 2011, the Donut Hole will slowly shrink:

* Beneficiaries will get a 50% discount on brand-name and biologic prescription drugs purchased while in the Donut Hole in 2011.

* Starting in 2013, the federal government will gradually add to the discount so that by 2020, beneficiaries will be paying no more than 25% of the cost of brand-name and biologic prescription drugs while in the Donut Hole.

* Beneficiaries purchasing generic prescription drugs will get a 7% price-cut starting in 2011. By 2020, the federal government will cover 75% of the cost of these drugs.

* Thus, by 2020, the Donut Hole will disappear for all drugs, both generic and brand name. It is important to note that the discounts do not affect a beneficiary’s ability to qualify for Part D catastrophic coverage if the actual costs of the individual’s drugs are high enough to reach that level.

[Source: www.medicareadvocacy.org/InfoByTopic/Reform/10_06.10.DonutHole.htm Jun 2010 ++]

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Connecticut Veteran’ Home Update 01: Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell on 10 JUN signed into law a bill that prohibits nursing homes from restricting patient access to prescription drugs from any U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs prescription drug program or health plan. “The federal VA has a unique ability to negotiate costs with pharmaceutical companies to provide veterans with lower cost prescription drugs,” Governor Rell said. “This bill ensures our veterans – who deserve our eternal gratitude for their service – can take advantage of this discount, no matter where they live. Considering everything they have laid on the line for us, this seems like the least we can do in return.” Previous state law had required drugs administered at a nursing home to come from an “institutional pharmacy” – that is, an on-site pharmacy at the nursing home – or a community pharmacy with a written agreement with the nursing home. Under the new bill, nursing homes would still administer drugs obtained through the VA discount programs. Nursing homes could also dispense medications obtained from other sources if the patient needs them before they can be obtained through the VA. The legislation – House Bill 5351, An Act Concerning Prescription Drug Benefits for Veterans in Nursing Home Facilities – takes effect 1 OCT 2010. [Source: CT American Legion Dept News Release 10 Jan 2010 ++].

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Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 13: A Senate vote on H.R.4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010, is expected to occur sometime in mid-JUN. This important legislation postpones a scheduled 21.2% cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare and Tricare patients through DEC 2011. Some Hill sources report that the Senate may amend H.R.4213 to go beyond the 19-month period provided in the bill, possibly up to three-and-a-half years. Should this occur, the measure would then have to be reapproved by the House before becoming law, which likely means that Congress will fail to act in time, due to delays in the Senate. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have delayed claims processing to give Congress additional time to correct the problem. CMS has authority to delay processing for 10 business days, which puts the deadline at 14 JUN. The Tricare Management Activity has taken similar action. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 11 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Copay Update 10: On 9 JUN, the VA announced that veterans who generally have higher income and no service-connected disabilities – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 veterans – will now pay an additional $1 for each 30-day supply of outpatient medications. Taking effect on 1 JUL, the increase to $9 from $8 is the first change in VA medication copay since 1 JAN 06. Veterans in Priority groups 2-6 will have NO increase in their copay. When asked why this increase was necessary the VA replied that the CPI for medication was increasing at a higher rate than the rest of the economy and this increase was deemed necessary. The prices will hold steady for the next 18 months and will again be looked at in JAN 2012. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 11 Jun 2010 ++]

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USFSPA & Divorce Update 14: Divorce courts in Oklahoma, as in many other states, often treat military retirement benefits as a marital asset, dividing the portion of the benefits accrued during the marriage equitably if the parties cannot agree to a division. The Oklahoma bill H.B.1053 sought changes to the current method used in awarding marital assets, such as military retired pay. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to vote on the bill thus ending any chances of revising the law this year. The bill will need to be reintroduced in the next session in 2011. [Source: AFSA eNewsletter 11 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Claim Form: After years of complaints from veterans about having to fill out a 26-page-long benefits claims form for the Veterans Affairs Department, the Office of Management and Budget has approved VA’s new six-page form. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have progressed, the 26-page application became particularly troublesome for veterans dealing with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, both of which can cause short-term memory loss and other cognitive issues. “It’s a good thing and we’re pleased,” said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense. “In our view, the current form is burdensome. It’s too long.” VA spokesman Steve Westerfeld confirmed in a voicemail that VA had shortened VA Form 21-526, as well as creating a new “express claim” form, or 21-526EZ, which is six pages long and requires that the veteran provide his own medical and military records, rather than waiting for VA to gather them. The EZ form comes as a result of a pilot program mandated by the Veterans’ Benefit Improvement Act of 2008. That pilot program will now be expanded to include everyone, according to VA’s May Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin. Sullivan, along with other veterans’ service groups and several members of congress, have pushed for the shorter form.

Tom Staudter, spokesman for Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., said Hall had talked with several veterans who said they couldn’t fill out the lengthy form, and therefore never received any disability compensation. Hall is chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on disability affairs and memorial assistance. When Hall met with veterans again last week and told them about the new six-page form, “they were absolutely pleased to hear it’s on the horizon,” Staudter said. Sullivan said that, by reducing the form from 26 pages to 6 pages, VA could kill about 20 million pages of paperwork, per the 1 million claims expected this year. “Filing a 26-page disability claim is undoubtedly a daunting process for veterans, particularly those who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Amy Fairweather, policy director for Swords to Plowshares, an organization that provides counseling, case management, and job training to veterans in San Francisco, and which has argued for a shorter form. “The change to a simpler six-page application will certainly break down barriers not only for veterans, but also for advocates and VA staff.”

Several other veterans service groups, such as Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion, have also argued for the shorter forms during congressional hearings. Sullivan said the 26-page form creates a barrier for the veterans that, in turn, creates an adversarial atmosphere. For example, the old form asks a veteran to detail his or her military service, which seems like finding a lot of details that are already readily available to VA. “The guys say, ‘Doesn’t the government know when I served?’” Sullivan said. VA officials had not yet indicated any form details or when it will be implemented. [Source: NavyTimes Kelly Kennedy article 10 Jun 2010 ++]

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Arlington National Cemetery Update 09: The top two officials in charge of Arlington National Cemetery were disciplined after an Army investigation found the cemetery’s management to be “dysfunctional,” Army Secretary John M. McHugh announced at a 10 JUN 2010 Pentagon press conference. In light of findings of inappropriate practices and mismanagement at Arlington National Cemetery, he is relieving the cemetery’s current superintendent and deputy superintendent of their duties and placing Kathryn Condon in the newly created role of Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program. The Army inspector general completed a months-long report on 8 JUNthat identified 76 separate deficiencies as well as 101 recommendations to improve operations at Arlington National Cemetery. Most significantly, the report found poor recordkeeping allowed occupied gravesites to be improperly marked or often not marked at all. The Army stripped Superintendent John Metzler of all authority, but he will remain on staff until his retirement July 2. His deputy, Thurman Higgenbotham, was placed on administrative leave pending additional personnel actions. Both are career federal civil servants.

“A majority of these findings are deeply troubling and unacceptable,” McHugh told reporters today at a Pentagon news conference. “The [inspector general] found Arlington’s mission hampered by dysfunctional management, by a lack of established policies and procedures and an overall unhealthy organizational environment. The report determined the improper internment of remains, including the loss of accountability for remains, names and graves listed as empty, he said. McHugh also cited improper maintenance and cleaning of graves. “That all ends today,” he said firmly, later adding that “there’s simply no excuse” for the negative findings in the report. McHugh established a new position to oversee the Army National Cemeteries Program. Katherine Condon was appointed executive director of the cemeteries program and she “has total supervisory powers pertaining to all business and operational activities associated with Army cemeteries,” the secretary said. Condon served as the senior civilian for the Army Material Command before accepting the position. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki also agreed to lend his department’s expertise in cemetery operations. Patrick K. Hallinan, director of the Office of Field Programs for the VA, will be temporarily reassigned as Arlington’s superintendent. Hallinan currently oversees 130 national cemeteries.

Also, McHugh established an Army National Cemetery Advisory Commission. Former Sens. Bob Dole and Max Cleland are charged with leading the group. Both former legislators have the experience for the job. Dole co-chaired a commission that investigated deficiencies at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007, and Cleland is a former VA secretary. McHugh said he’s “deeply grateful” for the help he’s enlisted. But more noticeably, the former New York congressman said he was battered with guilt and expressed his apologies to the families of the fallen buried in Arlington. “On behalf of the United States Army and on behalf of myself, I deeply apologize to the families of the honored fallen resting in that hallowed ground who may now question the care afforded to their loved ones,” he said. The Army and Arlington National Cemetery will bounce back, McHugh said. “The Army owes better,” he said. “I’m unable to explain the past, but I can promise this about the future. The United States Army will take every step necessary to fully ensure that every challenge, every need at Arlington is clearly understood and effectively addressed. “We owe no less to our departed heroes, no less to the loved ones of this nation who, when the call was sounded, stepped forward to serve,” McHugh continued. “The better tomorrows for Arlington National Cemetery begin today.” [Source: AFPS Michael J. Carden article 10 Jun 2010 ++]

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Health Care Fraud & Abuse: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) established a national Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) under the joint direction of the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Inspector General, designed to coordinate federal, state and local law enforcement activities with respect to health care fraud and abuse. In fiscal year 2009, HCFAC reported, among other things, $1.63 billion in judgments and settlements, the transfer of $2.51 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund, the transfer of $441 million in federal Medicaid money to the Treasury, the opening of 1,014 new criminal health care fraud investigations involving 1,786 potential defendants, and a total of 583 defendants who were convicted for health care fraud-related crimes. The report provides the following details on antifraud accomplishments during the 2009 fiscal year:

Monetary results. In FY 2009, $2.576 billion were: deposited with the Department of the Treasury and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); transferred to other federal agencies administering health care programs; or paid to private persons during the fiscal year. The amounts included:

* Gifts and bequests made unconditionally to the Medicare Trust Fund;

* Criminal fines recovered in cases involving a federal health care offense;

* Civil monetary penalties in cases involving a federal health care offense;

* Amounts resulting from the forfeiture of property by reason of a federal health care offense; and

* Penalties and damages obtained and otherwise creditable to miscellaneous receipts of the general fund of the Treasury obtained under 31 U.S.C. §3729-§3733 (known as the False Claims Act) in cases involving claims related to the provision of health care items and services.

HHS fraud efforts. The Office of Inspector General of HHS (OIG) participated in investigations or other inquiries that resulted in 1,065 prosecutions or settlements, of which 902 were health care cases. The OIG excluded a total of 2,556 individuals and entities. Among these were:

* Exclusions based on criminal convictions for crimes related to Medicare and Medicaid, or to other health care programs;

* Patient abuse or neglect; and

* Licensure revocations.

DOJ fraud efforts. In FY 2009, the United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) received 1,014 new criminal matters involving 1,786 defendants, and had 1,621 health care fraud criminal matters pending involving 2,706 defendants. Civil U.S. Attorneys litigated a wide variety of health care fraud matters including false billings by doctors and other providers of medical services, overcharges by hospitals, Medicaid fraud, kickbacks to induce referrals of Medicare or Medicaid patients, and fraud by pharmaceutical companies. The DOJ opened 886 new civil health care fraud investigations.

[Source: HCFAC Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009, May 2010, Health Care Compliance Reporter ++]

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Space “A” Travel Policy Update 02: A bill introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) on 26 MAY would make space-available travel on military flights easier for retired reserve component members and their family members. H.R.5404 would make travel available to those people on the same basis as it is now for retired members of the active component. Currently, restrictions are greater for reserve component retirees and their families. In a press release, Young said, “Currently, if a Guardsman or Reservist retires before the age of 60, their dependents cannot fly space available on military aircraft. With a large number of Guardsmen and Reservists serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a good way to show our support and appreciation for the men and women of our armed forces and the families that support them and support this country with all they have.” The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. [Source: NGAUS Washington report 8 Jun 2010 ++]

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Sleep Apnea Update 02: The number of veterans receiving disability benefits for a sleeping disorder has increased 61% in the past two years and now costs taxpayers more than $500 million per year, according to Veterans Affairs data. More than 63,000 veterans receive benefits for sleep apnea, a disorder that causes a sleeping person to gasp for breath and awaken frequently. It is linked to problems ranging from daytime drowsiness to heart disease. The top risk factor for contracting the disorder appears to be obesity, though a sleep expert at the VA and a veteran’s advocacy organization cite troops’ exposure to dust and smoke in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq as contributing factors. More claims are likely to be made in the future as Baby Boomers age and get heavier, says Max Hirshkowitz, director of the Sleep Disorder Center at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Veterans are four times more likely than other Americans to suffer from sleep apnea and about 5% of Americans have the disorder, he said, compared with 20% of veterans. Veterans benefits for sleep apnea are more generous than those for workers in the private sector, records show. For example, Elaine Fischer, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, which handles workers’ compensation in that state, said the department is not aware of any occupational exposure that would cause sleep apnea. “We’re unaware of it being directly caused by something work related,” she said.

The Social Security Administration recognizes sleep apnea as a disability. It pays benefits to those who can’t work because of a disability that is likely to last at least one year or will kill them. The VA says veterans, however, can receive benefits and hold jobs.In 2007, Congress asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay closer attention to sleep apnea among veterans. Greater awareness of the disorder has prompted more veterans to seek treatment, Hirshkowitz said. The result has been a sharp increase in claims and disability payments to veterans. According to data provided by Veterans Affairs:

* The number of veterans claiming sleep apnea as a disability has jumped to 63,118 in 2010 from 39,145 in 2008, a 61% increase.

* Payments to apnea patients with a disability rating of 50 — by far the largest group receiving benefits — rose to a minimum of $534 million in 2010 from $306 million in 2008. The minimum payment for a disability with a rating of 50 is $9,240 a year but increases if a veteran is married and has children.

Some veterans may be predisposed to sleep apnea, Hirshkowitz said, because many are built like football players. They’re big men, and as they age, many “become sedentary” and gain “an enormous amount of weight,” he said. “When you get to middle age or late middle age your level of exercise does not maintain particularly when you have knee problems and hip problems.” Daniel Chapman, a psychiatric epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agreed: “I really can’t think of a reason other than what’s happening in the general population, which is that we’re growing increasingly obese.” Chapman and Hirshkowitz said some sleep apnea cases may be caused by exposure to toxins from smoke or fires. Along with increased screening, the rise in sleep apnea cases may also be due to exposure to dust, sand and grit in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Thom Wilborn, a spokesman for the Disabled American Veterans organization. “Give a guy a rifle and put him in a desert, and he’s going to suffer some respiratory issues,” Wilborn said. According to Hirshkowitz losing weight can help some people with sleep apnea, though he notes that some thin men and some women also have the disorder. Veterans with a disability rating of 50% require breathing assistance with the airway pressure device, the VA said. The breathing machines work well and can prevent veterans from developing more serious heart and lung problems. [Source: USA Today Tom Vanden Brook article 6 Jun 2010 ++]

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PTSD Update 49: A study published 8 JUN by Archives of General Psychiatry examines how many soldiers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders after deployment. Researchers from the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command examined 13,226 anonymous surveys completed by veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The investigators found that roughly one in 10 survey-takers had PTSD that was severe enough to cause ‘serious functional impairment. Between 9% and 14% of the soldiers were diagnosed with PTSD or depression resulting in serious impairment, while 23% to 31% were deemed to have some impairment. CNN /Health.com (6/7 Gardner) reported. Notably, the risk of mental health problems may be more persistent among National Guard soldiers, the study suggests. A greater proportion of men and women in the National Guard than in the Army were diagnosed with PTSD and depression one year after their return, although the two groups had similar rates at the three-month mark.

The researchers conclude that it’s clear even a year after deployment many combat soldiers have not psychologically recovered. And, because the time between deployments is often only a year to 18 months for active soldiers, a sizable proportion are likely returning to with lingering mental health issues. According to HealthDay approximately 50% of those with strictly defined depression or PTSD also admitted to alcohol misuse or physical aggression. The study’s findings suggest a need for improved post-deployment screening, the researchers said. A related study has found that veterans over the age of 55 with PTSD may be almost twice as likely to become demented as veterans who did not have PTSD. Researchers from the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of California-San Francisco arrived at that conclusion after tracking some 180,000 veterans over the age of 55 for some seven years. The researchers theorized that years of prolonged stress may cause changes in the brain leading to dementia. [Source: Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Cnn News, and HealthDay articles 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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AmeriCorps: The government took the first step Monday in expanding the AmeriCorps program, awarding grants to nonprofits and other organizations to put 57,000 AmeriCorps members to work in communities around the country. The grants, totaling $234 million, are the first to be released under a new law aimed at tripling the national service program by 2017. States and territories will also get an additional $129 million for AmeriCorps slots. Officials expect to have a total of 85,000 people enrolled in the program this year. AmeriCorps participants mentor children, clean up parks or buildings and weatherize homes for the poor among other activities. Some get a living stipend while they are working for up to a year. Most participants, who are predominantly 18 to 26, get about $11,800. Teach for America, the program that trains top college students to teach in poor communities, received the largest grant — $11.4 million for 6,621 AmeriCorps members. It’s just one of hundreds of national and local organizations, state service commissions, religious groups and other institutions getting the awards from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.

In APR 09 President Obama signed a law to gradually increase the size of the Clinton-era AmeriCorps to 250,000 enrollees from 75,000. The measure outlines five broad categories where people can direct their service: helping the poor, improving education, encouraging energy efficiency, strengthening access to health care and assisting veterans. Because of the law’s focus, programs that help veterans were among the newest recipients of AmeriCorps grants. Operation Welcome Home, run by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, will get almost $560,000 for 80 AmeriCorps members who will help returning service members in California with the transition back to civilian life. [Source: AP Ann Sanner article 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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Nebraska Vet Cemetery Update 02: Several different locations around the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area apparently are in the running as the Department of Veterans Affairs begins to shop for a site for a new national veterans cemetery. One group that has advocated for a location in Bellevue not far from Offutt Air Force Base may be willing to donate land for the cemetery, partly in hopes of improving the chance that its favored site will be chosen. President Barack Obama earlier this year budgeted authorization and planning funds for a national cemetery to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. If all goes according to plan, the new VA cemetery would be open to burials by 2013. The VA last month began accepting proposals of land to be either sold or donated to the federal government for the cemetery. And though the deadline passed last week, VA officials now have extended it in hopes of getting more proposals. U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) said he had no knowledge of what specific proposals were submitted and he supports the VA’s plan to extend the deadline. He also said he thinks the Memorial Ridge group’s push to donate land could be persuasive for the VA. The agency has a limited budget from which to make land purchases for as many as five new cemeteries across the nation this year. “Price does matter,” Terry said. “There’s no doubt that would make it more attractive to the VA.” Terry is encouraged that the cemetery proposal seems to be moving forward so quickly, less than four months after Obama submitted his budget proposal. The VA’s request for land proposals sets several criteria: at least 200 acres; location in Douglas, Sarpy or Saunders County in Nebraska or Pottawattamie County in Iowa; within 25 miles of the Interstate 80-680 interchange; and easily accessible by highway. [Source: Omaha World-Herald Henry Cordes article 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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Mental Illness Education Program: While there is clear evidence that families have a major impact on the health outcomes of adults with serious mental illnesses, little is known about the effectiveness of education and support groups in helping family members cope with having a relative with mental illness. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have received a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health to study the benefits of participating in a peer-directed family-to-family education program to enable people to effectively handle the mental illness of a relative or loved one. “It can be very difficult when a loved one is mentally ill,” says Lisa Dixon, M.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and principal investigator for the study. “Some of the stressful aspects of helping a relative with a serious mental illness are disrupted family roles and schedules, drains on time and energy, financial difficulties and involvement in the often complex mental health system. These challenges are often so great that relationships are compromised and the well-being of the patient can be at risk.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has developed a program called the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program, a no cost 12-week class with a highly-structured standardized curriculum, conducted entirely by trained family members of those with a mental illness. The goal is to provide education about mental illness and treatments, emotional and practical support, and problem solving and communication skills for those dealing with the mental illness of a family member. To date, this course, taught by NAMI volunteers in communities across the country, has enrolled and graduated over 100,000 family members. “We hear regularly from participants that the course has helped them better understand their family member’s illness and enabled them to empathize with their struggle,” says Joyce Burland, Ph.D., program author and director of NAMI’s Education, Training and Peer Support Center. “We are optimistic that this study will expand the evidence base for the Family-to-Family program and will show that the program works.” Over 115,000 family members have graduated from this national program. The course covers the following to assist family members in dealing with their loved ones:

* Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders.

* Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies for medication adherence.

* Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to promote recovery.

* Gaining empathy by understanding the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness.

* Learning in special workshops for problem solving, listening, and communication techniques.

* Acquiring strategies for handling crises and relapse.

* Focusing on care for the caregiver: coping with worry, stress, and emotional overload.

* Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community.

* Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services

Family-to-Family classes are offered in hundreds of communities across the country, in two Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Refer to http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=family-to-family&template=/customsource/classlisters/coursepicker.cfm&targetpage=ftflistdetail.cfm

and select your state to obtain locations, course start dates, and contact information. [Source: www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Family-to-Family&lstid=605 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Homeless Vets Update 17: VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced the creation of a new telephone hotline to provide emergency support and resources to homeless veterans. The number is 1(877) 4AID VET [i.e. 1-877-444-3838]. “It is unacceptable for a single veteran to spend the night on the streets of America,” said Shinseki, who added that the new National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline will be staffed by experts 24/7, and complement the services already provided by the VA’s Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Homeless Vets Update 18: A program announced 3 JUN by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide $58.6 million to get homeless veterans off the streets this year. Vouchers will be provided to some 8,000 displaced veterans and their families across the country through the department’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, offering long-lasting support to the housing needs of veterans, “Though they served and sacrificed so much for our country, too many of our veterans find themselves on the streets and in homeless shelters,” Donovan said. “Thankfully, these vouchers will provide a more-permanent solution to housing and services these veterans need.” The program is in its third year and is a joint endeavor between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ending homelessness among veterans is a top priority for VA. The issue has been the topic of numerous public forums and working groups since VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki took the department’s helm in JAN 09. Shinseki announced the framework for a plan in NOV 09 that would end homelessness among veterans within five years. The plan outlined his desire to attack homelessness at the top of the “downward spiral,” addressing mental health, substance abuse and unemployment before veterans become homeless.

VA estimates that more than 131,000 veterans and their families are without homes. Without the help of other federal departments, government agencies and community outreach, Shinseki’s goals can’t be met, he said in a statement released by HUD. However, efforts like HUD’s program are “a critical, long-term investment” toward helping those already homeless, Shinseki said. The program is the largest permanent housing initiative in the nation. “The most-effective option to providing veterans permanent shelter is HUD-VA Supportive Housing,” he said. “We owe determination that matches theirs as we work to end veteran homelessness. [The program] is immensely important and effective to reaching our goal.” Homeless veterans can receive the rental vouchers through their local VA medical center. Case managers at each hospital refer eligible veterans to local housing authorities, which will then assist veterans in finding adequate homes.

Eligibility for the vouchers is determined on a case-by-case basis, and requirements vary by metropolitan area, Brian Sullivan, a spokesman for HUD, explained. The dollar amount allocated to each local housing agency is based on the number of reported homeless veterans and the fair market rental system. The individual vouchers will cover at least 70% of a veteran’s rent. Also, once veterans are deemed eligible for the voucher, they stay in HUD’s voucher system until they can be financially stable. “Veterans will permanently have support and housing through this program,” Sullivan said. “That is until they’re able to stand on their own and continue to increase their income, which is our ultimate goal.” HUD plans to announce another $17 million for an additional 1,355 rental vouchers next month as well as 400 project-based vouchers later this summer, he said. [Source: AFPS Michael J. Carden article 8 Jun 2010 ++]

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Florida State Park Vet Passes: State Park Fees for Veterans S.B.2256 introduced by Sen. Andy Gardiner (R-9) and H.B.1145 introduced by Rep. Leonard Bembry (D-70) has been passed and sent to the and or gratus Entrance Passes to eligible members of the military community who present proof of eligibility:

* 25% discounted Annual Entrance Passes for active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard or reserve units of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard.

* No cost Life Entrance Passes for veterans with service related disabilities and surviving spouses of members of the US military who have fallen in combat.

The discounted Florida State Parks Annual Entrance Pass is only available for purchase at any Florida State Park staffed ranger station. The no cost annual Life pass can only be obtained at a staffed ranger station. A list of staffed ranger stations can be found at www.floridastateparks.org/thingstoknow/doc/annualpass/staffedrangerstations.pdf . Satisfactory written documentation to prove eligibility includes current military identification card showing the bearer as active duty, reserve or retired member of a branch of the Department of Defense, or Personal identification (i.e.: driver license) and:

* Most recent DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing the named individual’s Character of Service as Honorable, or

* Other current official documentation from the Department of Defense, or one of its branches, naming the bearer as active duty, reserve, veteran or retired military, or

* Current official documentation from the Department of Defense, or one of its branches, naming the bearer as having sustained a service-related disability, or

* The final DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing the date of death as the same date as the date of separation, and Marriage certificate or license, or death certificate showing the bearer as the spouse of the military member who has fallen in combat.

[Source: Veterans Corner Michael Isam article 5 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Vocational Rehabilitation Update 04: Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab) is many things to many people. To some, it’s not worth the headache. For others, it’s a chance of a lifetime. The program has its flaws, like many other programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs. There are many layers to the process that, if completed, can result in a win for any veteran. Unfortunately, the vast program majority of veterans who apply for the program drop out prior to developing an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP). For a comprehensive guide on what needs to be done refer to www.disabledveterans.org. As a quick guide, if you follow the below five steps in order you will likely succeed in receiving the training you wish for the ideal job you want:

1. Apply for the benefit. The first step to any application for benefits can be found on the VA’s own website www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre. Look over these pages. They are the only source of information you will get directly from the VA prior to the first meeting. After a week, you will receive a notice as to whether or not you meet the initial requirements. Then, you will receive a notice of your first appointment.

2. Research the regulations. If you’re applying for benefits, it’s important to do your research prior to your first meeting. Start by reading the regulations. These can be found online and are called the 38 CFR Part 21 http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr21_main_02.tpl and the VA’s own M28 www.warms.vba.va.gov/M28.html . Between these two sources, you will be able to understand the process more fully. Read over them and put your own situation into the context of those regulations. Your own case must make sense within the criteria of the regulations or it will get denied. Be real with yourself and with your counselor. If the regulations do not support your case, it is likely you will be denied.

3. Find appeals cases that are similar to your situation. Once you get through this portion, turn to the VA’s Board of Veteran appeals site www.bva.va.gov. Search for instances where the Board had to review a Voc Rehab case. Read what you can find and compare it to your own situation. This will allow you to see how the CFR applies to real veterans’ issues. Simply enter into the search “Chapter 31” and the relevant regulation to your case, say “21.50” since that’s the relevant regulation for someone seeking initial approval for entry into Chapter 31. To see what an approved appeal case looks out you might want to check out http://www4.va.gov/vetapp10/files1/1003094.txt where the person wanted training to become a dog trainer.

4. Search the internet for your ideal job. Do a little job market research of your own. A great website for this can be found on O*Net at http://online.onetcenter.org. Try to take a step back to see what type of career you may be aptly suited for. Then, do the research to see if you could realistically complete the training requirements. If you have a hard time reading, becoming a lawyer or doctor may not be likely. Now, if you struggle with reading because of a learning disability or cognitive disorder, that’s a very complicated set of issues to work through, but not impossible. Voc Rehab has a myriad of tests at the disposal of the professionals working within the department that can help distill the issues.

5. Put together your presentation. The more grandiose your training request, the more difficult it will be to gain approval. It is much easier to gain approval for an undergraduate degree in business than to gain approval to become a psychologist. If you get a denial, it does not mean you should stop pushing. On the other hand, it may mean you need to look for different ways to finance your training:

o Most law school universities will give their students around $50,000 per year in scholarships and student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. Similarly, the process of completing an MBA or PhD can be financed.

o PhD’s at the best schools go along with some other graduate programs. At no additional cost. Princeton has a great Master’s in Public Policy program that is available at no cost for qualified applicants.

If your goal is to better yourself with further training to get that dream job, versus merely wanting more free benefits, there is always a way to make it happen. The only question is whether or not Vocational Rehabilitation will be your partner in the process. Good luck! [Source: Military.com Ben Krause article 20 May 2010 ++]

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Health Care Reform Update 35: A chain e-mail floating around the internet asserts employer W-2s will have to show the value of employer-provided health coverage and that workers will have to pay taxes on that benefit value. It’s true that the new law requires an entry on the W-2 showing the cost of employer-provided care. But employees won’t be taxed on it. The purpose of including it on the W-2 is to show employees what the benefit value is (much as the military services provide an annual statement of military benefits value to currently serving personnel). The facts are:

* It’s not the employees, but the insurance companies providing those plans (and employers that self-insure) that could be subject to taxation on part of such value – several years downstream.

* There isn’t any tax on health benefits value before 2018.

* There won’t be any taxes imposed on plans that aren’t deemed “Cadillac” plans (which are defined as costing more than $10,200 for individual coverage or $27,500 for a family plan).

* The tax won’t be on the total value of the plan. Insurers will be assessed 40% of whatever share of the value exceeds the $27,500 threshold. (i.e., if the value of a plan is $30,000, the insurer will be taxed 40% of $2,500 = $1,000).

[Source: MOAA Leg Up 4 Jun 2010 ++]

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VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update 05: Before leaving for the Memorial Day break Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) had language included in the 2010 War Supplemental Bill (H.R.4899). This bill, passed by the Senate last week, includes language to freeze the payments of funds for the new illnesses that the VA decided (last October) would be added to the list of presumptive illnesses from exposure to Agent Orange. They are B cell leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and certain heart diseases. The VA has been hiring new people and gearing up for the expected 200,000+ new claims that they are expecting because of this change. However Senator Webb says that he thinks the VA may be moving too quickly and is basing his amendment on the Congressional Review Act (PL 104-121) which allows Congress to put a 60 day hold on spending appropriated money for major new agency initiatives to allow Congress time to review them. During that period, Congress can pass a joint resolution to block the initiatives. This would hold the $13.4 billion that has been appropriated for this program until Congress’ 60 day review is complete. The Senator (a Vietnam vet, a former Navy Secretary and a present member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee) said: “I take a back seat to no one in my concern for our veterans. But I do think we need to have practical, proper procedures here.” He said that the VA needs “an accountable standard” for deciding which health claims should be causally linked to exposure to Agent Orange.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki met with Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, last month to ask that he cancel a hearing on the secretary’s controversial decision to add three diseases to the list of Vietnam veteran illnesses presumed caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in that war. Akaka and Webb are pressing Shinseki outside of the hearing process to explain last October’s decision to add heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and B-cell leukemia to the list of illnesses presumed caused by Agent Orange. It is not clear if this will slow down (or even stop) these new claims. [Source: TREA Washington Update and tom Philpott articles 4 & 10 Jun 2010 ++]

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Climate Change: Sea levels could rise as much as six feet this century, and the oceans’ acidity is growing at an unprecedented rate, according to the Navy’s Climate Change Roadmap. These are but two climate issues now driving research into the lasting geographic, political, environmental and strategic issues that will result.

Approved 21 MAY by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, the guidance was designed to “observe, predict and adapt to climate change,” said Rear Adm. David Titley, oceanographer of the Navy. Titley also heads Task Force Climate Change, a gathering of 450 experts representing 120 organizations. “Climate change is not coming. It’s here,” he told reporters May 27. “This is one of the long-term strategic challenges of the 21st century.” Titley acknowledged that climate change is “a story that doesn’t break, but it seeps out.” But he was quick to add that “if we ignore climate change, we ignore it at our peril.” He said his office is “pacing the threat” to ensure what is urgent today doesn’t become a crisis tomorrow.

A large number of scientists agree that melting glaciers and ice caps combined with ocean warming will cause a rise in sea levels 10 times greater than was seen in the 20th century. This is affecting, and will continue to affect, naval installations and infrastructure. “Even an increase of four feet would be a huge issue to any port,” Titley said. When storm surge and waves are added, the Navy could have piers underwater for weeks at a time. Titley would not point to any one port as his greatest concern, but he said adaptation strategies would differ from port to port because of unique factors such as bedrock and surrounding geography. A rise in sea level could have an impact on more than infrastructure. It would greatly affect near-shore areas, home to the majority of the world’s population. Some islands, particularly in the South China Sea, could virtually disappear, bringing sovereignty claims into question. Rainfall patterns also would change. In areas already laden with hunger and poverty, alterations to water resources could cause greater instability and lead to a change in the type, scope and location of Navy missions, the report said.

Titley also focused on the effects of ocean acidification, what he called the “silent partner” of climate change.

Half of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans, which results in measurable acidity. Those levels have changed more in the past 150 years than in the previous 500,000 years, he said, and the change is having a measurable effect on the ecosystem. He pointed to oyster farming off the coast of Oregon, which has seen a 29% decrease directly related to the rise in ocean acidity. Because 1 billion people get their primary protein from the ocean, such changes could become a “huge accelerant to potential instabilities, and that’s something that we in the Navy would want to understand. These are questions and scenarios we want to think through. You don’t want your senior decision-makers surprised. You want to have a game plan on the shelf so you have a starting point for when the world is changing.” To do this, the task force is taking a three-phased approach:

* Phase 1, already underway, officials are seeking funding in fiscal 2012 that will allow in-depth scientific analysis of climate change, determine impacts on national security and help develop environmental prediction capabilities. Titley would not say how much money is being sought, calling the amount predecisional.

* In Phase 2 (fiscal 2011-12), findings will be incorporated into strategic guidance and addressed in fleet training and planning.

* In Phase 3 (fiscal 2013-14), Navy leadership will have the necessary data to “make no-kidding decisions about what kind of no-kidding money we need to invest,” Titley said. This money will then be used to prepare infrastructure and address force structure issues relating to or resulting from the climate change.

[Source: NavyTimes Lance M. Bacon article 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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NDAA 2011 Update 03: Abortions would be allowed in U.S. military hospitals as long as patients pay for the procedures, under legislation approved by a Senate committee. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s legislation, attached to its version of the 2011 defense authorization bill, would restore a Clinton-era policy that allowed abortions as long as taxpayer funding was not involved. Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) is chief sponsor of the amendment, approved by a 16-10 vote. Policies on abortions in military medical facilities have changed many times over the years, with the issue getting more attention as the number of women in the military has risen. Abortions were allowed in military hospitals until 1979, when Congress first banned the procedure except in cases of rape, incest, when a woman’s life was at risk, or other serious health consequences. In 1988, the law was narrowed to remove serious health consequences short of death as exceptions, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, which urged Burris to offer the amendment. In 1993, the same year that the military’s ban on open service by gays became law, President Clinton issued an executive order allowing abortions in military hospitals as long as private funds paid for the procedure. Congress ordered an end to privately funded abortions in 1996 and also allowed military medical personnel to refuse on personal or religious grounds to be involved in an abortion — even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is endangered.

Burris’ amendment would repeal the prohibition and return to the Clinton-era policy under which private funds could pay for abortions in military hospitals. The fate of the legislation will depend on what happens as Congress continues working on the annual defense policy bill. Abortion opponents are expected to try to get the Burris provision removed when the measure comes up for debate later this year on the Senate floor. If it survives the Senate, House and Senate negotiators would have to determine whether to keep the provision in the final bill. The House version of the bill has no similar language. “Allowing American service women to use their own private funds to obtain abortion care at U.S. military facilities is fundamental and should never have been questioned in the first place,” said Vania Leveille, a legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. Lifting the ban would be especially important for military women based overseas who may not have local access to an abortion from a private facility, she said. U.S. military policy in such cases is to provide transportation to a location where the woman can pay for an abortion. But that requires them to inform someone in their chain of command that they wish to terminate a pregnancy, which some women fear could hurt their careers. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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GI Bill Update 78: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) introduced S.3447 on 27 MAY, a bill to improve the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits program. The bill includes six major changes that will be welcomed by veteran students, school officials, and veterans service organizations. “With ten months of experience under the new program, I believe it is time to look at what improvements and modifications need to be made in order for the program to reach its potential,” said Akaka. Akaka’s proposed Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 is designed to make a number of modifications to the new program of educational assistance which became effective on 1 AUG 09. The following provisions will impact on current and future student veterans, many of which are considered long overdue:

* Members of the National Guard and Reserve who were inadvertently omitted from inclusion would be fully eligible for benefits.

* Include all vocational programs, OJT and apprenticeship training, flight, all types of non-college degree training and more. Effectively eliminating the need to make an irreversible decision as to whether or not to receive benefits under the old Montgomery GI Bill or under the new program.

* Veterans attending vocational schools would receive the national yearly average for tuition/fee payments, plus housing stipend based upon regular rate of the military’s BHA (basic housing allowance).

* On-the-job training and apprenticeships will be paid for on a prorated schedule of 75% of costs for the first six months, 55% for the next six months, and 35% for each subsequent month up to 24 additional months; benefits also include housing stipend and $1,000 annual book stipend.

* 60% of charges for flight training and 55% for correspondence courses will be covered, based on the national average of established cost at all institutions of higher learning.

* Eliminate the complicated, confusing and, in some cases, inequitable calculation of State-by-State tuition and fee caps to determine benefits for individuals enrolled in degree programs. Effectively ensuring that individuals enrolled in degree granting programs of study at public colleges and universities in the U.S. would pay little, if any, out of pocket. Those enrolled in private colleges and universities would receive the national average cost of education.

* Housing allowance for distance-learning (on-line education programs) students and those attending schools overseas will receive 50% of the established rate (which would become prorated, based on a veteran’s actual course load).

* Payment of up to $1,000 for a book allowance for servicemembers and their spouses enrolled while on active duty

* Eliminate the need for veterans to choose between Voc-Rehab and the Post-9/11 GI Bill enabling service-connected disabled OEF/OIF veterans to elect the program from which to receive their subsistence allowance. Ensuring that veterans would not be forced to pass on valuable counseling and support services to access the more generous Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

* Servicemembers who retired after Sept. 11, 2001, but before the Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect would be able to transfer current veterans education benefits to their family members (this provision would be paid for by DoD and other federal agencies).

* Instead of paying up to $2,000 for a one-time test for licensure or certification, an unlimited number of tests will be allowed, with charges being deducted from a veteran’s monthly benefits.

* Authority for uniformed members of the U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA Corps to transfer GI Bill benefits to family members.

* Make DoD and the other Federal agencies responsible for funding the transfer-of-benefits program for spouses and dependents

In his statement on the Senate floor, Akaka noted that “this will not be a simple process. Nor will it be quickly and easily accomplished. There are issues that we can readily see need to be addressed.” He added, “There are others, however, that are only just now coming to our attention as the program is implemented and veterans, servicemembers, and their families begin to receive benefits under the program.” According to Senator Akaka, the measure is intended to serve as a starting point to move and that he believes the actions taken to improve the Post-9/11 GI Bill need to be “full and deliberative.” [Source: Military.com Terry Howell article 2 Jun 2010 ++]

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GI BILL Update 79: The Post-9/11 GI Bill is likely to see only modest changes this year because lawmakers say they don’t want to be accused of holding up payments for the fall semester, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman said in an interview. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) said he and other lawmakers would like to make a lot of changes to the education benefit, but for now he will accept only technical fixes and some small benefits expansions. The window for quick passage is small because the Veterans Affairs Department will begin processing claims for fall benefits in August. Filner and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, have separately been preparing packages of changes, but there has been little talk about working out differences, if any, between their plans. VA officials, in the process of shifting the claims process from a paper based to a fully automated system by December, have pleaded with lawmakers to hold off on anything that would change the way basic calculations are made because the software being developed for phased deployment through the end of this year cannot accommodate major benefits revisions without the risk of missing deadlines.

VA’s warning has led Filner to reduce his wish list for changes this year to: paying living stipends to distance-learning students, covering vocational training and apprenticeships, and propping up tuition in states that heavily subsidize public colleges and universities. “Distance-learning living stipends is something we definitely want to do,” he said. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides monthly living stipends to those whose course loads make them more than half-time students, but people taking distance-learning classes are ineligible unless they are taking at least one class at a brick-and-mortar campus. GI Bill living stipends are paid based on the military’s basic allowance for housing for the ZIP code where the school is located, but a different approach is expected for distance learners to prevent students or schools from moving to high-cost areas to get more money. Living stipends for distance-learning students are likely to be based on where students lived at the time they applied for benefits. But there has also been talk of a payment equal to the average stipend for all other students , congressional aides said. The GI Bill provides no benefits for apprenticeships or on-the-job training, and limited benefits for vocational training. “We need to do something about this, and we need to do it this year,” Filner said. The third change would raise the cap on tuition and fees in states where tuition at public institutions is heavily subsidized. Those subsidies end up hurting students who use the new GI Bill for private schools, who take graduate-level courses at public institutions or who pay nonresident tuition at public colleges, because their tuition and fee reimbursements are capped at the tuition and fee rates for the undergraduate instate tuition at the most expensive public school in a state. [Source: NavyTimes Rick maze article 7 Jun 2010 ++]

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Florida Vet Legislation Update 01: Three bills recognizing service by U.S. military veterans are now law with signatures from Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist signed the bills Monday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2185 in Panama City after a round-table meeting with members of the Florida National Guard. One bill (HB 5) memorializes military veterans on highways, bridges and roads throughout the state. The second (HB 1145) provides discounts on annual passes for veterans at state parks. The third (HB 1455) makes it a felony to misrepresent military or veteran status while fundraising. During the round-table meeting, Crist praised the Florida National Guard’s cooperation with state agencies in preparing to deal with potential effects from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. [Source: AP article 1 Jun 2010 ++]

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Clark AFB Vet Cemetery: As Americans marked Memorial Day, a small band of veterans on the other side of the globe are waging a long-shot campaign on behalf of a silent constituency: thousands of U.S. service members, civilians and dependents buried in a largely forgotten American military cemetery in the Philippines. The veterans want the federal government to take responsibility for Clark Cemetery, a burial ground on a former U.S. military installation that contains remains dating to 1900. Among the more than 8,600 people buried there are at least 2,250 who were members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Philippine Scouts, a branch of the Army when the United States ruled the Philippines in the first half of the last century. Those buried at Clark include veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, World War I, World War II and the wars in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. But the cemetery has fallen through the cracks of the U.S. bureaucracy, leaving its upkeep to volunteers led by a local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a U.S. company based in Kuwait.

“These veterans have all but been forgotten on this special day we honor and memorialize those who have served our country,” said Larry Heilhecker, commander of VFW Post 2485 and chairman of a group that has stepped in to manage Clark Cemetery. “It is a shame that this cemetery has been long neglected by our government.” Heilhecker and others attributed the problem to an oversight when the U.S. government was negotiating with the Philippines 20 years ago on new long-term leases for Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base — two of the most prized U.S. military installations in Asia. Those talks broke down in 1991 after the eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano heavily damaged both bases, forcing major evacuations by the Air Force and Navy. The Air Force formally handed Clark over to the Philippine government in November 1991, and the Navy sailed out of Subic a year later. Clark Air Base and its cemetery became the responsibility of the Philippine air force, which ceded control to the government’s Clark Development Corp. But neither showed any interest in maintaining Clark Cemetery, which soon fell into disrepair. Grass was not mowed, bushes were not trimmed, flags were not flown, and vandals and looters descended on the 20-acre site. A monument was destroyed, and metal fencing around the cemetery was stolen. The air base itself fared worse, with looters hauling away everything from toilets to landing lights.

Faced with what it viewed as conditions that dishonored those buried there, the local VFW post negotiated an agreement in 1994 to manage the cemetery and set to work restoring it. With no funding from the U.S. or Philippine governments, the post assembled volunteers for an initial cleanup and collected donations for ongoing maintenance. Peregrine Development International, a U.S. company based in Kuwait and headed by Navy veteran Dennis L. Wright, provided new cemetery fencing and funded a full-time security service to prevent more looting. The company is involved in a $2 billion project to develop an aviation-oriented business and logistics park at the former air base. U.S. veterans and former Philippine Scouts are still being buried at Clark at the rate of three or four a month. Most are Americans who retired in the Philippines and died there, but two were killed in Iraq — a Filipino American soldier and a civilian Defense Department employee. The VFW spends about $1,000 a month to maintain the cemetery and pay the salaries of four full-time Filipino employees, Heilhecker said. But he estimated that it would cost about $500,000 to bring Clark Cemetery up to U.S. standards and at least $3,000 a month to properly maintain. Matthew P. Daley, a former U.S. diplomat who has taken an interest in the cemetery, said: “A first-class job could be done for $100,000 a year, which is not even spare change as our budgets go.”

The VFW and its supporters want the cemetery to be administered by either the American Battle Monuments Commission, a federal agency, or the National Cemetery Administration, a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs. But spokesmen for both said Clark Cemetery did not seem to fit their criteria. The commission maintains U.S. military cemeteries overseas — including the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines — that are closed to new burials. The National Cemetery Administration maintains 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico but none on foreign soil. Ike Puzon, a former Navy officer of Philippine descent who is helping to raise awareness of the issue in Washington, said negotiators should have tied the Clark graveyard to the Manila cemetery during the base talks two decades ago. “It’s just an oversight that happened,” Puzon said. “It was one of the issues that fell through the cracks.” Now, he said, the solution may require an agreement between the U.S. and Philippine governments, such as a long-term U.S. lease of the cemetery, and congressional action directing the monuments commission to make an exception and administer it. “There are some jurisdictional issues, but we’ve gotten around these in the past when our veterans are engaged,” Puzon said. “Anybody who says this is impossible is not saying the right thing.” [Source: Washington Post William Branigin article 31 May 2010 ++]

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Washington Vet Cemetery Update 01: On Memorial Day, Washington’s first State Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Medical Lake. Until now, the nearest veteran’s cemetery was nearly 300 miles away at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent WA which is about a four-hour drive from Spokane. About 140,000 veterans live within 75 miles of the new cemetery. A Federal Grant helped pay for the $8 million, 80 acre site in West medical lake, surrounded by sprawling farms. Groundbreaking was last Memorial Day and now, only one year later, the site is ready for veterans and their families. The project includes a committal shelter, pre-placed crypts, standard burial areas, columbarium, in-ground cremains burial areas, roads, a maintenance facility, an assembly area and supporting infrastructure. Interment areas and facilities include 1,280 standard burial plots; 2,000 pre-placed crypts; 1,370 in-ground cremain sites and 2,240 columbarium niches. First interments are expected to take place beginning 7 JUN with the initial capacity for 10,700 and ultimate capacity of 70,000. Operating costs for the cemetery are a state expense, but much of it will be covered with the sale of veterans license plates. Veterans’ families do not pay burial fees, and concrete casket liners and memorial stones are provided.

Eligibility for interment in the Washington State Veterans Cemetery mirrors National Veterans Cemetery

eligibility requirements. In general all U.S. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; Spouses; and Dependent Children. Eligible spouses and children of veterans will be charged $300 for interment.

The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will serve veterans and other eligible individuals from Washington and other States. Veterans who are eligible for interment are also eligible for a Federal VA Plot Allowance. The State

Veterans Cemetery Office applies for and collects this plot allowance. Neither the State nor the Federal VA pay for other funeral expenses, such as preparation. These fees are paid by the Veteran’s family or estate. Some Veterans or their widows/widowers are eligible for Federal VA benefits in addition to the plot allowance. To determine whether the veteran or family member is eligible for additional benefits call 1-800-562-2308.

Pre-registration allows a Veteran, Spouse or Dependent Child to establish in advance, eligibility for interment in the Washington State Veterans Cemetery. Documentation such as a Form DD-214 for veterans and a marriage license for spouses is required during the pre-registration process. Individuals who pre-register are provided with a letter confirming their eligibility and are advised to file it with their other important documents. The letter includes a confirmation number which allows the Cemetery Office to easily access the eligibility file. Pre-registering offers a way for a veteran or family member to make final arrangements; however it is understood that circumstances may change and pre-registering does not override other decisions made as a result of estate planning or Next-of-Kin authorizations. The actual Application for Interment is not submitted until the eligible Veteran, Spouse, or Dependent Child is to be interred. Applications and pre-registrations can be completed and downloaded at www.dva.wa.gov/PDF%20files/cemetery%20Interment%20Application.pdf and www.dva.wa.gov/PDF%20files/cemetery%20preregistration.pdf . More information on the National Veterans Cemetery Eligibility Requirements is available at: http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/eligible.asp or by contacting a WDVA Benefits Specialist directly at 1(800) 562-2308. [Source: www.dva.wa.gov Jun 2010 ++]

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Virginia Vet Cemetery Update 01: Virginia, which is home to more military cemeteries than any other state, faces an annual struggle to preserve and maintain its sacred acres of white grave markers at state-operated facilities. Fifteen federally managed historic cemeteries crisscross the state, from Hopewell to Hampton, from Sandston to Staunton. Most of these sites do not accept new burials, and funding is less of a concern. “Quite a few of our federal cemeteries received stimulus money last year, and across the board our budgets have only gone up,” said Jo Schuda of the National Cemetery Administration. “We’re really in a good situation.” The situation is different for Virginia’s two state-run cemeteries. “The national cemeteries are closed, which is why it so important that our state cemeteries remain open,” said Annie Atkins, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk and the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia County are the two state-operated sites. More than 1,000 veterans are interred on average every year at the two cemeteries.

The cemetery division of Veterans Services has an annual budget of $811,000, a figure that has not increased in recent years. “Each year, the number of the gravesites increases, which requires more maintenance. You have more mowing, trimming, leveling of stones,” Atkins said. “We have not gotten any increase in our maintenance staff, and the number of burials has been going up each year as well.” Paul Galanti, a retired Navy commander who spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, serves as director of Virginia’s Department of Veteran Services. Galanti, who lives in Richmond, said military cemeteries are essential to preserving honor and respect for America’s veterans. “We are trying hard to limit the budgetary effect to our veterans,” he said. “Some of our equipment for maintenance in the cemeteries is worn out. We are slowly trying to overhaul and replace those.” In NOV 2010, a new state-operated veterans cemetery will open in the Southwest Virginia town of Dublin, not far from Blacksburg. The $7.2 million site was primarily constructed with federal funds. Galanti said plans are under way for a fourth facility, perhaps in Northern Virginia.

State Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, whose district includes the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, said he believes that maintenance of military burial plots and construction of new cemeteries should be a federal responsibility, not a state obligation. “The federal government is supposed to provide for U.S. veterans. Obviously they have not met that obligation, as with many other things that they promise,” said Watkins, citing Virginia’s high concentration of military retirees and active-duty servicemen as a contributing factor in the high demand for cemetery space. Amid jurisdictional debates and budget struggles, Virginians continue to support veterans cemeteries through volunteer service. Both state cemeteries frequently rely on volunteer support for programming and special events, such as Christmas wreath laying and Memorial Day commemorations. “This is the best year we’ve ever had as far as volunteers, but it’s our worst year with the budget,” Jones said. [Source: Richmond Times Dispatch Danny C. Yates Article 31 May 2010 ++]

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Minnesota Vet Cemetery Update 01: State legislators this year passed a bill instructing Minnesota Veterans Affairs officials to plan three new veterans cemeteries in northeast, southeast and southwest Minnesota. VA officials hope the new cemeteries will enable broader use of what is often the only VA benefit that active-duty veterans ever use: burial at a veterans cemetery. The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery has grown steadily since it was established in 1994, accommodating about 350 burials a year, cemetery director David Swantek said. But use of the state cemetery is effectively limited to Central Minnesota veterans, he said. A recent Minnesota VA report also showed few veterans choose to be buried more than 75 miles from home. For those reasons the proposed new cemeteries would have little effect on the one in Little Falls. “It’s simply an expansion of our program,” Swantek said. In Minnesota many veterans do opt to be buried in a national or state veteran’s cemetery. Many veterans and their families are unaware that they can apply for a $200 burial allowance if they are buried in a private cemetery. Often widows and children survivors don’t know and don’t apply.

Expansion is driven by a goal established by the VA National Cemetery Administration, which calls for 90% of U.S. veterans to have a state or national cemetery within 75 miles of their home. Minnesota has the state cemetery in Little Falls and the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2008 called for a new veterans cemetery near Duluth. Under an expected agreement with the National Cemetery Administration, federal grants will pay $8 million in construction costs at each of the new veterans cemeteries. The state must supply the land and roughly $500,000 in annual maintenance costs at each cemetery. A 2009 state bonding bill allotted $1.5 million to plan cemeteries in northeast Minnesota and in Redwood County in southwest Minnesota. This year’s legislation called for an additional cemetery to be planned in southeast Minnesota. The locations of the new cemeteries aren’t yet fixed, but Swantek says he’s been combing the state in search of sites. [Source: St. Cloud times Mark Sommerhauser article 31 May 2010 ++]

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SBA Vet Issues Update 11: A new report says the Veterans Affairs Department is struggling to verify the ownership of a growing number of small businesses supposedly owned by veterans. To date, the VA has verified roughly 2,900 businesses in its Vetbiz.gov database of companies described as veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. That’s about 14% of businesses in the database, according to a Government Accountability Office report released 28 MAY. In response, VA officials wrote the backlog has reached more than 5,000, but the VA has verified 3,000 companies as of 1 MAY. GAO said the backlog is increasing despite a large number of business-owners lying, claiming to be veteran-owned to get special treatment. They have exposed fraud in several of the Small Business Administration’s small-business programs, including the program that sets aside contracts for small companies owned by service-disabled veterans. In 2009, GAO said at least 10 fake service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses had swindled roughly $100 million from SBA’s set-aside contracts. For example, one company wasn’t owned by a service-disabled veteran, and another subcontracted all of its work to a large foreign company.

In its new report on the VA, GAO pinpointed a several specific problems with the VA’s verifications. Department officials were missing files of required information and explanations of how staff members determined that the companies were owned and controlled by veterans. In addition, officials have an increasing backlog of site visits, as called for in the VA’s procedures. The VA has denied verification to more than 150 businesses but lacks a way to make sure contracting officers don’t award those companies contracts under veteran preferences authorities, according to the report. The Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 requires the VA to give priority to small businesses owned by veterans when awarding contracts to small businesses. However, VA officials only finalized rules on verification procedures in FEB 2010. GAO’s report states that leadership vacancies and the overall number of employees are major reasons for the delays.

Meanwhile, VA officials said during a congressional hearing that they have placed a lot of pressure on the department to award contracts only to veteran-owned companies that it has verified, the report states. GAO recommends that VA officials lay out a way to overcome the backlog of verifications and then set up procedures for barring companies that failed their verification from getting any special preferences. VA officials agreed with the recommendations. In a letter to GAO, officials said the department is increasing its number of employees, both in overall leadership positions and in jobs to help the verification process. To avoid awarding contracts to companies that failed verifications, the VA has begun removing its Vendor Information Page from public view. By not seeing the name as an option, the contracting officers are less likely to consider the company for an award, the VA’s letter states. The VA is also training contracting officers about the preference authority, according to the letter. [Source: Federal Computer Week Matthew Weigelt article 1 Jun 2010 ++]

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California Vet Home Update 07: California has approximately 2.1 million veterans, more than any other state. The state will opening three new veterans homes to serve them. One of them is in Redding, the others in Fresno and West Los Angeles. The Redding and Fresno locations were chosen because veterans are underserved in those areas, according to California Department of Veterans Affairs representative J. P. Tremblay. “The ones that we’re building now are all residential care for the elderly or up to skilled nursing and memory care, Alzheimer’s units,” Tremblay said. Up until 1996, California had just one home in Yountville in Napa County for aged or disabled veterans needing care. Since then, facilities have been built in Barstow, Chula Vista, Lancaster, and Ventura. State bonds are paying for about 40% of the cost and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is funding about 60 percent, Tremblay said. [Source: ABC News10.net article 1 Jun 2010 ++]

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AO Thailand & Korea: Effective immediately, when regional offices (ROs) receive disability claims based on exposure to tactical herbicides, such as Agent Orange, from veterans who served in Thailand or Korea during the Vietnam era, there is no longer a requirement to send an inquiry to the Compensation & Pension (C&P) Service Agent Orange Mailbox. Development inquiries can be sent directly to the Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) when the available evidence does not indicate tactical herbicide exposure. This will reduce processing time and provide better service to Veterans.

Thailand Service:

* After reviewing documents related to herbicide use in Vietnam and Thailand, C&P Service has determined that there was significant use of herbicides on the fenced in perimeters of military bases in Thailand intended to eliminate vegetation and ground cover for base security purposes. Evidence of this can be found in a declassified Vietnam era Department of Defense (DoD) document titled Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand. Therefore, when herbicide related claims from Veterans with Thailand service are received, RO personnel should now evaluate the treatment and personnel records to determine whether the Veteran’s service activities involved duty on or near the perimeter of the military base where the Veteran was stationed.

* DoD has provided information that commercial herbicides, rather than tactical herbicides, were used within the confines of Thailand bases to control weeds. These commercial herbicides have been, and continue to be, used on all military bases worldwide. They do not fall under the VA regulations governing exposure to tactical herbicides such as Agent Orange. However, there is some evidence that the herbicides used on the Thailand base perimeters may have been either tactical, procured from Vietnam, or a commercial variant of much greater strength and with characteristics of tactical herbicides. Therefore, C&P Service has determined that a special consideration of herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis should be extended to those Veterans whose duties placed them on or near the perimeters of Thailand military bases. This allows for presumptive service connection of the diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

* The majority of troops in Thailand during the Vietnam era were stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force Bases of U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang. If a US Air Force Veteran served on one of these air bases as a security policeman, security patrol dog handler, member of a security police squadron, or otherwise served near the air base perimeter, as shown by MOS (military occupational specialty), performance evaluations, or other credible evidence, then herbicide exposure should be acknowledged on a facts found or direct basis. However, this applies only during the Vietnam era, from 28 FEB 61 to 7 MAY 75.

* Along with air bases, there were some small Army installations established in Thailand during this period, which may also have used perimeter herbicides in the same manner as the air bases. Therefore, if a US Army Veteran claims a disability based on herbicide exposure and the Veteran was a member of a military police (MP) unit or was assigned an MP MOS and states that his duty placed him at or near the base perimeter, Veteran was a member of a military police (MP) unit or was assigned an MP MOS and states that his duty placed him at or near the base perimeter, then herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis should be acknowledged for this Veteran.

* The difference in approach for US Army Veterans is based on the fact that some MPs had criminal investigation duties rather than base security duties. Therefore, the Veteran’s lay statement is required to establish security duty on the base perimeter. This also applies to US Army personnel who served on air bases in Thailand. During the early years of the war in Vietnam, before Air Force security units were fully established on air bases in Thailand, US Army personnel may have provided perimeter security. In such cases, if the Veteran provides a lay statement that he was involved with perimeter security duty and there is additional credible evidence supporting this statement, then herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis can be acknowledged for this Veteran.

* If evidence shows that the Veteran performed duties along the military base perimeter, ROs should acknowledge herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis.

Korean Service – Currently, tactical herbicide exposure can be presumed for Veterans who served in specific US Army units that operated along the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) from APR 1968 through JUL 1969. These

units were identified by DoD documents and are listed in M21-1MR IV.ii.2.C.10.o. When service treatment or personnel records show that a Veteran was assigned to one of these units during the time frame of tactical herbicide use, the Veteran qualifies for the presumption of exposure.

[Source: DVA Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin May 2010 ++]

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Vaccination Schedules for Children: Researchers from the University of Louisville have compared more than 40 variables related to mental and neurological function among a large group of children. The study was done to explore whether it is safer to follow the recommended vaccine schedule or to spread out receipt over a longer period of time as recommended by maverick physicians and celebrities who would like the public to believe that vaccines cause problems such as autism. After finding no statistically significant differences that favored the less-vaccinated children the researchers concluded: “Timely vaccination during infancy has no adverse effect on neuropsychological outcomes 7 to 10 years later. These data may reassure parents who are concerned that children receive too many vaccines too soon. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-2489v1. The scientific consensus remains that delays gain nothing and leave children unnecessarily vulnerable to serious infection during infancy. [Source: Pediatrics Journal article 28 May 2010 ++]

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Thrift Savings Plan YTD 2010: Only two funds in the Thrift Savings Plan grew in May — and it was modest growth at that. The F Fund, invested in fixed-income bonds, had the largest increase among the plan’s 10 funds. It grew 0.85% in May, while the Thrift Savings Plan’s most stable offering, the G Fund, inched up 0.28%. Since the beginning of 2010, the F Fund has climbed 3.78% while the G Fund has grown 1.37%. All the other funds fell in May, with the TSP’s international fund taking an 11.20% nose dive. The ongoing debt crisis in Europe and catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico adversely affected last month’s rates of return. In addition to the I Fund, the C and S funds reported negative returns, as did the five life-cycle funds. The C Fund, invested in common stocks of large companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, dropped 7.99% in May; the S Fund, which invests in small and mid-size companies and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, fell 7.51% in May. During the past year, however, both funds have produced healthy returns, with the C Fund increasing 21.09% and the S Fund gaining 34.21% — the most gains of any TSP fund in the past 12 months.

All five life-cycle funds, designed to shift investors from a more aggressive portfolio earlier in their careers to more stable investments as they near retirement, fell in May. The L Income Fund dropped 1.50%, but since January has gained 0.70%. During the past year, it has picked up 6.84%. The L 2040 Fund dropped 6.97% last month and has increased 16.89% during the past year. The L 2030 Fund decreased 6.07% in May and has grown 15.21% during the past 12 months. The L 2020 Fund was down 4.98% in May, but up 13.01% over the past year. And the L 2010 Fund dipped 1.64% last month, growing 8% in the past 12 months. Since January, only the L Income and L 2010 funds have experienced positive returns — 0.70% and 0.68%, respectively. [Source: GovExec.com Kellie Lunney article 1 Jun 2010 ++]

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New Jersey Disabled Vet Benefit: Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability who are New Jersey residents are entitled to New Jersey hunting and fishing licenses, permits and stamps without charge. Resident veterans of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States declared by the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to have a service-connected disability of any degree qualify for the licenses, permits and stamps. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is reimbursed for the cost of licenses, permits and stamps issued to certified disabled veterans from the state’s General Fund. Eligible veterans must initially be certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife to receive the no cost licenses, permits and stamps. ‘Disabled veteran certification’ can not be done online or at license agent locations. The required one-time certification can only be done at the Division’s Request Trout Hatchery & Natural Resource Education Center, the Central Region Office and the Southern Region Office. Initial certification can also be done by mailing the required documentation and license application available at www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/disvetli.pdf . Documents required for initial certification at Division of Fish and Wildlife offices:

1. Proof of service – connected disability (i.e. Letter of certification of service-connected disability from Veterans Affairs or wallet sized card from the VA indicating service-connected disability, or photocopy of monthly disability check showing service-connected disability).

2. Proof of honorable discharge (DD-214 or similar document).

3. Proof of residency or New Jersey driver’s license.

Once certified, disabled veterans can obtain their licenses, permits and stamps at no cost online or from license agents. Disabled veterans do not pay any transaction fee to license agents. However, when obtaining licenses, stamps and permits through the Internet sales site, a small shipping and handling fee is charged by the online license vendor. The first-time issue of a firearm or bow and arrow hunting license requires showing proof of a prior year resident hunting license from any state, or a hunter education course completion card, to the Division or license agent. Once the prior year license or hunter education information is entered into the license system database, proof is not required to obtain subsequent year hunting licenses. All New Jersey license and permit buyers, including disabled veterans, are required to complete a Child Support certification each year. This certification can be done online, at license agent locations or by completing and submitting the required form when requesting licenses and stamps through the mail during the initial disabled veteran certification process.

Properly licensed certified disabled veterans are entitled to unlimited antlerless permits for the Permit Bow Deer Season, the Permit Shotgun Deer Season and the Permit Muzzleloader Deer Season. One Antlered Deer Permit can be issued for each season as well. Information on obtaining deer permits is provided in the Hunting Issue of the Fish and Wildlife DIGEST at www.njfishandwildlife.com/dighnt.htm and on the Permit Information page at www.njfishandwildlife.com/permit_info.htm. Certified veterans must apply for lottery zones in the regular lottery. Certified veterans do not receive preference in any lottery. Properly licensed certified disabled veterans are also entitled to two spring turkey permits and one fall turkey permit during the lottery and additional permits when leftover permit sales begin. Information on obtaining turkey permits is also provided on the Permit Information page. Questions can be directed to Sylvia Hall at (908) 637-4125 or [email protected]. [Source: NJ Division of fish 7 wildlife www.njfishandwildlife.com Jun 2010 ++]

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Vietnam Memorial Wall Update 06: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC honors the fallen of the Vietnam War. The Virtual Wall at www.virtualwall.org contains elaborating information on those listed. It has memorial pages honoring the 58,261 women and men who are named on the Memorial’s wall. The Washington memorial was built from private donations collected by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The Wall was dedicated in 1982, and completed in 1984 with the addition of the “Three Servicemen Statue.” Since its completion, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington has belonged to the people of the United States of America and has been maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. The Virtual Wall web site is not affiliated with the U.S. NPS.

On The Virtual Wall, visitors may leave tributes, letters, poems, photos, and other memorials to someone named on The Wall for other visitors to view. The goal is to provide an environment like The Wall itself, with the dignity and respect those named on The Wall have earned. There are no flashy or noisy distractions, no commercials, no fee to publish a memorial, and no hand held out for donations. Each name on the index pages of The Virtual Wall leads to a memorial for that person, a memorial written by someone who had a personal connection to the man or woman being remembered. Memorial Pages can be located by Last Name, State & City of record, or Military Unit. Additional information available on the virtual Wall includes:

* The wall panel on which a name appears. Listing is sequential by death or missing in action date. The earliest casualties are named on line 1 of panel 1 East, at the center of the Wall. The list of names goes down panel 1 East, then to the right to line 1 of panel 2 East. That sequence moves to the right to panel 70 East, at the east end of the Wall, which has one row of names of those killed on May 25, 1968. That date continues at the opposite end of the Wall, on panel 70 West. The names then continue to the right to panel 1 West, which is adjacent to panel 1 East.

* Faces of Freedom. Photos of those listed.

* Height of Valor. An Index of those who earned awards for valor in combat – the Medal of Honor, the appropriate Service Cross, and the Silver Star Medal. Separate index pages list those who died and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal for Valor. The names listed here link to personal memorial pages on The Virtual Wall.

* Missing in Action status. The most recent status for the Wall’s 2,539 MIA servicemen.

* Information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

* Information on the Virtual Wall’s origin and its administration.

[Source: www.virtualwall.org Jun 2010 ++]

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Seniors Benefit Checkup Update 01: Since 2001, BenefitsCheckUp has enabled 2.3 million people to access $7.7 billion worth of public and private senior benefits, according to the Winter 2009 issue of Innovations, the magazine published by the National Council on Aging. Today, nearly one-third of Americans aged 65 and older are economically insecure, living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Other seniors saw their dreams of retirement disappear as the global economic recession shattered their nest eggs and wiped out their life savings. At the same time, unemployment for seniors 55 and older is at an all-time high. BenefitsCheckUp is a no cost, comprehensive Web-based service that helps to match older adults who have limited income and resources with more than 2,000 federal, state and local senior benefits programs where they can get help with the cost of health care, prescriptions drugs, food, housing, utility bills, in-home services and many other needs. BenefitsCheckUp also helps seniors locate programs that offer assistance with education, employment, tax relief, transportation, and volunteer services. In addition, local and state agencies nationwide provide screenings and support for seniors who use BenefitsCheckUp. To review the services and benefit programs available refer to http://benefitscheckup.org. The site is set up for you to click on the following tabs that will take you to details on how to obtain assistance

* Find Benefits Programs. Locate and enroll in federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care and other needs. Find easy-to-understand information about Medicare’s prescription drug coverage (Part D) and learn about services Medicare pays for to keep you healthy. Also includes a Senior Housing Locator to find senior housing options, including assisted living, residential care, nursing & rehabilitation homes, CCRCs and independent living retirement communities.

* Apply for Medicare Rx Extra Help. If you are one of millions of people with Medicare who have limited income and resources, apply now for Extra Help through Medicare’s Prescription Drug Coverage. At the same time, you can also start an application for the Medicare Savings Programs and find out if you qualify for other valuable benefits programs. Even if you weren’t eligible before, 2010 is the time to check again – some of the Extra Help rules have changed.

* Help Paying for Food. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program) helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. Visit the SNAP Application Forms Service to find the program in your state, get an application and apply today!

* Get Eldercare Assistance. Caring for aging parents, elders, and loved ones is challenging. Caring.com provides the expert advice, practical information, easy-to-use tools, and person-to-person support you need to make the journey easier.

[Source: About.com | Senior Living Sharon O’Brien article 26 May 2010 ++]

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Funeral Honors Update 05: Military Funeral Honors have always been provided whenever possible. However, the law now mandates the rendering of Military Funeral Honors for an eligible veteran if requested by the family. As provided by law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent Service of the deceased veteran. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of Taps. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. Today, there are so few buglers available that the Military Services often cannot provide one. Funeral Honors are provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to the family. The Services request at least 48 hours in order to organize the funeral honors detail. Military families of eligible veterans request funeral honors through their funeral director. The funeral director will contact the appropriate Military Service to arrange for the funeral honors detail. The core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, which will be conducted on request, include Flag folding, Flag presentation, and Playing of Taps. The veteran’s parent Service representative will present the flag. The Veterans Administration establishes eligibility. Your funeral director will assist you in obtaining a flag. Additionally:

* A list of funeral directors by state and service is available at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/hnrs/owa/director.show_select.

* More information on burial flags is available at: www.cem.va.gov/bflags.htm .

* A Presidential Memorial Certificate will be provided upon request. This is a parchment certificate with a calligrahpic inscription expressing the nation’s grateful recognition of an honorably discharged, deceased veteran’s service in the Armed Forces. The veteran’s name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President. Next of kin, other relatives and friends may request the certificates in person at any VA regional office or by mail. For information about requesting a Presidential Memorial Certificate and additional information refer to www.cem.va.gov/pmc.htm.

* Your funeral director will assist you or if you have questions about grave markers. Family members can write to the VA at: Memorial Programs Service (41A1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 5109 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903. For more information refer to http://www.cem.va.gov/hm.htm.

* Those eligible for military funeral honors include:

1. Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.

2. Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.

3. Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.

4. Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

5. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

* Those not eligible for military funeral honors include:

1. Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to veteran’s benefits.

2. Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service.

3. Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

4. Any person convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life imprisonment.

[Source: www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil Jun 2010 ++]

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Debt Collector’s Rules Update 01: Debt collectors have rules that must be followed when they contact you about a debt. Debt collectors’ guidelines are outlined in the federal law known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, aka the FDCPA. When your rights under the FDCPA have been violated, you can file a lawsuit against the collector in state or federal court. Before you file suit, make sure you have solid proof of the violation. These are things a debt collector can’t do. If you need to reference the law, citations have been provided.

1. Ask you to pay more than you owe – The collector cannot misrepresent the amount you owe. [15 USC 1692e] § 807(2)(a)

2. Ask you to pay interest, fees, or expenses that are not allowed by law – The collector can’t add on any extra fees that your original credit or loan agreement doesn’t allow. [15 USC 1692f] § 808(1)

3. Call repeatedly or continuously – The FDCPA considers repeat calls as harassment. [15 USC 1692d] § 806(5)

4. Use obscene, profane, or abusive language – Using this kind of language is considered harassment. [15 USC 1692d] § 806(2)

5. Call before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm – Calls during these times are considered harassment. [15 USC 1692c] § 805(a)(1)

6. Call at times the collector knew or should know are inconvenient – Calls at these times are considered harassment. [15 USC 1692c] § 805(a)(1)

7. Use or threaten to use violence if you don’t pay the debt – Collectors can’t threaten violence against you. [15 USC 1692d] § 806(1)

8. Threaten action they cannot or will not take – Collectors can’t threaten to sue or file charges against you, garnish wages, take property, cause job loss, or ruin your credit when the collector cannot or does not intend to take the action. [15 USC 1692e] § 807(5)

9. Illegally inform a third party about your alleged debt – Unless you have expressly given permission, collectors are not allowed to inform anyone about your debt except your attorney; the creditor; the creditor’s attorney; a credit reporting agency; your spouse; your parent (if you are a minor) [15 USC 1692c] § 805(b)

10. Repeatedly call a third party to get your location information – The collector can only contact a third party once unless it has reason to believe the information previously provided is false. [15 USC 1692b] § 804(1)

11. Contact you at work knowing your employer doesn’t approve – A collector is not allowed to contact you at work if you’ve let them know your employer doesn’t approve of these calls. [15 USC 1692c] § 805(a)(3)

12. Fail to send a written debt validation notice – Within five days of the collector’s initial communication, it must send you a notice include the amount of the debt, name of the creditor, and notice of your right to dispute the debt within 30 days. [15 USC 1692g] § 809(a)

13. Ignore your written request to verify the debt and continue to collect – A collector can’t continue to collect on a debt after you’ve made a written request to verify the debt as long as the request was made within 30 days of the collector’s written notice. [15 USC 1692g] § 809(b)

14. Continue to collect on the debt before providing verification – After receiving your written dispute, the collector must stop collecting on the debt until you have received verification. [15 USC 1692g] § 809(b)

15. Continue collection attempts after receiving a cease communication notice – If you make a written request for the collector to cease communication, it can only contact you one more time, via mail to let you know one of the following: that further efforts to collect the debt are terminated, that certain actions may be taken by the collector, or that the collector is definitely going to take certain actions. [15 USC 1692c] § 805(c)

[Source: About.com Credit/Debt Management LaToya Irby article 22 May 2010 ++]

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IRS Tax Return Penalties: The Internal Revenue Service on its website www.irs.gov states that the penalty for late-filing a tax return is usually 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that the return is late. This penalty will not exceed 25%. In addition a penalty of 1/2 of 1% is assessed against unpaid taxes to a maximum of 25%. In the event that both penalties apply in any one month, IRS will reduce the failure to file penalty by 0.5%. Interest at the Applicable Federal Rate (adjusted quarterly) is also assessed on unpaid taxes. Should a tax filer show a reduced amount of tax owed, a 20% penalty will be applied against the understatement, which is the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000. If IRS determines that the understatement is due to fraud, a penalty of up to 75% will be assessed. [Source: The Tax Barron Report Spring 2010 ++]

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National Park Passports Update 03: In addition to the senior pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old for a one-time processing fee of $10, the following can be obtained:

* Access Pass: A Free Pass for People with Disabilities. It is a special permit for people of any age who are medically determined to be blind or have other permanent disabilities. It offers the same benefits as the Senior Pass, but it is completely without charge. No processing fee is charged for the Access Pass. Like the Senior Pass to national parks, the Access Pass cannot be purchased by mail or online. It must be obtained in person at a federal area where an entrance fee is charged. To qualify for the free Access Pass to national parks, you will need to provide one of the following: a statement from a licensed physician, a document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran’s Administration, proof of Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income, or a document issued by a state agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.

* A One-Year National Parks Pass for People Under Age 62. If you are under age 62 and do not qualify for a Senior Pass to national parks, you can still save money by purchasing an Annual Pass, which costs $80 and is good for one year from the date of purchase. At national parks, monuments and recreation areas that charge a per-vehicle fee, the Annual Pass to national parks admits you and your passengers without charge. Where a per-person fee is charged, the pass admits you plus three other adults (children under 16 are not subject to charges). There are three ways to purchase an Annual Pass to U.S. National Parks. In person at a national park that charges an entrance fee, online from the National Park Service Annual Pass site http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html , or by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS, Ext. 1

* Volunteer Pass. If you enjoy the national parks and want to help out by becoming a volunteer you can get an complementary annual pass for your efforts. You’ll receive the same discounts and national park benefits as the Annual Pass described above, but the Volunteer Pass is available to volunteers who provide 500 hours of cumulative service. For more information about the Volunteer Pass to our national parks, call 1-888-ASK-USGS.

[Source: About.com Senior Living Sharon O’Brien article 17 May 2010 ++]

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Medicare Fraud Update 41:

* Grahamsville NY – June Smith, 72 and posthysterectomy, was no candidate for motherhood. Or fatherhood. Her quarterly Medicare billings – contradicting anatomy, gender and common sense – showed otherwise. The paperwork asserted the senior citizen submitted to a pregnancy test, semen analysis and prostate exams. The pricey lab work was handled in far-flung locales: Florida, California, Arizona and New Mexico. For more than three years, scammers using Smith’s stolen ID number ripped off Medicare for close to $50,000 in patently bogus billings – despite the retiree’s efforts to alert workers about the ongoing theft. “It’s just people behind a desk, I understand,” Smith said. “But when you pay for testing of the male anatomy on a woman, I don’t know what kind of dumbbells they’re hiring.” Nobody listened when she made phone calls, wrote letters and tried to alert somebody – anybody – about the scam. Her story is hardly surprising. An estimated $60 billion a year in federal health care money is stolen, making medical fraud one of the nation’s most lucrative crimes. Peter Ashkenaz, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, confirmed Smith’s story but insisted the agency was on the case. An investigator from IDTheft911 who she hired found there was no record that a billing doctor in Arizona even existed. they determoined the Florida business, Safe Medical, was little more than a storefront with an answering machine. In one case, Smith recalled, her quarterly Medicare statement showed the government had finally rejected a submission. Three months later, the bill was resubmitted – and paid in full.

* Houston TX – Franklin Beltre D.P.M ., 40, was sentenced on 30 MAY to 36 months prison. He and a co-defendant committed more than $1 million in Health Care Fraud by submitting false and fraudulent claims to both the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs. In addition Beltre was ordered to pay $691,128.04 in restitution, which represents the amount he was paid for the false and fraudulent claims he had submitted to both programs. Beltre admitted to defrauding Medicaid and Medicare, by means of false and fraudulent claims in connection with the use of unqualified, unlicensed medical personal and for billing for medical services not rendered. In 2006, while vacationing in Fort Lauderdale FL, Beltre submitted claims to both Medicare and Medicaid for podiatric services he never performed and that were actually performed by co-defendant Manuela Alana, an unlicensed, unsupervised podiatrist. Alana will be serving a 24-month term of incarceration to be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release.

* New York NY – David Ibragimov, 49, his son Arthur Ibragimov, 26, his son-in-law Mikhail Isakov, 27, and dentist Bruce Speiser, 49, were charged 2 JUN with running a Medicad scam. The suspects allegedly paid recruiters to bring Medicaid recipients, many of whom were lured from homeless shelters and methadone clinics, to their crooked clinics. Patients received as much as $20, as well as CD players and McDonald’s gift certificates, depending on their treatments they often didn’t need. The swindle, which stretched from JAN 06 to APR 2010, was allegedly carried out in three locations: 165-10 Jamaica Ave. in Queens, 575 Fulton Ave. in Brooklyn and the clinic in the Bronx. The Ibragimovs and Isakov allegedly directed the dentists they hired to pay two-thirds of their Medicaid billings to shell corporations they controlled. The recruiters, or “flyer boys,” earned $10 to $30 per person, depending on the price of the procedures the patients agreed to receive. All four men pleaded not guilty to insurance fraud and grand larceny charges. A civil suit was filed against the Ibragimovs and Isakov that is seeking to recoup $7 million in phony billing.

* Jacksonville FL – Bryan S. Russell, 52, was charged 3 JUN with second-degree grand larceny, a felony. While acting as the executor of his mother’s estate, he failed to pay Medicaid the money owed by the estate. He is accused of defrauding Medicaid out of more than $50,000 between 2004 and 2009. His mother had lived in Wyoming County and died in January 2004.

* New York NY – Metropolitan Ambulance & First Aid Corp. (now known as SEZ Metro Corp.), Metro North Ambulance Corp. (now known as SEZ North Corp.) and Big Apple Ambulance Service Inc. (formerly known as United Ambulance) have paid the United States $2.85 million to resolve false claims made to Medicare. the companies used, or caused the use of, falsified records to appeal a Medicare program refund demand. Medicare had demanded the companies return millions of dollars they had been paid for medically unnecessary ambulance trips. Under Medicare rules, the companies could bill for these expensive non-emergency transports only if the patient could not be transported by any other means, such as by car or by wheelchair van. Medicare audited the companies’ past billings and concluded that the companies had charged Medicare tens of millions of dollars for ambulance trips that did not meet this standard. Medicare demanded a refund and afforded the companies an extensive informal and formal appeals process to prove that their billings were proper. They in turn caused the use of, hundreds of letters attesting to the need for an ambulance that were forged or otherwise purported to come from some neutral, disinterested health care provider when they in fact did not.

* Detroit MI – On 8 JUN Timothy Pierce was sentenced to 48 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release following his prison term and ordered to pay $6.09 million in restitution for his participation in a fraudulent Medicare infusion scheme and Troy Michigan was sentenced to 27 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release following his prison term, and ordered to pay $772,800 in restitution for his participation in a separate fraudulent physical therapy scheme. In MAR 06 Pierce entered into an agreement with the owners of Dearborn Medical Rehabilitation Center (DMRC) to recruit patients for DMRC, a business that purported to provide infusion and injection therapy services to Medicare patients. Pierce admitted that he was hired to recruit, drive and pay kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries to induce them to visit DMRC. Jha, a licensed physical therapist began working in FEB 03 as a contract therapist for a co-conspirator who owned and controlled several companies operating in the Detroit area that purported to provide physical and occupational therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. He, his co-conspirator and others created fictitious therapy files appearing to document physical and occupational therapy services provided to Medicare beneficiaries, when in fact no such services had been provided. The fictitious services reflected in the files were billed to Medicare through sham Medicare providers controlled by co-conspirators.

[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 1-15 Jun 2010 ++]

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Medicad Fraud Update 15:

* Hoboken NJ – Babak Bamdad, 42, of Hoboken, pleaded guilty 2 JUN to a criminal accusation charging him with third-degree Medicaid fraud. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $10,000. Deputy Attorney General Debra A. Conrad represented the state at the guilty plea hearing. Bamdad, a pharmacist in charge at Tucker Drugs, 1000 Washington St., Hoboken, admitted that between JAN & OCT 09 he submitted claims to the Medicaid program for prescription drugs allegedly dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries, even though the prescription drugs were never dispensed. The claims were subsequently paid out by the Medicaid program. Since October 09, more than 32 people, including doctors and pharmacists, have been arrested in the joint investigation, which uncovered a major criminal narcotics network based in Hudson County that distributed thousands of black market prescription pain pills such as OxyContin and Percocet. The network was obtaining fraudulent narcotics prescriptions and filling them at various pharmacies. At the same time, Medicaid was being billed for phony doctor visits and prescription medicines that were never dispensed. The network allegedly distributed the prescription pain pills throughout Hudson County and other parts of the state, including Bergen, Ocean, Morris and Monmouth counties. A single 30 milligram OxyContin pill, known as a “blue,” typically sells for $10 to $20 on the street, while a10 milligram Percocet pill sells for $5 to $8.

* Houston TX – Edward Birts, 51, on 2 JUN pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. Birts operated a behavioral counseling company called Courage to Change. He had purchased a degree online awarding himself bogus professional certifications in counseling and then billed Medicad and Medicare $1.2 million for nonexistent psychological treatments and received more than $968,500 in payments. Birts acquired beneficiaries’ names, addresses and account numbers which he would use to file false claims. Prosecutors said he claimed he employed a nonexistent doctor who ran nonexistent group therapy sessions. The billing spanned from January 2003 through September 2006.

* Newark NJ – The state Medicaid inspector general on 10 JUN demanded Garden Adult Medical Day Care Center pay a $5.6 million civil penalty after allegedly submitting false claims. The Center billed the state for providing medical services it never rendered, such as testing patients’ blood pressure and blood sugar levels and dispensing medication, according to a report on the inspector’s civil investigation. The for-profit facility wrongly pocketed $1.87 million, but the IG is demanding the owners pay three times that amount for “intentionally submitting Medicaid claims for the 50 recipients when it knew it did not render the services, or submitted the claims in reckless disregard of whether the services were rendered,’’ according to the report. The state pays the centers $78.50 a day for each of the roughly 12,000 people who suffer from chronic health conditions that require close management, or need help getting dressed, bathing, taking their medications or performing other “activities of daily living.” The service is regarded as a cost-effective way to help the elderly maintain their independence, but state officials have said the industry is vulnerable to abuse.

* Springfield MO – Kevin Louderback, an insurance broker received 12 years in state prison for misappropriating more than $700,000 from Medicaid. Louderback furnished applications with false information to the Missouri Health Insurance Premium Payment Program, which pays private health insurance premiums for certain individuals with high medical costs. He told customers that the monthly insurance premium rates were higher than they actually were and pocketed the overpayment, as offering kickbacks to get people to enroll in insurance programs. The sentence is the longest in state history for Medicaid fraud.

[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 1-15 Jun 2010 ++]

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State Veteran’s Benefits: The state of Alabama provides several benefits to veterans. To obtain information on these refer to this Bulletin’s Attachment for an overview of those listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on “Learn more about …” wording highlighted in blue on the attachment.

* Housing Benefits

* Financial Assistance Benefits

* Employment Benefits

* Veterans Business Benefits

* Education Benefits

* Other State Veteran Benefits

[Source: www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/alabama-state-veterans-benefits Jun 2010 ++]

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Military History: Deep in the recesses of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., hidden for nearly four decades lie thousands of pages of yellowing and dusty documents stamped “Top Secret”. These documents, now declassified, are the plans for Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan during World War II. Only a few Americans in 1945 were aware of the elaborate plans that had been prepared for the Allied Invasion of the Japanese home islands. Even fewer today are aware of the defenses the Japanese had prepared to counter the invasion had it been launched. Operation Downfall was finalized during the spring and summer of 1945. It called for two massive military undertakings to be carried out in succession and aimed at the heart of the Japanese Empire: Operation Olympic and Operation Coronet. Had the invasion come about, the Japanese civilian population, inflamed by a national slogan “One Hundred Million Will Die for the Emperor and Nation” were prepared to fight to the death. Twenty Eight Million Japanese had become a part of the National Volunteer Combat Force. They were armed with ancient rifles, lunge mines, satchel charges, Molotov cocktails and one-shot black powder mortars. Others were armed with swords, long bows, axes and bamboo spears. The civilian units were to be used in nighttime attacks, hit and run maneuvers, delaying actions and massive suicide charges at the weaker American positions. Admiral William Leahy estimated that there would be more than 250,000 Americans killed or wounded on Kyushu alone. General Charles Willoughby, chief of intelligence for General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific, estimated American casualties would be one million men by the fall of 1946. Willoughby’s own intelligence staff considered this to be a conservative estimate. In retrospect, the 1 million American men who were to be the casualties of the invasion, were instead lucky enough to survive the war. The world was spared the cost of Operation Downfall because Japan formally surrendered to the United Nations September 2, 1945, and World War II was over. For a more detailed summary of the invasion plans refer to the attachment to this Bulletin. [Source: Omaha World Herald James Martin Davis article Nov 08 ++]

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Military History Anniversaries:

* Jun 17 1775 – Revolutionary War: Battle of Bunker Hill (actually it was Breed’s Hill)

* Jun 17 1942 – WWII: 1st American expeditionary force lands in Africa (Gold Coast)

* Jun 18 1812 – War of 1812: The U.S. Congress declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

* Jun 19 1944 – WWII: First day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 300 Japanese aircrafts shot down

* Jun 21 1945 – WWII: US defeat Japanese forces on Okinawa.

* Jun 23 1945 – WWII: Last organized Japanese defiance broken (Tarakan)

* Jun 24 1952 – Korean War: US airplanes bomb energy centers at Yalu Korea

* Jun 25 1876 – Custer & 7th Cavalry wiped out by Sioux & Cheyenne at Little Big Horn

* Jun 25 1948 – Cold war: The Berlin Airlift begins.

* Jun 25 1950 – Korean War: Conflict begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.

* Jun 25 1996 – The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.

* Jun 26 1918 – WWI: Western Front Battle for Belleau Wood – Allied Forces under John J. Pershing and James Harbord defeat Imperial German Forces under Wilhelm German Crown Prince.

* Jun 26 1924 – Latin America Interventions: After 8 years of occupation US troops leave Dominican Republic

* Jun 26 1993 – The U.S. launches a missile attack targeting Baghdad intelligence headquarters in retaliation for a thwarted assassination attempt against former President George H.W. Bush in April in Kuwait.

* Jun 27 1944 – WWII: Cherbourg, France liberated by Allies

* Jun 27 1950 – Korean War: North Koreans troop reach Seoul, UN asks members to aid South Korea, Truman orders Air Force & Navy into Korean conflict

* Jun 28 1919 – WWI: Treaty of Versailles ending war signed in France

* Jun 28 1965 – Vietnam: 1st U.S. ground combat forces authorized by Pres Johnson

* Jun 29 1943 – WWII: Germany begins withdrawing U-boats from North Atlantic in anticipation of the Allied invasion of Europe

* Jun 29 1949 – US troops withdraw from Korea after WW II

* Jun 29 1966 – Vietnam: U.S. planes bomb Hanoi & Haiphong for 1st time

* Jun 30 1815 – US naval hero Stephen Decatur ends attacks by Algerian pirates

* Jun 30 1943 – WWII: Gen MacArthur begins Operation Cartwheel (island-hopping)

[Source: Various Jun 09 ++]

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Military Trivia 6:

* The name of the barbaric German tribe that overran Gaul, Spain and North Africa and sacked Rome in the fifth century was the ‘Vandals’.

* The U.S. secret agents abandon plans–approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt–to drop live bats from airplanes to frighten the Japanese during World War II because the bats froze at high altitudes, before they could be released.

* The unsung role played in American history role of William Dawes and Samuel Prescott was to accompany Paul Revere on his celebrated midnight ride to warn their countrymen that “the British are coming.”

* The infantryman (and actor-to-be) James Arness was picked to go first when the troops aboard his landing craft splashed ashore during the Allied attack at Anzio during World War II because at 6 feet 6, he was the tallest man in his outfit–and his commanding officer wanted to know just how deep the water was.

* The profession of Hitler’s mistress, Eva Braun was Photographer’s assistant.

* During the Civil War, 23 states fought for the Union and 11 for the Confederacy.

* The two nations involved in a year-long conflict that was popularly know as the Pastry War were France and Mexico in 1838. It was triggered by Mexico’s refusal to pay for damage done by Mexican army officers to a restaurant run by a French pastry chef in Tacubaya, now a section of Mexico City.

* It was President Harry S. Truman who ordered the integration of America’s armed forces in 1948.

* The famous American who signed the Treaty of Kanagawa was Commodore Matthew C. Perry, on March 31, 1854. The treaty opened Japan to western trade.

* While Adolf Hitler called his country home Eagle’s Nest, Winston Churchill called his Cosy Pig, although it was formally known as Chartwell.

* The American billionaire who tried to airlift 28 tons of medicine and Christmas gifts to American POWs in North Vietnam n 1969 was Ross Perot.

* Charles de Gaulle served as ghost-writer of the book “The Soldier”. It was about the famous World War I military hero Marshal Philippe Petain, whose 1945 death sentence for collaboration during WWII was commuted by de Gaulle to life imprisonment.

* The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought in June 1775 on Breed’s Hill, southeast of Bunker Hill.

* The Allies’ password on D-Day was “Mickey Mouse”.

* Gen. Black Jack Pershing, arriving in France in 1917 after the U.S. entered WWI was the American military leader who said, “Lafayette we are here.”

* The physical ailment that was said to have contributed to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo was hemorrhoids, which prevented him from surveying the battlefield on horseback.

* The Boer War (1899-1902) was the first to have authorized film coverage?

* Caedwalla, King of Gwynedd (north Wales), ordered his soldiers to wear leeks fastened to their helmets when they battled the troops of Kind Edwin of Northumbria in 632 A.D. so he could tell his men from the enemy. Caedwalla was victorious, Edwin was slain, and the leek later became the national emblem of Wales.

[Source: www.triviacountry.com/19_Military_Trivia.htm Jun 2010 ++]

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Tax Burden for New Hampshire Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in New Hampshire:

State Sales Tax: None. There is an 8% tax on lodging and restaurant meals and a 7% tax on two-way communications.

Gasoline Tax: 19.6 cents/gallon

Diesel Fuel Tax: 19.6 cents/gallon

Cigarette Tax: $1.78 cents/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes – New Hampshire depends more upon real property taxes for revenue than most states since there are no general income, sales or use taxes. The state also receives substantial revenue from taxes on motor fuels, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages sold through the state liquor stores, and pari-mutuel betting. The state income tax is limited to a 5% tax on dividends and interest income of more than $2,400 ($4,800 for joint filers). A $1,200 exemption is available for residents who are 65 years of age or older. For an overview of New Hampshire taxes refer to www.nh.gov/revenue/faq/gti-rev.htm .

Retirement Income: Not taxed.

Property Taxes

Local property taxes, based upon assessed valuation, are assessed, levied and collected by municipalities. A state education property tax rate of $2.135 (2009) per $1,000 of total equalized valuation is assessed on all New Hampshire property owners. An elderly exemption for property taxes can be age, net income limits, including Social Security income, and net asset limits. Property taxes can be deferred but accrue interest at the rate of 5% per annum. The deferred property tax may not exceed more than 85% of the equity value of the residence. The deferral is available (if granted) by the assessing officials, to any resident property owner who is at least 65 years old. For single homeowners 65 and older who earn less than $5,000 and married couples who earn less than $6,000, $5,000 of their property’s assessed value is exempt from taxes. In addition, the homeowner’s other assets besides the home must be worth less than $35,000.

There is a Low & Moderate Income Homeowner’s Property Tax Relief program in New Hampshire. For details refer to www.nh.gov/revenue/forms/low_mod_program.htm. You must own a homestead subject to the state education property tax; reside in such homestead as of April 1 of the year for which the claim for relief is made; have a total household income of (1) $20,000 or less if a single person or (2) $40,000 or less if married or head of a New Hampshire household. Call 603-271-2687 for details on property taxes or go to http://www.nh.gov/revenue/munc_prop/municipalservices.htm .

Inheritance and Estate Taxes – New Hampshire’s Legacy & Succession Tax was repealed in 2002 and is effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2003. As a result there is no inheritance or estate tax.

For further information, visit the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration site www.nh.gov/revenue/index.htm or call 603-271-2318. [Source: www.retirementliving.com Jun 2010 ++]

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Congressional Alphalist: To better understand what is happening to veteran legislation as it proceeds through Congress it is useful to know the language used by our representatives as they conduct business. Following are some of the words or expressions you will see while reading about or listening to House and Senate sessions:

* BASELINE. This is the standard used to assess how bills, if enacted, would change current budgetary levels. Baselines must assume projected levels of federal spending and revenue, so they are often disputed.

* THE BELTWAY. This is an interstate highway encircling Washington, DC & passing through Maryland and Virginia suburbs. “Inside the Beltway” Asserts that an issue is only of interest to Washington, DC residents and workers.

* BILL. A Bill is a legislative proposal which would make law if it passes both the House and Senate and if it receives Presidential approval. Bills are introduced as “H.R.” in the House, and as “S.” in the Senate. Besides bills, joint resolutions are the only other type of legislation which makes law [H.J.Res. or S.J.Res.]

* BLOCK GRANTS. These are funds given states by the federal government to run programs within defined guidelines.

* BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT. One of 51 conservative Democratic Members of the House of Representatives who have banded together to support a more centrist position on economic issues than that held by their party’s leadership.

* BUDGET ACT. Refers to the 1974 Congressional Budget Act. It created the current budget process. It also created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the House and Senate Budget Committees. The annual budget resolution and reconciliation bills are processed under the terms of the 1974 Budget Act.

* BUDGET RESOLUTION. This is the annual decision made by Congress to set spending and revenue levels. It provides a voluntary framework within which Congress agrees to limit subsequent money bills. The Budget Resolution may also instruct committees to change current law in order to save money.

* BULLY PULPIT. This term stems from President Theodore Roosevelt’s reference to the White House as a “bully pulpit,” meaning a terrific platform from which to persuasively advocate an agenda. Roosevelt often used the word “bully” as an adjective meaning superb/wonderful. Roosevelt also had political affiliation with the Progressive Party, nicknamed the “Bull Moose” party. It got the moniker when Roosevelt ran for President as its candidate in 1912, after declaring himself as “fit as a bull moose.”

* BYRD RULE. This is used on the Senate floor to challenge certain language added to a reconciliation bill. The purpose of reconciliation bills is to reconcile spending levels with revenue levels. If proposed language steps outside of this primary purpose, it can be challenged on a point of order. The Byrd rule can be set aside by a 3/5 vote. It is named after its author, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV).

[Source: C-SPAN Congressional Glossary Jun 2010 ++]

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Veteran Legislation Status 13 JUN 2010: For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community that have been introduced in the 111th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s Veteran Legislation attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.

Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 13 Jun 2010 ++]

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Have You Heard?

Charlie, a new retiree greeter at Walmart, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their “Older Person Friendly” policies. One day the boss called him into the office for a talk.

“Charlie, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang up job, but your being late so often is quite bothersome.”

“Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it.”

”Well good, you are a team player. That’s what I like to hear. It’s odd though your coming in late. I know you’re retired from the Air Force.

What did they say if you came in late there?”

”They said, ‘Good morning, General, can I get you coffee, sir?”’

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“Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens.”

Andy Rooney of 60 minutes fame

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Lt. James “EMO” Tichacek, USN (Ret)

Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RP

PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517

Tel: (951) 238-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines.

Email: [email protected] Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html

AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/AD37 member

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Of the 5452 House and 3452 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community.  Bill titles in green (if any) are new additions to this summary, titles in orange have either passed either the House or Senate and been passed to the other for consideration or been incorporated into another bill, and those highlighted in blue have become public law. A good indication on the likelihood a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it.  To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.  To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html. The key to increasing cosponsorship is letting legislators know of their constituent’s views on issues.  Those bills that include a website in red are being pushed by various veterans groups for passage and by clicking on that website you can forward a preformatted message to your legislator requesting he/she support the bill. House H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (168) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12497121 ________________________________________ H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.315 Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions. Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.43 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Sponsor: Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] (introduced 1/6/2009)    Cosponsors (181) Related bill S.46 Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO ________________________________________ H.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.84 :  Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (90) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12922516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.162 : Senior Citizens’ Tax Elimination Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region. Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Companion Bill S.239. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.644. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (146) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials and /or http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=13672261&azip=92571&bzip=7311 ________________________________________ H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Rules; House Budget Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12921516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans’ memorials on State or local government property. Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. _______________________________________ H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731. Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (72) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12923561&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False ________________________________________ H.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize appropriations for the veterans’ workforce investment programs. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ________________________________________ H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.514 Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (131) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.309 : American Heroes’ Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (153) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12406456&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and  http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12888756 _______________________________________ H.R.341 : Suspend Limitations Period for Tax Refund on VA Retroactive Payments. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the running of periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income tax by veterans while their service-connected compensation determinations are pending with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (297) – Related bill S.1055 Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 5/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill S.35. Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (26) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000. Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists’ Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary replacement employees. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (40) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.442 : Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (183) Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. ________________________________________ H.R.449 : Health Care for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting the income level for certain priority veterans. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program. Sponsor: Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Small Business Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. ________________________________________ H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services. Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. ________________________________________ H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program. Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (45) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers. Sponsor: Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 1/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (44) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12918951&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (61) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12489731&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: H.R.4443 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (128) Related Bill S.235   Companion Bill S.414 Committees: House Financial Services House Reports: 111-88 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-24 ________________________________________ H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without incurring a 10 percent additional tax. Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009)      Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill S.307 Sponsor: Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] (introduced 1/23/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that service. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/26/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.731 : Jenny’s Law to amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 1/27/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/27/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.746 : Safeguarding America’s Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey Shea Act). To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries. Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.3949 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R.3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 1/28/2009)     Cosponsors (329)   Companion Bill S.535 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Jones. Petition No: 111-10. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via   http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746 To  support the Discharge Petition send a message via   http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14825891&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.543 Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12993371 ___________________________________ H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill S.546 Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care. Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (198) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12591151&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12603596 or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12607551 or http://capwiz.com/trea/issues/alert/?alertid=12710751 ________________________________________ H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date. Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures. Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private health insurance. Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury. Sponsor: Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.919 : Veterans’ Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit with respect to certain unemployed veterans. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.4443 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises. Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (26) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.952 : Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (95) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.953 : Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deduction for travel expenses to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (67) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12992881 ________________________________________ H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/11/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (125) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-171 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-81 To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12704096 ________________________________________ H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (37)       Related bill S.1204 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1034 : Honor and Remember Flag. To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. ____________________________________ H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-162 Latest Major 10/7/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. ________________________________________ H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local veterans’ employment representatives by National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1098 : Veterans’ Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national cemeteries located in that geographic area. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 2/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/24/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-164 Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (208) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009 to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans who are recipients of the medal of honor. Sponsor: Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491 Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (213) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.597 Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (51) House Reports: 111-165 Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12833716&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a full service hospital in Far South Texas. Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act to provide for the issuance of a forever stamp to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill S.572 Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (81) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. ________________________________________ H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who pay their mortgages on time. Sponsor: Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (40) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2)      Companion Bill S.404. Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-137 ________________________________________ H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (37)  Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277 Committees: House Education and Labor, House Reports: 111-37 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13 ________________________________________ H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military. Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. ________________________________________ H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey. Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/10/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson’s Disease Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/11/2009)      Cosponsors (83) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12986021&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (28) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 267. ________________________________________ H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1513 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (10)           Related bill S.407 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048376&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to provide that service of the members of the organization known as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241 ________________________________________ H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/18/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1647 : Veterans’ Employment Transition Support Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans. Sponsor: Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants. To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants. Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care to members and the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (12)   Related Bill S.1168 Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 3/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302. ________________________________________ H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55. Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (49) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a special review board for certain former members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.700. Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (109) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. ________________________________________ H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment Commission to make recommendations for alternative forms of investment of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund. Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals whether or not they itemize other deductions. Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to permanently extend the credit. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees’ Retirement System, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (4)    Related Bill H.R.108 Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam. Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009 to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (101)             Related Bill S.760 Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. ________________________________________ H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of Labor before separating from active duty service. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty. Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805 ________________________________________ H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1919 : Federal Withholding Tax Repeal Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes. Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services, to require that such members receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical examination they receive as part of their separation from active duty, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation of disability retired pay for members wounded in action. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award.  To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”). Sponsor: Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (337)             Companion Bill S.614 Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 4/21/2009)   Cosponsors (140)   Companion Bill S.832 Related Bill S.1449 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ________________________________________ H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan. Sponsor: Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] (introduced 4/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility and service-connected disability rating requirements for the veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] (introduced 4/27/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts. Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/28/2009)      Cosponsors (32)     Related Bill S.902 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 4/29/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-163 Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (77) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13303636&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax liability of the individual required to pay such support by the amount of the unpaid child support. Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (257) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13301656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie B [TX-30] (introduced 5/5/2009)   Cosponsors (None) – Related Bill S.315 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and Medicare, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying service. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/6/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 5/7/2009)    Cosponsors (5)  Companion bill S.1008 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver program to furnish support services to family members certified as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/12/2009)      Cosponsors (60) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 5/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2379 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/13/2009)     Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2389 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 5/13/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans’ Access to Local Health Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered health services through facilities other than those of the Department. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act. Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 5/18/2009)      Cosponsors (34)     Related Bills: H.R.2561, S.1603 Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a State in which the public institutions charge only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts payable for the established charges for the program of education to pay any amount of the individual’s tuition or fees for that program of education. Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of tinnitus be conducted. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged. Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (56) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances. Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (16)               Related bill S.1128 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless. Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act to amend section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to forgive certain loans for servicemembers who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (21)      Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603 Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment of the member’s retired pay. Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option. To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans’ families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold flag recitation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries. Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December 7, 1941 and May 6, 1942. Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (50) Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain travel expenses. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp. Sponsor: Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 6/2/2009)  Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2990 Committees: House Armed Services House Reports: 111-166, 111-166 Part 2 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-84 ——————————————————————————– H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans. Sponsor: Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (35) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title 38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the pension amount paid to such veterans. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program. Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Administration Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2689 : D-Day Memorial. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as a unit of the National Park System. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (7)    Related bill S.1207 Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2696 : Servicemembers’ Rights Protection Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2698 : Veterans’ and Survivors’ Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (37) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the service disabled veterans’ insurance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2734 : Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 to amend section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 6/8/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2771 : Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 6/9/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the extension of the duration of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2788 : Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] (introduced 6/10/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 3/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8. Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2836 :  National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. Sponsor: Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/15/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/17/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program. To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/17/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.:   Amended with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach). Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Small Business; House Science and Technology House Reports: 111-190 Part 1, 111-190 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 7/13/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit. To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health savings accounts. Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran’s survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 6/23/2009)      Cosponsors (25)           Related Bill H.R.2647 Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 572 , H.R. 2990 is laid on the table. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage by small businesses, to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/10/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Energy and Commerce Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3200 : America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Budget Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/15/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009)      Cosponsors (22)            Related Bill S.1485 Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans’ Children Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan. Sponsor: Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] (introduced 7/24/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training. Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 7/24/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (6)    Related Bill S.1520 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (31) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. Sponsor: Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections ——————————————————————————– H.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (27) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3467 : Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: S.3118 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3507 : VA Survivor Education Rate Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the rates of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3522 : Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system. Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571 ——————————————————————————– H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 9/10/2009)      Cosponsors (99) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 9/15/2009)    Cosponsors (None)  Related bills: H.R.2562 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.3575 : Vet Mortgage Life Insurance Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum amount of veterans’ mortgage life insurance available under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 9/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.3577 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/15/2009)      Cosponsors (24) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 9/22/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/25/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ________________________________________ H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 9/29/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution and benefit base to occur. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 9/29/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors’ Social Security Act of 2009 to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 9/30/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 9/30/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 10/6/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time. To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 10/8/2009)      Cosponsors (39)      Related bill: S.1780 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistor’s Per Diem Grants. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/14/2009)   Cosponsors (15)   Related bills: S.3171 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3843 : Transparency for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website of the Department. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy. Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 10/21/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 10/22/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability if the veteran is unable to work. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 10/22/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 10/26/2009)      Cosponsors (45) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (169)    Related Bill S. Committees: House Education and Labor; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory courses, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] (introduced 10/28/2009)      Cosponsors (30) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3949 : Veterans’ Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/28/2009)   Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.761 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 11/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 11/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services for veterans residing in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Wu, David [OR-1] (introduced 11/5/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through the presentation of an official lapel button. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for eligible persons. Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (37) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (41)   Related bill: S.2743 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles. Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (71) Related Bill: S.2759 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals, especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal. To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard that served during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] (introduced 11/7/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 11/7/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses. Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/16/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans’ benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 11/19/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to housing for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] (introduced 11/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4203 : Direct Deposit of Vet Education Payments. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance payments through direct deposit. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 12/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4220 : Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business Latest Major Action: 1/4/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4221 : Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improved acquisition practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4241 : State Veteran Home Payments. To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (43) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4279 : Vet Accelerated Educational Assistance Payments. To amend titles 38 and 10, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments of educational assistance to certain veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] (introduced 12/10/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4319 : Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] (introduced 12/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4320 : Post-9/11 GI Education Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the types of approved programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Murphy, Scott [NY-20] (introduced 12/15/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4350 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2009 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Sponsor: Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/1/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4359 : WARMER Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4403 : SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for unremarried surviving spouses of retired members of the uniformed services and the unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected or compensable disability, and for the dependents of such spouses. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/21/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4429 : Restoring the Social Security COLA Act to provide for an increase of $250 in benefits under certain Federal cash benefit programs for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/13/2010)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Appropriations; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4443 : Veterans Employment Today Act of 2010 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 1/13/2010)     Cosponsors (11) Related Bills: H.R.620, H.R.931, S.274 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4465 : Vet Financial Status for Hospital Care. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take into account each child a veteran has when determining the veteran’s financial status when receiving hospital care or medical services. Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 1/19/2010)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/19/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4525 : Chapter 61 Concurrent Receipt Entitlement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members’ disability rating percentage. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/26/2010)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=15039641&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.4551 : Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 1/27/2010)      Cosponsors (32) Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4555 : Janey Ensminger Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (33) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4559 : State Disabled Vet Benefits Review. To establish a commission to review benefits provided by each State to disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4568 : TBI Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4569 : Expanded Housing for America’s Veterans Act to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 relating to the amount of rental assistance available under the veterans affairs supported housing program. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4592 : Vet Energy Related Jobs Pilot Program. To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 2/3/2010)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4593 : Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act of 2010 to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military retirees (i.e. those who entered the service prior to December 7, 1956). Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/3/2010)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/3/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4632 : Renovate and Enhance Veterans’ Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2010 to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to set-aside community development block grant amounts in each fiscal year for grants to local chapters of veterans service organizations for rehabilitation of their facilities. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 2/22/2010)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 2/22/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4639 : Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the adoption of a military working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded member of the Armed Forces who was the handler of the dog. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 2/22/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4656 : VA Child Care Center. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program establishing a child-care center for children of veterans receiving treatment and other individuals. Sponsor: Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] (introduced 2/23/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4664 : OIF/OEF Survivor Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium. To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Sponsor: Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] (introduced 2/23/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4667 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/23/2010)  Cosponsors (8) Related bills: H.R.1513 & S.407 & S.3107 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4765 : VA Work Study Allowances. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (12) Related bill: S.3082 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4810 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/10/2010)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4845 : VA Children Housing Loan Benefits. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide housing loan benefits for children of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] (introduced 3/15/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Ways and Means; Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Signed by President. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4912 : CRSC Payments to Chap 61 Vets. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of combat-related special compensation paid to disabled combat-related uniformed services retirees retired under chapter 61 of such title whose disability is attributable to an injury for which the members were awarded the Purple Heart. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/22/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/8/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4923 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26. Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/24/2010)   Cosponsors (89)    Related bills: S.3201 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4947 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 3/25/2010)   Cosponsors (34) Related bills: S.3406 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=14876641 ——————————————————————————– H.R.5014 : VA Minimal Essential Coverage. To clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/14/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-173 [GPO: Text, PDF] ——————————————————————————– H.R.5045 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 4/15/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: S.3192, H.R.5064 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5120 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 4/22/2010)   Cosponsors (16)    Related bills: S.3234 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business; House Energy and Commerce; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5185 : Fair Health Care for Military Families Act to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the TRICARE program and the CHAMPVA program. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 4/29/2010)      Cosponsors (2) Related Bill H.R.5206 Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5225 : Improving Veterans’ Electronic Transition Services Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly develop and implement an electronic personnel file system, and to jointly conduct a study on improving the access of veterans to files related to military service and veterans benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 5/5/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/5/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5226 : Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 5/5/2010)      Cosponsors (21) Related bill: S.3314 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5259 : Equal Access to Preseparation Counseling Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to require preseparation counseling for members of the reserve components upon their retirement or separation from service. Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 5/11/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/11/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5303 : VA Post-9/11 EAP Housing Stipends. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve housing stipends for veterans receiving educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/13/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5360 : Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 5/20/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5371 : To direct the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] (introduced 5/24/2010)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5403 : To direct the Secretary of Defense to temporarily adjust the reimbursement rates for TRICARE claims in Alaska. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5404 : To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age and for dependents of the member who accompany the retiree. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5428 : To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/27/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5449 : To amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted. Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/27/2010)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– Senate S.46 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/6/2009)   Cosponsors (29)  Related Bill: H.R.43 Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO ________________________________________ S.66 : Disabled Vet Space A. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.67 :  Disabled POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.68 : Filipino Service Certification. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.94 : Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a nonrefundable tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums. Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Major Action: 1/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.239 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (1)        Companion Bill H.R.190 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.246 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.252 : Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/dav/issues/alert/?alertid=14008476&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.263 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1474. Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.274 : Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an incentive to hire unemployed veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/16/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.4443 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.296 : Fair Tax Act of 2009. A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States. Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.307 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill H.R.668 Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.315 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.32 Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 1/26/2009)      Cosponsors (2)   Related Bill H.R.2257 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.347 : Vet Hand Loss Traumatic Injury Protection. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/29/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.402 : Keeping Our Promise to America’s Military Veterans Act. A bill to improve the lives of our Nation’s veterans and their families and provide them with the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/10/2009)     Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.404 : Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1377. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.407 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (17)            Related bill H.R.1513 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Senate Reports: 111-24 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-37 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.423 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (56) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 101. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12703276 ________________________________________ S.491 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (48)             Companion Bill H.R.1203 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.498 : Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.514 : Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.297. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.535 : SBP DIC Offset Elimination. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.775. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (56) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senator send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14275496&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.543 : Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support Act of 2009. A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 3/6/2009)      Cosponsors (14)           Companion Bill H.R.785. Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.546 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service of Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill H.R.811. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (44) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12904686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.572 : Purple Heart Forever Stamp. A bill to provide for the issuance of a “forever stamp” to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill H.R.1305. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/11/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security. ________________________________________ S.597 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1211 Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.606 : Veterans Corps Program. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Veterans Corps program. Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ________________________________________ S.614 : WASP Gold Medal Award. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”). Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (75)            Companion Bill H.R.2014 Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-40 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.642 : Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.644 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay. Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 3/19/2009)     Cosponsors (13)   Companion Bill H.R.208          Related Bill S.831 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=12995086&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or  http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12960556 ________________________________________ S.658 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.663 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (50) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.669 : Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/23/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/16/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 78. ________________________________________ S.691 : Colorado National Cemetery for Veterans. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.699 : South Texas Veterans’ Hospital. A bill to provide for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a full service hospital in Far South Texas. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.700 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1708. Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. _______________________________________ S.728 : Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans’ insurance benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 155. ________________________________________ S.731 : TRICARE Coverage For “Gray Area” Reservists. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill H.R.270 Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ‘ To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False ________________________________________ S.734 : Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/30/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.746 : Nebraska National Cemetery. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.760 : National World War I Memorial. A bill to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the “National World War I Memorial”. Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (3)             Related Bill H.R.1849 Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.768 : Bataan Gold Medal Initiative. A bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the soldiers from the United States who were prisoners of war at Bataan during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ S.772 : Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.793 : Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.801 : Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family members accompanying veterans severely injured after September 11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (27) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13104956&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.820 : Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.821 : VA Copay Collection Prohibition. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read the second time and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.831 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/20/2009)      Cosponsors (29)             Related Bill S.644 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805 ________________________________________ S.832 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 4/20/2009)      Cosponsors (41)             Companion Bill H.R.2017   Related Bill S.1449 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-95 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.842 : VA Home Loan Payoff to Mortgagers. A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.847 : SBP Education Assistance Limitation Exclusion. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.883 : Medal of Honor Coin. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/23/2009)      Cosponsors (85) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ S.902 : Veteran’s Treatment Courts. A bill to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/27/2009)      Cosponsors (4)            Related Bill H.R.2127 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ________________________________________ S. 944 – The Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining on active duty during the transition process in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 4/30/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13266571&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.977 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.998 : Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/7/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1008 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit requirements of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/7/2009)      Cosponsors (7)       Companion bill H.R.2302 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.1015 : Enhanced Disability Compensation for Certain Disabled Veterans. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1016 : Vet Disability Compensation Award upon Separation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans who are retired or separated from the Uniformed services for disability. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1042 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act. A bill to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1055 : Gold Medal Award for 100th Inf Bn & 442nd RCT. A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (57)           Related bill H.R.347 Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1106 : Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of medical and dental readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve based on medical need, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/20/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1109 : PRO-VETS Act of 2009. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/20/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1118 : DIC Compensation Rate Increase to 55%. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1128 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act. A bill to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances. Sponsor: Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] (introduced 5/21/2009)     Cosponsors (3)            Related bill H.R.2553 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1160 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/1/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1166 : Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund to support reservists and National Guard members. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1168 : Nationally Significant Battlefields Protection. A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1)              Related Bill H.R.1694 Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92. ——————————————————————————– S.1169 : Uniformed Services with Autism (USA) Heroes Act . A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1204 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/8/2009)      Cosponsors (8)              Related bill H.R.1017 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1237 : Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 360. ——————————————————————————– S.1337 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2009. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/24/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1347 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009. A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/24/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13791596&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.1394 : Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by claimants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 7/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1427 : Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1429 : Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act. A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care providers to assist such veterans and members, to ensure such veterans are not discriminated against, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1449 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None)     Related Bill H.R.2017 & S.832 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1450 : Deceased Servicemen Parental Nursing Home Care. A bill to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1452 : COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1467 : Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 7/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1495 : Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 7/22/2009)      Cosponsors (7)   Related Bill H.R.3266 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1518 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1520 : NAIV Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (1)   Related Bill H.R.3349 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 7/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1543 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 7/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– S.1547 : Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Reed, Jack [RI] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1556 : Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 8/3/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1558 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 8/3/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1668 : National Guard Education Equality Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 9/14/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571 ——————————————————————————– S.1685 : Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act of 2009. A bill to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for such year, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 9/17/2009)      Cosponsors (10)    Related Bills: H.R.3597 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 9/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1695 :  Congressional Gold Medal Award. A bill to authorize the award of a Congressional gold medal to the Montford Point Marines of World War II. Sponsor: Sen Burris, Roland [IL] (introduced 9/23/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1717 : VA Facility Leases. A bill to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 9/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1)  Related Bill S.1310 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-82 ——————————————————————————– S.1752 : Parkinson’s Disease VA Compensation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1753 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1779 : Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 10/14/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1780 : Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 10/14/2009)      Cosponsors (9)     Related bill: H.R.3787 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1798 : Automatic Reserve Component Enrollment Act of 2009.  A bill to provide for the automatic enrollment of demobilizing members of the National Guard and Reserve in health care and dental care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1932 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: ——————————————————————————– S.1939 : Vet Presumptive Exposure in Vietnam. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1963 : Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 10/28/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-163 [GPO: Text, PDF] ——————————————————————————– S.2096 : Parent VA Burial Eligibility. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 10/29/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2743 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 11/5/2009)      Cosponsors (7)     Related bill: H.R.4051 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.2759 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 11/10/2009)     Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.4054 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.2760 : VA Homeless Vets Appropriations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2769 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2770 : Veterans Business Center Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans Business Center program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. ——————————————————————————– S.3082 : VA Work Study Allowances. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 3/5/2010) Cosponsors (1) Related bill: H.R.4765 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3107 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38 , United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2010, in 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/11/2010)      Cosponsors (11) Related Bill:  H.R.4667 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.3118 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/16/2010)  Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.3485 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/16/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3162 : VA Minimum Essential Coverage. A bill to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/24/2010)    Cosponsors (59) Related bills: H.R.5014 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/13/2010 Held at the desk. ——————————————————————————– S.3171 : Veterans Training Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 3/25/2010)   Cosponsors (8) Related bills: H.R. 3813 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3192 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/12/2010)  Cosponsors (None)     Related bills: H.R.5045, H.R.5064 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/12/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3201 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Mark [CO] (introduced 4/14/2010)   Cosponsors (30)  Related bills: H.R.4923 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.3234 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010.  A bill to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 4/20/2010)  Cosponsors (10)   Related bills: H.R.5120 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.3286 : VA Vet Claim Assistance Pilot Program. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the award of grants to State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/29/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.3356 : CHAMPVA Children Maximum Age increase. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 5/13/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3359 : Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Thune, John [SD] (introduced 5/13/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3367 : VA Pension Increase for Disabled Couples. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of pension for disabled veterans who are married to one another and both of whom require regular aid and attendance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/13/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.3371 : TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve access to mental health care counselors under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 5/13/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.3378 : Examination of Exposures to Environmental Hazards During Military Service and Health Care for Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility Veterans and their Families Act of 2010. An original bill to authorize health care for individuals exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and the Atsugi Naval Air Facility, to establish an advisory board to examine exposures to environmental hazards during military service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/17/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Senate Reports: 111-189 Latest Major Action: 5/17/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 377. ——————————————————————————– S.3394 : Strengthening Entrepreneurship for America’s Veterans Act of 2010. A bill to establish the veterans’ business center program, to improve the programs for veterans of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] (introduced 5/20/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Latest Major Action: 5/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. ——————————————————————————– S.3398 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 5/24/2010)   Cosponsors (3) Related bills: H.R.5400 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.3406 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Sen Hagan, Kay [NC] (introduced 5/24/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.4947 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.3447 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/27/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 28 May 09 ++]

Of the 5293 House and 3310Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community.  Bill titles in green (if any) are new additions to this summary, titles in orange have either passed either the House or Senate and been passed to the other for consideration or been incorporated into another bill, and those highlighted in blue have become public law. A good indication on the likelihood a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it.  To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.  To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html. The key to increasing cosponsorship is letting legislators know of their constituent’s views on issues.  Those bills that include a website in red are being pushed by various veterans groups for passage and by clicking on that website you can forward a preformatted message to your legislator requesting he/she support the bill. House H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (168) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12497121 ________________________________________ H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.315 Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions. Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.43 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Sponsor: Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] (introduced 1/6/2009)    Cosponsors (177) Related bill S.46 Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO ________________________________________ H.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.84 :  Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (88) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12922516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.162 : Senior Citizens’ Tax Elimination Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region. Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Companion Bill S.239. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.644. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (142) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials and /or http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=13672261&azip=92571&bzip=7311 ________________________________________ H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Rules; House Budget Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12921516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans’ memorials on State or local government property. Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. _______________________________________ H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731. Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009)      Cosponsors (71) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12923561&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False ________________________________________ H.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize appropriations for the veterans’ workforce investment programs. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ________________________________________ H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.514 Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (129) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.309 : American Heroes’ Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (152) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12406456&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and  http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12888756 _______________________________________ H.R.341 : Suspend Limitations Period for Tax Refund on VA Retroactive Payments. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the running of periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income tax by veterans while their service-connected compensation determinations are pending with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (297) – Related bill S.1055 Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 5/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill S.35. Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (26) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000. Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists’ Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary replacement employees. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (47) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.442 : Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (178) Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. ________________________________________ H.R.449 : Health Care for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting the income level for certain priority veterans. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program. Sponsor: Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Small Business Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. ________________________________________ H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services. Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. ________________________________________ H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program. Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] (introduced 1/13/2009)      Cosponsors (45) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers. Sponsor: Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 1/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (44) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12918951&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (60) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12489731&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: H.R.4443 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (128) Related Bill S.235   Companion Bill S.414 Committees: House Financial Services House Reports: 111-88 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-24 ________________________________________ H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without incurring a 10 percent additional tax. Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009)      Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill S.307 Sponsor: Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] (introduced 1/23/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that service. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/26/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.731 : Jenny’s Law to amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 1/27/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/27/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.746 : Safeguarding America’s Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey Shea Act). To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries. Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.3949 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R.3949 . ________________________________________ H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 1/28/2009)     Cosponsors (329)   Companion Bill S.535 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Jones. Petition No: 111-10. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via   http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746 To  support the Discharge Petition send a message via   http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14825891&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.543 Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12993371 ___________________________________ H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill S.546 Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care. Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (198) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12591151&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12603596 or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12607551 or http://capwiz.com/trea/issues/alert/?alertid=12710751 ________________________________________ H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date. Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/3/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures. Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private health insurance. Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/4/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury. Sponsor: Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.919 : Veterans’ Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/9/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit with respect to certain unemployed veterans. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.4443 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises. Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (26) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.952 : Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (95) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.953 : Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deduction for travel expenses to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (62) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12992881 ________________________________________ H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/11/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (125) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-171 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-81 To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12704096 ________________________________________ H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (35)       Related bill S.1204 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/12/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1034 : Honor and Remember Flag. To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. ____________________________________ H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-162 Latest Major 10/7/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. ________________________________________ H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local veterans’ employment representatives by National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1098 : Veterans’ Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/13/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national cemeteries located in that geographic area. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 2/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/24/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-164 Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (208) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009 to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans who are recipients of the medal of honor. Sponsor: Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491 Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009)      Cosponsors (213) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.597 Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (51) House Reports: 111-165 Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12833716&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a full service hospital in Far South Texas. Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act to provide for the issuance of a forever stamp to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill S.572 Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (81) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. ________________________________________ H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who pay their mortgages on time. Sponsor: Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] (introduced 3/4/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (40) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2)      Companion Bill S.404. Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-137 ________________________________________ H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (37)  Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277 Committees: House Education and Labor, House Reports: 111-37 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13 ________________________________________ H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military. Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. ________________________________________ H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey. Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/10/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson’s Disease Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/11/2009)      Cosponsors (82) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12986021&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (28) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 267. ________________________________________ H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/12/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1513 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (10)           Related bill S.407 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048376&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to provide that service of the members of the organization known as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ________________________________________ H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241 ________________________________________ H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/18/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1647 : Veterans’ Employment Transition Support Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans. Sponsor: Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants. To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants. Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability. Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care to members and the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (12)   Related Bill S.1168 Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 3/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302. ________________________________________ H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55. Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009)      Cosponsors (49) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a special review board for certain former members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.700. Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (109) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. ________________________________________ H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment Commission to make recommendations for alternative forms of investment of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund. Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals whether or not they itemize other deductions. Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to permanently extend the credit. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees’ Retirement System, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (4)    Related Bill H.R.108 Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam. Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009 to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (101)             Related Bill S.760 Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. ________________________________________ H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of Labor before separating from active duty service. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty. Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805 ________________________________________ H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1919 : Federal Withholding Tax Repeal Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes. Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services, to require that such members receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical examination they receive as part of their separation from active duty, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation of disability retired pay for members wounded in action. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award.  To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”). Sponsor: Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (337)             Companion Bill S.614 Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ________________________________________ H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 4/21/2009)   Cosponsors (140)   Companion Bill S.832 Related Bill S.1449 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ________________________________________ H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan. Sponsor: Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] (introduced 4/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ________________________________________ H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility and service-connected disability rating requirements for the veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] (introduced 4/27/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ________________________________________ H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts. Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/28/2009)      Cosponsors (32)     Related Bill S.902 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 4/29/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs House Reports: 111-163 Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (76) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13303636&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax liability of the individual required to pay such support by the amount of the unpaid child support. Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (256) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13301656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie B [TX-30] (introduced 5/5/2009)   Cosponsors (None) – Related Bill S.315 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and Medicare, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying service. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/6/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 5/7/2009)    Cosponsors (5)  Companion bill S.1008 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver program to furnish support services to family members certified as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/12/2009)      Cosponsors (60) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 5/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2379 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2389 : Veterans’ Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 5/13/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans’ Access to Local Health Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered health services through facilities other than those of the Department. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act. Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 5/18/2009)      Cosponsors (33)     Related Bills: H.R.2561, S.1603 Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a State in which the public institutions charge only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts payable for the established charges for the program of education to pay any amount of the individual’s tuition or fees for that program of education. Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of tinnitus be conducted. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged. Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (51) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances. Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (15)               Related bill S.1128 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless. Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act to amend section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to forgive certain loans for servicemembers who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (20)      Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603 Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment of the member’s retired pay. Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option. To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans’ families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold flag recitation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries. Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December 7, 1941 and May 6, 1942. Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (50) Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain travel expenses. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp. Sponsor: Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 6/2/2009)  Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2990 Committees: House Armed Services House Reports: 111-166, 111-166 Part 2 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-84 ——————————————————————————– H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans. Sponsor: Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (35) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title 38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the pension amount paid to such veterans. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program. Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Administration Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2689 : D-Day Memorial. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as a unit of the National Park System. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (7)    Related bill S.1207 Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2696 : Servicemembers’ Rights Protection Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2698 : Veterans’ and Survivors’ Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (37) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the service disabled veterans’ insurance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2734 : Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 to amend section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/4/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 6/8/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2771 : Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 6/9/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the extension of the duration of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2788 : Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] (introduced 6/10/2009)      Cosponsors (48) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 3/11/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 251. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8. Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2836 :  National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. Sponsor: Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/15/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/17/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program. To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/17/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.:   Amended with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach). Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Small Business; House Science and Technology House Reports: 111-190 Part 1, 111-190 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 7/13/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit. To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health savings accounts. Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran’s survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/19/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 6/23/2009)      Cosponsors (25)           Related Bill H.R.2647 Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 572 , H.R. 2990 is laid on the table. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage by small businesses, to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 6/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/10/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Energy and Commerce Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3200 : America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Budget Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/15/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009)      Cosponsors (22)            Related Bill S.1485 Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans’ Children Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan. Sponsor: Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] (introduced 7/24/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training. Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 7/24/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (6)    Related Bill S.1520 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (31) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. Sponsor: Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 7/28/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections ——————————————————————————– H.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (27) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3467 : Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: S.3118 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . ——————————————————————————– H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3507 : VA Survivor Education Rate Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the rates of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3522 : Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system. Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 7/31/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571 ——————————————————————————– H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 9/10/2009)      Cosponsors (97) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 9/15/2009)    Cosponsors (None)  Related bills: H.R.2562 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.3575 : Vet Mortgage Life Insurance Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum amount of veterans’ mortgage life insurance available under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 9/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ H.R.3577 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/15/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. ________________________________________ H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 9/22/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ________________________________________ H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/25/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ________________________________________ H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 9/29/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution and benefit base to occur. Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 9/29/2009)      Cosponsors (16) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors’ Social Security Act of 2009 to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 9/30/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 9/30/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 10/6/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time. To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 10/8/2009)      Cosponsors (39)      Related bill: S.1780 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistor’s Per Diem Grants. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/13/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/14/2009)   Cosponsors (14)   Related bills: S.3171 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3843 : Transparency for America’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website of the Department. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy. Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 10/21/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/12/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation’s Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 10/22/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability if the veteran is unable to work. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 10/22/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 10/26/2009)      Cosponsors (45) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (169)    Related Bill S. Committees: House Education and Labor; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory courses, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] (introduced 10/28/2009)      Cosponsors (30) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3949 : Veterans’ Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/28/2009)   Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.761 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 11/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 11/3/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services for veterans residing in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Wu, David [OR-1] (introduced 11/5/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through the presentation of an official lapel button. Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for eligible persons. Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (37) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (41) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas. Sponsor: Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (38)   Related bill: S.2743 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles. Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (70) Related Bill: S.2759 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals, especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 11/6/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal. To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard that served during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] (introduced 11/7/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 11/7/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses. Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/16/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans’ benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 11/19/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to housing for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] (introduced 11/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4203 : Direct Deposit of Vet Education Payments. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance payments through direct deposit. Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 12/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4220 : Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business Latest Major Action: 1/4/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4221 : Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improved acquisition practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4241 : State Veteran Home Payments. To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes. Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 12/8/2009)      Cosponsors (42) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/3/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4279 : Vet Accelerated Educational Assistance Payments. To amend titles 38 and 10, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments of educational assistance to certain veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] (introduced 12/10/2009)      Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4319 : Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] (introduced 12/15/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4320 : Post-9/11 GI Education Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the types of approved programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Murphy, Scott [NY-20] (introduced 12/15/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4350 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2009 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Sponsor: Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/1/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4359 : WARMER Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4403 : SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for unremarried surviving spouses of retired members of the uniformed services and the unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected or compensable disability, and for the dependents of such spouses. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 12/16/2009)      Cosponsors (25) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/21/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4429 : Restoring the Social Security COLA Act to provide for an increase of $250 in benefits under certain Federal cash benefit programs for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/13/2010)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Appropriations; House Veterans’ Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4443 : Veterans Employment Today Act of 2010 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 1/13/2010)      Cosponsors (8) Related Bills: H.R.620, H.R.931, S.274 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4465 : Vet Financial Status for Hospital Care. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take into account each child a veteran has when determining the veteran’s financial status when receiving hospital care or medical services. Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 1/19/2010)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/19/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4525 : Chapter 61 Concurrent Receipt Entitlement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members’ disability rating percentage. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/26/2010)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4551 : Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 1/27/2010)      Cosponsors (32) Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4555 : Janey Ensminger Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (32) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4559 : State Disabled Vet Benefits Review. To establish a commission to review benefits provided by each State to disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4568 : TBI Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4569 : Expanded Housing for America’s Veterans Act to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 relating to the amount of rental assistance available under the veterans affairs supported housing program. Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 2/2/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4592 : Vet Energy Related Jobs Pilot Program. To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions. Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 2/3/2010)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4593 : Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act of 2010 to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military retirees (i.e. those who entered the service prior to December 7, 1956). Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/3/2010)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/3/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4632 : Renovate and Enhance Veterans’ Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2010 to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to set-aside community development block grant amounts in each fiscal year for grants to local chapters of veterans service organizations for rehabilitation of their facilities. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 2/22/2010)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 2/22/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4639 : Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the adoption of a military working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded member of the Armed Forces who was the handler of the dog. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 2/22/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4656 : VA Child Care Center. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program establishing a child-care center for children of veterans receiving treatment and other individuals. Sponsor: Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] (introduced 2/23/2010)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4664 : OIF/OEF Survivor Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium. To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Sponsor: Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] (introduced 2/23/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/23/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4667 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/23/2010)  Cosponsors (8) Related bills: H.R.1513 & S.407 & S.3107 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4765 : VA Work Study Allowances. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (12) Related bill: S.3082 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4810 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/10/2010)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4845 : VA Children Housing Loan Benefits. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide housing loan benefits for children of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. Sponsor: Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] (introduced 3/15/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage. Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Ways and Means; Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Signed by President. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4912 : CRSC Payments to Chap 61 Vets. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of combat-related special compensation paid to disabled combat-related uniformed services retirees retired under chapter 61 of such title whose disability is attributable to an injury for which the members were awarded the Purple Heart. Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/22/2010)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/8/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.4923 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26. Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/24/2010)   Cosponsors (86)    Related bills: S.3201 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– 4947. H.R.4947 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 3/25/2010)      Cosponsors (30) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5014 : VA Minimal Essential Coverage. To clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/14/2010)  Cosponsors (1)   Related bills: S.3162 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/12/2010 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 – 0 (Roll no. 260). ——————————————————————————– H.R.5045 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 4/15/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: S.3192, H.R.5064 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5120 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 4/22/2010) Cosponsors (5)    Related bills: S.3234 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business; House Energy and Commerce; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5185 : Fair Health Care for Military Families Act to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the TRICARE program and the CHAMPVA program. Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 4/29/2010)      Cosponsors (2) Related Bill H.R.5206 Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5225 : Improving Veterans’ Electronic Transition Services Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly develop and implement an electronic personnel file system, and to jointly conduct a study on improving the access of veterans to files related to military service and veterans benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 5/5/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/5/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5226 : Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 5/5/2010)      Cosponsors (12) Related bill: S.3314 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. ——————————————————————————– H.R.5259 : Equal Access to Preseparation Counseling Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to require preseparation counseling for members of the reserve components upon their retirement or separation from service. Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 5/11/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/11/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– Senate S.46 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/6/2009)   Cosponsors (28)  Related Bill: H.R.43 Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=CO ________________________________________ S.66 : Disabled Vet Space A. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.67 :  Disabled POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.68 : Filipino Service Certification. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.94 : Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a nonrefundable tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums. Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 1/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Major Action: 1/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.239 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (1)        Companion Bill H.R.190 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.246 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 1/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.252 : Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (11) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/dav/issues/alert/?alertid=14008476&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.263 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1474. Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 1/15/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.274 : Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an incentive to hire unemployed veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/16/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.4443 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.296 : Fair Tax Act of 2009. A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States. Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.307 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill H.R.668 Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 1/22/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.315 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.32 Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 1/26/2009)      Cosponsors (2)   Related Bill H.R.2257 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.347 : Vet Hand Loss Traumatic Injury Protection. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/29/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.402 : Keeping Our Promise to America’s Military Veterans Act. A bill to improve the lives of our Nation’s veterans and their families and provide them with the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.404 : Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1377. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.407 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009)      Cosponsors (17)            Related bill H.R.1513 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Senate Reports: 111-24 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-37 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.423 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/12/2009)      Cosponsors (56) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 101. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12703276 ________________________________________ S.491 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (47)             Companion Bill H.R.1203 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.498 : Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.514 : Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.297. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.535 : SBP DIC Offset Elimination. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.775. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 3/5/2009)      Cosponsors (56) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senator send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14275496&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.543 : Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support Act of 2009. A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 3/6/2009)      Cosponsors (14)           Companion Bill H.R.785. Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.546 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service of Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill H.R.811. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 3/9/2009)      Cosponsors (44) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12904686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.572 : Purple Heart Forever Stamp. A bill to provide for the issuance of a “forever stamp” to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill H.R.1305. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/11/2009)      Cosponsors (17) Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security. ________________________________________ S.597 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1211 Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 3/16/2009)      Cosponsors (20) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.606 : Veterans Corps Program. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Veterans Corps program. Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ________________________________________ S.614 : WASP Gold Medal Award. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (“WASP”). Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 3/17/2009)      Cosponsors (75)            Companion Bill H.R.2014 Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-40 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.642 : Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ________________________________________ S.644 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay. Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (13)   Companion Bill H.R.208          Related Bill S.831 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=12995086&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or  http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12960556 ________________________________________ S.658 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (10) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.663 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/19/2009)      Cosponsors (50) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.669 : Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/23/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/16/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 78. ________________________________________ S.691 : Colorado National Cemetery for Veterans. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.699 : South Texas Veterans’ Hospital. A bill to provide for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a full service hospital in Far South Texas. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.700 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1708. Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/25/2009)      Cosponsors (21) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. _______________________________________ S.728 : Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans’ insurance benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 155. ________________________________________ S.731 : TRICARE Coverage For “Gray Area” Reservists. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill H.R.270 Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/26/2009)      Cosponsors (23) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ‘ To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False ________________________________________ S.734 : Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/30/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.746 : Nebraska National Cemetery. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/31/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.760 : National World War I Memorial. A bill to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the “National World War I Memorial”. Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (3)             Related Bill H.R.1849 Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.768 : Bataan Gold Medal Initiative. A bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the soldiers from the United States who were prisoners of war at Bataan during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ S.772 : Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009)      Cosponsors (12) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.793 : Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.801 : Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family members accompanying veterans severely injured after September 11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (27) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13104956&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ________________________________________ S.820 : Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.821 : VA Copay Collection Prohibition. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read the second time and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ________________________________________ S.831 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/20/2009)      Cosponsors (28)             Related Bill S.644 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805 ________________________________________ S.832 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 4/20/2009)      Cosponsors (41)             Companion Bill H.R.2017   Related Bill S.1449 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-95 [GPO: Text, PDF] ________________________________________ S.842 : VA Home Loan Payoff to Mortgagers. A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.847 : SBP Education Assistance Limitation Exclusion. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 4/21/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ________________________________________ S.883 : Medal of Honor Coin. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/23/2009)      Cosponsors (85) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ________________________________________ S.902 : Veteran’s Treatment Courts. A bill to provide grants to establish veteran’s treatment courts. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/27/2009)      Cosponsors (4)            Related Bill H.R.2127 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ________________________________________ S. 944 – The Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining on active duty during the transition process in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 4/30/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13266571&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.977 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.998 : Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/7/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1008 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit requirements of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/7/2009)      Cosponsors (7)       Companion bill H.R.2302 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.1015 : Enhanced Disability Compensation for Certain Disabled Veterans. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1016 : Vet Disability Compensation Award upon Separation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans who are retired or separated from the Uniformed services for disability. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1042 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act. A bill to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1055 : Gold Medal Award for 100th Inf Bn & 442nd RCT. A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 5/14/2009)      Cosponsors (51)           Related bill H.R.347 Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1106 : Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of medical and dental readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve based on medical need, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/20/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1109 : PRO-VETS Act of 2009. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/20/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1118 : DIC Compensation Rate Increase to 55%. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1128 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act. A bill to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances. Sponsor: Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] (introduced 5/21/2009)      Cosponsors (3)            Related bill H.R.2553 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1160 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/1/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1166 : Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund to support reservists and National Guard members. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1168 : Nationally Significant Battlefields Protection. A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (1)              Related Bill H.R.1694 Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92. ——————————————————————————– S.1169 : Uniformed Services with Autism (USA) Heroes Act . A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1204 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/8/2009)      Cosponsors (8)              Related bill H.R.1017 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1237 : Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/11/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 360. ——————————————————————————– S.1337 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2009. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/24/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1347 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009. A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/24/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13791596&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] ——————————————————————————– S.1394 : Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by claimants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 7/6/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1427 : Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1429 : Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act. A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care providers to assist such veterans and members, to ensure such veterans are not discriminated against, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1449 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (None)     Related Bill H.R.2017 & S.832 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1450 : Deceased Servicemen Parental Nursing Home Care. A bill to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1452 : COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of “combat with the enemy” for purposes of service-connection of disabilities. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 7/14/2009)      Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1467 : Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 7/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1495 : Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 7/22/2009)      Cosponsors (7)   Related Bill H.R.3266 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 7/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1518 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (15) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1520 : NAIV Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (1)   Related Bill H.R.3349 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 7/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– S.1543 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 7/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– S.1547 : Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Reed, Jack [RI] (introduced 7/30/2009)      Cosponsors (19) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1556 : Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 8/3/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1558 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 8/3/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.1668 : National Guard Education Equality Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 9/14/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571 ——————————————————————————– S.1685 : Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act of 2009. A bill to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for such year, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 9/17/2009)      Cosponsors (10)    Related Bills: H.R.3597 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 9/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.1695 :  Congressional Gold Medal Award. A bill to authorize the award of a Congressional gold medal to the Montford Point Marines of World War II. Sponsor: Sen Burris, Roland [IL] (introduced 9/23/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1717 : VA Facility Leases. A bill to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 9/25/2009)      Cosponsors (1)  Related Bill S.1310 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-82 ——————————————————————————– S.1752 : Parkinson’s Disease VA Compensation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1753 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1779 : Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 10/14/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– S.1780 : Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 10/14/2009)      Cosponsors (9)     Related bill: H.R.3787 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1798 : Automatic Reserve Component Enrollment Act of 2009.  A bill to provide for the automatic enrollment of demobilizing members of the National Guard and Reserve in health care and dental care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/19/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1932 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: ——————————————————————————– S.1939 : Vet Presumptive Exposure in Vietnam. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (18) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.1963 : Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 10/28/2009)      Cosponsors (7) Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-163 [GPO: Text, PDF] ——————————————————————————– S.2096 : Parent VA Burial Eligibility. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 10/29/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2743 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 11/5/2009)      Cosponsors (7)     Related bill: H.R.4051 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.2759 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 11/10/2009)     Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.4054 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ——————————————————————————– S.2760 : VA Homeless Vets Appropriations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (14) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2769 : Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.2770 : Veterans Business Center Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans Business Center program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 11/10/2009)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Latest Major Action: 11/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. ——————————————————————————– S.3082 : VA Work Study Allowances. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 3/5/2010) Cosponsors (1) Related bill: H.R.4765 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3107 : Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38 , United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2010, in 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 for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/11/2010)      Cosponsors (11) Related Bill:  H.R.4667 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/11/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3118 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/16/2010)  Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.3485 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/16/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3162 : VA Minimum Essential Coverage. A bill to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/24/2010)    Cosponsors (59) Related bills: H.R.5014 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/13/2010 Held at the desk. ——————————————————————————– S.3171 : Veterans Training Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 3/25/2010) Cosponsors (7) Related bills: H.R. 3813 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3192 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/12/2010)  Cosponsors (None)     Related bills: H.R.5045, H.R.5064 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/12/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3201 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26. Sponsor: Sen Udall, Mark [CO] (introduced 4/14/2010)   Cosponsors (27)  Related bills: H.R.4923 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– S.3234 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010.  A bill to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 4/20/2010)  Cosponsors (8)   Related bills: H.R.5120 Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– S.3286 : VA Vet claim assistance Pilot Program. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the award of grants to State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/29/2010)      Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 13 May 09 ++]