Women: Just Beautiful!
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I
noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid
for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.. I
am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I
couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store
owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
‘Hello Barry, how are you
today?’
‘H’lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them
peas. They sure look good.’
‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’
‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’
‘Good. Anything I can
help you with?’
‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’
‘Would
you like to take some home ?’ asked Mr.. Miller.
‘No, Sir. Got
nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’
‘Well, what have you to trade me for
some of those peas?’
‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’
‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller..
‘Here ’tis.
She’s a dandy.’
‘I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is
blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?’
the store owner asked.
‘Not zackley but almost..’
‘Tell
you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let
me look at that red marble’.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
‘Sure will.
Thanks Mr. Miller.’
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby,
came over to help me.. With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys
like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances.
Jim just loves to bargain with
them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.. When they come back with
their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red
after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble
or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..’
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A
short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story
of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several
years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had
occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there
learned that Mr…. Miller had died.
They
were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to
go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into
line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of
comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One
was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits
and white shirts…..all very professional looking. They approached Mrs.
Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the
young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and
moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them
as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm
hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary
awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.. I
told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago
and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With
her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you
about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when
Jim could not change his mind
about colour or size…..they came to pay their debt.’
‘We’ve
never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but
right now, Jim would consider
himself the richest man in Idaho.’
With loving gentleness she
lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath
were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not
be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.. Life is not measured
by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath……
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of
coffee you didn’t make yourself…An unexpected phone call from an old
friend…..Green stoplights on your way to work….The fastest line at the
grocery store…A good sing-along song on the radio…Your keys found
right where you left them.
Send this to the people you’ll never
forget.. I just Did….
If you don’t send it to anyone, it means
you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles
when they occur.
IT’S
NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU
HAVE LIVED.
Life Without Black People
A very humorous and revealing story is told about a group of white people who were fed up with African Americans, so they joined together and wished themselves away. They passed through a deep dark tunnel and emerged in sort of a twilight zone where there is an America without black people.
At first these white people breathed a sigh of relief.
‘At last’, they said, ‘no more crime, drugs, violence and welfare.’
All of the blacks have gone! Then suddenly, reality set in. The ‘NEW AMERICA’ is not America at all – only a barren land.
1. There are very few crops that have flourished because the nation was built on a slave-supported system.
2. There are no cities with tall skyscrapers because Alexander Mils, a black man, invented the elevator, and without it, one finds great difficulty reaching higher floors.
3. There are few if any cars because Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gearshift, Joseph Gambol, also black, invented the Super Charge System for Internal Combustion Engines, and Garrett A. Morgan, a black man, invented the traffic signals.
4. Furthermore, one could not use the rapid transit system because its procurer was the electric trolley, which was invented by another black man, Albert R. Robinson.
5. Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate, they were cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper.
6. There were few if any newspapers, magazines and books because John Love invented the pencil sharpener, William Purveys invented the fountain pen, and Lee Barrage invented the Type Writing Machine and W. A. Love invented the Advanced Printing Press. They were all, you guessed it, Black.
7. Even if Americans could write their letters, articles and books, they would not have been transported by mail because William Barry invented the Postmarking and Canceling Machine, William Purveys invented the Hand Stamp and Philip Downing invented the Letter Drop.
8. The lawns were brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invented the Lawn Sprinkler and John Burr the Lawn Mower.
9. When they entered their homes, they found them to be poorly ventilated and poorly heated. You see, Frederick Jones invented the Air Conditioner and Alice Parker the Heating Furnace. Their homes were also dim. But of course, Lewis Lattimer later invented the Electric Lamp, Michael Harvey invented the lantern, and Granville T. Woods invented the Automatic Cut off Switch. Their homes were also filthy because Thomas W. Steward invented the Mop and Lloyd P. Ray the Dust Pan.
10. Their children met them at the door – barefooted, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect? Jan E. Matzelinger invented the Shoe Lasting Machine, Walter Sammons invented the Comb, Sarah Boone invented the Ironing Board, and George T. Samon invented the Clothes Dryer.
11. Finally, they were resigned to at least have dinner amidst all of this turmoil. But here again, the food had spoiled because another Black Man, John Standard invented the refrigerator.
Now, isn’t that something? What would this country be like without the contributions of Blacks, as African-Americans?
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘by the time we leave for work, millions of Americans have depended on the inventions from the minds of Blacks.’
Black history includes more than just slavery, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey & W.E.B. Dubois.
PLEASE SHARE, ABUNDANTLY
CRAIG’S LIST AD
To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last.
Date: 2009-05-27, 1:43 a.m.
I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend’s purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.
First, I’d like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn’t expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head … isn’t it?!
I know it probably wasn’t fun walking back to wherever you’d come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I’m sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].
After I called your mother or “Momma” as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you’d done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, — on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful!
I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]
I then threw your wallet into the big pink “pimp mobile” that was parked at the curb … after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver’s side of the car.
Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what ‘s going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA’s office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.
The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).
In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you … but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you’ve chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day!
Thoughtfully yours,
Alex
P.S. Remember this motto … An armed society makes for a more civil society!
I probably don’t have to ask you to forward this one.
VETERAN LEGISLATION 01/28/2010
Of the 4551 House and S2959 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. 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 (139) 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 (8) 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 (87) 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 (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.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 (None) 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 (122) 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 (13) 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 (9) 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 (122) 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 (122) 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 (135) 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 (2) 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 (39) 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 (38) 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.598 : American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Science and Technology; House Education and Labor; House Financial Services House Reports: 111-8 Part 1, 111-8 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Ways and Means, H. Rept. 111-8, Part II. Note: For further action, see H.R.1, which became Public Law 111-5 on 2/17/2009. ________________________________________ 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 (13) 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 (1) 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 (43) 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 (9) 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 (318) Companion Bill S.535 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/17/2009 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 or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746 ________________________________________ 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 (5) 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 (193) 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 (4) 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 (3) 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 (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (94) 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 (54) 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 (27) Related bill S.1204 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (8) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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 (204) 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 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 (13) 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 (78) 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: 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.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 (11) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 – 12. ________________________________________ 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 (7) 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 (21) 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 (22) 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 (16) 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: 12/16/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. ________________________________________ 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 (48) 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 (105) 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 (20) 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 (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.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 (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. 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 (335) 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 (29) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (73) 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 (238) 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 (2) 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 (58) 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 (20) 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 (1) 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 (38) 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 (14) 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 (8) 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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (23) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (26) 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 (46) 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 (36) 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 (12) 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: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. ——————————————————————————–
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 (7) 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 (2) 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 (21) 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 (1) 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 (28) 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 (21) 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 (10) 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 (12) 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) 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 (7) 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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (85) 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 (16) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (2) 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 (15) 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 (1) 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 (30) 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 (5) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee 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 (43) 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 (149) 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 (28) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (7) 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 (40) 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 (13) 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 (56) 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 (4) 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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (None) 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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (None) 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: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (3) 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 (None) 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 (9) 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 (None) Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/26/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and 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.4551 : Retiree Restoration of Health Care Coverage. 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 (30) Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 1/27/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, 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. ——————————————————————————–
Senate S.35 : IRS Sales Tax Permanent Deduction. A bill to provide a permanent deduction for State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill H.R.369. Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ 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 (26) 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 (1) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (54) 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 (17) 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 (19) 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 (27) 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 (3) 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 (37) 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 (13) 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 (6) 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 (5) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/28/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 9:30 a.m. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) 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 (13) 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 (17) 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 (6) 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.1603 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009. A bill to amend section 484B of the 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: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 8/6/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.2456, H.R.2561 Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (12) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– 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 (8) 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 (6) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) 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 (5) Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (6) 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 (7) 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. ——————————————————————————– [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 28 Jan 09 ++] |
RAO BULLETIN 02/01/10
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Veteran Employment [06] ———— (968,000 Unemployed)
== Tricare Regional Contracts [05] ——- (No changes in 2010)
== NARA Data Breach —————– (250,000 Compromised)
== Tennessee Veteran Cemetery ———————– (Overview)
== Tennessee Veteran Cemetery [01] —– (East TN Expansion)
== Cold War Experiments Lawsuit [01] — (Approved for Trial)
== BrainPort Vision Project — (Blind Vet Participants Sought)
== Credit Card Charges [04] ———– (Effective 22 FEB 2010)
== Telemarketing Call Elimination [08] — (09Biennial Report)
== Seniors Healthcare Costs —————————- (Big Jump)
== GI Bill [66] ————————— (Shared Responsibilities)
== GI Bill [67] ———— (Automated Claims System Schedule)
== GI Bill [68] —————— (Advance Payment Recoupment)
== GI Bill [69] ———————————- (Hotline Problems)
== VA Blue Water Claims [10] —————– (VA Policy 211)
== VA Claim Error Rate [02] ———– (IG Reports VA Errors)
== USERRA [10] —————— (Law’s Reservist Protections)
== Vet Jobs [13] ———– (New Federal Employment Website)
== Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 [03] —– (Vet Impact)
== Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 [04] — (5 Year Patch)
== TSP [26] ———————————————- (2009 YTD)
== VA Health Care Enrollment [02] —— (2010 Income Limits)
== VA Pension [01] ———————————– (2010 Rates)
== Mobilized Reserve 26 JAN 2010 ———— (7,704 Increase)
== Tricare Social Media — (Communication Source Expansion)
== PTSD [36] ————————– (More Reliable Diagnosis)
== PTSD [37] ————————— (NVLSP Lawsuit Results)
== VA Claims Backlog [33] —————— (Florida Concerns)
== VA VLER (Vet Lifetime Electronic Record) —- (Overview)
== VA VLER [01] ———————– (Civilian EHR Security)
== DFAS Retiree Pay Statement [01] ———– (Printing Error)
== Medicare Rates 2010 [03] ———————— (Action Alert)
== Health Care Reform [22] —————— (Tricare Concerns)
== Health Care Reform [23] ——————— (Vet Side Effects)
== Health Care Reform [24] ——————- (Passage Options)
== Utah Veterans Homes [01] —————- (3rd Home Sought)
== Military Stolen Valor [14] ——————– (Phony two-star)
== Tricare Gray Area Retirees [03] ———– (Pricier than TRS)
== Enlistment [08] ———- (Drug/Alcohol Involvement Impact)
== Medicare Fraud [31] ————————- (16-31 Jan 2010)
== Medicaid Fraud [07] ————————- (16-31 Jan 2010)
== Military History Anniversaries ——— (Feb 1-15 Summary)
== Tax Deduction Wisdom [01] ——————- (Homeowners)
== Tax Burden for Maryland Retirees ——————— (2009)
== Veteran Legislation Status 28 Jan 10 —— (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ——————- (How to give a pet a pill)
== RAO Bulletin Non-receipt ————— (New & Old format)
===============================
Veteran Employment Update 06: Last week, Steve Buyer, the senior Republican member on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, reached out to Democrat leaders to bring about a bipartisan, legislative effort to assist the record level numbers of unemployed veterans. The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 968,000 veterans are unemployed compared with 807,000 last year. The data also shows an alarming 18.3% unemployment rate for veterans between the ages of 20 to 24. “These numbers are inexcusable and reflect the problems that veterans of every age group face in today’s job market,” said Buyer. “Congress must act to approve a jobs bill for veterans that will help stimulate the economy by expanding opportunities for veteran owned small businesses.” In December 2009, Buyer introduced H.R.4220, the Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to help veterans find meaningful employment and career opportunities. “Addressing the high unemployment rate among veterans must be among Congress’ top priorities for the second session of the 111th Congress,” continued Buyer. “H.R. 4420 would reduce veterans’ unemployment through targeted incentives to provide job training and entrepreneurial opportunities to those went from the battlefield to the unemployment line.” The bill contains the following provisions:
- Re-authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Owned Small Business Loan Guaranty Program which would guarantee loans up to $500,000;
- Creates a new Troops-to-Teachers program to pay new teachers who are veterans, and teaching in a rural area, a $500 monthly stipend;
- Increases the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) authorization from $9 to $20 million;
- Increases the Vocational Rehabilitation monthly stipend to an amount equal to the maximum housing stipend under the post 9/11 GI Bill;
- Creates a two-year paid VA internship program for up to 2,000 vocational rehabilitation participants;
- Provides a zip code based housing stipend for unemployed veterans participating in a VA approved OJT/Apprenticeship program.
- Establishes a VA website link to reputable veteran employment websites and nationally advertise the “Vet-success” website created by the Vocation Rehabilitation Program;
- Expands VA authority to enter into sole source contracts with veteran owned small businesses;
- Raises the priority status for veteran owned small business–to attain government procurement contracts–to the same level as minority and women owned small businesses;
- Extends 8(a) eligibility for small businesses owned by individuals on active duty.
On a sad note, word has been received that Congressman Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Member on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and one of the principal leaders in establishing Tricare for Life, announced his retirement from Congress at the end of this term. Cong. Buyer will retire to assist his wife, Joni, who has been diagnosed with what doctors call an “incurable” autoimmune disease. [Source: TREA Washington Update 29 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tricare Regional Contracts Update 05: Millions of Tricare beneficiaries who were facing changes in support contractors on 1 APR will not have changes at all this year. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has upheld claims that the winning bids, worth $38 billion over five years, were unfair, which delays any changes in contractor until at least 1 MAR 2011. This means that no beneficiary will need to change phone numbers or Web sites to make appointments. The GAO found several points to uphold and further investigate the claims, the largest of which was concern that Aetna Government Health Plans, which won the bid against current north regional contractor Health Net, used proprietary information to form its bid, provided by a former chief of staff at Tricare Management Activity (TMA), who still had access to private information and sensitive documents. Humana, which currently serves the south region of Tricare, also won its protest of a $21 billion contract awarded to UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, claiming that the contracting officer did not correctly weigh the value of fee discounts Humana was offering via its care providers. Both Humana and TriWest Healthcare Alliance, whose bid was not disputed, have had their contracts extended to March 31, 2011, as well. [Source: NGAUS Leg Up 29 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
NARA Data Breach: Personal information for 250,000 Clinton administration staff and White House visitors sent to the National Archives was compromised after a computer hard drive containing confidential material disappeared nearly a year ago, RollCall.com reported Wednesday. The National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) sent letters to former White House staff members and visitors during the Clinton era, informing them of the data breach and warning that highly sensitive information, like Social Security numbers, has been put in jeopardy, according to the newspaper. “NARA is attempting to inform all individuals whose personally identifiable information was contained on the missing hard drive,” acting archivist Adrienne Thomas reportedly wrote in the letter. The hard drive was part of a storage collection containing contents of computers of former Clinton administration employees, including one of former Vice President Al Gore’s daughters, whose Social Security number was on the drive. The hard drive was reported missing in March 2009, according to the newspaper. [Source: FOXNews.com 27 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tennessee Veteran Cemetery: Tennessee has five National and three state veteran cemeteries. The Chattanooga and Mountain Home National facilities have space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains. However the other national sites only have space available for cremated remains. They may be able to accommodate casketed remains in the same gravesite of previously interred family members. For space availability in state facilities call the numbers provided below. At state facilities there is a $300.00 fee for the interment of a veteran’s spouse or eligible dependent children that must be paid prior to or the day of the burial. Facilitiey
locations are:
- Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Avenue, Chattanooga TN 37404 Tel: (423) 855-6590 or 6591 FAX: (423) 855-6597.
- Knoxville National Cemetery 939 Tyson Street, NW, Knoxville TN 37917 Tel: (423) 855-6590 or 6591 FAX: (423) 855-6597.
- Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Road, South, Madison TN 37115-4619 Tel: (615) 860-0086 or 0230 FAX: (615) 860-8691.
- Memphis National Cemetery, 3568 Townes Avenue, Memphis TN 38122 Tel: (901) 386-8311 FAX: (901) 382-0750.
- Mountain Home National Cemetery, P.O. Box 8, Mountain Home TN 37684 Tel: (423) 979-3535 FAX: (423) 979-3521.
- East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 5901 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville TN 37917 Tel: (865) 594-6776.
- Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Memphis, TN 381254000 Forrest Hill/Irene, Memphis TN 38122 Tel: (901) 543-7005.
- Middle Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville TN (615) 532-2238
Internment eligibility in National cemeteries is in accordance with the guidelines provided at www.cem.va.gov/bbene/eligible.asp. Internment eligibility in Tennessee’s state veteran cemeteries extends to:
- Any person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps) who was discharged or released there from before 7 SEP 80 under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died while on active duty.
- Any person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States who entered active duty as an enlisted person after 7 SEP 80, and officers commissioned who entered active duty after 17 OCT 81, and whose discharge or separation from active military service was under “other than dishonorable'” conditions. A person whose first tour of duty began on or after the dates listed above is eligible if he or she completed a continuous period of active duty of at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty, whichever is shorter or was released because of a hardship discharge, or has a compensable service connected disability or was released because of a service connected disability.
- Reserve & National Guard members who are in receipt of compensation or pension from the VA are eligible for burial and do not have to pay the plot allowance, except when the claim is denied by the U. S. Department of Veterans of Affairs.
- Reserve & National Guard members who completed twenty or more years of reserve or guard service and are entitled to retirement pay. This category of veterans does not qualify for the $300.00 plot allowance, headstone and flag at government expense. Costs must be paid prior to burial.
- Reserve & National Guard members are also eligible for burial under the following five (5) categories and do not have to pay the plot allowance cost, except when the claim is denied by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Dies under honorable conditions while undergoing active duty for training.
- If called to active duty, completes the full period for which called up.
- Dies under honorable conditions while performing full time AGR service.
- Completed at least 24 months of active service.
- Discharged due to service connected disability while on active duty.
For additional information on veteran burial in Tennessee refer to www.state.tn.us/veteran/burial.html . [Source: www.state.tn.us Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tennessee Veteran Cemetery Update 01: Local veterans concerned about the quality and accessibility of their final resting place voiced strong reservations 15 JAN about state officials’ plans for a new veterans’ cemetery across the French Broad River from the blasting operations of a local quarry. Tennessee Veterans Affairs Commissioner John Keys didn’t outright say that the 68-acre site in Southeast Knox County was a done deal, although he warned that any change of plans at this stage could jeopardize the project’s approved federal funding. And the estimated $2.4 million cost of the cemetery’s construction is solely federally funded. Keys said the current East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Lyons View Pike is expected to reach its full capacity by next year. And the original plan to expand the cemetery across the road to Lakeshore Park was scrapped after federal officials deemed the expansion site unacceptable in NOV 09. Knoxville City Council members are set to vote on a tentative agreement to buy the newly proposed cemetery site off Gov. John Sevier Highway for $1.4 million and swap it with the state for 17.2 acres at Lakeshore Park.
Some veterans worry about possible disturbances from weekly blasts at the gravel quarry, and that funeral processions to the former farmland site would have to unduly compete with traffic from the nearby Forks of the River Industrial Park. Noise and seismic monitoring data collected in and around the quarry since MAR 09 indicate that the blasting is well within state standards, said Helen Hennon of Quantum Environmental & Engineering Services, the firm that conducted the project’s environmental assessment. Hennon said she heard many of the same stories some veterans had from residents adjacent to the site, who claimed to have cracked home foundations from the blasting. She said the quarry has refined its operations within the past year, though. Yet Hennon also said that the monitoring data cited in the environmental assessment were previously collected by a firm working under contract for the quarry owners. She said the assessment was due this month before any independent monitoring could be done. John Strange, a veteran of the US Navy, said he fears the quarry blasts could break monuments and burial vaults. “My daughter has had two or three wells have their bottoms knocked out up there. Pictures fall off the walls,” Strange explained. [Source: Knoxsville News Sentinel Hayes Hickman article 25 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Cold War Experiments Lawsuit Update 01: Morrison & Foerster has won the right to proceed with a case against the CIA, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army, filed on behalf of veterans rights organizations Vietnam Veterans of America and Swords to Plowshares, along with six veterans with multiple diseases and ailments, tied to a secret testing program in which U.S. military personnel were deliberately exposed to chemical and biological weapons and other toxins without informed consent. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief that would free them from their secrecy oaths and grant them healthcare that they were promised. On 19 JAN 2010, Judge Claudia Wilken of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, issued an order that overruled the government’s main arguments to dismiss the case, which were based upon lack of jurisdiction, failure to state a claim for relief, statute of limitations, sovereign immunity, and standing. “The victory obtained for us by our attorneys at Morrison & Foerster finally gives us a chance to redress one of the unfortunate decisions that has made veterans second class citizens,” said Paul Cox, Board of Directors Member at Swords to Plowshares.
The court also dismissed a direct challenge to the Feres doctrine, which is an exception to the waiver of sovereign immunity that was created by the Supreme Court during the Cold War. According to Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs at Vietnam Veterans of America, “the government became immune to damages suits by military veterans after Feres so the use of soldiers became cheaper than using guinea pigs.” The human experimentation program launched in the early 1950s and continued through at least 1976 when it was suspended in response to hearings conducted by Congress. Thousands of experiments took place at the Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick, as well as several universities and hospitals across America contracted by the Defendants. “Volunteers” were exposed to thousands of toxins under code names such as MKULTRA, including drugs such as LSD, mescaline, and cannabis; biological substances such as plague and anthrax; and noxious gases such as sarin, tabun, and nerve gases. “The government has long reconciled its war prosecutions and reliance on international treaties with secret actions on its part. As the case moves forward, perhaps we will finally learn an answer to why our vets were made victims at Edgewood,” said Michael Blecker, Executive Director at Swords to Plowshares.
Morrison & Foerster Senior Counsel Gordon Erspamer is the lead attorney representing the veterans, along with partner Timothy Blakely and associates Stacey Sprenkel, Adriano Hrvatin, Tim Reed, and Jonathan McFarland. The case came on the heels of an earlier case the firm filed on behalf of veterans afflicted with Post-Traumatic Distress Disorder, which is now pending in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The firm is handling both cases pro bono. The trial should be held either this summer or this fall in San Francisco, hopefully it will be given class action to that it will represent the entire 7120 veterans, their widows and their children, who have been deprived the veterans benefits the victims of these immoral and ill thought out hazards to human health. One of the litigants stated: The government has stated that this will never happen again, somehow I don’t trust them. The term “national security” has been used to hide many nasty things done in this nations name. Rendition, torture, up to and including abusing its own military personnel as this case shows. Then they use every means possible to deny it ever happened, they lie about it, they lie about the men who talk about it, they lie to us, they lie to Congress, they lie to Generals in charge, they lie to any and all involved in investigating them. I have been told I was NOT used in any “secret test programs” no I never claimed I was, I plainly stated I was used in a known classified project at Edgewood Arsenal, nothing more and nothing less. I have the files to prove I was there, can I prove what I was exposed to, no, I have had Congressman tell me that they have been informed by the Army that I was never there, I was not exposed to anything, I was sent home sick in JUL 74, despite Army records that prove I was at Edgewood Arsenal from 25 JUN thru 22 AUG 74. What took place during that 59 day period is classified, but it did happen.
The law firm’s position is that after decades of ignoring these veterans and their families, it is finally time for this nation to accept their responsibility for these men and women. We just went to war against Saddam Hussein for using WMDs primarily Sarin and Mustard agents against the Kurds, what did these 7120 soldiers do to the government of the US to deserve being used and abused by them? Justice demands that this nation give these men and women medical care and if appropriate compensation for their medical conditions caused by the “classified experiments” 35-55 years ago. It is time to honor these volunteers for the danger they placed themselves in to enable the development of chemical, biological safety equipment to protect today’s soldiers. They did not even give these men the promised Army Commendation or Soldiers medals they were promised, let alone the promotions we were promised. Maybe a federal court can make the military keep it’s “honor” since they decided to use and abuse and then ignore these men and women due to the true costs of doing the “right thing” decades ago. [Source: Morrison & Foerster Press release 20 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
BrainPort Vision Project: For those who are blind, the non-surgical BrainPort vision device is an investigational assistive device for orientation, mobility, object identification, and spot reading. It enables perception of visual information using the tongue and camera system as a paired substitute for the eye. Visual information is collected from a video camera and translated into gentle electrical stimulation patterns on the surface of the tongue. Users describe it as pictures drawn on their tongue with champagne bubbles. With training, users may perceive shape, size, location, and motion of objects in their environment. The BrainPort vision device is intended to augment rather than replace other assistive technology such as the white cane or guide dog. The BrainPort device was demonstrated by Cpl. Mike Jernigan, a medically retired Marine who lost both eyes after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004, during the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine First Open Meeting. The device could be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for market by the end of 2009 at a cost of about $10,000 per machine.
Dr. Amy Nau, an optometrist and director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Eye Center Contact Lens and Low Vision Services, is conducting a nationwide search for blind veterans of all ages to participate in a research study on BrainPort. Once study participants have been trained on the device, they will return home where they will be asked to use the BrainPort daily and document their experiences and findings. If you are a veteran of the U.S. military and are legally blind, you may qualify to participate in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s BrainPort study. For more information, contact the medical center at (412) 647-2481, or e-mail Gail Engleka at [email protected], or visit the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine website http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/news/article.asp?qEmpID=476. [Source: Military.com Benefits artic;le 4 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Credit Card Charges Update 04: The Federal Reserve’s new rules for credit card companies mean new credit card protections for you. Here are some key changes you should expect from your credit card company beginning on 22 FEB 2010:
- Rates, fees, and limits: Your credit card company has to tell you when they plan to increase your rate or other fees and how long it will take to pay off your balance. There can be no interest rate increase for the first year after you open an account. There are some exceptions including a late payment of more than 60 days or an introductory rate. If your credit card company does raise your interest rate after the first year, the new rate will apply to new charges you make. If you have a balance, your old interest rate will apply to that balance.
- Restrictions on over-the-limit transactions. You must tell your credit card company that you want it to allow transactions that will take you over your credit limit. Otherwise, if a transaction would take you over your limit, it may be turned down. If you do not opt-in to over-the-limit transactions and your credit card company allows one to go through, it cannot charge you an over-the-limit fee. If you opt-in to allowing transactions that take you over your credit limit, your credit card company can impose only one fee per billing cycle. You can revoke your opt-in at any time.
- Caps on high-fee cards. If your credit card company has an annual fee, the fee cannot total more than 25% of the initial credit card limit. For example, if your initial credit limit is $500, the fees for the first year cannot be more than $125. This limit does not apply to penalty fees, such as penalties for late payments.
- Protection for underage consumers. Cardholders under age 21 will need to show they are able to make payments; otherwise a cosigner may be required.
- Billing and payments. Your credit card company must mail or deliver your credit card bill at least 21 days before you payment due date. In addition, your due date must be the same date each month. The payment cut-off time cannot be earlier than 5 p.m. on the due date. If your payment due date is on a weekend or holiday (when the company does not process payments), you will have until the following business day to pay. If you make more than the minimum payment on your credit card bill, your credit card company must apply the excess amount to the balance with the highest interest rate. Finally, credit card companies can only impose interest charges on balances in the current billing cycle, thus eliminating “double-cycle” billing.
Be an informed consumer and review your credit card statements and disclosures. Contact your credit card company with questions or seek guidance from a military aid society, your local military bank, credit union, or Military OneSource. For additional info on Federal Reserve’s rules refer to www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk/creditcardrules.htm. [Source: NMFA Newsletter 26 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Telemarketing Call Elimination Update 08: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as required by The Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007, has approved two reports to Congress: a biennial report focusing on the use of the Do Not Call Registry by both consumers and businesses, as well as the impact that new technologies have had on the Registry, and a one-time report on enforcement efforts and consumers’ perceptions of the Registry’s effectiveness. As detailed in the first report, the Do Not Call Registry now has more than 191 million active registrations, and more than 18 million new phone numbers were registered in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. During that time, approximately 45,000 sellers, telemarketers, and exempt organizations such as charities subscribed to access the Registry, paying fees totaling more than $15.5 million. In addition, during FY 2009, the FTC implemented a new procedure for tracking disconnected and reassigned phone numbers, which addresses problems that may arise as a result of new telecommunications technologies and the ease of transporting numbers from one telephone service provider to another.
According to the second report, since 2003 when the Do Not Call Registry was put in place, research has consistently shown widespread public awareness of the program and a steady increase in the number of phone numbers registered. Together, the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission have collected penalties totaling over $22 million from Registry violators, and due to these enforcement actions and the agencies’ consumer education campaigns, consumers who have joined the Registry have reported dramatic reductions in the number of unwanted calls they receive. The FTC also has brought many enforcement actions against entities that have tried to circumvent the Registry’s rules by falsely claiming to have an established business relationship with consumers. Finally, both the FTC and FCC have adopted regulations that generally prohibit “abandoning” telephone calls – that is, delivering a pre-recorded message instead of connecting a consumer to a live representative when a consumer answer the call. Since DEC 03, the FTC also has brought 18 enforcement actions against telemarketers for unlawfully using pre-recorded mass “robocalls.” The Commission vote approving transmittal of the reports to Congress was 4-0. Both reports can be found on the FTC’s Web site at www.ftc.gov/os/2010/01/100104dncbiennialreport.pdf .
To be added to the National Do not Call registry go to www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx, click the “Registry” tab, and complete the contact info requested .Check your email for a message from [email protected]. Open the email and click on the link to complete your registration. To file a complaint go to https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2 and provide the info requested. You may file a complaint if you received an unwanted call after your number was on the National Registry for 31 days. You may also file a complaint if you received a call that used a recorded message instead of a live person (whether or not your number was on the Registry). Even if your number is registered, charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors may continue to call you. Companies with which you do business may also continue to call, unless you have asked them to stop calling you. If you have asked them to stop calling, keep a record of the date you made the request and include that information in the comment section of any complaint you submit against that company. Refer to www.donotcall.gov/faq/faqbusiness.aspx for more information about the companies that may continue to call the numbers on the Registry. [Source: www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/01/donotcall.shtm 4 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Seniors Healthcare Costs: Seniors received no annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2010, but drug costs and the premiums of prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans are making some of the biggest jumps in years. Among those coping with the worst cost increases are nearly 11 million people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Premiums of those plans have increased from 25%-32% on average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But 667,000 people with Medicare Advantage plans had to find a new plan altogether for 2010. Insurers cancelled some plans in response to new government spending cuts and requirements. The average monthly premium of Part D drug plans also rose 12%, and many enrollees of those plans are paying higher co-payments or co-insurance costs. According to a study released in May 09 by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), seniors’ buying power has shrunk by 20% since 2000. If the Social Security COLA were based on the CPI-E, however, retirees with an average benefit of $460 in 1984 would have received about $12,856 more through the end of 2010.
TSCL is highly concerned that seniors are getting put through the wringer and the situation will continue next year. Government economists predict that there may be no COLA again in 2011. Healthcare reform legislation would require even deeper cuts to Medicare Advantage and changes to Part D that would raise premiums for high-income seniors under pending healthcare reform legislation. Unlike other senior advocacy organizations, TSCL is strongly opposed to healthcare reform provisions that raise premiums, and out-of-pocket costs of beneficiaries. TSCL believes that the steep increase in healthcare costs over the past year while the CPI went down and was minus (-1.7) through September 2009 vs. September 2008 is proof that the annual method of calculating the COLA is broken and must be replaced. TSCL strongly supports new legislation that would more fairly and accurately base the annual COLA on a “seniors” CPI and guarantee that beneficiaries receive a minimum COLA of 3% every year.
U.S. Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) introduced the “Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act of 2009″ (H.R.4193) in Congress on 3 DEC 09. It has since been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Education and Labor, where it is pending further action. The bill, if signed into law, would amend the Social Security Act with regard to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Social Security beneficiaries receive. Currently, the COLA is based upon the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W), which tracks the spending patterns of young, urban workers. This legislation would calculate the COLA based upon the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E), which tracks the spending patterns of seniors. Also, the bill would guarantee that the Social Security COLA is never less than 3%. [Source: TSCL Social Security and Medicare Advisor, Vol. 15, No. 2 dtd 25 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
GI Bill Update 66: In a coordinated effort to speed up the processing of Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits this spring, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 20 JAN that it has been reaching out to student Veterans, servicemembers, university officials and other partners to meet its commitment to an aggressive processing goal by 1 FEB 2010. That is the first date spring payments are due and presently VA has processed over 72,000 of the approximately 103,000 spring enrollments received. Since inception of the historic new program last year, VA has paid over $1.3 billion in benefits to more than 170,000 students. “Only by VA and all of our partners working together will students be better served,” said VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Mike Walcoff. “We are making a concerted effort to reach out to everyone to provide the timely benefits that those who served our nation deserve.”Walcoff said there are “shared responsibilities” between VA, universities and the students to ensure the success of processing the education benefits on time.” To date:
- VA has sent letters to university presidents and school certifying officials, state Veterans affairs directors, and notified Veteran service organizations, congressional members and other education stakeholders highlighting VA’s emphasis on the importance of timely submission of school enrollment information.
- VA also released a “Hip Pocket” guide and checklist, with helpful tips to assist Veterans in the application process. The guide and checklist can be found on college campuses and VA’s GI Bill Web site, www.gibill.va.gov.
- VA is working to provide timely payments to all eligible Veterans to ensure that students are spared the financial hardships which some faced during the fall 2009 term.
- To help address the high volume of claims received for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA hired 530employees, bringing the total number of education claims processors to 1,200. Employees have been working mandatory overtime since AUG 09. Additionally, the department awarded a temporary contract to assist with education claims processing.
Veterans, servicemembers, reservists, and members of the National Guard who served on active duty since September 11, 2001 are potentially eligible for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. It provides payments for tuition and fees, as well as a housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies for many participants. Under the new GI Bill, some members of the armed forces may transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent children. Information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as VA’s other educational benefit programs, is available at VA’s Web site, www.gibill.va.gov, or by calling 1(888) 442-4551). [Source: VA News Release 20 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
GI Bill Update 67: Roger Baker, chief information officer at VA, testifying 21 JAN before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity informed them of some slippage in deployment of the GI bill claims system. The Veterans Affairs Department is on track to unveil in late March the first version of a system to automate processing of educational benefit claims under the post-9/11 GI Bill, but its software capabilities will be more limited than originally planned. The first release of the rules-based software, which the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic is developing in four stages — will allow officials to manage simple claims, but not more complex ones, For example, the initial version will not be able to respond to situations in which veterans add or drop classes. The projected deployment schedule is:
- First release will be deployed to a limited number of claims examiners in March so they can gain real-world experience with the system while SPAWAR continues to develop additional rules to handle more complicated claims, according to Baker. Despite the more limited first release, VA expects to meet its original goal of having the system fully launched by DEC 2010. SPAWAR will have developed all the functionality originally intended for the first stage by JUN 2010.
- Second release in June will allow VA to move claims examiners off of an interim, semiautomated system launched in 2009.
- Third version of the software — which remains on target for a September release — will tie the claims processing technology to VA financial systems for payments to veterans, and the final step will provide a Web interface so veterans can manage their claims.
The learning system was one of the 45 IT projects that Veterans Affairs’ CIO Roger Baker suspended in 2009. Mark Krause, SPAWAR program manager for Veterans Affairs, said without the iterative development approach, VA could have faced a two-year delay in launching the system. “This is a good news story,” he said. VA failed to quickly process post-9/11 GI Bill claims for the fall 2009 semester, requiring the authorization of emergency payments of up to $3,000 per veteran at the end of SEP 09. Keith Wilson, director of the Office of Education Service at the Veterans Benefits Administration, told lawmakers he does not expect any such problems in payments for veterans enrolled in college for the spring 2010 semester. As of last week, VA had received 115,000 claims for that semester, and it will have all those processed for payment by 1 FEB, according to Wilson. [Source: NEXTGOV eNewsletter Bob Brewin article 22 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
GI Bill Update 68: The Department of Veterans Affairs is beginning the process of recovering advance payments made available during the fall 2009 semester to Veterans and servicemembers who applied for education benefits. “The advance payments were a huge success and helped thousands of student Veterans during the first days of the historic Post-9/11 GI Bill focus on studies and not their finances,” said Keith Wilson, Director of Education Services at VA. “Now, we can get to the business of closing the books on advance payments and focus on supporting Veterans for the spring semester.” VA will begin sending out notification letters this week explaining the repayment process. In October VA instituted an advanced payment process for all eligible students who were currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning for the fall 2009 term to ensure that all Veterans and eligible students were able to focus on their academic studies and not be burdened with financial concerns. As part of that process, a web portal was established to allow electronic submission for advance payment. Advance payments were also made on-site at VA offices around the country. At that time student Veterans were told that advance payments would be deducted from future benefit payments.
In collaboration with the Department of Defense, VA will also notify active duty service members who may have mistakenly applied for the advance payment of their options for returning un-cashed checks or reimbursing deposited funds. VA discontinued advance payments via the website portal following the conclusion of the fall 2009 semester. VA is currently processing approximately 7,000 education benefits daily, up from an average of 2,000 at the beginning of the fall 2009 term. As of 22 JAN the Department has processed more than 105,000 of the approximately 132,000 spring enrollments received. Since the inception of the historic new program last year, VA has paid out more than $1.3 billion in education benefits, and opened the door to higher education to more than 183,000 Veteran students. [Source: VA News Release 23 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
GI Bill Update 69: If you have had trouble getting your question about GI Bill benefits answered when you call the Veterans Affairs Department’s education benefits call center, you are not alone. VA officials acknowledged almost 90% of calls to the Muskogee, Okla., center never connected between October and December. They either got a busy signal or a message that the call could not be completed. For those who did get through, about 30% of the calls were terminated before their question was answered, either because the caller hung up or was disconnected. Some of the missed calls were from the same person trying again and again to get through, according to VA sources. They base that possibility on statistics showing that there were 1.1 million attempted calls in December but only about 145,000 calls that ended up connecting with people at the call center. High call volume — about 3.5 million attempted calls from October to December — is largely to blame for the missed calls, but a troubled phone system and staffing decisions also were factors.VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts said a decision to close the call center on Thursdays and Fridays to divert employees to process claims is part of the reason for missed calls. That move came after officials decided that processing a backlog of claims was the highest priority, she said.
The call center remains closed two days a week while VA focuses on processing claims for the spring term, hoping to avoid a repeat of benefits delays that plagued the Post-9/11 GI Bill in its first semester. However, officials hope that blocked and lost calls will decrease simply because the total volume of calls is expected to be less as students and schools become more experienced with the new benefit, and because VA will improve its performance in quickly processing benefits and reducing questions about the status of claims. “We anticipate fewer calls coming into the education call center because fewer veterans will have questions about their claims,” Roberts said. “With fewer claims, we will be able to put education call center employees presently being used to process education claims back on the phones during Thursday and Friday.” VA is making progress on processing claims, she said. Last fall, the VA was able to process about 2,000 claims a day. That is up to 7,000 claims a day now, she said. Problems with the call center were raised 21 JAN by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economy opportunity panel, who urged VA officials to do something about the problem.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin, whose panel has jurisdiction over the GI Bill, questioned the closure of the call center for two days each week. “While we understand the value of using call center staff to process education claims, VA can have the call center open five days per week by dispersing the same work hours throughout the week,” she said. Another issue is the telephone system itself, she said. When congressional staffers visited the call center, they were told equipment problems “create dropped calls and require constant maintenance,” Herseth Sandlin said. In a statement, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said they expect better from VA. “It is ridiculous that veterans aren’t able to get the answers they need,” the statement says. “IAVA continues to receive countless phone calls and emails from our members every week detailing problems accessing VA’s GI Bill hotline…”. VA has not made any secret of the reduced hours for the call center hours, which is open M-W 07-1500 CST, VA officials said. People with questions also can try to send an electronic query online. The site accesses a database of answers to frequently asked questions and also allows specific questions to be asked. Limited hours on the days when the call center is open have drawn complaints from students in different time zones, especially on the West Coast. Rep. John Boozman of Arkansas, ranking Republican on the economic opportunity panel, said the hours also prevent students living outside the U.S. from having a reasonable opportunity to get help. He suggested that VA impose a staggered work schedule so the call center is open for more hours. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 24 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA Blue Water Claims Update 10: The VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service has initiated a program to collect data on Vietnam naval operations for the purpose of providing regional offices with information to assist with development in Haas related disability claims based on herbicide exposure from Navy Veterans. To date, they have received verification from various sources showing that a number of offshore “blue water” naval vessels conducted operations on the inland “brown water” rivers and delta areas of Vietnam. They have also identified certain vessel types that operated primarily or exclusively on the inland waterways. The ships and dates of inland waterway service are listed below. If a Veteran’s service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through military records during the time frames specified, then exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further development:
- All vessels of Inshore Fire Support [IFS] Division 93 during their entire Vietnam tour
a.) USS Carronade (IFS 1)
b.) USS Clarion River (LSMR 409) [Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket]
c.) USS Francis River (LSMR 525)
d.) USS White River (LSMR 536)
- All vessels with the designation LST [Landing Ship, Tank] during their entire tour [WWII ships converted to transport supplies on rivers and serve as barracks for brown water Mobile Riverine Forces]
- All vessels with the designation LCVP [Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel] during their entire tour
- All vessels with the designation PCF [Patrol Craft, Fast] during their entire tour [Also called Swift Boats, operating for enemy interdiction on close coastal waters]
- All vessels with the designation PBR [Patrol Boat, River] during their entire tour [Also called River Patrol Boats as part of the Mobile Riverine Forces operating on inland waterways and featured in the Vietnam film “Apocalypse Now”]
- USS Ingersoll (DD-652) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, OCT 24-25, 1965]
- USS Mansfield (DD-728) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River AUG 8-19, 1967 and DEC 21-24, 1968]
- USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849) [Destroyer] [Operated on coastal inlet north of Da Nang, JUN 2-5, 1966, protecting Marines holding a bridge]
- USS Basilone (DD-824) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, MAY 24-25, 1966]
- USS Hamner (DD-718) [Destroyer] [Operated on Song Lon Tao and Long Song Tao Rivers, AUG 15-SEP 1, 1966]
- USS Conway (DD-507) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, early AUG 1966]
- USS Fiske (DD-842) [Destroyer] [Operated on Mekong River, JUN 16-21, 1966]
- USS Black (DD-666) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, JUL 13-19, 1966]
- USS Providence (CLG-6) [Cruiser, Light, Guided Missile] [Operated on Saigon River 3 days during JAN 1964]
- USS Mahan (DLG-11) [Guided Missile Frigate] [Operated on Saigon River OCT 24-28, 1964]
- USS Okanogan (APA-220) [Attack Transport] [Operated on Saigon River JUL 22-23, 29-30, 1968 and AUG 5-6, 1968]
- USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) [Combat Stores Ship] [Unloaded supplies on Saigon River and Cam Rahn Bay, APR 22-25, 1968]. Also, Cam Ranh Bay is a qualifying location for “inland waterway” service.
If you served on any of those vessels during the times specified, you will be granted, without further development and delay, a presumptive exposure to herbicides for the purpose of health care and monetary compensation. Note: This list is not complete. If you served on a ship that entered the inland waterways of Vietnam, please contact [email protected] with as much detail as possible so they can provide this information to the DVA for processing and inclusion in their data base[Source: Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin Jan 2010 Policy 211 ++]
===============================
VA Claim Error Rate Update 02: A new report from the Veterans Affairs Department inspector general will help fuel complaints about an error-filled disability claims process in need of a complete overhaul. Investigators looking at claims processing at the VA regional office in Roanoke, Va., found that 25% of the case files they closely studied had serious mistakes. Some veterans were denied benefits they deserved, and disability compensation was given to others who were not eligible. Many errors involved Vietnam veterans with disability claims related to exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange. In one case, a veteran was underpaid $21,857 because the claims staff did not properly consider a physician’s opinion that coronary artery disease was a complication of service-connected diabetes. In another, a veteran was overpaid $15,640 for a diabetes-related amputation below the knee that he said was related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. His claims folder contained no evidence that he had served in Vietnam, the IG report says. The report, released in mid-JAN, found similar problems with claims involving traumatic brain injuries. In addition to reviewing claims, investigators looked at the work stations of claims employees to determine if they were following strict rules to protect veterans’ personal information, and they also looked at mail handling procedures. Problems were discovered in both areas, the report says. Thirty percent of the desks inspected contained information that should not have been left unsecured. Investigators found six boxes of unsecured returned mail, about 4,200 pieces in all, containing personal information on veterans. In response to the report, VA officials provided refresher training on handling personal information and stepped up inspections of work stations to make sure policies are followed. More training also is being arranged for claims processors, the report says. [Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 20 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
USERRA Update 10: Though active-duty guard members/reservists are covered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and given active-duty benefits like basic pay, housing allowance and medical benefits, most take a 10% to 50% pay cut when mobilized. So any additional rights or protections from the federal government are helpful and often essential to reservists going on or coming off active duty. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 is a federal law intended to ensure that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other uniformed services are not penalized or discriminated against based on past, present, or future military service. It provides following basic protections for reservists:
In the Courts
- Default judgments: Court can’t enter a default judgment for failure to appear at trial or respond to a lawsuit during a period of active duty.
- Stay of Execution of Judgments: Court may stay execution of judgments, court actions, attachments and garnishments, unless guard members/reservist’s ability to comply is not affected by service.
- Stay of proceedings: Court may stay civil court proceedings during a period of active duty plus 60 days.
Other Civil Situations
- Foreclosure: Guard Members/Reservists are protected against mortgage foreclosures provided certain conditions are met.
- Installment Contracts: Guard Members/Reservists are protected from rescission or termination of contract for purchase of real or personal property if deposit is paid before service begins and ability to pay is “materially affected” by service.
- Interest Rates: Guard Members/Reservists can petition lenders (loan, credit card, mortgage) to drop rate to 6% for period of active duty.
- Life Insurance: Guard Members/Reservists are protected against lapse, termination and forfeiture for nonpayment of premiums for period of military service plus two years.
- Taxes: State of residence can tax military income and personal property, but collection of taxes may be deferred for period of active duty plus six months.
- Termination of Lease: (One of the most-used provisions of the Act.) Guard Members/Reservists may terminate lease for house or business if lease was entered before active duty and premises are occupied by member or dependents.
Leave
- Verbal notification is sufficient for reserve training and military missions.
- State missions, such as disaster relief, are not covered, though many states have similar laws of their own.
Employment
- Reservists may not be denied employment because of military status.
- Employers must reinstate Reservists to their jobs upon return with accrued seniority, promotions or pay raises they would have earned had they not left. For service of less than 31 days, Guard Members/Reservists must return to work at the beginning of the next regularly scheduled shift after travel home and an eight-hour rest period. For service of 31-180 days, Guard Members/Reservists must return no later than 14 days after release. For service of more than 180 days, reservists have up to 90 days to ask for their jobs back.
- Employers are not required to pay Guard Members/Reservists while they are gone, but Reservists may use vacation leave.
- Employers are required to keep health insurance available. For less than 31 days’ service, insurance must stay in place. For more than 30 days, it may be continued, but reservists may have to pay up to 102% of the premium. Guard Members/Reservists not electing to continue coverage may resume it immediately upon return, with no waiting period or exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
- Guard Members/Reservists have protection against job termination for a minimum of six months.
Training
- Employers must train or retrain returning Reservists.
- Employers must accommodate those returning with disabilities due to service.
Employer/Reservist Disputes
- National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), supported by the Defense Department, mediates disputes between reservists and employers. Some 4,500 volunteers making up 55 committees are available, and, according to the committee, able to mediate a solution in about 90% of the cases they handle.
- Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), part of the Department of Labor, handles cases that cannot be resolved by ESGR. It employs 120 investigators who have the authority to issue subpoenas, and if necessary, refer cases for consideration of representation. Service members are encouraged to contact ESGR first with employment-related issues.
- Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Civil Relief Act, in addition to USERRA, also protects military members of the military. The Soldier’s and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act was created in 1940 to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations with which military service could interfere.
For more information on your rights, contact: National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve,1555 Wilson Blvd., Ste. 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2405 Tel: 1(800)336-4590 or Veterans Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW Room S-1316, Washington, DC 20210 DOL website http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.magDtl&dtl=1&mid=940. [Source: EANGUS Minuteman Update 21 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Vet Jobs Update 13: On 9 NOV 09, OPM Director John Berry joined President Obama as he signed the Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which established the Veterans Employment Initiative for the executive branch and the Council on Veterans Employment. The Executive Order underscores to Federal agencies the importance of recruiting and employing Veterans, and assisting transitioning service members seeking employment with the Federal Civil Service. The Council on Veterans Employment, consists of 24 Executive Branch agencies and is chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki; OPM Director Berry serves as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.
On 21 JAN, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the official launch of www.FedsHireVets.gov, a critical component of President Obama’s Veterans Employment Initiative that will makes it easier to find federal employment resources. This site helps Veterans, transitioning military service members, their families, HR professionals, and hiring managers to receive accurate and consistent information regarding Veterans employment in the Executive Branch. John Berry, Director of OPM, stated “FedsHireVets.gov will be a one-stop gateway to Veterans employment resources throughout the government. Our goal is to honor Veterans service by helping them find good Federal jobs when they lay the uniform down.” Information on the site will help you understand veterans’ preference, how Federal jobs are filled, and unique veteran appointing authorities designed to help you find a job. The Government invests several billion dollars in the training and development of military service personnel. At the end of Fiscal Year 2008, there were approximately 480,000 Veterans working within the Federal Executive Branch. [Source: OPM News Release 21 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 03: A group of national organizations warned 21 JAN that If Congress doesn’t intervene, a funding formula will trigger a 21% cut in reimbursements to doctors in the Medicare and Tricare programs on 1 MAR. That, the group said, will force doctors to drop out of the programs and make it tougher for elderly and military beneficiaries to get health care. Representatives of the groups — AARP, the American Medical Association and the Military Officers Association of America — appeared in a videoconference from five cities. Speaking at the Harbor’s Edge retirement home in Norfolk VA, retired Navy Capt. Kathy Beasley said: “The last thing our troops in combat should have to worry about is whether a sick spouse or child can find a doctor to treat them.” Beasley is deputy director of government relations for the military officers association (MOAA).
For about a decade, reimbursements in Medicare and Tricare have been governed by the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which cuts payments when the economy contracts. Congress usually has stepped in to make up the difference when payment rates are set to drop. The groups said Washington needs to devise a permanent fix, though they didn’t offer a specific alternative. “Congress has decided the formula,” said Dr. Nancy Nielsen, a past president of the American Medical Association. “Congress has to fix the problem.” The issue is separate from, but related to, the health-care reform bill in Washington, said Nielsen, who spoke in Washington. “People need the assurance that they can see a doctor of their choice,” she said. Officials of AARP and the American Medical Association said they remain supportive of health care reform legislation. The MOAA has not taken a position on the bills but is monitoring issues that would affect its members, Beasley said. Bobbi Andrews, a Harbor’s Edge resident who attended the videoconference, wasn’t convinced. Health care professionals, like everyone else, should be expected to cut back, she said. “The hospitals and physicians are all making too much money.” Another resident, retired Navy Capt. James Van Pelt, said he wasn’t well-versed with payment rates. But he’s noticed that “doctors are spending less time with their patients and a lot of money on clerical help.” [Source: Virginian-Pilot article 22 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 04: It appears that, once again, Congress will act at virtually the last minute to stop a 21% cut in Medicare and Tricare payments to doctors scheduled to take effect on 1 MAR. On 28 JAN the Senate amended and passed by a vote of 60-40, H. J. Res. 45, which would raise the debt ceiling by $1.9 Trillion to a total of $14.3 Trillion. Senators adopted an amendment by Sen. Reid that would codify the PAYGO principle. This amendment would allow:
(1) Permanent extension without offsets of the middle class tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003.
(2) A two year extension of current estate tax law, and
(3) A two year extension of current Alternative Minimum Tax.
(4) Most important to military retirees and Medicare beneficiaries is that Reid’s amendment would extend by five years, the soon-to-expire moratorium on the Sustained Growth Rate (SGR) mandated cuts of 21 percent to Medicare/Tricare physician reimbursements which will otherwise take effect on 1 MAR 2010.
This extended moratorium of SGR mandated cuts should allow continued access to health care for military retirees and Medicare beneficiaries. If approved by the House of Representatives as expected next week, it would put an end (for a while, anyway) to annual threats that big Medicare/Tricare payment cuts would cause doctors to drop those programs’ beneficiaries as patients. Previously, legislators had been considering yet another one-year “patch”. But because the payment cuts compound each year, a one-year fix would have meant facing an even larger 26% cut for January 2011. The new legislation would buy Congress five years to come up with a permanent fix. Readers who would like to ensure their representatives vote favorably on this legislation are encouraged to go to http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14630896&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] to review an editable message for forwarding to their legislators requesting their support. [Source: MOAA Leg Up & USDR Leg Alert 29 & 30 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
TSP Update 26: For the second consecutive month 9 of the 10 Thrift Savings Plan funds posted gains in December. Overall all of the funds showed growth in 2009.
- The S Fund, which invests in small- and mid-size companies and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, had the largest gain in DEC after posting the biggest gains in NOV. The fund’s value increased 6.57%. Since the beginning of 2009 the S Fund’s value is still up 34.85%.
- The I Fund, invested in overseas companies, grew 1.43% in DEC and for the year is up 30.04%.
- The C Fund, which invests in common stocks of large companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, grew 1.94% in DEC and is up 26.68% for the year.
- The F Fund, which invests in fixed-income bonds, rose 0.25%, and is up 2.46 in 2009.
- The G fund, government securities, declined 1.55% from NOV but was up 5.99% overall for 2009.
All the life-cycle funds, which are designed to move participants from riskier to safer investment balances as they near retirement, had gains in DEC and for the year.
- The L 2040 Fund grew 2.12% in DEC and 25.19% for the year.
- The L 2030 Fund grew 1.85% in DEC and 22.48% for the year.
- The L 2020 Fund grew 1.50% in DEC and 19.14% for the year.
- The L 2010 Fund grew 0.70% in DEC and 10.03% for the year.
- The L Income Fund grew 0.59% in DEC and 8.57 % for the year.
[Source: My Federal Retirement 21 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA Health Care Enrollment Update 02: Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1722(c) requires that on 1 JAN of each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs increase the means test (MT) threshold amounts by the same percentage the maximum rates of pension benefits were increased under 38 U.S.C. Section 5312(a) during the preceding calendar year. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has announced that there will be no increase in VA pension for 2010. Thus, there will be no increase in VA Means test thresholds in Calendar Year 2010. The following new Means Test (MT) Thresholds are effective 1 JAN 2010, through 31 DEC 2010:
- Veterans with No Dependents:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $29,402.
(b) Above MT Threshold; $29,403.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $32,342.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than 10%: $32,343.
(e) Above GMT (i.e. household income amount that is below the geographically-based income threshold for their resident location) Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web sitewww.va.gov/healtheligibility/library/pubs/gmtincomethresholds.
- Veterans with One Dependent:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $35,284.
(b) Above MT Threshold: $35,285.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $38,812.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than 10%: $38,813.
(e) Above GMT Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web site.
- Veterans with Two Dependents:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $37,304.
(b) Above MT Threshold: $37,305.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $41,034.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than 10%: $41,035.
(e) Above GMT Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web site.
- Veterans with Three Dependents:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $39,324.
(b) Above MT Threshold: $39,325.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $43,256.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than10%: $43,257.
(e) Above GMT Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web site.
- Veterans with Four Dependents:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $41,344.
(b) Above MT Threshold: $41,345.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $45,478.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than 10%: $45,479.
(e) Above GMT Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web site.
- Veterans with Five Dependents:
(a) Below MT Threshold: $43,364.
(b) Above MT Threshold: $43,365.
(c) Above MT Threshold by 10% or Less: $47,700.
(d) Above MT Threshold by more than 10%: $47,701.
(e) Above GMT Threshold by more or less than 10%: Calculate using GMT Threshold at GMT Web site.
Note: Veterans with over Five Dependents add $2,020 for each additional dependent.
Veterans who qualify under Title 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(1)(D) as combat Veterans are not required to report their financial information for conditions potentially related to their combat service. However, unless otherwise exempted, combat Veterans must either provide their financial information or decline to provide their financial information and agree to make applicable co-payments for hospital and outpatient care that VA determines to have resulted from a cause other than their combat service. (NOTE: While income disclosure by a recently discharged combat Veteran is not a requirement, this disclosure may permit VA to determine if the Veteran is eligible for additional benefits such as beneficiary travel reimbursement, cost-free medication and/or cost-free outpatient or hospital care for services unrelated to combat). On 15 MAY 09, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a rule in the Federal Register which added additional sub-priorities within enrollment priority category 8. This rule became effective on 15 JUN 09, and required VA to begin enrolling Veterans into priority category 8 whose income exceeded VA’s National or geographically-based income thresholds by 10% or less. [Source: VHA Directive 2009-072 dtd 29 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Pension Update 01: Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans who have limited or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or, if under 65, who are permanently and totally disabled. For eligibility countable income includes income received by the veteran and his or her dependents, if any, from most sources. It includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business. There is a presumption that all of a child’s income is available to or for the veteran. VA may grant an exception in hardship cases. There is no set limit on how much net worth a veteran and his dependents can have, but net worth cannot be excessive. The decision as to whether a claimant’s net worth is excessive depends on the facts of each individual case. Veterans who are more seriously disabled may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. These are benefits that are paid in addition to the basic pension rate.
The base rate alone is used to determine if certain Veterans are subject to co-payments for Extended Care Services. The base rate plus increases for eligible dependents and for Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits (HB) is used to determine if certain Veterans are exempt from co-payments for Outpatient Medication and to establish eligibility for Beneficiary Travel. Under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. Section 5312, the VA is required to increase the benefit rates and income limitations in the pension by the same percentage and effective date as increases in the benefit amounts payable under Title II of the Social Security Act. For 2010 there was no increase. Thus, the 2010 pension base rates remain the same as they were in 2009 which are:
- Pension Only – Single veteran with no dependents $11,830; with one dependent $15,493; add $2,020 for each additional dependent.
- Pension Plus A&A Rate: Single Veteran with no dependents $19,736; with one dependent $23,396; add $2,020 for each additional dependent.
- Pension Plus HB Rate: Single Veteran with no dependents $14,457; with one dependent $18,120; add $2,020 for each additional dependent.
[Source: VHA Directive 2009-072 dtd 29 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Mobilized Reserve 26 JAN 2010: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 26 JAN 2010. The net collective result is 7,704 more reservists mobilized than last reported in the for 29 DEC 09 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 112,553; Navy Reserve, 6,988; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,604; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,392; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 771. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 143,308, 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/Jan2010/d20100126ngr.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 72-10 dtd 27 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tricare Social Media: Tricare is taking the plunge into social media to uncover what issues matter most to its beneficiaries around the world. Social media channels and networks like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr continue to transform how healthcare information—and information in general—is consumed by the public. Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity said, “Social media is changing the way we communicate. These powerful tools give us an opportunity to join the conversation surrounding Tricare and military health.” The ability to share healthcare information and receive feedback helps Tricare identify and address beneficiary concerns. Instead of deciding what information to share with beneficiaries, Tricare can ask for their input, identify what they want to know more about and respond accordingly. Recommendations from service members and their families have the potential to influence policy decisions and improve overall satisfaction with military healthcare. “We understand the value social media can bring to the organization, and we invite beneficiaries to talk to us about how we can improve their health care experience,” Hunter said.
Tricare is active on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, and is getting ready to launch a new media center Web page in MAR 2010. The media center will include Tricare news and links to Tricare’s social media channels. It will also allow beneficiaries to “share” benefit information with their friends and families online. Before launching the new media center Web page, Tricare wants to hear from the military men and women who use its benefits everyday. In the coming weeks Tricare will ask beneficiaries for feedback on the issues they want to know more about through Tricare’s Facebook, www.facebook.com/Tricare, or Twitter account at www.twitter.com/Tricare. Beneficiaries are also encouraged to visit www.tricare.mil/subscriptions to sign up for e-alerts about Tricare benefits and news. [Source: TMA Press Release No. 10-08 dtd 19 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
PTSD Update 36: Minnesota researchers say they may know how to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder much more reliably — a breakthrough that could help many Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. However, the diagnosis comes through a magnetic imaging machine that costs in the millions and only exists now in 40 or so U.S. hospitals and research facilities. A scan that detects magnetic signatures in the brain that are unique to the disorder could nonetheless give psychiatrists a more reliable measuring stick for PTSD, which forces people to re-live the emotions of traumatic events over and over. Doctors presently diagnose the disorder through interviews of patients and analysis of their symptoms. “We rely on circumstantial evidence or good faith or whatever,” said Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos, director of the brain sciences center at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. “But there’s no marker. There’s not a test.”
Researchers affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Minnesota used an experimental scanner to analyze magnetic patterns in the brains of 74 people with PTSD and 250 healthy people. With 90% accuracy, the scans identified those with PTSD. The scans revealed brain functioning in PTSD patients that was separate and distinct from typical brain activity. That supports the theory that traumatic memory uses pathways in the brain separate from those of normal memory and thought. The scans also found these unique patterns of brain activity were more intense in people with the worst PTSD symptoms, which include flashbacks, recurring nightmares, anger and hypersensitivity. That raises the possibility of using imaging to evaluate the severity of the disorder, the effectiveness of treatment and the progress patients make toward recovery. For the military, which has seen rising PTSD rates among returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan, the imaging results could help determine when or if troops are fit for redeployment, the researchers said. “It is going to be fantastic when we want to look at recovery and treatment in a systematic way,” said Brian Engdahl, a rehabilitation psychologist at the Minneapolis VA and a co-author of the study.
The limiting factor is the million-dollar cost of the so-called MEG scanner. (MEG stands for magnetoencephalography.) To pick up the faint magnetic signals in the brain, the scanner must work at ultra-low temperatures and be cooled with liquid helium. The VA, which funded the PTSD study, plans follow-up research with more patients as a next step toward making MEG available for clinical use. Engdahl said this study featured a variety of veterans, mostly from the Vietnam era but also from World War II and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. About half the PTSD cases emerged from combat-related trauma. Some patients who were scanned had recovered from their PTSD symptoms, yet they still showed faint levels of the unique brain activity associated with the disorder. That is consistent with existing knowledge of the disorder, Engdahl said. “You will never forget what you went through,” he said. “Traumatic memory is forever.” [Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press Jeremy Olson article 20 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
PTSD Update 37: More than 4,300 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who were diagnosed in service as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but got low military disability ratings, have won an agreement with the Department of Defense to upgrade those ratings retroactively to 50%.The higher rating will represent an important win for this group of veterans mentally scarred by war. It will mean, from date of discharge, eligibility for disability retirement and access to Tricare, the military’s triple health insurance option, for the veterans, spouses and dependent children. Any out-of-pocket medical costs since discharge also could be paid retroactively, and these soon-to-be-designated disabled “retirees” will gain access to discounted shopping and recreational services on base.
Sparking the agreement is a class action lawsuit brought by the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) which contends that the services illegally denied retiree status and medical benefits for years to these veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD then separated as unfit for service. Service Physical Evaluation Boards (PEBs) would ignore the disability rating schedule used by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which requires a minimum 50%rating for PTSD victims, and routinely separate their members with ratings as low as 10%.
A board decision that keeps ratings below 30% lowers personnel costs. Instead of immediate annuity and lifetime Tricare coverage, veterans rated below 30% get only a lump sum severance pay. Judge George W. Miller of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims agreed to stay a final ruling in the case of Sabo, et al v. United States after Department of Defense agreed to cut a deal. Seven veterans were named as original plaintiffs in Sabo but the claims court expanded the scope of the lawsuit to a class action. Defense officials gave NVLSP the names of 4300 veterans who should be invited to apply to have their ratings reviewed and upgraded, but there could be more. Misty Sabo, wife of former Army Sgt. Michael Sabo, an original plaintiff, said she was “totally excited” to learn of the agreement this week. Five of their six children are disabled with bilateral cleft lip and palate, which creates hearing, dental and speech problems and requires multiple surgeries. Family medical bills, said Misty, are enormous. Michael Sabo, 31, had served in the Army more than a decade when he was diagnosed with PTSD after two tours in Iraq where he routinely went on patrols that exposed him to multiple explosions and live enemy fire.
After Sabo’s first 13-month tour in 2003-2004 he suffered recurring nightmares, severe headaches and mood swings. In the middle of his second tour, which again exposed him to explosions, mortar attacks and small arms fire, he returned home on emergency leave to care for his children while Misty underwent surgery. While home, in Fountain, Colo., near Fort Carson, Sabo nightmares, severe headaches and violent mood swings intensified and, the lawsuit contends, “severely impacted him and his family.” He sought medical help and was diagnosed with PTSD and Post-Concussive Syndrome. In FEB 08, the Army separated him as unfit with a 10% disability rating and a modest lump-sum severance. Misty said she was stunned that the Army rating was only 10% for a condition that ended his career and changed his life so dramatically. Though he is able to work, every day remains a struggle due to memory loss, headaches and nightmares. Misty said a doctor at Fort Carson finally prescribed proper medication for Michael after some terrible times. At the urging of a local advocate for veterans in Fort Carson area, Sabo agreed to have his name added to the NVLSP lawsuit being prepared. By OCT 08, under pressure from Congress, Department of Defense did revise its guidance to the services on rating PTSD to adhere to the VA rating schedule.
Meanwhile, Congress ordered Department of Defense to create a special board to review any service-generated disability ratings of 20% or less brought forth by veterans who were separated as medically unfit since Sept. 11, 2001.Thousands have applied to this panel, called the Physical Disability Board of Review. So why bring a class action lawsuit specifically on behalf service members separated for PTSD? Bart Stichman, co-executive director of NVLSP, said the deal with Department of Defense forced by the court will expedite the rating review process for these PTSD cases upon application, and will guarantee those 4300-plus veterans a rating upgrade to 50% for at least six months. After that, the case will be reviewed again and the disability rating confirmed, increased or reduced. A Class Action Opt-In Notice Form is being mailed to these veterans and must be returned either by fax or postmarked before 24 JUL 10. Veterans who don’t get a notice by mail but believe they might be eligible can get more information online at: www.ptsdlawsuit.com. The deal will not benefit tens of thousands of veterans diagnosed with PTSD over the last 30 years, only those discharged with a rating for PTSD of less than 50% after 17 DEC 02 and before 14 OCT 08. As the dates indicate, the deal doesn’t include even all PTSD veterans discharged since Sept. 11, 2001. That’s because the lawsuit was brought under the Tucker Act, which has a six-year statute of limitation from the date a complaint is filed against the government, which was in December 2008. [Source: Mil.com Tom Philpott article 30 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA Claims Backlog Update 33: Florida veterans are urging Congress to shorten the backlog for disability claims and to eliminate an overlap in survivors’ benefits. These were among the top concerns that advocacy groups will raise at a roundtable with the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Florida is second only to California as a home for veterans, with 1.9 million, according to the U.S. Census. The issues are:
- Disability Claim Backlog – Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01), a committee member, recently met with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about the claim backlog that is surging with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. “The disability-claims backlog has become a deteriorating issue for the Department of Veterans Affairs and is in need of much improvement,” Miller said. The department’s spending bill that Congress approved in DEC 09 included $1.7 billion to hire 1,200 new claims processors, in an effort to reduce a backlog with nearly 397,000 claims pending, according to the Disabled American Veterans. But veterans seek more help for a system that has suffered for years. Claims grew by almost half between 2003 and 2006, when appeals averaged 657 days to resolve, according to the Governmental Accountability Office.
- SBP/DIC – The perennial dispute about survivor benefits, nicknamed the “widow’s tax,” bridges the departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defense. Basically, the government seeks to prevent spouses from double-dipping on retirement and disability benefits, but advocacy groups contend that veterans earned and deserve both benefits. Presently survivors of deceased retirees who have made monthly payments into the survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and died as a result of their service connected disability have to forfeit dollar for dollar the benefit received under DIC. Nationwide, 320,975 spouses, children and parents of veterans received $4.6 billion from DIC in 2008, according to the Congressional Research Service.
- Medicare Cuts – Veterans are wary of cuts in Medicare for the elderly and disabled that could ripple through the military health-care system Tricare for troops, their dependents and retirees. Because Tricare reimburses doctors the same as Medicare for services, the concern is that if Medicare payments go down, Tricare will also suffer. As payments go down, doctors could refuse to treat Medicare and Tricare patients. Even though national lobbyists note that Congress routinely reverses potential cuts in Medicare, the concern lingers.
[Source: Tallahassee.com Bart Jansen article 19 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA VLER (Veterans Lifetime Electronic Record): President Barack Obama officially announced the lifetime record program in APR 09 to develop a comprehensive digital medical record (i.e. Veterans Lifetime Electronic Record) for every military service member. The VLER will contain information from both Defense Department health services and VA health services. The program is being implemented in three phases:
- A DOD/VA interagency office has been developing interoperability between DoD and VA medical record systems since 2007. In OCT 09 VA Chief Information Officer Roger Baker said the interoperability work has been completed.
- In the second phase, DOD and VA health records for about 15 million people will be made available for secure exchange with public and private organizations, including health care providers and insurers through the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). The NHIN is a pilot project sponsored by the Health and Human Services Department to demonstrate national-level secure exchange of health data. The system currently is used by several federal agencies, state and local health agencies, and private providers and insurers. Baker said, “Moving the data to the NHIN is significant because it allows for exchange of medical information with private hospitals and doctors. For example, if a veteran receives treatment by a private doctor, eventually that record will be included in the lifetime record. A true lifetime virtual electronic record has to include the private sector.”
- The third and final phase for the system will be developing protocols to securely provide the DOD-VA patient’s medical information at the point of care. For example, if a veteran who goes to a private hospital, the goal is that the hospital doctor will be able to access all, or parts of, the veteran’s health record. Establishing an exchange at the point of care that can make the medical information available, while still honoring the patient’s privacy and consent agreements, securing classified information, and maintaining tight security, is a highly complex problem, he said.
The VA and DOD published a sources sought notice on 12 JAN that seeks a health analyst willing to visit four to six communities to analyze how the information sharing is progressing. Responses were due by 26 JAN. The health data will be exchanged over the Health and Human Service Department’s Nationwide Health Information Network. The VA and DOD began identifying communities for the project in DEC 09. One of the communities has been chosen, and four to six more will be chosen this year. Preference goes to communities with a significant share of care provided to the military and veterans, ability to demonstrate health information technology and exchange, and a high concentration of federal health programs. “The VLER Health Communities Initiative is the first necessary step for the implementation and refinement of VLER,” states the notice. The communities will be evaluated on cost and quality outcomes, following a performance evaluation now under development. The evaluation plan will be provided to the contractor who will implement the plan in each community. The contractor may need to travel to one or more communities, and will need to evaluate the completeness of the data and the contribution of non-VA data, the notice said. The expected period of performance is to begin in APR 2010. The contract will have a single base year and two option years. [Source: Federal Computer Week Alice Lipowicz article 14 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA VLER Update 01: As the federal government prepares to spend up to $27 billion in stimulus funds to promote electronic health records (EHR), a health technology industry survey suggests that a number of hospitals, health clinics, and insurance firms are violating federal security rules on patient data and putting sensitive health information at risk. The NOV 09 survey by the health technology trade association Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) found that one in four of the 196 health organizations that responded do not conduct a formal risk analysis to identify security gaps in electronic patient data . The survey results were first reported last last year, but widely overlooked is that failure to conduct a formal risk analysis is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which became law in 1996. Performing a risk analysis is crucial to assuring that patient information does not fall into the wrong hands, experts say. “This is a fundamental activity,” said Lisa Gallagher, senior director of privacy and security at HIMSS. “Everything they do [to mitigate the risk of a data breach] should be based on this security assessment.” In addition to poor patient data controls, the HIMSS survey highlights other privacy failures by the medical industry: inadequate data security controls, cases of medical identity theft, and insufficient budgets for information security.
The prospect of data breaches is not merely a theoretical concern. In 2009, hospitals and insurance companies were plagued by high-profile losses of sensitive patient data. In November, the insurer Health Net announced that a portable hard drive containing medical claims of as many as 1.5 million members in Arizona, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York had been lost or stolen. In OCT 09, a laptop containing social security numbers and other personal information of patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was stolen from a car parked at a hospital employee’s home. Despite the recent cases — and the survey’s findings of substantial lapses — no organization has ever been punished for violations of HIPAA’s data risk analysis provision, which is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since 1996, the agency has received approximately ten complaints that noted possible failure to perform risk analysis or risk management, according to Susan McAndrew, deputy director for health information privacy at HHS’s Office for Civil Rights; the civil rights office took over enforcement of HIPAA data security rules last July from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. None of the cases has resulted in penalties, which potentially range from $100 to $50,000 for a single violation and up to $1.5 million a year for multiple violations.
McAndrew said the agency hasn’t issued any fines because the goal of enforcement is to nudge doctors, hospitals, and insurers into compliance, not to punish them. “We have not needed to evoke a penalty scheme in order to get the corrective action,” McAndrew said. However, the office has so far declined to make public the names of any medical entities that have been pushed into compliance. McAndrew said the health care information society’s survey shows that the Office for Civil Rights needs to provide training on data security, but does not amount to a report card on the agency. “I don’t think under any measure that you can say enforcement in this office is lax in terms of HIPAA,” she said. “This is a top priority.” But industry insiders characterize the situation differently. They say there have been few patient data security cases at HHS because the agency relies on media reports, complaints, and referrals from other agencies to learn of potential HIPAA rules violations, which has not generated a wide number of leads or investigations. “There has been some perception that organizations have under-resourced this since they view it as not being actively enforced,” said Gallagher of the health care information society. “The HIPAA police are not coming around.” [Source: The Center for Public Integrity Joe Eaton article 19 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
DFAS Retiree Pay Statement Update 01: On 28 DEC 09, the Document Automation & Production Service (DAPS) printed Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay annual increases information to military retirees on behalf of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The statements were subsequently mailed to retirees by a DFAS vendor beginning 6 JAN 2010. During the printing of one file containing the statements, the document duplicating system malfunctioned. The malfunction was fixed, but upon restarting the printing run the data streams, with information for the front and back of the statement forms, were no longer synchronized correctly. As a result, approximately 18,000 recipients of the statements in the Norfolk, Virginia area received letters containing another retiree’s data on Page 2 of their form. The other retiree was not fully identified on the Page 2 but the information included data such as allotment type (insurance, savings bonds, etc.) the name of the payee (bank name, insurance company name, etc.) and the amount of the allotment.
There is no indication that anyone other than the intended recipients received privacy data such as Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers or phone numbers. Recipients of the misprinted statements will be asked to destroy the erroneous statements and corrected forms will be reissued. Maintaining the privacy of customers is of the utmost importance to DAPS and DFAS who proudly serve our nation’s military personnel. Both organizations regret the error and will work to ensure quality control procedures are improved and followed. Retirees that have any questions regarding their accounts should contact DFAS at 1(800) 321-1080. [Source: DFAS Press Release 0110-002 dtd 13 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA Graveliner Allowance: Public Law 104-275 was enacted on 9 OCT 96 which allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a monetary allowance towards the private purchase of an outer burial receptacle to encase the casket for use in a VA national cemetery. Under VA regulation (38 CFR 38.629), the allowance is equal to the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners less any administrative costs to VA. The law provides a veteran’s survivors with the option of selecting a Government-furnished graveliner for use in a VA national cemetery where such use is authorized. The average cost of Government-furnished graveliners is determined by taking VA’s total cost during a fiscal year for single-depth graveliners that were procured for placement at the time of interment and dividing it by the total number of such graveliners procured by VA during that fiscal year. The calculation excludes both graveliners procured and pre-placed in gravesites as part of cemetery gravesite development projects and all double-depth graveliners. Using this method of computation, the average cost was determined to be $264.00 for fiscal year 2009. The administrative costs incurred by VA consist of those costs that relate to processing and paying an allowance in lieu of the Government-furnished graveliner. These costs have been determined to be $9.00 for calendar year 2010. Thus, the allowance payable for qualifying interments occurring during calendar year 2010 is $255.00. [Source: Federal Register: 11 Jan 2010 (Volume 75, Number 6)] Notices Page 1454 ++]
===============================
Medicare Rates 2010 Update 03: The Medicare Part B Premium Costs have been established for 2010. The Part B premium is increased each year, if necessary, to fund about 25% of the projected cost of Part B. In 2010, most people will continue to pay the 2009 Part B premium of $96.40 even though the 2010 standard monthly premium is $110.50. Some people will pay the $110.50, or more for Part B. The scheduled 2010 categories for Medicare Part B premiums are:
1. Social Security Recipients NO CHANGE in Premiums for most recipients. Most people have their Part B premiums deducted from their monthly Social Security Benefit Check. Since there was no Cost of Living Increase for 2010 their benefits will not increase. The Social Security Act protects most people from having a decrease in their Social Security benefits from one year to the next because of an increase in the Part B premium. This means that for most people who have the Part B premium deducted from their Social Security benefit check that they will continue to pay the $96.40 each month.
2. People who get Part B beginning January 1, 2010 or later will pay the increased premium of $110.50 BUT may pay more based on their income. Medicare goes back 2 years as a matter of policy so this will be your yearly Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in 2008. Thus payers Medicare Part B will have the following monthly premiums obligation as indicated at www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11444.pdf :
- $154.70 on single AGI of $85,001 – $107,000 or joint return of $170,001 – $214,000.
- $221.00 on single return of $107,001 – $160,000 or joint return of $214,001 – $320,000.
- $287.30 on single return of $160,001 – $214,000 or joint return of $320,001 – $428,000.
- $353.60 on single return above $214,000 or joint return above $428,000 .
- People who have Part B but don’t get Social Security benefits will pay the increased Part B premium.
- States that pay the Part B premium on behalf of people with Medicaid will pay the increased Part B premium.
The Non Commissioned Officers Association and others are urging veterans to write their Senators and share the perspective that there should not be a Medicare Part B Premium increase in 2010 for any individual eligible for the Medicare Program based on the reality that there was no COLA increase for 2010. The House has already approved legislation, H.R. 3631 to provide for the application of a consistent Medicare Part B Premium for all Medicare beneficiaries in a budget neutral manner in 2010. Ask your Senators to vote to pass H.R. 3631. To facilitate this go to http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=14557751&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and review an editable message that can be automatically forwarded to your Senators. [Source: NCOA Legislative Alert 14 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Health Care Reform Update 22: Among other similar claims, a column in the Wall Street Journal in mid-JAN by former Senate Majority Leader (and Republican Presidential nominee) Bob Dole asserted that the Senate-passed national health reform bill would tax Tricare for military families when delivered by a private-sector plan. A White House blog post at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/reality-check-tricare-and-our-veterans-have-nothing-worry-about-health-reform strongly refuted this claim, asserting, “There is absolutely nothing in health reform that will affect Tricare beneficiaries.” To clarify further, there are two types of taxes at issue in the Senate health bill.
- One is an excise tax on individuals who have high-cost plans (the so-called “Cadillac tax”). The legislative language of the Senate bill specifically excludes Tricare, TFL, and VA coverage from this tax.
- The other tax is an insurance provider fee that would be levied on all insurance companies in America, proportional to their share of the covered population. It appears that the Dole column was talking about the latter tax.
As the WSJ column acknowledged, the proposed legislation would exempt all government entities from the tax. MOAA contacted the Senate Finance Committee staff to reconfirm their understanding of exactly how the plan would work for care delivered through Tricare’s civilian contractors. They were assured (again) that the non-partisan House/Senate Joint Tax Committee has indeed issued a ruling that this tax would not apply to Tricare contractors since, under the new contracts, the contractors are not underwriting coverage, but only administering the government program. One can accept this at face value, but also recognize that no one can ever guarantee that proposed legislation won’t be changed or interpreted ultimately in a different way than expected. This is why MOAA continues to ask veterans to use their Action alert at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14513626&type=CO to urge their legislators to ensure military and VA health benefits are explicitly protected, and not subject to any taxation, in whatever health care legislation Congress may consider. To date, veterans have generated nearly 80,000 messages to Congress on this topic.
Not part of the Health Care Reform bills are two issues that will also impact Tricare users, the scheduled cuts in Medicare payment levels for Physicians and the Deficit. The present law requires yearly cuts in the Medicare payment levels for doctors however year after year those cuts have been delayed. So now we have reached the point that the present statute calls for a 21% cut. If this is put into effect, no one knows how many doctors would stop taking Medicare and Tricare all together. Certainly many doctors would likely stop accepting NEW Medicare and Tricare patients. It is, obviously of special concern to anyone with TFL because Medicare is first payer to Tricare for Life. However, it is a serious concern to everyone who is a Tricare beneficiary since Tricare payments rates are initially set by Medicare rates. While the health care reform bill is everyone’s focus we should all remember that the more dramatic danger for military retirees’ benefits is the huge deficit we see on the horizon. With the projected deficit everyone (especially the Department of Defense) will be looking for places to cut costs or raise fees (practically the same thing) Co-pays and deductibles, enrollment fees, etc. will all be in play. This is important to remember and to gear up to contact your members of Congress and the White House when necessary. [Source: MOAA Leg Up & TREA Washington Update 5 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Health Care Reform Update 23: As House and Senate Democrats negotiate a final compromise national health care reform bill, military people across the nation — and their advocates in Washington D.C. — remain vigilant for side effects. The Obama administration and Democratic congressional leaders have tried to reassure military members, retirees and veterans that national health care reform won’t negatively impact them – in fact will help veterans. Democrats contend that if the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) becomes law, many of 16 million veterans not enrolled in VA health care “will have access to quality, affordable health insurance choices through [new] health insurance Exchanges…and may be eligible for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions as well.” A two-page list of reassurances from the Senate Finance Committee can be read online at: http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill51.pdf. Many military retirees and veterans don’t believe it. Their skepticism is reinforced by statements from Republicans who oppose the president’s health initiative, and by scary e-mails including one from a retired brigadier general who wrongly asserts that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) already has drafted a bill to eliminate Tricare for Life. It has not.
Scott Brown, who has won the U.S. Senate seat for Massachusetts that Ted Kennedy filled until his death last year, claims Tricare is at risk. A lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, Brown hasn’t explained his worry in detail but he expressed it again last in early JAN on a Fox News program. “If you hear a politician telling voters that health reform will hurt Tricare, don’t believe him,” said Matt Flavin, White House director of veterans and wounded warrior policy, on the White House Blog 13 JAN. “If you rely on Tricare, you have nothing to worry about.” The House-passed Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) states in Section 311 that nothing in the bill “shall be construed as affecting” authority of the Defense or Veterans Affairs department to provide Tricare or VA health care. The final compromise is almost certain to include this language to protecting Tricare and veterans’ health care, Capitol Hill sources said. They will be protected from any excise tax that Senate Democrats want to levy on so-called “Cadillac” health insurance. However, concerns from veteran associations include:
- FRA: Behind the anxiety of many older retirees is memory of a broken promise over free health care for life, said Joe Barnes, national executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association. That, combined with the endless loop of misinformation on the internet, has deepened concerns, Barnes said.
- TMC: Bob Washington, co-chair of the health care committee of The Military Coalition, an umbrella group of service associations, also points to the false report involving CBO. Many older retirees also fear for their Tricare for Life benefits from the spectacle of lawmakers each year having to block an automatic cut in Medicare doctor fees ordered by an earlier Congress. More anxiety arises because Democrats say they pay for health reform with billions of dollars in Medicare savings, something Republicans contend will put Medicare at risk though most military associations disagree.
- NMFA: Joyce Raezer, executive director of the National Military Family Association, believes legitimate concerns do remain for the military community. They flow from the plans’ promise to make affordable health insurance available to 31 million Americans who currently are uninsured. Health reform plans would create health insurance exchanges from which individuals and small business will buy coverage. Raezer wants to know what will happen if participating insurance companies try to entice physicians to be part of these plans by paying fees higher than Medicare allows. Tricare fees, by law, are tied to Medicare reimbursement rates. So Raezer worries that Tricare beneficiaries will see access to civilian providers tighten, particularly access to family physicians who serve as gatekeepers to specialty care. Some primary care doctors already set limits on the number of Tricare and Medicare patient they take on, she said. “What’s going to happen if reimbursements don’t change for Tricare? Are we’re going to continue to depend on patriotic doctors to take Tricare beneficiaries when all of these other people are jostling for care?” She urges the military community needs to remain wary. “Folks hear that the legislation isn’t touching Tricare, isn’t involving VA, and they say, ‘Okay, we’re safe,’ ” Raezer said. “I’m relieved that members of Congress don’t want to [pull] Tricare benefits into all of this [and will] let DoD run its health care program…But I don’t think that’s enough for us to say ‘Don’t worry.’ We still have to watch for unintended consequences.”
Told of Raezer’s concern, a Democratic aide to the Senate Finance Committee said the Senate bill does include a 10% increase in Medicare fees for primary care physicians. Also, she said, insurance exchanges won’t compete for providers any differently than insurers do now. A House staff member who works with Tricare agreed. Insurers, he said, won’t compete by “ratcheting up rates for doctors.” Most companies already have large physician networks. The competition will occur in knocking down doctor reimbursements to keep beneficiary premiums low. “It’s going to be almost a race to the bottom,” he said. “These companies are going to offer the cheapest packages possible. That’s how you’re going to get these [31 million] people into insurance.” They “aren’t going to be looking at plans saying, ‘This one has 220 doctors in my area but this one has 235.’ No. They’re going to say, ‘This one is $5 a month cheaper. I’ll take it.’ ” Some civilian physicians do turn Medicare and Tricare patients away because of reimbursement levels, he said. But other doctors prefer Tricare because it pays most claims fast, “typically within 36 hours of when a claim is submitted versus 240 days for your average health insurance company.” [Source: Military.com Tom Philpott article 14 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Health Care Reform Update 24: House leaders plan to bring small-scale health care legislation to the floor before the chamber leaves for its Presidents Day recess on 11 FEB, aides to Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 28 JAN. The legislation, which may consist of more than one bill, will include proposals that can win quick majority approval. But they would not be a substitute for the broad health care overhaul, which has stalled in prolonged negotiations between top House and Senate Democrats. Pelosi (D-CA) reiterated her position that the big bill, which was sidetracked last week after Republican Scott P. Brown’s victory in a Massachusetts special Senate election stripped Democrats of their 60-vote margin in the Senate, will eventually pass. “We must pass health care reform,” she said. “The problem is still there . . . We can’t sustain the current system.”“Some things we can do on the side,” Pelosi added. “But it’s not a substitute for comprehensive reform.” Pelosi has said she doesn’t have the votes to simply pass the Senate bill and send it on to President Obama. She said that negotiations will continue to find a compromise, but she wouldn’t give a timetable for reaching a deal. She also would not say whether Democrats would use the budget reconciliation process to advance the lion’s share of a health care overhaul. That process bars filibusters, requiring only 51 votes to move through the Senate. But measures moved under reconciliation cannot include policy provisions unrelated to revenues and entitlement program expenditures. The simplest option for Democrats to complete the stalled health care overhaul would be for the House to send President Obama the version passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve, and then to use the reconciliation process to pass a second bill that incorporates House-Senate compromises on all issues that could be dealt with through that process. So far, House Democrats have been unwilling to pursue that course. And with no final agreement on the parameters of a compromise version of the overhaul, neither Obama nor party leaders are demanding that they do so. [Source: CQ TODAY Midday Update 28 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Utah Veterans Homes Update 01: Veterans advocates will push Utah lawmakers to fund at least one more nursing home, now that the state can seek nearly $13 million in federal funding as reimbursement for the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home that opened in Ogden in November. This project was more than six years in he making. The state paid for the facility up front to get the job done but anticipated two-thirds reimbursement from the federal government. To win support for the bill that seeded the construction of the Ogden home, legislators who supported it agreed no additional homes would be funded until the federal government paid up. Stimulus funds routed to federal construction budgets sped up that timetable — on 13 JAN, the state received a letter from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki indicating it can now submit claims for reimbursement. The reimbursement had been promised, but Utah’s homes were low on the Department of Veterans Affairs priority list. Advocates anticipated it might be several years before they could secure state funding for homes needed in Washington, Utah and Tooele counties.
By law, the federal reimbursement dollars will go back into Utah’s general fund. But Rep. Curtis Oda (R-Clearfield) wants to use the money to immediately seed the construction of another home. Oda said he might drop a non-binding resolution he has sponsored expressing support for such a plan in favor of legislation that actually directs the money to construction. His only concern is that fellow legislators might decide the money could be used elsewhere. The Ogden home brought to 200 the number of beds available for veterans in the state, including an 80-bed facility in Salt Lake City. But that’s not even half of what the federal government has rated the state as needing, and many times less than advocates say is needed. Oda noted, for instance, that Idaho has fewer veterans than Utah but has one more home. Yet it took four years to get the state Senate to agree to pre-fund the Ogden home, so supporters aren’t claiming victory just yet. Sen. Pete Knudson (R-Brigham City), a former Army officer who sponsored the Ogden funding bill that passed the Senate last year, said he would take “a good hard look” at the option of reinvesting the federal money in another veterans home. But he said veterans advocates “have got some salesmanship to so do to a certain extent because of the current budget situation.” [Source: The Salt Lake Tribune Matthew LaPlante article 15 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Military Stolen Valor Update 14: A 69-year-old San Diego County man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for posing as a decorated Marine major general. David Weber entered the plea 14 JAN to a misdemeanor charge of making false claims about military decorations or medals. Weber, who has prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease, is expected to be sentenced to a year of probation. Authorities say Weber had been a Marine staff sergeant but he claimed to be a retired major general last November at a Veterans of Foreign Wars party in Ramona. Prosecutors say he wore a full dress uniform with five Legion of Merit medals, two Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Service Cross. Weber, posing as the highest-ranking officer, got the first piece of cake at the party, which honored the birthday of the Corps. [Source: NavyTimes AP article 14 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tricare Gray Area Retirees Update 03: To get an update from Congress on the implementation date of Tricare for Gray Area Retirees, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) met with legislative assistants for Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Rep. Robert Latta R-OH) , the two senators who led the effort to authorize the coverage in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislative assistants indicated that the monthly premium for Tricare coverage was still being determined by the Defense Department. They did not expect the coverage to be available until 1 OCT. Tricare Management Activity had reported last month that the coverage would not be available for another 11 to18 months because pricing for the coverage had yet to be determined. Congress was able to include Tricare for Gray Area retiree coverage in the 2010 NDAA because it was reported as cost neutral to the government. The new law requires beneficiaries to pay the full cost for Tricare Standard coverage incurred by DoD, with the monthly premium to be equal to the cost of coverage that the defense secretary determines on “an appropriate actuarial basis.” The secretary, through his staff, has been engaged for the last two months in an extended process to determine that cost of coverage.
When the bill was passed, the hope was that the price for the Tricare Standard coverage for this new group would be in the range of the full cost of Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) to the DoD. However, it appears that the pricing formula will most likely produce a cost higher than the base cost of TRS because of the older demographics of the covered group of Gray Area retirees. How much higher the monthly premium will be is unknown , but NGAUS would like to find out as soon as possible or at least monitor the process to make sure the pricing mechanism is fair. As you may recall, Congress had to correct the initial overpricing of Tricare Reserve Select premiums in 2008 after the Government Accountability Office reported a significant pricing error. Unfortunately, DoD is not making its premium pricing determination process transparent to Congress or the public. [Source: NGAUS Leg Up 15 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Enlistment Update 08: The United States Military does not condone the illegal or improper use of drugs or alcohol. All applicants for enlistment are carefully screened concerning drug and alcohol involvement. As a minimum, you can expect the recruiter to ask:
a. “Have you ever used drugs?”
b. “Have you been charged with or convicted of a drug or drug related offense?”
c. “Have you ever been psychologically or physically dependent upon any drug or alcohol?”
d. “Have you ever trafficked, sold, or traded in illegal drugs for profit?”
If the answer to the last two questions is “yes,” then you can expect to be ineligible for enlistment. If the answer to the first two questions is yes, then you can expect to have to complete a drug abuse screening form, detailing the specific circumstances of your drug usage. The military service will then make a determination as to whether or not your previous drug usage is a bar to service in that particular branch of the military. In most cases, a person who experimented with “non-hard” drugs in the past will be allowed to enlist. Anything more than experimentation may very well be a bar to enlistment. An “experimenter” is defined as:
..”one who has illegally, wrongfully, or improperly used any narcotic substance, marijuana, or dangerous drug, for reasons of curiosity, peer pressure, or other similar reason. The exact number of times drugs were used, is not necessarily as important as determining the category of use and the impact of the drug use on the user’s lifestyle, the intent of the user, the circumstances of use, and the psychological makeup of the user. An individual whose drug experimentation/use has resulted in some form of medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatment; a conviction or adverse juvenile adjudication; or loss of employment does not fall within the limits of this category. For administrative purposes, determination of the category should be within the judgment of either the district or recruiting station commanding officer, aided by medical, legal, and moral advice, with information as available from investigative sources.”
While not a “hard and fast” rule, one can expect that any admitted use of marijuana over 15 or so times, or any admitted use of “hard drugs,” will be disqualifying, and require a waiver. In any case:
1. Dependency on illegal drugs is disqualifying.
2. Any history of drug use is potentially disqualifying.
3. Any history of dependency on alcohol is disqualifying.
Even if enlistment is authorized, many sensitive military jobs will be closed to individuals who have any past association with illegal drug or alcohol use. In the Air Force, anyone who admits to smoking marijuana less than 15 times does not require a waiver. More than 15 times, but less than 25 requires a Drug Eligibility Determination (basically, a trained Drug & Alcohol Specialist will examine the exact circumstances of the use). An approved Drug Eligibility Determination is not the same thing as a “waiver,” in that it will not preclude enlistment in most Air Force Jobs. 25 or more uses of Marijuana in a lifetime is disqualifying, and requires a waiver. As a minimum, recruits will undergo a urinalysis test, when at the Military Entrance Processing Station, (MEPs) for their initial processing, and again when reporting for basic training. [Source: About.com: U.S. Military Rod Powers article 19 Sep 09 ++]
===============================
Medicare Fraud Update 31:
- Detroit MI – The Detroit area has emerged as a national “hot spot” for health care fraud, with 84 people indicted on charges of bilking the system of $85 million in the last eight months, officials say. Those numbers include two physicians and 11 other people arrested in a 14 JAN sweep, accused of billing Medicare for $14.5 million in services that were never provided. High, and in some cases chronic, unemployment means Detroit is rife with people willing to give up their Medicare billing numbers for $50 to $100 or perhaps a free painkiller prescription, officials say. In the latest case, two physicians — one licensed and one not — are accused of working with home health care companies, two adult foster care home owners and others to fraudulently bill for home health services. The foster care operators are accused of providing their residents’ Medicare billing numbers in exchange for kickbacks. Of the 84 people indicted, 33 have pleaded guilty and some are facing lengthy prison sentences under federal sentencing guidelines. Federal officials are also using forfeiture laws to recover money bilked from the system.
- Miami FL – Since 2004, a Miami psychiatrist has prescribed almost 14 million pills to Medicaid patients at a cost to taxpayers of $43 million, a state agency says. Fernando Mendez-Villamil would have had to issue 4,000 prescriptions a month, or 1,000 a week, to keep up that pace, according to the report released this week by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Altogether in the six years from 2004-09, he issued nearly 285,000 prescriptions, the AHCA report showed. The mental health drugs that he frequently prescribes are expensive even at the online Drugstore.com: Zyprexa, about $842 a month for 30 days; Abilify, $634; and Seroquel, $430. The agency referred a complaint about Mendez-Villamil to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in 2007, a timeline shows, and a spokeswoman for that office said the investigation is still ongoing. Sen. Don Gaetz, chairman of the health regulation committee, said Mendez-Villamil “appears to be taking advantage of the taxpayers of Florida and draining money away from legitimate patients. He should be the poster boy for tougher enforcement actions.”
- Towson MD – Maryland’s top cardiac-care hospital is in a soup after a federal investigation established an insurance fraud going on. Several patients had coronary stents implanted in their arteries that were actually not needed. For reimbursing the procedure cost that can cost $10,000 or more from Medicare or private insurers it is necessary to have at least 70% blockage. If a patient reports 50% or less blockage then he can not get the amount reimbursed. The stents were received by about 369 patients at the St. Joseph Medical Center. A majority of these patients were informed that their arteries were severely blocked.
- Brevard County FL – Following up on a whistleblower’s complaint, the federal government spent more than a year investigating billing practices and medical records of Melbourne Internal Medicine Associates’ cancer treatment center. The government filed its complaint in federal court in October and lawyers asked for extra time to finalize a settlement agreement with MIMA. The terms of the settlement are not known. The government is seeking to recover losses from false Medicare claims submitted “as a result of the sustained fraudulent course of conduct of MIMA and Dr. Todd Scarbrough, the former medical director of its cancer center. The government alleges the cancer center had “defrauded Medicare and Tricare through various schemes designed to improperly inflate the claims that MIMA submitted on behalf of (the cancer center) to Medicare.” The investigation started with allegations made by Fred Fangman, the former director of radiation oncology at MIMA Cancer Center, in a whistleblower complaint in JUL 08. Fangman claimed Scarbrough filed thousands of false claims — worth at least $8 million and perhaps more — in unnecessary radiation procedures from the time the cancer center opened in 2003 through 2008.
- Troy MI – Physician Toe Myint was convicted 22 JAN by a Detroit jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a $4.2 million Medicare Fraud scheme. The conspiracy count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Prior to trial, 10 of Dr. Myint’s co-conspirator defendants pleaded guilty to a variety of Medicare fraud related charges. Evidence at trial showed that Dr. Myint was the physician at Sacred Hope Center, a Southfield, Mich., clinic that purported to specialize in providing infusion therapy to Medicare beneficiaries. Evidence established that Dr. Myint ordered medications for patients that he knew were not needed. Specifically, Dr. Myint signed patient files ordering infusions and injections of corticosteroids and other medications, despite being aware that the patients did not need the drugs and that Medicare was being billed for the drugs. Patients were not referred to Sacred Hope Center or Dr. Myint by their real physicians for any legitimate purpose, but rather were recruited to come to the clinic through the payment of kickbacks.
- Houston TX – Valley Medical Foot Care owner Franklin Beltre appeared before a federal U.S. District Court Judge Randy Crane in McAllen on Wednesday morning. The 39-year-old podiatrist admitted to submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Beltre billed Medicare and Medicaid for services performed while he was vacationing outside of Texas. Prosecutors said the services were actually performed by Manuela K. Alana, a 40-year-old unlicensed podiatrist working for him. Court records show that Beltre filed more than $536,000 dollars worth of false claims were submitted since AUG 04. Alana pleaded guilty in her case in DEC 09 and is scheduled to be sentenced on 9 MAR. Both Alana and Beltre have been permitted to remain on bond until their sentencing.
- Miami FL – Michel De Jesus Huarteman who used his chain of Medicare clinics to commit fraud and exported the business to other Southern states was sentenced 27 JAN in federal court to 22 years in prison. The local organization which submitted about $100 million in bogus Medicare bills for HIV therapy and other services — expanded to Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina by using empty storefronts and post office boxes. Huarte and his associates, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and other fraud charges last year, collected about $25 million from the federal healthcare program for the elderly and disabled, the indictment says. Lesser sentences were imposed on Huarte’s co-defendants: Alyd Dazza, 15 years; Ricco Dazza, 10 years; Dayron Porrata, seven years; Monika Blacio, 6 ½ years; and Wally Proenza, 1 ½ years. The seventh defendant, Vicente Gonzalez, is set for sentencing 1 FEB.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-31 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Medicad Fraud Update 07:
- Lockport NY – A Niagara County Court jury Tuesday night convicted two Erie County women of committing two felonies in their effort to collect Medicaid benefits for a Lewiston man who failed to pay a hospital bill. Deborah A. Kantor, 55, and Amy L. Gardner, 31, of the Town of Tonawanda, and Kantor’s company, HIS Holdings, were found guilty of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and attempted third-degree grand larceny. They were charged with trying to get the Niagara County Social Services Department to pay $5,379 in bills from Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in 2006 by filling out a form with a false address for the patient. His claim was denied by the county. Kantor and HIS face an upcoming trial on charges of bribing a Social Services caseworker to obtain Medicaid information numbers of clients.
- Trenton NJ – Two pharmacy technicians pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme in which pharmacy owners and employees bought completed prescription forms for HIV/AIDS drugs from indigent patients so Medicaid could be billed for drugs that were never actually dispensed. Each pleaded guilty on 20 JAN to third-degree Medicaid fraud. They admitted that between 11 MAY 06 and 15 OCT 08, they paid Medicaid beneficiaries for prescriptions and subsequently billed the Medicaid Program. The crime of third-degree Medicaid fraud carries a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000. The defendants were charged as a result of Operation PharmScam, an ongoing investigation targeting Medicaid fraud that began in 2008. On 26 OCT 09, a total of 10 defendants were indicted as a result of the investigation into Pharmacy of America and other pharmacies that were buying prescriptions from patients and billing the Medicaid Program for medicines that were never dispensed.
- Sherman TX – Two Dallas County men were arrested 6 JAN in a health care fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. Brandon Allen Ray, 30, on charges of health care fraud, conspiracy and embezzlement in connection with health care. Stewart Powers, 56, on charges of conspiracy and embezzlement in connection with health care. According to the indictment, from 2005 to 2007, Ray, a registered nurse, is alleged to have billed Medicaid $280,550 for private-duty nursing services he did not actually provide to an invalid patient. Additionally, from 2005 to 2006, Ray was employed as a part time registered nurse for Senior Health Services, Inc., d/b/a Community Specialty Hospital and Powers was the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. During this time, Ray and Powers are alleged to have conspired to embezzle funds from the hospital in a scheme which involved Ray submitting false work-and-time records to the hospital for payment and Powers approving the false records and directing hospital personnel to process time cards and write payroll checks. The loss to the hospital is estimated to be $54,000. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison.
- Westfield NJ: Kevin Clark, 53, the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Westfield, pleaded guilty 25 JAN to third-degree Medicaid fraud and third-degree tampering with public records. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison a fine of up to $15,000. Clark admitted that on17 NOV 04, he knowingly and falsely completed, signed and submitted a Medicaid application on behalf of an elderly parishioner. The Medicaid application required Clark to list the sale of all real property by the parishioner and any cash given away by the parishioner within the past three years. Clark admitted that he failed to list on the Medicaid application that the parishioner had sold a parcel of real property for $183,038. He further admitted that cash from the sale of the real property was given to him.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-31 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Military History Anniversaries:
- Feb 01 1848 – Mexican-American War: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.
- Feb 01 1909 – U.S. troops leave Cuba after installing Jose Miguel Gomez as president.
- Feb 01 1943 – WWII: The last German forces surrender to the Soviets after the Battle of Stalingrad.
- Feb 01 1945 – WWII: U.S. Rangers and Filipino guerrillas rescue 513 American survivors of the Bataan Death March.
- Feb 01 1968 – Vietnam: U.S. troops drive the North Vietnamese out of Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon.
- Feb 02 1848 – The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo formally ends the Mexican War.
- Feb 03 1904 – Colombian troops clash with U.S. Marines in Panama.
- Feb 03 1917 – WWII: The U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany a day after the former announced a new policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
- Feb 03 1944 – WWII: Beginning of the German Army offensive against the Anzio bridgehead in Italy.
- Feb 03 1944 – WWII: United States troops capture the Marshall Islands.
- Feb 03 1944 – WWII: The United States shells the Japanese homeland for the first time at Kurile Islands.
- Feb 03 1945 – WWII: As part of Operation Thunderclap, 1,000 B-17’s of the Eighth Air Force bomb Berlin.
- Feb 03 1945 – WWII: Sinking of allied troop ship Dorchester results in Congress declaring this as Four Chaplains Day.
- Feb 04 1899 – The Philippine-American War begins.
- Feb 04 1941 – WWII: The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops.
- Feb 04 1945 – WWII: American, British and Soviet leaders meet in Yalta to discuss the war aims.
- Feb 04 1957 – The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), logs its 60,000th nautical mile.
- Feb 05 1918 – WWI: Stephen W. Thompson shot down a German airplane. It was the first aerial victory.
- Feb 05 1945 – WWII: General Douglas MacArthur returns to Manila.
- Feb 05 1958 – A hydrogen bomb known as the Tybee Bomb is lost by the US Air Force off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, never to be recovered.
- Feb 05 1968 – Vietnam War: Battle of Khe Sanh begins.
- Feb 06 1862 – Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant gives the United States its first victory of the war, by capturing Fort Henry, Tennessee, known as the Battle of Fort Henry.
- Feb 06 1899 – Spanish-American War: The Treaty of Paris (1898), a peace treaty between the United States and Spain, is ratified by the United States Senate.
- Feb 06 1922 – The Washington Naval Treaty was signed in Washington, DC, limiting the naval armaments of United States, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy.
- Feb 06 1945 – WWII: MacArthur reports the fall of Manila, and the liberation of 5,000 prisoners
- Feb 07 1968 – Vietnam: North Vietnamese use 11 Soviet-built light tanks to overrun the U.S. Special Forces camp at Lang Vei at the end of an 18-hour long siege.
- Feb 08 1971 – Vietnam: South Vietnamese ground forces, backed by American air power, begin Operation Lam Son 719, a 17,000 man incursion into Laos that ends three weeks later in a disaster.
- Feb 09 1775- Revolutionary War: British Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion.
- Feb 09 1943 – WWII: Allied authorities declare Guadalcanal secure after Imperial Japan evacuates its remaining forces from the island, ending the Battle of Guadalcanal.
- Feb 09 1965 – Vietnam: The first United States combat troops are sent to South Vietnam.
- Feb 10 1763 – French and Indian War: The 1763 Treaty of Paris ends the war and France cedes Quebec to Great Britain.
- Feb 10 1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower warns against United States intervention in Vietnam.
- Feb 11 1938 – Japan refuses to reveal naval data requested by the U.S. and Britain.
- Feb 11 1942 – WWII: The Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore.
- Feb 11 1943 – WWII: General Dwight Eisenhower is selected to command the allied armies in Europe.
- Feb 11 1973 – Vietnam: First release of American prisoners of war from Vietnam takes place.
- Feb 12 1946 – WWII: Operation Deadlight ends after scuttling 121 of 154 captured U-boats.
- Feb 12 1951 – Korea: U.N. forces push north across the 38th parallel for the second time
- Feb 13 1991 – Gulf War: Two laser-guided “smart bombs” destroy a bunker in Baghdad. It was being used as a military communications outpost and unknown to allied forces, as a shelter for Iraqi civilians.
- Feb 14 1945 – WWII: 800 Allied aircraft firebomb the German city of Dresden. Smaller follow-up bombing raids last until April with a total death toll of between 35,000 to 130,000 civilians
- Feb 14 1979 – Armed guerrillas attack the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
- Feb 15 1898 – U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously blows up in Havana Harbor, Cuba killing more than 260 crew members and bringing the United States closer to war with Spain.
- Feb 15 1943 – WWII: The Germans break the American Army’s lines at the Fanid-Sened Sector in Tunisia, North Africa.
- Feb 15 1967 – Vietnam: Thirteen U.S. helicopters are shot down in one day in Vietnam
[Source: Various Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tax Deduction Wisdom Update 01: Many taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing their tax deductions, even though some taxpayers with mortgages or home equity loans could have saved money by itemizing. Consider how well you will do with itemized deductions in the following areas:
Property Tax
- For those that do not itemize the standard deduction amount is increased by $500 ($1,000 for married couples filing jointly) if they paid at least that much in property taxes during the year. This break allows those who do not itemize to get some tax benefit for the property taxes they pay.
- Many lenders provide a year-end tax summary that includes any real estate taxes and insurance paid through escrow accounts. The real estate taxes are deductible, but homeowner’s insurance and homeowner’s association fees are not. If your real estate taxes aren’t paid through an escrow account, review your property tax bills and cancelled checks and add up what you paid. You can’t deduct any penalties you paid for late payment of property taxes; you can only deduct the actual taxes assessed and paid.
Interest/Points
- If you have a mortgage or home equity loan on your home, fill out Schedule A to see if your itemized tax deductions are larger than the standard tax deduction to which you’re entitled. In January, your mortgage lender should provide the amount of mortgage interest you paid during the previous year. Look for Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement. If you paid points as part of the financing for your home, the points will also be shown on that form. Mortgage lenders sometimes attach Form 1098 to your December or January mortgage bill.
- A quick rule of thumb: Compare your mortgage interest (plus any points paid on the purchase of your residence) with your standard deduction. If you have refinanced your mortgage, points on the refinancing are deducted gradually over the life of the loan—1/30th a year on a 30-year mortgage, for example. Don’t forget to add each year’s share to your deductions. For more information, consult IRS Publication 936: Home Mortgage Interest Deduction.
- If the interest you paid on your mortgage is larger than your standard tax deduction, you definitely benefit by itemizing — and all the rest of your deductible expenses (including real estate taxes, state and local income taxes, and charitable donations) are frosting on the cake.
Homeowners Insurance – If you closed on a home mortgage in 2009 and had to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), the premiums you paid in 2009 can be deducted if your adjusted gross income falls below a certain level. This write-off phases out as income rises between $100,000 and $110,000 (except on married filing separate returns, for which the phase out zone is $50,000 to $55,000). If you’re paying PMI on a mortgage issued before 2008, you’re out of luck on this one. This deduction, which applies only to mortgages used to purchase a home (rather than refinance), is effective through December 31, 2010.
[Source: Military.com Taxes Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Tax Burden for Maryland 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 Maryland:
State Sales Tax: 6.0% (food, prescription and non-prescription drugs exempt)
Fuel & Cigarette Tax:
- Gasoline Tax: 23.5 cents/gallon
- Diesel Fuel Tax: 24.3 cents/gallon
- · Cigarette Tax: $2.00/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 2%; High – 6.25%; Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City may levy an income tax ranging from 1.25% to 3.15% of taxable income. For local rates refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/incometax/localtax.asp
Income Brackets: 8 (Lowest – $1,000; Highest – $1,000,000). For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.
Personal Exemptions: Single – $3,200; Married – $6,400; Dependents – $3,200.
Additional Exemptions: 65 or older – $1,000 each additional dependent.
Standard Deduction: $1,500 or 15% of Maryland adjusted gross income to maximum of $3,000 for single returns; $2,000 to $4,000 for married filing jointly.
Additional Deductions: (2009) Single or head of household over 65 – $1,250; One spouse over 65 – $950; Both over 65 – $1,900; If over 65 and blind – add $2,500.
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount. If you purchase a long-term care insurance contract for yourself or certain members of your family, you may be eligible for a credit of up to $500 for each insured. To qualify for the credit, the insured must be all of the following: A spouse, parent, stepparent, child or stepchild; A Maryland resident; Not covered by long-term care insurance before July 1, 2000. For tax year 2008, you can claim a credit equal to the premiums paid, up to a maximum of $290 for each insured person 40 years of age or younger, and up to a maximum of $500 for each insured person 41 or older.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None.
Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security and Railroad Retirement income are not taxed. If you are 65 or older or totally disabled (or your spouse is totally disabled), you may qualify for Maryland’s maximum pension exclusion of $23,600 under certain conditions. If you’re eligible, you may be able to subtract some of your taxable pension and retirement annuity income from your federal adjusted gross income. Out-of-state government pensions do not qualify for the exemption. For details refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/seniors/default.asp.
Retired Military Pay: If you are a retired member of the military, you may be able to subtract up to $5,000 of your military retirement income from your federal adjusted gross income before determining your Maryland tax for tax year 2008. This benefit is now applied to qualifying individuals who retired before July 1, 1991. To qualify, you must have been a member of an active or reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, a member of the Maryland National Guard, or you must have retired from active duty with the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Coast and Geodetic Survey. For details refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/incometax/military/retirement.asp.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
- Real property is valued at its full cash value. Property tax rate, found at www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/taxrate.html, vary widely. No restrictions or limitations on property taxes are imposed by the state, meaning cities and counties can set tax rates at the level they deem necessary to fund governmental services. These rates can increase, decrease or remain the same from year to year.
- The Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program allows credits against the homeowner’s property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person’s gross income. In other words, it sets a limit on the amount of property taxes any homeowner must pay based upon his or her income. The plan was called circuit breaker because it shut off the property tax at a certain point just like an electric circuit breaker shuts off the current when the circuit becomes overloaded. It provides annual property tax credits to homeowners who qualify by reason of income. It has no relationship to age. To be eligible, a person must own their property, live in it for at least six months a year, and have a net worth, not including the value of the property on which you are seeking the credit, of less than $300,000.
- A property tax deferral program allows property owners 65 or over to defer the increase in their property tax bill. Local governments must approve the program. The deferred taxes become a lien on the property and must be repaid when the property is transferred. A Renters’ Tax Credit program provides up to $750 a year for those age 60 and over or 100% disabled if they qualify on the basis of income.
- For details on property taxes refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/property/default.asp or call 410-767-1184.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
Maryland collects an inheritance tax. Property passing to a spouse, child or other lineal descendent, spouse of a child or other lineal descendant, parent, grandparent or sibling, is exempt from taxation. Property passing to other individuals is subject to a 10% tax rate. Currently, a Maryland estate tax return must be filed if the decedent’s federal gross estate, plus adjusted taxable gifts, is $1,000,000 or greater, and the decedent was either a resident of Maryland at the time of death or a nonresident who owned real or tangible personal property in Maryland. The tax rate is limited to 16 percent of the amount that the estate value exceeds $1,000,000. Law changes enacted in 2006 affected the estate tax calculation, filing requirements, extension requests and interest and penalties. The estate tax is limited to federal estate tax collection. Refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/estatetax/inherit.asp for more information on inheritance taxes. Refer to http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/estatetax/default.asp for estate tax information,
For further information on Maryland taxes in general, visit the Maryland Comptroller of the Treasury site at www.comp.state.md.us. [Source: www.retirementliving.com Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Veteran Legislation Status 28 JAN 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 28 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
Have You Heard? How to give a pet a pill
Cats
- Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
- Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
- Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
- Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
- Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
- Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.
- Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
- Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
- Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
- Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
- Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
- Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
- Tie the little bastard’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
- Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
- Arrange for SPCA to come collect this mutant cat from hell and call the local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
- Accidentally drop pill on floor. Watch cat pounce on the pill and devour it.
Dogs
- Wrap it in bacon.
- Toss it in the air.
===============================
RAO Bulletin Non-receipt: Did you receive your last Bulletin. If not, there are a number of possible explanations.
- You forwarded the Bulletin to someone. When you did you forgot to delete the automatic “Unsubscribe/Change address” tab at the bottom of the Bulletin. If they decided they did want to receive what you forwarded and clicked that tab than your (not their) email addee was automatically removed from the Master directory.
- You exceeded the maximum number of messages/data allowed by your server to be stored in your “IN” box. When that happens my system receives a “Mailbox Full” response. If this happens three consecutive times, your email addee is automatically purged from my Master directory. On the 15 JAN Bulletin out of 78,508 subscribers I received 763 of these responses.
- Actions by your server prevented delivery of the Bulletin. When that happens my system receives a “Error on Receiving Server” response. If this happens three consecutive times, your email addee is automatically purged from my Master directory. This will occur when your server is down for maintenance or something has happened to interrupt the signal transmission path to the server. The most common reason for this is that the Bulletin exceeds the parameters set by your server’s spam filters. These parameters vary for each server and can be programmed by them to block receipt of as message because of its size, use of attachments, use of specific words or phrases, or origin (i.e. one of their users has reported that the sender is a spammer). On the 15 JAN Bulletin I received 2,794 of these “Error on Receiving Server” responses. Over 85% were from AOL addees. Since this has happened on the last two Bulletins I expect that most of these addees will be automatically deleted from my directory in the near future
- You did not add me to your white list (generic term). Each server has their own system which allows their users to select by various means which email addees they will allow or not allow to send them messages. For AOL, sender addees of messages that exceed specific parameters as noted in item 3 must be added to their customer’s address book before they will be passed on to them.
Items 1, 2, and 4 are totally under your control. Item 3 is not and can only be corrected by communicating with your server and complaining about your inability to receive the Bulletin. In most cases the server will not take corrective action by adjusting their filter system because to do so would affect all of their other customers. At that point you need to provide me with an alternate email addee to send to that uses a different server or start going to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html or http://sjcvets.uuuq.com/rao2009.html on the 2nd & 16th of each month to read your Bulletin. One action I have taken which has been effective for many subscribers is to offer the Bulletin in two formats. Unless otherwise requested all subscribers are sent their Bulletin in the “NEW” format which consist of a cover page index of articles with an attachment containing the actual Bulletin. Since the Bulletin normally runs over 30 pages (about 490 KBytes) this eliminates some server rejections because of size. However, not all subscribers can receive attachments that contain “Word documents” which I use. Those who cannot can request transmission in the “OLD” format which is a straight text message.
New subscribers and those who submit a change of address will receive, as a “Test” message, the last Bulletin to ensure they are able to receive the Bulletin at the email addee they provided. If you do not receive a “Test” message it indicates that either I never received you request or your server will not allow me to send the Bulletin to that email addee. For Juno, Netzero, and Charter users note that I can receive your messages but those servers will not allow me to send anything back to you in response. However, once added to the Master directory they can receive the Bulletin via my Mailing List Provider who uses an alternate transmission path. Suggest you call me at (951) 238-1246 to ask questions or confirm info needed to add you to the directory. [Source: RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher Lt. James “EMO” Tichacek, USN (Ret) 29 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION NOTES:
== To subscribe first add the above RAO email addee to your address book and/or white list and then provide your full name plus either the post/branch/chapter number of the fraternal military/government organization you are currently affiliated with (if any) “AND/OR” the city and state/country you reside in so your addee can be properly positioned in the directory for future recovery. Subscription is open to all veterans, dependents, and military/veteran support organizations. This Bulletin was sent to 78,928 subscribers.
== To automatically change your email addee or Unsubscribe from Bulletin distribution click on the automatic “Change address / Leave mailing list” tab at the bottom of the message containing this Bulletin attachment or hit reply and place the word “Remove” in the subject line.
Understanding Haitian Voodoo
Doctrines In voodoo there is a supreme creator god whose gender is not defined and who is called Mawu. Voodoo worship and ritual practices, however, are directed to the loas (or voodoos), which are spirits, deities, spirits of nature, divine beings such as ancestors, monsters or deceased foetuses of royal lineages.
The loas can be divided into two families: the rada and the Petros. The loas that belong to the rada family tend to be rather calm; the Petros tend to be rather aggressive, and are sometimes used in witchcraft.
Inside these two families there are sub-families each of whose members is represented by a particular place -such as a tree, the sea, a river, a mountain-, or other things such as special days of the week, a specific colour, a song, a rite.
The loas protect those who serve them, and communicate with them by possessing them through trance dreams or entering into the person and, in doing so, take a human form. Each voodoo is served by a wife (the voodoo-si). Because it is the role of the women to serve, women are deemed to be particularly worthy of being possessed by the voodoo, once they have been properly inititiated into the religion.
The ceremonies take place in a temple known as the “houmfò” and are open to anyone. In the houmfò there is a hierarchy that starts with the hougan (priest)-many of whom claim to descend from the loas. The female counterpart of the hougan is the mambo (priestess). The group of hounsi are believers that put themselves under the authority of a priest – they worship and serve the deities. The initiation rites of the hounsi are restricted to the hounsi alone.
The rites follow a certain structure: first the initial greetings, then the parade of the loa flags, invocations, libations, drawing of the loa signs in the floor, rites of orientation – cardinal points, animal sacrifices, offerings and finally the trance. The trance, which is the impersonation of the loa in the hounsi can also happen sometimes in the participants.
All of these stages are followed by specific forms of dancing and singing with the purpose of invoking each loa family. Each new stage is marked by the rhythmic playing of drums according to the instructions given by the hougan.
History Haitian Voodoo is the result of the importation of African slaves into the Antilles. The Africans were people from different classes in the society. Among them there were priests as well. The difference in the background of the slaves has helped integrating believes, rites, songs and dances of different tribes to create a syncretic religion.
From the beginning the authorities already suspected that the meetings organized by the slaves, even the ones connected to the dancing meeting were related to religious (actually, witchcraft) practices. To avoid that there was in 1704 an ordinance prohibiting the slaves to have night assemblies even under the justification of dance. Because this one was not efficacious other prohibitions followed this one.
The slaves were baptized as soon as they arrived in the country, as their conversion was the main justification for the trade.
Because the first slaves were from Guinea golf (Daomé and Nigeria) the structure of the religion is mostly daomenian. It was, however, altered by the arrival of the slaves originated from Congo and Angola. Since then, it became more complex.
Voodoo is a religion basically rural where the strength lies in the lacou, however, because of the transformations in the rural area such as the decadence of the Lacou, nuclearization of the extended family, disappearance of the societies of mutual aid -connected to the voodoo, general impoverishment rendering difficult monetary contributions to the ritual costs. The substitution of the Lacou – socio-economic and religious center- by a system of neibouhooring that was not well articulated, collaborate to the creation of regional centers and therefore of big temples – sometimes with capacity for two thousand people.
Voodoo was an important factor in the independence of Haiti.
Since the first Haitian constitution, during the colony, the voodoo was prohibited. However, after the war for independence tried to recuperated the voodoo. Many times it is attribute to the voodoo a secret character, this is explained by the fact that for very long voodoo had to survive in a clandestine way.
From the beginning to the present days there is coherence in the possessions and in the ritualistic aspect of the rite. However, the adoration of the serpent that seemed to have been quite common, disappeared in the 19th century.
Symbols There is almost no anthropomorphic representation of the loas, that are rather represented by fetishes such as: stone, vases, piece of metal.
VETERAN LEGISLATION 01/13/10
With Congress in recess there has been no new legislation introduced since the Bulletin’s 28 Dec 09 report. Of the 4427 House and 2920 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. 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 (128) 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 (17) 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 (8) 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 (87) 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 (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.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 (None) 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 (122) 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 (13) 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 (9) 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 (119) 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 (120) 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 (1) 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 (39) 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 (134) 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 (2) 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 (36) 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 (38) 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.598 : American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Science and Technology; House Education and Labor; House Financial Services House Reports: 111-8 Part 1, 111-8 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Ways and Means, H. Rept. 111-8, Part II. Note: For further action, see H.R.1, which became Public Law 111-5 on 2/17/2009. ________________________________________ 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 (59) 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 (12) 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 (1) 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 (43) 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 (9) 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 (313) Companion Bill S.535 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/17/2009 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 or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746 ________________________________________ 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 (5) 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 (193) 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 (4) 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 (3) 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) 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 (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (94) 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 (54) 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 (2) 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 (27) Related bill S.1204 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (8) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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 (204) 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 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 (13) 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 (77) 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: 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.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 (11) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 – 12. ________________________________________ 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 (7) 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 (20) 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 (22) 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 (16) 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: 12/16/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. ________________________________________ 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 (48) 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 (104) 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 (20) 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 (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.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 (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. 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 (335) 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 (27) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (72) 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 (226) 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 (2) 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 (55) 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: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (1) 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 (31) 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 (13) 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 (8) 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. ——————————————————————————– Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (47) 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 (23) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (23) 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 (46) 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 (34) 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 (12) 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 (47) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. ——————————————————————————–
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 (7) 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 (2) 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 (21) 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 (None) 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 (28) 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 (21) 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 (10) 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 (12) 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) 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 (3) 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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (84) 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 (14) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (2) 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 (15) 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 (1) 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 (30) 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 (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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 (11) 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.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 (43) 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 (114) 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 (28) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (1) 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 (36) 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 (40) 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 (3) 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 (55) 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 (4) 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 (None) 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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Small Business, 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.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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (None) 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: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————–
Senate S.35 : IRS Sales Tax Permanent Deduction. A bill to provide a permanent deduction for State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill H.R.369. Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ 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 (26) 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) 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 (1) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (46) 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 (54) 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 (49) 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 (17) 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 (19) 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 (27) 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 (3) 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 (None) 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 (37) 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 (13) 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 (6) 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 (5) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) 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 (13) 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 (17) 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 (6) 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.1603 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009. A bill to amend section 484B of the 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: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 8/6/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.2456, H.R.2561 Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (11) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– 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 (8) 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 (5) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (12) 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 (5) Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (4) 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 (3) 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. ——————————————————————————– [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 13 Jan 09 ++] |
VETERIAN RAO BULLETIN 01/15/10
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Federal Tax Law Changes —————- (2009 Summary)
== Scams ————————————- (BBB 2009 Top 10)
== Traumatic Brain Injury [11] — (Progesterone Treatment)
== VA Benefits-Programs Statement ——– (2010 Changes)
== Medicare Extra Help Program [02] — (New Law Criteria)
== VA Outside Medical Claims — (Corrected VISN 20&22)
== Health Screening —————————- (What & When)
== Legislative Gains for 2009 ———————– (Selected)
== Legislative Goals for 2010 ————————– (MOAA)
== Medicare Therapy Services [01] ——- (Cap Ext Expires)
== Health Care Reform [21] ————- (Next Phase Begins)
== Overseas Voters [01] ————————- (Law Change)
== Tricare Prime [07] —————————— (Eye Exams)
== Veteran Charities [10] ———- (CSAH Misleading Data)
== Military Stolen Valor [13] —- (SEAL faker pleads guilty)
== Eyeglasses for Retirees ——————- (How to Obtain)
== FDA Scam [01] —————— (International Extortion)
== GI Bill [65] ——————————– (Program Status)
== Tax Deduction Wisdom ———— (Standard Deduction)
== Job Salary Negotiations ————- (10 Questions to Ask)
== EHR ————————————- (Vet Use to Expand)
== Retirement Planning ———————— (How to Wreck)
== Tax on Vet Firearms ———————– (H.R.45/S.2099)
== Vet Jobs [12] —————————- (CA New Initiative)
== HIV Travel Ban ——————————- (Lifted 4 JAN)
== VA Copay [08] —————- (Drug Increase Postponed)
== Stop-loss Pay [03] ————- (Some No Longer Eligible)
== Filipino Vet Inequities [18] ——- (4 Weeks Left to Apply)
== SSA Earnings Statement —————- (SSA-1099/1042S)
== VA Claims Backlog [32] – (Red Tape Entangles Benefits)
== Flu Prevention [01] ——— (Seniors’ Higher-dose Shots)
== SGLI/VGLI [10] ————- (Sole Beneficiary & Divorce)
== VA Vocational Rehabilitation [03] ————- (Summary)
== Enlistment [07] —————————- (Education Tiers)
== Medicare Fraud [30] ———————— (1-15 Jan 2010)
== Medicaid Fraud [05] ———————— (1-15 Jan 2010)
== Military History Anniversaries —– (Jan 16-31 Summary)
== Tax Burden for Maine Retirees ———————– (2009)
== Veteran Legislation Status 13 Jan 10 — (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ————————— (The box Office)
===============================
FEDERAL TAX LAW CHANGES: Many of the tax breaks in recent tax-relief bills were designed to be phased in over a number of years, or are indexed to inflation. To help you determine how these tax laws affect your tax returns for 2009 refer to the following:
Tax Credit of Up to $8,000 for First-Time Homebuyers – If you purchased a primary residence in 2009 before1 DEC 09 and are a “first-time” homebuyer, you can qualify for a tax credit equal to 10% of up to $80,000 of the purchase price. To be eligible, you must not have owned a residence in the United States in the previous three years. The credit phases out between $150,000 and $170,000 of Adjusted Gross Income for joint filers, and $75,000 to $95,000 for single filers. The credit is refundable to the extent it exceeds your regular tax liability, which means that if it more than offsets your tax liability, you’ll get a refund check. But it does not offset the Alternative Minimum Tax. You can even elect to claim the credit for a 2009 home purchase on your 2008 tax return. (If you filed for 2008 before buying, but before the 1 DEC 09 deadline, you can claim your credit by filing an amended return using Form 1040X. Doing so will guarantee you a refund check.) Unlike the credit for 2008 purchases, the credit for 2009 purchases doesn’t have to be paid back over 15 years. But you will have to repay the credit if you sell the house within three years of the date you bought it.
Payroll Tax Credit – For 2009 and 2010, Congress gave workers a credit of 6.2% of their earned income, capped at $400 for single filers and $800 for joint filers. For single filers, the credit starts phasing out at $75,000 of Adjusted Gross Income and dries up at $95,000. The phase-out zone for couples is $150,000 thru $190,000. Employees will get the credit in advance via lower income tax withholding in each paycheck, not as a rebate check. Self-employeds can reduce their quarterly estimated payments to get an advance benefit from the credit. The exact amount of the payroll tax credit for the year will be calculated on the filers’ tax returns. Recipients of Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income or veteran disability pensions will get a one-time $250 check instead for 2009. Federal retirees who don’t receive any Social Security will also get a $250 check.
Sales Tax Deduction for New Vehicles – Buyers of new vehicles can deduct the sales tax paid on the purchase, even if they don’t claim sales taxes as itemized deductions. They can add the tax they pay to their standard deduction. This break applies to new cars, motor homes, light trucks and motorcycles purchased after 16 FRB 09 and before 1 JAN 2010. Sales tax paid on the first $49,500 of cost qualifies. The benefit begins phasing out for married couples with AGI over $250,000 and singles with Adjusted Gross Income over $125,000. It is completely gone for single filers with Adjusted Gross Income of $135,000 or more, or joint filers with AGI of at least $260,000. Itemizers who elect to deduct state sales taxes in lieu of state income taxes get no benefit from this change, since the auto sales tax is already included in the sales tax deduction. Itemizers who deduct state income taxes will get a separate deduction for auto sales taxes; non-itemizers will add the sales tax amount to their standard deduction amount.
Indexed Tax Brackets – Thanks to higher inflation in the past year, the 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% tax brackets all kick in at approximately 5% higher levels of income than in 2008.
Larger Personal Exemptions – For 2009, each personal exemption you can claim is worth $3,650, up by $150 from 2008.
Higher Standard Deductions – For 2009, the standard deduction for marrieds filing a joint return rises to $11,400, up by $450 from 2008. Joint filers can also add in up to $1,000 of property taxes paid. For single filers, the amount increases to $5,700 in 2009, up by $250 over 2008. Singles can also deduct up to $500 of real estate tax payments. Heads of household can claim $8,350 in 2009, a jump of $350 from 2008. Non-itemizers who pay real estate taxes can claim even larger standard deductions. Non-itemizers can also add any casualty losses that occurred in presidentially-declared disaster areas.
Reduction in Itemized Deductions and Personal Exemptions for High-Income Taxpayers – As noted earlier, itemized deductions and personal exemptions are phased out as your income rises. In 2009, the reductions are a bit less painful. The cutback in itemized deductions occurs once your Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $166,800, regardless of your filing status. Your itemized deductions are reduced by 1% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds $166,800, but you can never lose more than 80% of your itemized deductions. Also, your medical expenses, investment interest deduction, deductible gambling losses and any casualty and theft losses are not subject to the cut. Personal exemptions are reduced by 2% for each $2,500 of Adjusted Gross Income over $250,200 for married filing jointly, $208,500 for heads of households and $166,800 for singles, but the reduction cannot exceed $1,217 per exemption.
Section 179 Expense Deduction – The maximum amount of equipment placed in service in 2009 that businesses can expense stays at $250,000. And the annual investment limit remains $800,000. Thus, you won’t begin to lose the benefit of expensing until you place more than $800,000 of assets in service in 2009.
Tax-Free Parking for Employees – Starting in 2009, firms can pay for $230 a month of parking tax-free for employees, up $10 per month from 2008. The cap on tax-free transit passes is now $230 a month as well, the same as for parking. The limit had been $115 a month in 2008.
Tax Credit for College Tuition – For 2009 and 2010, the Hope credit is replaced by a new credit of up to $2,500 per student a year for four years of college, not just the first two years. It now also covers the cost of books, and begins to phase out at $80,000 of Adjusted Gross Income for single filers and $160,000 for joint filers. If the credit is more than your income tax liability, 40% of it is refundable. Also, the full credit is allowed against the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Child Tax Credit – If the credit exceeds the filer’s tax liability, all or part of the credit will be refunded if the filer earns more than $3,000 in 2009 and 2010, down from $12,550 in earnings previously.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – For families with three or more children, the maximum Earned Income Tax Credit for 2009 and 2010 rises by $628.50. And the phaseout of the credit for joint filers starts at higher income levels in 2009 and 2010, allowing more of them to claim the credit.
Higher Income Limits for Deductible IRAs and for Roth IRAs – If you are covered by a retirement plan at work, you can take a full IRA deduction in 2009 if your modified Adjusted Gross Income is less than $89,000 (married filing jointly) or $55,000 (single or head of household). A partial deduction is allowed until your Adjusted Gross Income reaches $109,000 if you are married filing jointly, or $75,000 if you are single or a head of household. Also, the opportunity to contribute to a Roth IRA is now phased out as your modified Adjusted Gross Income rises between $166,000 and $176,000 if you are married filing jointly, or $105,000 to $120,000 if you are single or a head of household.
Increased Contribution Limit for 401(k) Plans – The maximum employee contribution rises to $16,500 from $15,500 in 2009 for these and similar workplace retirement plans, including 403(b)s and the federal Thrift Savings Plan. Workers age 50 and older in 2009 can put in an additional $5,500 this year, also a $500 increase from 2007. Thus, their maximum contribution is $22,000.
State Tax Exemption – In 2009, the federal estate tax exemption rises to $3,500,000 from its 2008 level of $2,000,000.
Higher Annual Gift Tax Exemption – For 2009, you can give up any individual up to $13,000 without owing any gift tax—a $1,000 increase over 2008.
Exemptions for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) – For 2009, the exemption levels rise to $70,950 for married filing jointly, $46,700 for singles and heads of household, and $35,475 for married couples filing separately. Otherwise, more than 20 million filers would have been added to the AMT rolls. Congress is likely to act again to prevent this from happening for the 2010 tax year. Also, interest on private-activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 is exempt from the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Credit for Residential Energy-Efficient Property – The credit for 30% of the cost of installing solar water heating equipment, solar electric equipment, geothermal heat pumps or small wind turbines in your primary residence or a second home is no longer limited to $2,000 after 2008. But the credit for fuel cell property still cannot exceed $500 per half-kilowatt capacity.
Credit for Energy-Saving Home Improvements – The old 10% tax credit of the cost of energy-saving home improvements is increased to 30% for 2009 and 2010, up to a maximum of $1,500 in the two-year period. It applies to qualified skylights, windows, outside doors, biomass fuel stoves and high-efficiency furnaces, water heaters and central air conditioners. In addition, the dollar limits on the particular type of improvement, such as a $200 cap on the credit for windows, are repealed.
Converting a Second Home to a Primary Home – If you convert a second home into a principal residence after 2008, you may not be able to exclude all of your gain. A portion of the gain on a subsequent sale of the home will be ineligible for the home-sale exclusion of up to $500,000, even if the seller meets the two-year ownership-and-use tests. The portion of the profit that’s subject to tax is based on the ratio of the time after 2008 when the house was a second home or a rental unit, to the total time you owned it. So if you have owned a vacation home for 18 years and make it your main residence in 2011 for two years before selling it, only 10% of the gain (two years of nonqualified second home use divided by 20 years of total ownership) is taxed. The rest qualifies for the home-sale exclusion of up to $500,000.
Refundable Child Tax Credit – The $8,500 income threshold needed to qualify to claim the child tax credit if it exceeds your regular income tax bill decreases to $3,000 for 2009.
Partial Exclusion for Unemployment Benefits – For 2009, the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits you receive is tax-free.
College Savings Plans – Beginning in 2009, 529 College Savings Plans can be tapped tax-free to pay for a computer or Internet access.
Estimated Tax Relief for Owners of Small Businesses – If an individual’s Adjusted Gross Income for 2008 was less than $500,000 and more than half of the gross income was from a business with fewer than 500 workers, the estimated income taxes for 2009 estimated tax payments can be based on the lesser of 90 percent of tax liability for 2008 or 2009. The usual estimated tax benchmarks of 100 percent or 110 percent of tax liability do not apply.
[Source: Military.com Taxes Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
SCAMS: Better Business Bureau on 6 JAN released a list of the top 10 scams and rip-offs of 2009. Not surprisingly, many scams sought to take advantage of people who were suffering under tough economic circumstances—such as the unemployed. Additionally, the use of free-trial offers to lock consumers into recurring credit and debit card charges was widespread online. “While many of the scams on the list are perennial problems, some scams were distinct in 2009 because of the economic climate and scammers’ penchant for taking advantage of the top headlines,” said Steve Cox, Council of Better Business Bureaus President and CEO. “Some scams plagued different parts of the country more than others. For example, in places particularly hit by the housing crisis, bogus offers for foreclosure rescue or debt assistance ran rampant.” Following, in no particular order, is BBB’s list of top scams and rip-offs that took advantage of consumers and small business owners across the U.S. in 2009:
- Acai Supplements and Other “Free” Trial Offers – Ads offering trial offers for teeth whiteners, acai anti-aging pills and other miracle supplements blanket the Internet, including trusted Web sites of national news organizations. The marketing campaigns often falsely claimed an endorsement by Oprah, Rachel Ray and Doctor Oz. Thousands of consumers complained to BBB that the free trial actually cost them as much as hundreds of dollars, month after month.
- Stimulus/Government Grant Scams – Even before President Obama announced the stimulus plan in February, scammers had already set up schemes for misleading consumers and small business owners into thinking they could get a piece of the pie. Offers for worthless assistance and advice on how to get government grants bombarded consumers online, over the phone and via mail and e-mail.
- Robocalls – Owning a cell phone or having their phone number on the do-not-call list did not help thousands of people across the US put a stop to harassing automated telemarketing calls in 2009. The robocalls often claimed that their auto warranty was about to expire—which wasn’t true—or offered help in reducing their interest rate on their credit card. The prevalence of robocalls violating federal telemarketing laws prompted the FTC to increase restrictions on the practice in 2009.
- Lottery/Sweepstakes Scam – The victim receives a letter in the mail pretending to be from Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Clearing House or a phony foreign lottery claiming that he or she has won millions. The letter comes with a check that represents only a portion of the total winnings. In order to get the rest, the victim has to deposit the check and then wire hundreds of dollars back to the scammers supposedly to cover taxes or some other bogus fee. The victim wires the money, but the prize never arrives.
- Job Hunter Scams –Scams targeting job hunters vary and include attempts to gain access to personal information such as bank account or social security numbers and requirements to pay a fee in order to even be considered for the job. Another common scam was reported to BBB by job hunters who were told by a prospective employer that they had to check their credit report before being considered for a job. The job offer is actually a marketing ploy for online credit monitoring that costs the victim every month until they cancel.
- Google Work from Home Scam – Countless Web sites cropped up in 2009 that claimed you could learn how to make money from home using Google or Twitter and offered a free trial of learning materials. The Web sites often included the Google or Twitter moniker and logo. As a result, many people who complained to BBB thought they were getting a job with Google or Twitter when in, fact, they were being lured into another misleading free-trial offer and were billed every month for the materials and other mystery charges that added up to hundreds of dollars.
- Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue/Debt Assistance – Many families are struggling in the current economy and hucksters are offering to help them save their house from foreclosure or help them get out of credit card debt. Unfortunately, victims are paying hundreds of dollars up front for the assistance they desperately need but ultimately never receive.
- Mystery Shopping – Consumers across the country thought that they could make some extra money by becoming a secret shopper and evaluating the customer service of various stores. The victim is asked to evaluate their shopping experience at a few stores as well as a money wiring service such as Western Union or MoneyGram by wiring money back to the scammers. A seemingly real looking check is supposed to cover the costs, but ends up being a fake. The victim is out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
- Over-Payment Scams – Over-payment scams typically target small business owners, landlords or individuals with rooms to rent and sellers on classifieds or sites like Craigslist. Typically the scammer pretends to be a customer, possible renter or interested buyer, respectively. The victim receives a check for more than the amount requested. The scammers then ask the victim to deposit the check and wire the extra amount elsewhere, such as to a shipping company. Ultimately though, the check is fake and the victim is really wiring money back to the scammers.
- Phishing e-mails/H1N1 spam – A perennial problem, phishing e-mails pop up in inboxes and can take various forms such as appearing to be from a business, a government agency or official or even a friend. Whatever the setup, the goal of any phishing e-mail is the same: to trick victims into divulging sensitive financial information or to infect the victim’s computer with viruses and malware. In addition to phishing e-mails, spam e-mail selling wares to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus were particularly rampant in 2009.
Consumers or small business owners victimized by a scam can contact their local BBB or file a complaint at www.bbb.org. Always research a business with BBB before you sign any contracts or hand over any money. For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson, contact Alison Southwick at (703) 247-9376. [Source: BBB Press Release 6 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY UPDATE 11: According to a clinical perspective published in the January issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, recommend that progesterone (PROG), a naturally occurring hormone found in both males and females that can protect damaged cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems, be considered a viable treatment option for traumatic brain injuries. “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important clinical problem in the United States and around the world,” said Donald G. Stein, PhD, lead author of the paper. “TBI has received more attention recently because of its high incidence among combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Current Department of Defense statistics indicated that as many as 30% of wounded soldiers seen at Walter Reed Army Hospital have suffered a TBI, a finding that has stimulated government interest in developing a safe and effective treatment for this complex disorder. Growing evidence indicates that post-injury administration of PROG in a variety of brain damage models can have beneficial effects, leading to substantial and sustained improvements in brain functionality. PROG given to both males and females can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce edema (swelling) levels after TBI; in different models of cerebral ischemia (restriction of blood supply), significantly reduce the area of necrotic cell death and improve behavioral outcomes; and protect neurons distal to the injury that would normally die,” said Stein.
PROG was recently tested in two phase 2 clinical trials for traumatic brain injury and will begin a phase 3 NIH sponsored trial soon. “Given its relatively high safety profile, its ease of administration, its low cost and ready availability, PROG should be considered a viable treatment option – especially because, in brain injury, so little else is currently available,” said Stein. This study appears in the January issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. [Source: American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society Heather Curry article 3 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA BENEFITS-PROGRAMS STATEMENT: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) wants to inform Veterans and other beneficiaries of the following changes that will take effect in 2010:
- VA will Freeze Increase in Prescription Copayments: Any increase in Veterans out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals will be delayed until June 30, 2010. This means the department will delay a scheduled $1 increase – to $9 – in the copayments facing Veterans for each 30-day supply of medicine for the treatment of conditions not related to military service. During this period, VA will also keep $960 as the maximum, annual out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals for non-service-related conditions. The $960 cap will not apply to Veterans in priority groups seven and eight. The yearly maximum out-of-pocket payment was scheduled to increase to $1,080. There are no copayments associated with the treatment of conditions related to military service.
- VA will Distribute Insurance Dividends: Approximately 900,000 Veterans are in line to share $286.4 million in annual insurance dividends during 2010. VA operates one of the nation’s largest life insurance programs, providing more than $1 Trillion in coverage to seven million servicemembers, Veterans, and family members. These payments will be made to insurance policy holders on the anniversary date of their policies. Payments will be sent automatically through different payment plans and the amounts will vary based on the age of the Veteran, the type of insurance, and the length of time the policy has been in place. Consistent with private mutual insurance company practice, the VA is returning a portion of premium payments back to policyholders because the agency had strong financial results. Veterans who have questions about their policies may contact the VA insurance toll-free number at 1-800-669-8477 send an email to [email protected]. They may also visit the Internet at www.insurance.va.gov.
- No Adjustment in COLA for Disability Compensation + Pension Benefits: As a result of negative inflation and the consumer price index going down over the past year the Social Security Administration has announced there will be no COLA this year for Social Security recipients. Under federal law VA’s COLAs cannot exceed the Social Security COLAs. Therefore, VA is barred from making a COLA increase for recipients of its benefits.
VA provides compensation and pension benefits to over 3.8 million Veterans and other beneficiaries. Presently, the basic monthly rate of compensation paid to Veterans ranges from $123 to $2,673. Annual income limits for disability pension begin at $11,830 for a Veteran without dependents and increase for Veterans who have dependents, who are housebound, or who need regular aid and attendance. Veterans who have questions about their benefits may contact the VA’s financial benefits toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000 or go to www.vba.va.gov/VBA. [Source: VA News Release 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
MEDICARE EXTRA HELP PROGRAM UPDATE 02: The Extra Help program is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year to Medicare beneficiaries. Under a new law, more beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare and have limited income and resources. Specifically:
- You must reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; and
- Your resources must be limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. Your house and car are not counted as resources. Beginning 1 JAN 2010, when determining your eligibility for Extra Help SSA will:
a.) No longer count as a resource any life insurance policy; and
b.) No longer count as income the help you receive regularly from someone else to pay your household expenses—food, mortgage, rent, heating fuel or gas, electricity, water, and property taxes.; and
- Your annual income must be limited to $16,245 for an individual or $21,855 for a married couple living together. Even if your annual income is higher, you still may be able to get some help. Some examples where your income may be higher are if you or your spouse:
a.) Support other family members who live with you;
b.) Have earnings from work; or
c.) Live in Alaska or Hawaii.
If you already receive Extra Help, you will not need to reapply in 2010. Social Security will see if you are entitled to any additional Extra Help because they no longer count your life insurance or help with household expenses. If you do not already receive Extra Help beginning 1 JAN 2010, when you file your application for Extra Help you also can start your application process for the Medicare Savings Programs (i.e. state programs that provide help with other Medicare costs). Social Security will send information to your state unless you tell them not to on the Extra Help application. Your state will contact you to help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program. These programs help people with limited income and resources pay for their Medicare expenses. The Medicare Savings Programs help pay for your Medicare Part B (medical insurance) premiums. For some people, the Medicare Savings Programs also may pay for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) premiums, if any, and Part A and B deductibles and co-payments.
To apply for Extra Help complete Social Security’s Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). This can be done online at www.socialsecurity.gov; over the phone or to request an application at 1(800) 772-1213 (TTY 1(800)325-0778); or at your local Social Security office. After you apply, Social Security will review your application and send you a letter to let you know if you qualify for the Extra Help. Once you qualify, you can choose a Medicare prescription drug plan. If you do not select a plan, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will do it for you. The sooner you join a plan the sooner you begin receiving benefits. For more information about getting Extra Help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs, refer to www.socialsecurity.gov or call Social Security at 1(800) 772-1213 [TTY 1(800)325-0778]. Social Security representatives are available to help you complete your application. If you need information about Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare prescription drug plans, how to enroll in a plan, or to request a copy of the Medicare & You handbook, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1(800) 633-4227 [TTY 1(877) 486-2048]. When you call, you also can request information about how to contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). In addition, you can find your local SHIP contact information on the back of your Medicare handbook or obtain the information online at www.medicare.gov/contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx. [Source: www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA OUTSIDE MEDICAL CLAIMS (Corrected): Occasionally veterans go to or are transported to non-VA civilian health care facilities for “emergent” treatment of their particular non-service connected medical conditions. To obtain VA payment for this care certain procedures must be followed to file a claim for consideration of payment for these services. The current recommended procedure for veterans is to contact the closest VA facility via telephone within 72 hours of the emergency, either the veteran if they are able, or the veteran’s family member, or the non-VA facility should contact the closest VA facility as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then send their Mill Bill claims to the closest VA facility for adjudication to the non-VA site which provided the emergency care. However, for veterans who are serviced by Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20 and VISN 22 facilities the Chief Business Office is overseeing a pilot with Financial Service Center (FSC) for FSC to process Mill Bill Claims. If you are located in the following geographic areas and receiving VA services it is recommended you comply with the pilot program procedures:
- VISN 20 – Northwest Health Network includes the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, most of the state of Idaho, and one county each in Montana and California.
- VISN 22 – Desert Pacific Healthcare Network is comprised of five hospitals and 29 community clinics serving 1.4 million veterans in Southern California and Southern Nevada (i.e. Los Angeles, San Diego, Loma Linda, and Las Vegas area).
The pilot was initiated in Fiscal Year 2009, and rolled out in JAN 09, to determine if an alternative claims process would assist sites with reducing processing time, consistent clinical adjudication of claims, and using consistent payment methodology. Evaluation of the pilot is in process and a decision will be made at a later date on if it will be expanded, or terminated. Beginning with dates of service on and after 1 JAN 09, dependent on site affected, veterans/providers are required to submit claims for VA payment consideration for emergency care not previously authorized to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Financial Services Center (FSC), Non-VA Emergency Claims, P.O. Box 149364, Austin, TX 78714-9364. To expedite claims processing, be sure that each claim is complete and filed within 90 days following the episode of care. Incomplete claims will be returned. Do not forget to include documentation of any communication with the VA regarding patient treatment or disposition. A call center at FSC is available to assist you with payment and claims processing inquiries. You may contact the customer call center at 1(866) 372-1144, M-F 08-1630 (CST) excluding Federal holidays. A claim file is complete if it has the following documentation:
- Complete UB-04 or CMS-1500 claim form to include the National Provider Identification (NPI) number
- Supporting medical documentation for the following services is needed for claims adjudication:
- Inpatient: Admission sheet, discharge summary, operation reports, daily progress notes, and doctor orders.
- Outpatient: Emergency room treatment notes (including chief complaint, and examination/evaluation results), applicable observation notes, any consultation reports, and diagnostic findings.
- Emergency Transportation: Transportation notes indicating location the episode of emergency care took place and facility and address the patient was transported to. The transportation notes should include the chief complaint, examination/evaluation results, applicable observation notes, and any diagnostic findings
[Source: California VFW VSO msg. 18 Dec 09 & CBO National Fee Program Manager Joe Enderle ++]
===============================
HEALTH SCREENING: As you age, being aware of issues related to health becomes more important. Several illnesses appear more frequently with increasing age. For example, illnesses like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, high blood cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and some types of cancer. Screening is done to find a condition (or risk factor) in a person who has no signs or symptoms of that condition. The goal of screening is to identify conditions early. Treatment works better during an early stage of a condition. Guidance for screening varies, depending on age, gender, past medical history, family history and other factors. Talk with your health care team about the screening tests that are recommended for you. The United States Preventive Services Task Force has studied the effectiveness of screening and suggested the following tests and immunizations:
- Blood pressure for High Blood Pressure, also known as Hypertension – At least every two years.
- Lipid profile for High Cholesterol, also known as Hyperlipidemia – Every 5 years. May need to be more often if already diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease.
- Blood glucose for High Blood Sugar, also known as Diabetes – Periodically in patients with blood pressure of 135/80 or higher.
- Weight for being more than 20 pounds overweight, also known as Obesity – Periodically.
- Bone mineral density for loss of bone health, also known as Osteoporosis – At least once in all women at age 65. May need to screen at age 60 if at increased risk for osteoporosis.
- Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism Screening (for Alcohol Use and Depression) – Once in men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) (or Colorectal Cancer – Annually for persons age 50 to 75.
- Sigmoidoscopy or Colorectal Cancer – Every 5 years
- Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer – Every 10 years
- Mammogram or Breast Cancer – Every 1-2 years
- Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer – At least every 3 years, stopping at age 65 if previous Pap Smears normal
- Influenza Vaccine – Annually
- Pneumonia Vaccine – Once at age 65. May be recommended earlier for persons at increased risk of complications of pneumonia
- Shingles Vaccine – Once at age 60 or later for most people.
- Tetanus Vaccine – Every 10 years.
[Source: Army Echoes Jan – Apr 2010 ++]
===============================
LEGISLATIVE GAINS FOR 2009
Active / Reserve Force Issues
- Won 3.4% basic pay raise, effective Jan. 1, 2010 (.5% above budget proposal)
- Increased end strength – Army 30K, Marine Corps 8K, Navy 2.5K and Air Force 15K
- Authorized Army additional 30K end strength for FY11-FY12 if Army budgets
- Won absentee voter protections
- Reduced % of pay subject to recoupment from 20% to 15% for overpayments
- Expanded Homeowner Assistance Program for PCSing service members, wounded warriors, and survivors affected by an upside-down mortgage
- Authorized stop-loss pay through June 2011
- Won ROTH Thrift Savings Plan option for currently serving and federal employees
- Required DoD to report on child custody disputes of deployed parents
Health Care Issues
- Defeated $110/day increase in TRICARE Standard inpatient copay
- Authorized special compensation for wounded warrior caregivers
- Won TRICARE coverage for gray area Reserve retirees
- Required retention of wounded on active duty until completion of disability evaluation process unless they request to separate from active duty
- Required medical exam before admin separation of members diagnosed with PTSD/TBI
- Prohibited conversion of military medical positions to civilians
- Expanded window of active duty TRICARE coverage for mobilizing reservists
- Required measures to expand access to mental health providers
- Required person-to-person mental health assessments for deployed members
- Required DoD report on impact of law barring employer TRICARE incentives
- Required DoD chiropractic clinical trial program for active duty members
- Won protections for military/VA beneficiaries in national health reform bills
Retirement/Survivor/Veteran Issues
- Authorized recalculation of retired pay for guard/reserve retirees recalled for 2+ years
- Increased future payments of Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance
- Required DoD to establish website to explain all retirement and survivor benefits
- Won VA advance appropriations authority to prevent end-of-year funding disruption
- Won VA funding increase of $25 billion over the next five years
- Won congressional approval of MOAA Federal Charter
Military Family Issues
- Expanded family medical leave to include families of deploying active duty members
- Won authority for military spouses to choose same domicile state as AD member
- Authorized $49M in impact aid for schools with military children or affected by BRAC
- Authorized internship pilot program in federal agencies for active duty spouses
- 26 states signed Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
- Required DoD report on impact of deployments on dependent children
- Increased DoD’s cost share for National Guard Youth Challenge Program from 60% to 75%
[Source: www.moaa.org/lac_goals_progress_2009.htm Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
LEGISLATIVE GOALS FOR 2010:
Active/Reserve Force/Family Issues
- Sustain defense budget of at least 4% of GDP to fund both people and weapons needs
- Increase active duty, G/R force sizes (end strength) to match mission
- Restore full military pay comparability with private sector (2.4% gap remains)
- Upgrade G/R retirement/compensation to reflect “operational reserve” demands
- Amend Post-9/11 GI Bill to allow job training, Guard AGR (Title 32) access and transferability to family members of USPHS/NOAA Corps
- Authorize currently serving families to use pre-tax health/dependent care programs
- Strengthen financial, legal, reemployment protections for mobilized G/R force
- Protect funding for commissary, dependent schools and other military benefits
- Improve access to affordable child care
- Provide incentives for employers/government contractors to hire military spouses
- Raise relocation payments to cover members’ costs for government-directed moves
Health Care Issues
- Ensure proper DoD and VA care for/outreach to wounded warriors and families
- Protect against benefit cuts/avoid disproportional cost-shifting to beneficiaries
- Upgrade TRICARE to attract more providers and improve beneficiary access
- Allow three years of active-duty-level health care for disability retirees/families
- Fix Medicare/TRICARE payment rate formula to promote provider participation
- Improve seamless transition between the Defense and VA health care/benefits systems
- Provide full funding for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system
- Authorize option to subsidize retention of reservists’ civilian family health insurance
- Increase orthodontia payment cap under active duty dental plan
Retirement/Survivor Issues
- Preserve full-inflation cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
- Eliminate the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) deduction from SBP
- Authorize full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation
- Restore VA survivor annuities for qualifying widows who remarry after age 55
- Oppose military benefit changes that are inconsistent with service career sacrifices
- Expand permanent ID card eligibility for elderly / disabled beneficiaries
- Reform the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA)
- Authorize survivors to retain the deceased sponsor’s full final-month retired pay
- Implement a more equitable military disability retirement system
Veterans and Other Issues
- Improve quality, efficiency, and timeliness of VA claims-processing system
- Authorize pre-tax payment of health, dental and long-term care premiums
- Win congressional approval of Flag anti-desecration amendment
- Reduce Social Security penalties for certain civil service and state retirees/survivors
- Prevent disproportional Social Security/Medicare penalties for any population segment
[Source: www.moaa.org/lac/lac_goals/lac_goals_2010.htm Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
MEDICARE THERAPY SERVICES UPDATE 01: Congress failed to approve an extension of the Medicare therapy cap exception before it expired on 31 DEC. Without the cap exception, Medicare payments for speech, physical, or occupational therapy will be limited to $1,860 for 2010. Medicare beneficiaries needing therapy services in excess of that cap will pay any such excess expenses out of pocket. This could pose very significant costs for Medicare-eligibles recovering from stroke, hip fracture, or other severe conditions that require extensive therapy to continue their recovery. The therapy cap was originally approved by the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, but Congress delayed implementation of the cap three times from 1999 through 2003. In 2005 the therapy cap was allowed to take effect, but Congress authorized an exceptions process for beneficiaries if their therapy was deemed a medical necessity. With the exception to the cap now gone, many may go without necessary therapy until Congress takes action to reauthorize the exceptions for medically necessary care. Both the House and Senate health care reform bills contain provisions to extend the cap exceptions, but these bills are still up in the air and are most likely weeks away from passing. Renewal of the current therapy cap exception is the minimum action needed to protect the Medicare beneficiaries who need care most. However, total repeal is what is needed. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) introduced The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 Bill (S.46) to make repel permanent. The bill currently has 27 cosponsors. MOAA has initiated an action alert on the issue which can be found at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12631546. Veterans are encouraged to go to this site and enter their zip code to facilitate an editable email message be sent to their Senators asking for their cosponsorship of the bill. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE 21: As soon as the New Year rang in the Congressional Democratic leadership came back to start the next phase of federal health care reform. On Christmas Eve the Senate passed its version: H.R.3590. It is very different from the House of Representative’s version H.R.3962 which was passed on 7 NOV 09. It is completely clear now that leadership does not intend to have Conferees work on settling the many differences of the two bills. Instead the Democratic Leadership in the House and the Senate are negotiating the differences among themselves and the White House, sending the bills back and forth between the two Houses. Even though the House of Representatives formally started its session on 12 JAN and the Senate on 18 JAN, negotiations have already started. On 6 JAN, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said after leaving a meeting in the White House: “The House and Senate plan to put together the final health care reform bill behind closed doors according to an agreement by top Democrats.” This keeps the Republicans out of the negotiations as well as Blue Dog Democrats and other unhappy Democrats (like those concerned about abortion funding and other issues.) It also keeps the American people from knowing exactly what is going on. President Obama’s proposal during the Presidential Campaign was to have the Conference be broadcast on C-SPAN. The President of C-SPAN, Brian Lamb wrote asking that they be allowed to broadcast the negotiations, but no luck. The idea is dead (if it ever was alive). But what we do know is that negotiations are already going hot and heavy.
Tricare and VA Healthcare like everything else is still up in the air. It is reported (and may even be true) that the House Leadership (read Mrs. Pelosi) is strongly opposed to the Senate’s tax on “Cadillac health care plans” and wants higher taxes on the wealthy to be used to pay for this bill. It is also reported that the White House is saying that they want the Cadillac Plan tax in the final bill. We will see. As of 24 DEC, Tricare and VA health care was not included in the Senate’s version of the Health Care plan either directly or as a source of tax funding . The referenced plans found in the IRS Code are not government plans. That is good. However, when writing this provision the Senate included FEHBP (which is surely a government plan) with the inclusion of a single phrase. We don’t want that to happen to Military retirees, their families and survivors as well as veterans.
Both versions of the bill include approximately $500 billion of cuts in Medicare. Since TFL is second payer to Medicare this must have some effects on TFL patients. An entirely different law that has been on the books for years requires a 21% cut in the rates that Doctors are paid for treating Medicare patients. If this cut ever went into effect it would/will affect anyone who is trying to find a doctor willing to accept Medicare/TFL. The legislatively mandated 21% cut has been put on hold until the end of February. By that time it is expected that Congress will pass, and the President will sign, a bill delaying the cuts for another year. But these repeated yearly delays just add on to past delayed cuts so next year the called for cut will be more than 21%. A permanent solution is needed but the Leadership already removed it from the overall health care bill and then withdrew its proposed permanent solution when numerous House and Senate members balked at the fact that there was no funding for the huge cost. So this is a problem that needs to be solved but is nowhere close to a solution. Predictable and sufficient funding is needed for both Medicare and Tricare (Tricare’s payment levels are determined by Medicare payments.)
What should/can you do? Since there are no Conferees to refer you to and leadership is pretty distracted continue to contact your Senators and Representative and tell them how crucial it is to you –THEIR CONSTITUENT- that Tricare and VA healthcare is in NO WAY included in the present Health care reform and that a permanent solution for determining Medicare doctor rates is needed. If you don’t know who your members of Congress are go to the CAPWIZ shield on TREA’s web site http://capwiz.com/trea/home, type in your zip code and find who they are. Then write or call them. The Leadership is pushing to have a bill for President Obama to sign before he gives his State of the Union Address in early February. [Source: TREA Washington Update 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
OVERSEAS VOTERS UPDATE 01: Servicemembers and overseas voters shouldn’t assume they automatically will receive ballots for the 2010 elections just because they have in the past. Bob Carey, Federal Voting Assistance Program director, said 7 JAN during the 2010 election year kick-off, “New laws require voters to submit federal postcard applications for absentee ballots on a yearly basis. Previously, voters would receive absentee ballots for up to two cycles following their request.” In the coming months, Carey and his team will travel worldwide to train voting assistance officers at embassies, consulates and overseas military facilities to ensure voters understand the process and can exercise their right to vote. “We are training thousands to train millions,” Carey said. “[We want] to make sure that each and every military and overseas voter has the opportunity to successfully request an absentee ballot, receive their absentee ballot and cast it in time so it is counted.” The voting assistance program staff is striving to make it easy for voters to receive and cast their ballots for the upcoming election through the program’s Web site, http://www.FVAP.gov.
Carey said his staff is converting to a Web-based process that’s similar to many tax-filing programs, with an intuitive, easy-to-understand application. “You don’t have to know how to go through the 250-page voter’s assistance guide – all will be online,” he said. Once voters answer a few questions, Carey explained, forms and ballots automatically will populate with relevant information, making it easier for users. Although the program’s staff is doing its best to make the process easy for military and overseas voters, people need to move quickly to ensure they get to vote. Voter applications may take a while to make it to hometown election offices, and it could take up to a month after that for ballots to be sent to voters. Carey said voters who have applied for a ballot but don’t receive their ballot at least a month before the election should instead use the federal write-in absentee ballot available on the voting assistance Web site. “When [voters] get their regular ballot, they should still complete and return it,” he said. “If it gets there in time, it will take its place.” In addition to starting the process in a timely manner, Carey said voters also should:
- Submit a new federal postcard application with every move so the most current address is on file;
- Fill out all forms in their entirety, because officials need an alternate way to reach an individual so their vote can be counted if the form is illegible; and
- Go to http://www.FVAP.gov to see their state’s requirements.
Although applications were distributed to all deploying troops before their departure, Carey said, many didn’t know their future mailing address and therefore left portions of the application blank. Once troops have the needed information, they can complete the forms online, even from a computer outside of the military domain. [Source: AFPS Carmen L. Gleason article 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
TRICARE PRIME UPDATE 07: Maintaining healthy eyes and vision is an important part of personal safety and quality of life, say Tricare officials, and getting an eye exam is a smart idea for anyone, whether or not they have vision problems. Retirees and their family members using Tricare Prime can get an eye exam every two years. Routine eye exams for retirees and their family members using Tricare Standard and Extra, and Tricare for Life are not covered. These exams are more than the standard letter charts and include a check into the health of the eye. Retirees and their families enrolled in Tricare Prime can make an appointment with any Tricare-authorized optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. Tricare Prime beneficiaries do not need a referral unless they see a provider outside of their region’s Tricare network. [Source: Tricare News Release No. 01-03-10 dtd 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VETERAN CHARITIES UPDATE 10: On its Web site at www.saluteheroes.org the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH) Foundation states the foundation was created to provide a way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families rebuild their lives. The veterans’ charity is run by a controversial, self-described nonprofit entrepreneur Roger Chapin. Their website formerly said flatly that 75% of contributions received goes directly to programs that help service members. But the Ossining, N.Y., nonprofit’s own data from its latest, just-filed financial statements (issued under penalty of perjury) tell a far different story. Thanks mainly to high fundraising costs from sending junk mail, the Coalition’s actual level of charitable commitment was just 51%. That’s one-third less than 75% and a percentage that leading charity watchdogs consider unacceptable. The average charitable commitment on the annual Forbes list of America’s 200 largest charities, which uses a slightly different methodology and includes different kinds of nonprofits, is 86%. The Coalition’s 51% charitable commitment includes millions of dollars of junk-mail costs that accounting rules allowed Chapin’s nonprofit to count as being spent in furtherance of its charitable mission. Exclude that, and the remaining charitable commitment dropped to 33%, just $1 of every $3 contributed. In fact, of the $26.2 million spent for calendar year 2008 (the latest reporting period available) the Coalition by its own accounting spent just $5.7 million–22 cents of every dollar–on its two signature programs. They are direct financial assistance to the families of injured soldiers and job-placement conferences. The other $20.5 million was spent on overhead, public awareness, promotion, junk mail and fundraising.
The Coalition did not respond to Forbes’ requests for comment but it has deleted all reference on its website regarding what percentage of contributions go to programs that help service members. Chapin, a 77 year old onetime businessman, has over four decades launched 30 causes embracing such diverse topics as educational reform, anti-substance abuse, youth achievement, illnesses, national security and veterans benefits. Most withered away after lackluster fundraising. Besides the Coalition, the charity empire spawned by Chapin currently includes Help Hospitalized Veterans of Winchester Calif., and two advocacy groups, Help Wounded Heroes (also based in Ossining) and Make America Safe Foundation, which lists Chapin’s San Diego home as its headquarters. Total annual contributions are about $75 million. For the year ending 31 JUL 08 (the latest period available) Chapin received total compensation of $364,000 from Help Hospitalized Veterans but reported drawing no pay from the other organizations. The Help Hospitalized Veterans Web site says he retired in AUG 09 and left its board. A protégé, Mike Lynch, assumed Chapin’s presidency. Chapin’s current pay arrangements with his nonprofits haven’t been revealed.
The Chapin organizations have been the subject of stories by Forbes detailing omissions and other irregularities. Help Hospitalized Veterans and the Coalition have received withering reviews from charity watchdogs citing lapses in governance, transparency and financial efficiency. For example, Help Hospitalized Veterans raises money to provide therapeutic arts and craft kits to injured GIs. But in 2008, according to its financial statements, only $14 million of the $39 million raised was spent on the kits and trained specialists; almost all the rest was spent concerned junk mail and overhead. In 2008 Chapin was forced to testify before a U.S. House committee, the members of which took him to task for the massive spending on fundraising and junk mail. Chapin defended himself and his charities as useful and well-meaning. The same year, the New York State Attorney General’s Office started an investigation of the Coalition that is said to be still continuing.
Chapin launched the Coalition in 2004 with a flashy Washington, D.C., press conference featuring retired U.S. Gen. Tommy Franks, who, Forbes later revealed, secretly received $100,000 for his endorsement. As late as 2006, the Coalition was claiming in filings that its fundraising efficiency–the amount of contributions remaining after fundraising costs–was a high 98%. But as first revealed by Forbes, most of the massive junk mail sent out on behalf of the Coalition was expensed by Chapin’s Help Hospitalized Veterans, with only the net proceeds booked by the Coalition. This had the effect of making the Coalition appear very efficient financially when it wasn’t. In another ploy described by Forbes, Help Hospitalized Veterans received goods it valued at $18.75 million, then transferred them to the Coalition, allowing both to book charitable receipts and expenditures for the same material, improving their stated financial efficiencies. A truer picture emerged when the Coalition started including the junk mail expenses in its own financials. In 2007 and 2008, stated fundraising efficiency plummeted to 60%. The Forbes big-charity average is 91%. Among other revelations in the new Coalition financials, for the year ended 31 DEC 08:
- The $25 million in contributions received represented a 15% drop from 2007. Perhaps as a result, Chapin this year loaned $200,000 to the Coalition at an annual interest rate of 4.83%.
- The Coalition’s balance sheet listed $166,000 in loans to other Chapin charities.
- The Coalition managed to lose money raising funds over the Internet, bringing in $728,000 but spending $747,000.
- Although the Coalition plays up its efforts to provide injured soldiers with homes, only four residences were provided during 2008, at a total cost of $403,000.
- The Coalition paid nearly as much, $358,000, in fees to Williams and Connolly, the high-profile Washington law firm it hired to sue John and Raymond Clifford, two brothers fired in 2007 by the Coalition.
The Westchester County, N.Y., lawsuit, which is still pending, seeks return of documents, unspecified money damages and a court order blocking the brothers from revealing information about Chapin’s organization. The Cliffords, who held high positions with the Coalition, have said they did nothing wrong and have a First Amendment right to speak out. According to the court’s online docket, several recently scheduled hearings were canceled, which is often an indication of settlement talks. Perhaps understandably, the Coalition at this writing has yet to post its latest financial statements on its Web site. Indeed, in recent weeks the organization has removed links to its financial statements from previous years. [Source: Forbes.com William P. Barrett article 6 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
MILITARY STOLEN VALOR UPDATE 13: A retired Coast Guard chief warrant officer 2 who claimed to be a decorated and combat-hardened SEAL — and managed to get a disability rating from the government — has pleaded guilty to wearing combat awards he did not earn. Thomas Barnhart pleaded guilty 6 JAN in federal court in Roanoke, Va. to two counts of violating the Stolen Valor Act. Barnhart served a combined 21 years in the Navy and the Coast Guard. He joined the Navy in 1969, then moved to the Coast Guard 10 years later, retiring in 1990. He entered the Coast Guard claiming to be a SEAL who had completed diving school and High Altitude-Low Opening parachutist school, according to court records. He also claimed to have earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Purple Heart with four stars, a Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnam War-era awards. The Coast Guard clerk bought the story and added the awards to Barnhart’s DD 214. Later DD 214 alterations would add a Navy Commendation with “V” device, Presidential Unit Citation with three stars, and Vietnamese Medal of Honor First and Second Class. “Witnesses have stated that the defendant would spin yarns about his secret missions with the Navy SEALs and describe various combat situations in which he was wounded,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig “Jake” Jacobsen said in his comments to the court, which he provided to Navy Times. “As a result of what everyone believed, the defendant was promoted to warrant officer in the [Coast Guard] ahead of others, likely as a result of the defendant’s stellar ‘combat record.’ ”
Barnhart, who did serve off the coast of Vietnam in 1969 and 1970, retired 31 DEC 90, and applied for disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs less than a year later. By this time, he was passing himself off as a member of SEAL Team 1 with five Purple Hearts and a nomination for the Medal of Honor. He claimed a scar on his left forearm was the result of a gun shot, though VA medical records from 1987 said the injury was the result of his cutting himself on a piece of metal. The VA claim was denied, but Barnhart was successful after giving it another try — this time with the help of his congressman — in 2005. This time, Barnhart claimed he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and pointed to his altered DD 214 to support his claim. During a subsequent medical exam in Virginia Beach, Va., Barnhart told the examining physician he was a SEAL in Vietnam assigned to an elite HALO parachute unit. He claimed to have engaged in multiple combat missions and received two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars and five Purple Hearts. But an alleged rescue of a downed pilot, seeing a soldier being blown up by a rocket and having a pilot die in his arms after their helicopter had been shot down led to his PTSD, he told the doctor.
Jacobsen told Navy Times, “The awards keep growing. Then he is a SEAL, then he has all the heroics. I’ve seen this in similar pattern in other cases. The phonies can’t help themselves. The awards and accolades always grow.” Still, the VA decided in 2006 to award Barnhart a 30% disability rating for PTSD. The case against him began when Mary Schantag of the POW Network got wind of the bogus claims. She began an exhaustive investigation that ultimately led to the state’s attorney’s office looking into the matter. On 25 JAN 08, he admitted his DD 214 was altered, and that he was neither a SEAL nor a combat veteran. By that time, Barnhart had received $13,923 for his fraudulent PTSD claim. “He was very quiet and ’fessed up when he was arrested,” said Jacobsen, who is an Iraq war veteran. “He seemed sincere in his apologies and didn’t deny that he had fabricated his history.” Barnhart’s sentencing is set for 8 APR in Roanoke. He faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the theft of government funds and one year in prison and a $5,000 fine for claiming medals he did not earn, which is a misdemeanor. He also is required to pay back the $13,923 received from the VA for disability. [Source: NavyTimes Lance M. Bacon article 8 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
EYEGLASSES FOR RETIREES: Retirees may receive standard issue glasses each year from the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Command (NOSTRA). To obtain go to the NOSTRA Web site www.med.navy.mil/sites/nostra/Pages/default.aspx and select the “How to Order: Retirees” link for information. If you are retired military and eligible for other medical services, you are authorized to receive annually one clear pair of Bifocals and one tinted pair of Bifocals if prescribed by your Optometrist/Ophthalmologist. If you choose not to request Bifocals, you can receive one pair of Distance Vision and one pair of Near Vision spectacles. One pair of Distance Vision tinted spectacles is authorized if prescribed by your Optometrist/Ophthalmologist. Selectable frames MS9/S91A/Half Eyes/FS9 for all can be viewed on the website.
If you are less than 50 miles from a military health clinic with optometry services, you should take
your prescription for spectacles to them so that they may measure you for proper fit. They will order your spectacles from the appropriate facility. If you are more than 50 miles from a military health clinic with optometry services follow these instructions to order your glasses.
- Open form DD771 at www.med.navy.mil/sites/nostra/order/Documents/DD771_2008.pdf and save it to your computer. This form is created to save the information you type into it.
- Fill out the top section with your “name, “retiree”, and “last 4”, along with your shipping and contact information.
- About halfway down the form, indicate which standard issue frame you desire. Make sure to save the form with the information you added in your computer.
- Print the partially completed form, and take this with you to your eye exam.
- Ensure that the examining facility writes the prescription, and includes your pupillary distance (PD) on the form.
- If your examining facility needs eye size, bridge or temple information, they can find instructions on how to determine this info at www.med.navy.mil/sites/nostra/order/Pages/Fitting.aspx.
- If you currently have Standard Issue frames provide the frame size and temple length. This can be found inside the frame.
- Forward one copy of the completed DD771 form along with your mailing address, a daytime phone number, and email address if available to NOSTRA.
- You can email your order to: [email protected]; or
- You can Fax your order to: (757) 887-4647. Make sure you write: “Retiree Order” on the fax. Call NOSTRA Customer Service at (757) 887-7611 / 7152 / 7299 / 7476 right after you send your fax to insure it was received and that all the information is included to fabricate your orders; or
- You can mail your order to: NOSTRA, 160 Main Road, Ste 350, Yorktown, VA 23691-9984
- If you have any problems or questions call NOSTRA Customer Service Department or email: [email protected] . Customer Service hours are M-F, regular business days, from 0630 to 1700 EST.
- There must be a DD771 for each request for eyewear. Note that orders are subject to a DEERS eligibility check.
[Source: NOSTRA website Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
FDA SCAM UPDATE 01: The FDA is warning the public about another scam in which criminals are posing as law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scam. The criminals call the victims-most of whom had purchased drugs over the Internet or via “telepharmacies” and identify themselves as special agents for the FDA, DEA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, or U.S. Customs Service, as well as for U.S. and Dominican prosecutors and judges. They tell the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. The criminals request that the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. Victims who refuse are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm, and or incarceration. Recipients of such calls should refuse the demand and call the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office at (800) 521-5783 to report the crime. The FDA warns consumers to use caution when purchasing prescription drugs over the telephone or the Internet. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, there is the danger that personal data can be compromised. Victims have also had fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards. For more on FDA’s concerns about unlawful drug sales on the Internet, refer to www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/default.htm. [Source: FDA news release 29 DEC 09 ++]
===============================
GI BILL UPDATE 65: When the Post-9/11 GI Bill became law over the summer, veterans and their family members showed up in masses to take advantage of it. As a result, VA became clogged with a backlog of claims and only had estimates of exactly how many individuals were using the landmark legislation. At the close of the first academic semester, VA has released a report that answers those questions, providing official statistics and giving an explanation for the backlog. The report notes:
- 164,144 individuals have enrolled in classes under the GI Bill, and 130,309 of them have received payments. That leaves 34,000 students still waiting – a number which is down from about 240,000 in August but still seen as unacceptable by vet supporters.
- VA is paying about 4,500 students per day, and that it takes on average 47 days to process payments from the day the school certifies enrollment in VA. In all, 352,281 people have applied for a Certificate of Eligibility, and 292,896 have received one. They will receive funding when they enroll in a school.
- $517 million has been paid out to students and $385 million to schools. An additional 65,282 payments totaling $193 million were made to students this fall during the emergency payment period, which sent advance funding to destitute individuals who were still waiting on their first GI Bill checks.
- Sometimes-controversial claims process takes about one to one and a half hours to process a single payment. Four nonintegrated systems store, calculate, pay and send letters – a setup that VA calls “a burdensome entry and reentry of data”. The backlog was especially bad in the beginning of the semester, when many students were enrolled in school without having received payments.
- VA has hired 230 employees beyond the 520 original ones to remedy the situation. They all are required to work overtime at least three days a month.
- To improve the system, VA continues to review the process and streamline letters to veterans and their dependents who are attending school on their behalf.
[Source: American Legion My GI Bill.org article 7 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
TAX DEDUCTION WISDOM: Tax season pressure may tempt you to accept a standard tax deduction, rather than exploring the potential benefit of itemizing your deductions. To figure out whether itemizing would be profitable for you, you need to determine whether the allowable expenses you paid during the year – for things like mortgage interest and property taxes, state income or sales taxes, medical expenses, charitable donations, etc.—exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. Here are the basic numbers to beat for filing a 2009 Form 1040 return:
- Standard deduction for single taxpayers – $5,700
- Standard deduction for married taxpayers filing a joint return – $11,400
- Standard deduction for head of household taxpayers – $8,350
Those are the numbers for most, but some people get even higher standard deductions. If you’re 65 or older or blind, you get to increase the standard tax deduction.
- Single or Head of Household: 65 or older $1,400 – Blind $1,400 – Both 65 or older and blind $2,800
- Married, Widow or Widower:
- One spouse 65 or older, or blind $1,100
- One spouse 65 or older, and blind $2,100
- One spouse 65 or older, and both blind $3,200
- Both spouses 65 or older $2,200
- Both spouses 65 or older, and one blind $3,300
- Both spouses 65 or older, and both blind $4,400
[Source: Military.com Taxes Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
JOB SALARY NEGOTIATIONS: What you ask for during a salary negotiation doesn’t just influence how much you earn — it also tells your future employer whether you’re good at negotiating, which is a skill you can put to work for the employer once you’re hired. To win your best salary, continue talking until you get everything you want, whether that’s a higher base, an early salary review or company-paid childcare. There’s always a risk involved with any questions you raise when the offer is made, but it’s better to ask questions then, because if [the company is] uncompromising, that’s not a healthy situation. If they have no tolerance for questions, you need to know that up front. Think of a salary negotiation as your chance to shine. The person on the other side of the desk is evaluating you. This is going to show you’re astute in dealing with the outside world. When you get the offer, don’t let your guard down — you’re still on the firing line. Feel confident, because they’ve come to you with an offer. To make sure you get all you deserve recommend asking the following 10 questions. As you ask them, keep in mind that in addition to gathering necessary information, you’re showing your new boss that you’re a good negotiator. You want them to know they’re smart to offer you the job, but you’re not going to come cheap:
- “Thanks — is this a firm job offer?” Demonstrate that you’re professional, polished and polite by saying thank you, and immediately follow to make sure that you really have just been offered a job.
- “Is this negotiable?” Once the salary offer is revealed, it never hurts to ask if they’ll put more money on the table. If they say no, you can move on to negotiate other items.
- “Is this base only?” Asking if the figure you’re offered is total compensation or base compensation lets the interviewer know you’re interested in the details of bonuses and stock options, and it opens up other questions about bonus opportunities.
- “When would you like an answer?” Never accept a job offer on the spot. In our society, you’re perceived as more effective if you’re thoughtful. Plus, stalling gives you time to consider your negotiation strategy. You can say, “This is a great job, and I really want it, but in my experience, I’m better off thinking about it and coming back to you.” Never say you need to discuss it with your spouse — you want to appear confident and capable of making a decision on your own.
- “Will I get the offer in writing?” Don’t accept an offer that isn’t in writing. Not everyone is honest. If you quit a job based on the verbal promise of a new job that then falls through, you’ll have no job and no recourse.
- “Will there be a sign-on bonus?” If they say no, your response is, “OK, I’m just asking.” Just because the pay isn’t negotiable doesn’t mean other aspects of the job aren’t. Ask for flextime, telecommuting or anything else that’s important to you.
- “What is the start date?” This is a way to reaffirm that the offer is serious. Most people want you to start immediately but will be disappointed if you agree to do so. If you leave your current employer in the lurch, the concern is that you might do the same to this company someday. If you’re switching jobs rather than coming off unemployment, build in time to close out your existing job and take a vacation.
- “May I please have a job description?” This question verifies the job you’re being hired to do is the job described during the interview process — and is a job you’re capable of doing.
- “How and when will I be evaluated, and will there be an increase on the basis of that evaluation?” These questions separate out when you’ll be evaluated and when you’ll be eligible for a raise. Those two events are often, but not always, linked.
- “Regarding benefits, please provide the details — when do they start?” If your current employer’s health coverage will end before you’re covered by the new employer’s plan, you can negotiate for the new employer to pay the cost of extending your old policy under COBRA.
[Source: Military.com Careers Dona DeZube article Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
EHR: Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are the wave of the future in health care. The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA’s top health affairs policy advisor said 6 JAN. For the past month, Kaiser Permanente and VA – the nation’s two largest electronic medical records systems – have been working to integrate their standards for veterans through a pilot program in San Diego using the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). The network was developed by the Health and Human Services Department in 2008, and allows government and several private sector health care providers like Kaiser to share health exchanges, such as integrated delivery networks, pharmacies, labs and patient information. More than 400 San Diego veterans are participating in the pilot. The partnership has been successful so far, and is the culmination of decades of work in the medical community, Dr. Stephen L. Ondra, senior VA policy advisor for health affairs, said in a press conference from Kaiser Permanente’s Otay Mesa Outpatient Medical Center in San Diego.
The Defense Department plans to join those efforts in San Diego within the first quarter of this year. Ondra said, “It’s a very exciting moment for us. This is the very first multi-party exchange to the nationwide health information network. [VA] feels committed and responsible to go forward to extend this to other providers and across the nation as we build on this effort.” VA is the largest integrated health system in the nation, serving more than 5.4 million veterans. More than half of those veterans seek some of their medical services outside the VA. Also, there are more than 1.5 million veterans who don’t use VA health-care services at all. Although, VA and the Defense Department are leaders in health information exchanges, Ondra said, it’s important for their systems also to be integrated into the private sector. “We’ve got to take care of those patients, and we really need to have the visibility … to understand conditions and to understand what treatment they’ve had, what medications, what allergies they’ve had,” he said.
“Those are all things that this exchange will do. It improves quality, safety and efficiency.”
Ondra explained that the network isn’t so much a system as it is a set of standards and protocols, meaning that no organization is tied to any single system. Interoperability in sharing health record information and administrative data can occur in any system that follows the nationwide standard, he said. “[The network] empowers the private sector with standards to develop more choices that are always good for consumers,” he said. “With a standard, it opens up space for new solutions and ultimately it aims to lower cost and better the health system for the public.” Ondra noted that such an integrated system will relieve the burden on patients and families who are often ill. With the network, and with patients’ consent, they won’t have to “scurry back and forth between providers with records,” he said. “This is about making patients’ lives and health better … doing something that is sustainable for our country,” he continued. “We are committed to making their lives better.”
As the partnership moves forward and grows, Ondra said the medical community is one step closer to President Barack Obama’s vision of a lifetime electronic records system. He called the initiative the embodiment of Obama’s commitment to servicemembers, veterans and improving overall health care for the nation. Ondra also said their efforts are in keeping with VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s commitment to transform VA into a 21st-century organization centered on patients. “This healthcare record-sharing initiative is the most exciting development I’ve seen in my [25-year] medical career,” Ondra said. “This has the greatest potential to improve and change how we deliver care than anything that’s happened in my lifetime.” Along with the efforts in San Diego, a number of other private institutions have expressed interest in joining the VA and Defense Department partnership. Ondra expects several more pilot programs to be established this year. [Source: AFPS Michael J. Carden article 6 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
RETIREMENT PLANNING: Veterans have a great deal of control over whether or not their retirement will be comfortable. Millions of Americans are preparing for retirement by saving in tax-favored retirement accounts — principally Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. But savers must be aware of common practices that can derail even the best-laid retirement plans. In fact, there are 10 surefire ways to wreck your retirement:
- Don’t Make Saving a Habit. Young workers may think they have plenty of time to save later, but setting aside a little bit of money on a regular basis throughout one’s working years produces a greater nest egg than setting aside a large amount later on.
- Leave Matching Funds on the Table. Not taking advantage of an employer’s matching contributions to a 401(k) account is like turning down a raise.
- Borrow against 401(k) Savings. About 85% of 401(k) plans allow employees to borrow against their account balances. The problem with a 401(k) loan is the loss of compound interest and dividends that would have accrued if the money had not been borrowed.
- Cash Out 401(k) Savings. Cashing out a 401(k) account when changing jobs means that more than one-third of the balance can be eaten up in taxes and penalties.
- Jump In and Out of the Market. In 2008, 401(k) plans lost an estimated $2 trillion in value. But this “loss” would have been on paper only were it not for the fact that many workers essentially locked in their losses by selling their equity funds during the recent downturn.
- Rely on Home Equity. Purchasing a home and selling it years down the road does not always produce a significant profit on which to retire.
- Do Not Diversify Savings. Relying on one type of investment is a recipe for disaster. It is important to consider diversifying among asset types (stocks, bonds, money market funds), as well as diversifying within each type of asset (rather than holding one company’s stock or one type of bond).
- Underestimate Longevity. More people are living longer. This means that retirees should have strategies to ensure they don’t outlive their money, including working past retirement age, annuitizing retirement account money and staying at least partially invested in stocks.
- Ignore Inflation. When a household’s income, combined with half of their annual Social Security benefits, exceeds a certain threshold, a portion of their Social Security benefits are subject to federal income taxes. The thresholds are not indexed. Over time, inflation pushes more and more retirees into the income range where they must add 50 cents of benefits to their taxable income for every dollar their income exceeds the threshold. This means their marginal tax rate will be 50 percent higher!
- Stay in Debt. Entering retirement debt-free is essential to being able to maintain a comfortable standard of living.
There are many more ways to damage one’s retirement, and even the best-laid plans can be derailed by unforeseen events. But uncertainty alone is no reason to not plan at the household level, which is where everyone who wants a secure retirement must begin. For more details refer to www.ncpa.org/pdfs/ba685.pdf. [Source: National Center for Policy Analysis Pam Villarreal article Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
TAX ON VET FIREARMS: An email is making the rounds citing S.2099, a bill that would supposedly require you to report all your guns on your tax return every April 15. Like many rumors, there’s just a grain of truth to this one. Someone’s recycling an old alert, which wasn’t even very accurate when it was new. There actually was a U.S. Senate bill with that number that would have taxed handguns—nine years ago. Introduced by anti-gun Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the bill would have included handguns under the National Firearms Act’s tax and registration scheme. This has nothing to do with anyone’s annually tax obligation. S.2099 disappeared without any action by the Senate, back when Bill Clinton was still in the White House. To be clear, there is no such bill in the current Congress, and the emails about S.2099 being sent around are false and unnecessary distractions from real threats.
In early January of this year, U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL) introduced H.R.45, also known as “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act.” The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, is a licensing and registration scheme. The measure would:
- Require all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee.
- Require the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner’s address in America.
- Make it illegal to own or possess a “qualifying firearm”—defined as “any handgun or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammo feeding device…” without one of the proposed licenses.
- Make it illegal to transfer ownership of a “qualifying firearm” to anyone who isn’t a licensed gun dealer or collector (with very few exceptions), and would require “qualifying firearm” owners to report all transfers to the attorney general’s database.
- Make it illegal for a licensed gun owner to fail to record a gun loss or theft within 72 hours, or fail to report a change of address within 60 days.
- Make the owner of a firearm face a multi-year jail sentence if a minor obtains the firearm and injures someone with it,
H.R.45 is essentially a reintroduction of H.R.2666, which Rush introduced in 2007. H.R.2666 contained much of the same language as H.R.45, and was co-sponsored by several well-known anti-gun legislators–including Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. H.R.45 currently has no co-sponsors. It is in a committee and is not up for a vote. However, this is an important bill for gun owners because every element it contains–from regulation of all detachable-magazine semi-autos, to licensing and the elimination of private sales—is part of the agenda of major anti-gun groups. For additional info on this refer to www.nraila.org/Issues/Articles/Read.aspx?id=367&issue=047. [Source: NRA-ILA Grassroots Div Michael Land article Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VET JOBS UPDATE 12: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on 6 JAN a new state initiative to better help returning combat veterans to land jobs and get whatever help they need in securing housing, health care and other veterans’ services. Schwarzenegger unveiled the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign during his State of the State address in Sacramento, citing “a fundamental obligation to anyone who has shed or risked blood for this country.” The new program charges state agencies with providing better support for veterans. The state plans to hire 325 combat veterans to make contact with recently discharged troops in need of job assistance. Other plans call for recruiting 1,000 volunteers to help veterans cut through red tape so they can better tap into services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and state and municipal programs, as well as non-government organizations. Sparked by his pre-Thanksgiving visit to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Schwarzenegger said he felt compelled – despite the state’s financial crisis — to find better ways to help troops returning from the combat theater transition to civilian life. “They have seen and experienced some hard things. Many have served tour after tour after tour. As a result, some have lost homes, spouses, limbs and lives,” he said. “Too often our soldiers bring back the enemy with them in their heads,” noting cases of post-traumatic stress and suicides. [Source: AFPS Donna Miles article 6 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
HIV TRAVEL BAN: The repeal of a federal regulation that prevents HIV-positive foreign nationals from entering the country for travel or immigration went into effect 4 JAN. President Barack Obama announced the ban repeal on 30 OCT 08 however, those living with HIV who wished to enter the United States for treatment, to become citizens or even visit family had to wait until the regulation changes were made official. There was some hope for HIV positive foreign nationals in 2008 when the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Bill was up for a vote in the Senate. In 2008, President Bush signed the PEPFAR Bill that included an amendment to remove the travel and immigration ban. The repeal of the ban was intended to help alleviate the stigma associated with the disease, as well as allow foreign nationals to access more effective treatment options. However, following the signing of the Bill, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not remove HIV from its list of “communicable diseases of public health significance.” As a result, the amendment never became a reality.
Since the ban went into effect in 1993 by an Act of Congress, international HIV/AIDS activists and people living with HIV have pushed for the ban’s removal. Many argue that although the US government encourages HIV positive citizens around the world to come forward for treatment, doing so would limit their civil rights because of discriminatory policies, such as travel and immigration bans. The ban limited international travel of HIV positive foreign nationals by preventing them from entering the US without a special waiver, which only permitted short-term travel and required a complicated application process. Additionally, the ban prohibited HIV positive people
from obtaining legal residency, and denied citizenship to thousands of people already living in the United States.
When Obama announced the executive order to remove the ban, Senator John Kerry, one of the congressional sponsors of the effort to remove the ban, remarked, “We’ve now removed one more hurdle in our fight against AIDS, and it’s long overdue for people living with HIV who battle against stigma and bigotry day in and day out.” . This reform also allows the United States to host the International AIDS conference to be held in Washington DC in 2012. The conference will discuss the many issues that still need to be resolved concerning HIV/AIDS. Although now some people can travel to the US to receive better treatment, the majority of those affected by HIV/AIDS are not able to travel due to economic and political reasons. With this reform, and the hosting of the International AIDS conference, the Obama administration has positioned the United States as a leader in future efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. [Source: EDGE Health Fitness Annie Brown article 4 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA COPAY UPDATE 08: A $1 increase in copayments for outpatient medications for veterans who do not qualify for free prescriptions is being delayed for six months while the Veterans Affairs Department reviews its options. Copayments are required for a 30-day supply of medication provided on an outpatient basis to people being treated for disabilities or conditions that are not related to military service. Copayments are not charged for veterans who have service-connected disabilities rated at 50% or more, regardless of whether they are being treated for a service-connected issue, and copayments are waived for some low-income veterans. The current charge of $8 was supposed to rise to $9 on 1 JAN 2010 under regulations that call for prescription drug charges to keep pace with prescription drug charges in the private sector. But on 31 DEC, VA officials announced in the Federal Register that they were delaying the increase until 1 JUL so they could reconsider how increases are calculated. This delays both the $1 hike and a $120 increase in the $960 copayment cap on drug costs for veterans who have service-connected disabilities but are being treated for nonservice-related medical issues. “We need time to determine whether an increase might pose a significant financial hardship for certain veterans and, if so, what alternative approach would be appropriate relief for these veterans,” the statement says.
Created in 2002, the copayment cap began as a $2 fee for a 30-day prescription but increased to $7 in 2008 and to $8 in 2009. Under VA rules, the drug copayment is supposed to increase each 1 JAN based on the increase in the prescription drug portion of the Medical Consumer Price Index, a measurement maintained by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The drug index, known as CPO-P, called for an automatic $1 increase that can be delayed under current law but still has to take effect at some point. VA officials called their action a “temporary freeze,” with the expectation that the increase will take effect this summer unless a new way of calculating and applying the copayment is found. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 4 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
STOP-LOSS PAY UPDATE 03: The fiscal 2010 defense budget extends payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called “Stop Loss” program, but those who received a bonus for voluntarily re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive Stop Loss pay. The Defense Department put the new policy into effect 5 JAN 2010, modifying eligibility for retroactive special pay to comply with Section 8108 of the 2010 Defense Department Appropriations Act, which took effect 19 DEC 09. Those affected by the new policy who already received Stop Loss payments will not be required to repay them, defense officials said. However, all outstanding applications from affected servicemembers will be returned, along with an explanation of the change in law that makes them no longer eligible to receive the payments, officials said. Department officials announced in March their intention to eliminate the Stop Loss policy, which kept servicemembers on active duty beyond their contracted end-of–service date. While the services work to phase out the policy, officials authorized a special pay of $500 a month for anyone retained on active duty due to Stop Loss. Retroactive payments applied for anyone who served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, and the fiscal 2010 defense budget extended that authority through September 2010.
Servicemembers were able to begin submitting their claims for retroactive Stop Loss special pay on 21 OCT. They must provide documented proof they were stop lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim. Information on how to contact each of the services is listed below:
- Army: Go to https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil or email [email protected]
- Navy: Email [email protected]
- Marine Corps: Go to https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss or email [email protected]
- Air Force: Go to http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/
[Source: AFPS Donna Miles article 5 Jan 1010 ++]
===============================
FILIPINO VET INEQUITIES UPDATE 18: United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney said Filipino World War II veterans have only about four weeks to apply for the lump-sum payment of $9,000 for Filipino citizens and $15,000 for US citizens. She reminded those eligible for the one-time payment authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that the non-extendible deadline is 16 FEB 2010 for receipt of applications. The application process is easy to do and can be done online, by phone, or in person. In an earlier advisory, the US embassy said application forms are available at the US embassy, the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and the 13 Philippine Veterans Affairs Offices located throughout the Philippines. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail to: US Department of Veterans Affairs, 1131 Roxas Blvd., 0930 Manila, Philippines. Veterans needing assistance with their application may request an appointment with the US Department of Veterans Affairs Manila Regional Office by calling (2) 528-2500 within Metro Manila or 1(800) 1-888-5252 from outside Manila, or via e-mail at https://iris.va.gov. In many cases, any assistance needed to complete the application can be provided by calling these numbers avoiding the need to appear in person.
The following information or evidence is needed to submit with the application: two forms of identification such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, senior citizen ID, postal ID, voter’s ID card; copies of any military discharge documents showing service in one of the three qualifying types of service; the applicant’s Philippines Veterans Affairs Office claim number; the applicant’s Philippines Veterans Affairs Pension bank account number; and the US passport of US citizens. Claims from spouses, widows and children of Filipino WWII veterans cannot be accepted. To be eligible for the new benefit, service members in each of the below categories above must have been discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable:
- Persons who served before 1 JUL 46 in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States;
- Members of the organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States;
- Persons who served in the Philippine Scouts under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945.
[Source: Philippine Inquirer article 3 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
SSA EARNINGS STATEMENT: The SSA-1099/1042S for Tax Year 2009 will be mailed by 31 JAN 2010. You can request a replacement SSA-1099/1042S for Tax Year 2009 on or after 1 FEB 2010. If you need a replacement SSA-1099/1042S for Tax Year 2008 or earlier: Call 1(800) 772-1213, or TTY number, 1(800) 325-0778; or visit your local Social Security Office. This can be found by entering your zip code and clicking the “Locate” tab on https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp. If you live outside the United States refer to SSA’s Office of International Operations (OIO) home page at www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/index.html. For the Philippines contact the Social Security Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office, American Embassy, 1131 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 0930 Manila, Philippines Tel: 632-301-2000, extensions 5085, 6302 and 6319, Fax: 632-522-1514 and 632-525-9482, or email: [email protected]. [Source: www.socialsecurity.gov Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA CLAIMS BACKLOG UPDATE 32: Leading Democrats like to hold up the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) as an example of how well government can provide health care. But veterans who deal with the complex federal bureaucracy have invented an unhappy refrain to describe the VBA: “Deny, deny until you die.” VBA, the branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs that dispenses aid and assistance to veterans and their families, is simply overwhelmed. It reported on 28 DEC 09 that there are 481,751 pending claims, some of which will take more than a year to be processed. Among those flooding the VBA’s facilities with claims are retirement-aged Vietnam veterans and elderly World War II veterans, middle-aged Gulf War veterans, and younger Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. All of these groups are applying in larger numbers because of the weak economy, said Larry Scott, the founder of the advocacy group VAwatchdog.org. Three government investigations released in September paint a picture of an agency that simply can’t keep up with the demand:
- An audit released 3 SEP by the inspector general of Veterans Affairs found that 3% of all claims took more than a year for the VBA to process.
- A separate audit released 28 SEP, this one investigating VBA’s control of veterans’ claims folders, said that 437,000 claims – more than 10% of the 4.2 million on file – had been lost or misplaced.
- In a third report, released 30 SEP, the inspector general said employees at VA regional offices had shredded claims forms containing information needed to obtain benefits. Although the inspector general was unable to determine how many claims had been wrongly destroyed, the investigation found claims placed in shred bins, waiting to be destroyed, at 41 VBA locations nationwide.
Efforts to speak with someone at the VA about these matters on the record were not fruitful. The only person the VA would make available was a high-level technology officer at the VA, and that interview was canceled twice at the last minute. The VA did provide information to The Washington Times attributable to a “VA spokesman,” saying it hired an additional 4,200 people over the past three years to help reduce claims-processing times and is testing a number of pilot programs to streamline the process. The VA also has put new controls in place to prevent workers from shredding needed documents; two staffers and a facility records management officer must now review a document before it can be shredded.
Any improvement will come too late to help Greg Hasler, who filed a disability claim with Veterans Affairs in MAY 08 after being diagnosed with a severe form of internal cancer. His oncologist recognized it as a kind of cancer commonly caused by radiation and said it likely was caused by Mr. Hasler’s service in the early 1960s in Operation Dominic at Christmas Island, a Pacific Ocean atoll where many nuclear tests were conducted. Mr. Hasler died from his fast-spreading cancer on 4 FEB 09, at age 66. It wasn’t until July that the VBA notified his wife that it was examining the claim; the agency told her in September – seven months after her husband’s death – that his illness was service-connected and that she was entitled to benefits. Mrs. Hasler said she was able to get the claim opened only after seeking help from advocates at VAwatchdog.org, who exposed her problems with the VBA to the public as “the Case of the Atomic Widow.” Other veterans, including former Vietnam helicopter pilot Jim Massey, are still fighting for benefits. Massey has retained legal counsel at his own expense after being spurned by the system. He can barely walk because of his back problems but was awarded a disability rating of only 20%, meaning the VA thinks he still has 80% of his normal function. Mr. Massey is appealing the ruling, but the process is time-consuming and requires frequent appointments at far-away military hospitals. His wife, Georgia, must schedule time off work in order to drive her husband to the appointments since he cannot drive himself.
Such problems are not uncommon, said Jim Strickland, one of the two men who run VAwatchdog.org. “It is routine for the majority of people to have some sort of major glitch with filing their claim,” he said. Massey, whose military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and numerous Air Medals, first hurt his back while serving as a door gunner in Vietnam when his helicopter crashed from engine failure in NOV 66. He reinjured his back twice during his 20-year Army career, once in 1972 lifting a heavy roll-up door of a helicopter hangar and more severely in 1984 while extracting a fellow soldier from concertina wire during a field exercise. “Helicopters have vibrations, beats,” said Massey, who served as a helicopter pilot and test pilot for 13 years. “It vibrates your head and just beats your neck and back continuously up and down and side to side.” Since 2003, he has undergone 10 surgeries, five of which have been on his lower back. Because of the “horror stories” he had heard about the VA application process, he said, he delayed filing for service-connected disability benefits until JUN 07. He was given a disability rating of just 20% even though he has extreme difficulty walking and requires strong pain medication, making it hard for him to seek a job. “I’m basically housebound,” said.
Massey and his wife are now appealing, a process requiring tremendous time and effort. Mrs. Massey, who keeps meticulous records, said she took her husband to 69 doctor appointments in 2008 alone. “One time, they just measured the scars on my back,” Massey said, after traveling 240 miles to be evaluated by the VA. He was notified by mail about when and where to appear next and was not given any choices. Paperwork from his VA medical center warned: “Failure to report for any scheduled examination could have a detrimental effect on the outcome of your claim.” In AUG 09, he received a mind-boggling letter from the VA. “We propose to rate you as incompetent for VA purposes,” it said. “Evidence from your VA psychiatric examination dated 6 FEB 08, revealed you stated that your short-term memory is quite poor, and your wife often makes you a list that you at times will even forget to read or follow through on. “You said that you lose objects regularly, including telephone, camera, keys, and stated this has been going on for the past six to seven years. The examiner stated on the basis of this evaluation, you appeared minimally to partially capable of managing your VA benefits.” Massey worries that such a ruling would mean someone else would be appointed to manage his personal finances. “Who doesn’t misplace items?” he asked.
Mr. Strickland has advised the Masseys to seek legal counsel, which they have done. “All I am asking for is fair compensation for the injuries my body and mind received during my 20 years of service in the defense of our country,” Massey said. Drew Early, a veterans lawyer based in Decatur, Ga., who is working with the Masseys, said it is not unusual to be threatened with a finding of incompetency. “Any time they see anything that looks like it could be dementia or Alzheimer’s, that rings a bell in their head, and they will automatically default to a finding of incompetency, which in and of itself can be harming,” he said. “The problem is that this is a federal agency making a determination that has many ramifications beyond the scope of the VA. They can extend it to say you can’t own a gun. ‘We are a federal agency and we are declaring you incompetent,’ and that has baggage throughout [an individual’s] life and engagement with the government.” Such findings are difficult for a veteran to appeal. “An enemy combatant in Guantanamo Bay has more rights than does a veteran,” Early said. “And who has the time? These poor veterans don’t have time to sit and wait and confront the nation’s second-largest bureaucracy. They are in need of help, but this bureaucratic fortress stands in their way.” [Source: Washington Times Amanda Carpenter article 31 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
FLU PREVENTION UPDATE 01: FDA has approved Fluzone High-Dose (sanofi pasteur), an inactivated influenza virus vaccine for people ages 65 years and older. The vaccine is intended to prevent disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B. Fluzone High-Dose is the first influenza vaccine that uses a higher dose to induce a stronger immune response and thereby better protect the elderly, whose immune systems typically have become weaker over time, against seasonal influenza. FDA’s accelerated approval process—employed in certain cases to help safe and effective medical products for serious or life-threatening diseases become available sooner—was used in the vaccine’s approval. As part of the accelerated approval process, further studies are required to verify that the Fluzone High-Dose will decrease seasonal influenza disease after vaccination. Fluzone High-Dose is formulated so that each 0.5 mL dose contains a total of 180 mcg of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) made up of 60 mcg of each of the three influenza virus strains. Other currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines for adults are formulated to contain a total of 45 mcg of influenza virus hemagglutinin (15 mcg HA from each of the three influenza strains per dose). Sanofi pasteur also manufactures Fluzone, a seasonal vaccine for the United States approved for use in individuals ages 6 months and older. As expected, because of the higher HA content, nonserious adverse events were more frequent after vaccination with Fluzone High-Dose compared with Fluzone. Common adverse events experienced during clinical studies included injection site pain, redness and swelling plus headache, muscle aches, fever and malaise. The rate of serious adverse events was comparable between Fluzone High-Dose and Fluzone. People with hypersensitivity to egg proteins or life-threatening reactions after previous administration of any influenza vaccine should not be vaccinated with Fluzone High-Dose, which is administered as a single injection in the upper arm and is available in single-dose prefilled syringes without preservative. For additional info on vaccines for flu prevention refer to www.pharmacist.com . [Source: American Pharmacists Assn article 24 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
SGLI/VGLI UPDATE 10: The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the father of a Marine killed in Iraq is not entitled to a share of death benefits that went to his mother. The appeals court said 29 DEC that Levi Angell, of Cloquet, had designated his mother as the sole beneficiary of his military life insurance policy and a related federal death benefit. The 20-year-old lance corporal was killed in combat in 2004. His mother received just over $500,000. His parents, Gordon and Loretta Angell, divorced last year, and a lower court had awarded $150,000 of those benefits to the Marine’s father. He’s 67, has no savings or pension and lives on Social Security. The appeals court says federal law prevents courts from dividing military death benefits when one parent is the sole beneficiary. [Source: MarineCorpsTimes AP article 1 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION UPDATE 03: VA provides Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment assistance to Veterans with serviceconnected disabilities to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment. For Veterans with serious service-connected disabilities, VA also offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. There are five service delivery options available:
- Reemployment
- Rapid Access to Employment
- Self-Employment
- Employment through Long Term Services, and
- Independent Living
Assistance to Veterans may be provided in the form of job search, vocational evaluation, career exploration, vocational training, educational training and supportive rehabilitation services. Generally, Veterans have 12 years from the date VA informs them that they have at least a 10% rating for a service-connected disability. For detailed information about all VA benefits and services, refer to www.va.gov. [Source: VA Pamphlet 21-00-1 JUL 09 ++]
===============================
ENLISTMENT UPDATE 07: For enlistment purposes, the military breaks education into three overall categories (Tiers). Applicants in Tier I have a high school diploma, or at least 15 college credits. This means a high school diploma, not a GED. Depending on state law, completion of high school by home study may or may not be considered equivalent to a high school diploma. The vast majority (over 90%) of all enlistments are from the Tier 1 category. Tier II includes GEDs, home study (in some states), Certificate of Attendance, Alternative/Continuation High School, Correspondence School Diplomas, and Occupational Program Certificate (Vo/Tech). The services limit the number of Tier II candidates it will allow to enlist each year:
- In the Air Force, the limit is less than 1% each year. In such cases, the applicant must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT to qualify (Note: The “AFQT” is the overall ASVAB score);
- The Army will allow up to 10% each year to be Tier II candidates, but they must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT.
- The Marines will only allow about 5% each year but they must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT;
- The Navy about 10% but they must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT; and
- The Coast Guard only accepts Tier 2 candidates if they have prior military service, and even then requires them to score higher on the AFQT (50 for prior Coast Guard Service, 65 for prior service in other branches).
Tier III consists of individuals who are not attending high school and are neither high school graduates nor alternative credential holders. The services almost never accept a Tier 3 candidate for enlistment. If you fall into this category, your best bet is to get at least 15 college credits, so that you will be qualified as Tier I. [Source: About.com: U.S. Military Rod Powers article 19 Sep 09 ++]
===============================
MEDICARE FRAUD UPDATE 30:
- Powell OH – Dr. Iskander, a medical doctor who is an Egyptian national here on a work visa, executed a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care benefit programs through his pain management business located in Bucyrus and Lewis Center, Ohio. On 23 DEC 09 he entered a plea of guilty to one count of Health Care Fraud. This followed the convictions of Dr. Iskander and his wife on 2 OCT 09, Evat Hanna when found guilty of obstruction of justice by shredding and concealing medical records to impede a federal investigation. As a part of the plea agreement he agreed to forfeit nearly seven million dollars which the government intends to use as restitution to the defrauded health care programs. In addition, Dr. Iskander agreed to serve at least 51 months’ imprisonment to be determined at sentencing by Judge Oliver at a hearing set for 2 FEB 2010. He also agreed to forfeit his medical license and to be deported to Egypt following his release from prison. The government has entered into an agreement withthe wife, pertaining to her conviction on the obstruction charges in which the government has agreed to recommend a sentence of home detention for her for one year, following which she will also be deported.
- Miami FL – Ihosvany Marquez, 38, was detained without bond 4 JAN on charges of submitting $55 million in false claims to Medicare for bogus HIV and cancer services at his seven clinics in Miami-Dade and Orlando. The program paid Marquez and other partners in the alleged conspiracy about $22 million from 2005 to 2007. Marquez spent millions of dollars on a fleet of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and other luxury cars, along with thoroughbred horses and diamond jewelry. He is accused of operating fraudulent Miami-Dade clinics with partner Michel De Jesus Huarte. Huarte, who pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this month, was indicted separately in JUN 09 on charges of submitting more than $50 million in bogus claims to Medicare for purported infusion therapy to treat patients with cancer, AIDS and varicose veins. The partners’ infusion treatments, purportedly administered intravenously, were neither prescribed by doctors nor provided to patients at their six Miami-Dade clinics. The partners recruited Cuban immigrants to pose as the owners of their clinics, “with the understanding that the `straw’ owners would flee to Cuba to avoid law enforcement detection or capture,” according to the indictment filed against Huarte.
- New York NY – Three New York City podiatrists are heading off to prison after a Manhattan federal judge sentenced them 6 JAN for scamming Medicare. Podiatrists Henry Borrelli, Albert Kalajian and Nicolas Errico, who worked in free clinics across the city, face prison sentences ranging from 18 to 37 months. The crooked foot doctors were convicted for lying about their patients’ conditions to get reimbursements from Medicare and private insurance companies. “The treatment was ‘free’ only because the [doctors] purposely ignored Medicare’s requirement that patients be responsible for the 20 percent co-payment,” the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a release. Six other podiatrists were sentenced from 2004 to 2007 to prison terms ranging from six to more than five years. Altogether, 17 former foot clinic workers have been convicted in connection to this scam.
- Wheaton MN – Wheaton Community Hospital, the city of Wheaton, Minn. and Stanley Gallagher, MD, (collectively known as WCH) have agreed to pay $846,461 to settle a whistleblower suit charging that they violated the False Claims Act. The claim alleged that between 1998 and 2004, WCH knowingly made false claims to Medicare regarding “unreasonable” and “unnecessary” hospital admissions. WCH violated hospital admission practices by admitting some patients and keeping others admitted to acute care when not medically necessary. Subsequently, those unnecessary hospital stays were billed to Medicare for the cost of these hospital admissions. The lawsuit, originally filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act in the federal court of Minnesota, was initiated by Steven Radjenovich, MD, a former practitioner at Wheaton Community Hospital, who previously worked with Gallagher. Radjenovich will receive $203,150 of the settlement with WCH.
- St. Louis MO – Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Wallace Berkowitz, 66, has been indicted for health-care fraud by a federal grand jury on one felony count of health care fraud and 19 counts of making false statements relating to health care matters between 2003 and 2008. Berkowitz, who has offices in St. Louis City and County, and in Swansea, Alton and Glen Carbon IL, submitted numerous claims and received payment from Medicare and Medicaid for health care services he did not provide, the indictment alleges. Residents of nursing homes and other residential facilities were transported to St. Alexis Senior Services Center to receive health services from various providers, including Berkowitz, who submitted claims falsely stating that he spent 25 to 45 minutes examining and treating each patient when St. Alexis records show he typically spent less than five minutes with each patient, according to the indictment.
- Livonia MI – Ingrid Mazorra pleaded guilty 12 JAN in U.S. District Court in Miami to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program. In pleading guilty, Mazorra admitted that in approximately SEP 06, she agreed to help operate a fraudulent infusion and injection clinic, called Xpress Center Inc., in Livonia, Mich. Mazorra admitted that while the clinic was open, the clinic routinely billed the Medicare program for services that were medically unnecessary or were never provided. Mazorra admitted that she and her co-conspirators at the clinic had purchased only a small fraction of the medications that the clinic billed the Medicare program (approximately $2.3 million), that Medicare beneficiaries were recruited to come to the clinic through the payment of kickbacks, that in exchange for those kickbacks, the Medicare beneficiaries would visit the clinic and sign documents indicating that they had received the services billed to Medicare, and that she and other co-conspirators created false patient files and other false documents to conceal the fraud at Xpress Center, and to make it appear that Xpress Center was a legitimate medical clinic. Kickbacks were made in the form of cash and prescriptions for narcotic drugs. Medicare paid approximately $1.8 million on the claims. At her sentencing, which is scheduled for 26 MAR 10, Mazorra faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 1-15 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
MEDICAD FRAUD UPDATE 05:
- New Jersey N.Y. – A couple who falsely claimed they lived on Staten Island, bilked the state and city of more than $35,000 in Medicaid benefits, prosecutors allege. Gobin Singh, 39, and Carrol Singh, 35, failed to report income and resources they earned from their actual residence on Forbes Avenue in Perth Amboy and a condominium in Punta Gorda, Fla., court papers said. They submitted a Medicaid application stating they lived on Manhattan Street in Tottenville, apparently to hide those assets. The scheme occurred between JAN 06 and JUL 09, court papers said. During that time, the Singhs illegally collected an excess of $35,588 in Medicaid benefits through the city and state. The couple was arrested 7 JAN after a probe by NYPD Detective Squad and the city Human Resources Administration Bureau of Fraud Investigation. They were charged with single felony counts of grand larceny, welfare fraud and offering a false instrument. They also are accused of a misdemeanor count of falsifying business records.
- Shenandoah VA – A former health care administrator who conspired to defraud Medicaid of more than $130,000 has been given probation. Pamela Kay Divine, 58, was sentenced 11 JAN to five years of probation. U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon also ordered her to pay a $10,000 fine plus restitution of $130,157 paid by Medicare. Divine worked for Advantage Care of Shenandoah, the Staunton-based personal services firm owned by her husband. The company provided aides to help Medicaid patients with their daily tasks so they could stay in their homes. Divine told registered nurses to issue 40-hour training certificates to aides who didn’t undergo the training, and gave one person a certificate after she “tested out” of the training. Authorities have said six untrained Advantage Care aides served Medicaid recipients between JAN 04 and OCT 05. Divine pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She could have faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Linda Utley McCrae, a registered nurse who was responsible for training aides, also was charged under the original indictment. McCrae’s next court date has not yet been set.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 1-15 Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
MILITARY HISTORY ANNIVERSARIES:
- Jan 16 1944 – WWII: The U.S. First and Third armies link up at Houffalize, effectively ending the Battle of the Bulge.
- Jan 16 1991 – Persian Gulf War: Allies start Operation Desert Storm with attacks on Iraq
- Jan 18 1911 – Naval Lieutenant Eugene Ely became the first man ever to land an airplane on the deck of a ship, the converted cruiser USS Pennsylvania, in San Francisco Bay.
- Jan 18 1942 – WWII: General MacArthur repels the Japanese in Bataan. The United States took the lead in the Far East war criminal trials.
- Jan 18 1962 – Vietnam: The United States begins spraying foliage with herbicides in South Vietnam, in order to reveal the whereabouts of Vietcong guerrillas.
- Jan 20 1944 – WWII: Allied forces in Italy begin unsuccessful operations to cross the Rapido River and seize Cassino.
- Jan 21 1954 – The first nuclear-powered submarine (USS Nautilus) was launched in Groton CT by Mamie Eisenhower.
- Jan 21 1968 – Vietnam: Siege of Khe Sanh begins as North Vietnamese units surround U.S. Marines based on the hilltop headquarters.
- Jan 21 1977 – President Jimmy Carter pardons nearly all American Vietnam War draft evaders inclusive of those who had immigrated to Canada.
- Jan 22 1944 – WWII: Operation Shingle. U.S. troops under Major General John P. Lucas make an amphibious landing behind German lines at Anzio, Italy, just south of Rome.
- Jan 23 1943 – WWII: The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse on Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign ends.
- Jan 23 1943 – WWII: Australian and American forces finally defeat the Japanese army in Papua. This turning point in the Pacific War marks the beginning of the end of Japanese aggression.
- Jan 23 1968 – North Korea seizes the USS Pueblo, claiming the ship had violated their territorial waters while spying.
- Jan 23 1973 – Vietnam: President Richard Nixon claims that Vietnam peace has been reached in Paris and that the POWs would be home in 60 days.
- Jan 24 1982 – Vietnam: A draft of Air Force history reports that the U.S. secretly sprayed herbicides on Laos during the war.
- Jan 24 1917 – WWI: Zimmerman telegram sent to the Mexican government by the German foreign minister intercepted. Promised Mexico that the lands taken from it by the U.S. during the 1846-1848 war would be returned if Mexico entered on Germany’s side and the Germans won.
- Jan 25 1949 – WWII: Axis Sally, who broadcasted Nazi propaganda to U.S. troops in Europe, stands trial in the United States for war crimes.
- Jan 25 1951 -Korea: The U.S. Eighth Army in Korea launches Operation Thunderbolt, a counter attack to push the Chinese Army north of the Han River.
- Jan 27 1862 – Civil War: President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1, setting in motion the Union armies.
- Jan 27 1943 – WWII: The first U.S. raids on the Reich blast Wilhelmshaven base and Emden.
- Jan 28 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base after being there since the Spanish-American War.
- Jan 28 1915 – The U.S. Coast Guard is founded to fight contraband trade and aid distressed vessels at sea.
- Jan 28 1966 – Vietnam: Operation White Wing, a search and destroy mission, begins.
- Jan 29 1943 – WWII: Battle of Rennell Island Guadalcanal. The last major naval engagement with Japan. The cruiser Chicago is torpedoed and heavily damaged by Japanese bombers.
- Jan 29 1991 – Gulf War: Iraqi forces attack into Saudi Arabian town of Kafji, but are turned back by Coalition forces.
- Jan 30 1944 – WWII: The Battle of Cisterna takes place in central Italy with a clear German victory.
- Jan 31 1944 – WWII: U.S. troops under Vice Adm. Spruance land on Kwajalien atoll in the Marshall Islands.
- Jan 31 1968 – Vietnam: Tet Offensive begins as Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers attack strategic and civilian locations throughout the South including the ancient imperial capital of Hue.
- Jan 31 1968 – Vietnam: Battle of Hue begins
[Source: Various Dec 09 ++]
===============================
TAX BURDEN FOR MAINE 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 Maine:
State Sales Tax: 5.0% (food and prescription drugs exempt)
Fuel & Cigarette Tax:
- Gasoline Tax: 29.9 cents/gallon
- Diesel Fuel Tax: 32.2 cents/gallon
- · Cigarette Tax: $2.00/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 2%; High – 8.5% In 2010 the four current marginal tax rates (2%, 4.5%, 7%, and 8.5%) are replaced with a flat tax of 6.5% of Maine taxable income. Taxpayers with taxable income greater than $250,000 must pay an income tax surcharge equal to .35% of Maine taxable income in excess of $250,000.
Income Brackets: 4 (Lowest – $5,050; Highest – $20,150). For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.
Personal Exemptions: Single – $2,850; Married – $5,700; Dependents – $2,850
Standard Deduction: Single – $5,450; Married filing jointly – $9,100. Beginning in 2010 the Maine standard and itemized deductions are repealed and replaced with several new tax credits.
- Refundable household credit: Only resident individuals qualify; nonresidents and part-year residents do not qualify. The base credit amount is $700 for single tax return filers; $1,050 for head of household (HH) filers; $1,200 for married joint (MJ) filers; and $600 for married, but filing separate (MS) filers. The base credit amount is increased by $250 for each exemption allowed to be claimed on federal income tax returns. The credit is phased out by $1.50 for every $100 that Maine taxable income exceeds $27,500 for single filers; $41,250 for MS and HH filers; and $55,000 for MJ filers. The credit is refundable up to $70 for MJ returns and $50 for all other returns.
- Elderly Credit. The credit is $60 for each taxpayer who is 65 years of age or older. The credit is phased out by $2 for every $100 of Maine adjusted gross income that exceeds: $32,000 for single filers; $26,000 for MS filers; $52,000 for MJ filers; and $48,000 for HH filers.
- Additional Deductions: (2009) Single or head of household over 65 – $1,250; One spouse over 65 – $950; Both over 65 – $1,900; If over 65 and blind – add $2,500
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None.
Retirement Income Taxes: You and your spouse (if married) may each deduct up to $6,000 of eligible pension income that is included in your federal adjusted gross income. Except for military pension benefits, the $6,000 cap must be reduced by any Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits received, whether taxable or not. Deductible pension income includes state, federal and military pension benefits, as well as retirement benefits received from employee retirement plans.
Retired Military Pay: Follows federal tax rules.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.Property Taxes
All real estate and personal property of Maine residents is subject to local and, if authorized by the legislature, state property taxes. Local property taxes, based upon assessed valuation, are assessed, levied and collected by municipalities. Homestead and veteran’s exemption programs, administered by the state, are available to reduce property taxes for those who qualify. The Homestead Exemption program provides a measure of property tax relief for certain individuals that have owned homestead property in Maine for at least 12 months and make the property they occupy on April 1st their permanent residence. Property owners receive an exemption of $13,000 on the assessed value of their home. A Veteran exemption of $6,000 is available to those who served during a recognized war period, are 62 years or older, are receiving 100% disability as a veteran or became 100% disabled while serving. Paraplegic veterans who received a federal grant for a specially adapted housing unit may receive a $50,000 exemption. A blind exemption of $4,000 is available to those who are legally blind. - A senior citizen property tax credit for volunteer service has been approved by the legislature. A municipality may adopt an ordinance to allow resident homeowners who are at least 60 years of age to earn up to $750 in benefits by volunteering to provide services to the municipality. The municipality may establish procedures and additional standards of eligibility for the program. Because the volunteer benefits are not subject to Maine income tax, Maine adjusted gross income on the Maine individual income tax return may be reduced by the amount of the benefits, up to $750, to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income. For more information on property taxes refer to www.state.me.us/revenue/propertytax/homepage.html.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax. Maine has partially decoupled from the federal estate tax law. The amount exempt from the Maine estate tax is different from the amount exempt from federal estate tax. A person dying in 2008 would have their estate exempt for up to $1,0000,000. Refer to www.state.me.us/revenue/incomeestate/estate/index.htm for more information.
[Source: www.retirementliving.com Jan 2010 ++]
===============================
VETERAN LEGISLATION STATUS 13 JAN 2010: The second session of the 111th Congress in the Senate will begin in earnest starting at 10 a.m. 20 JAN. For the House it began on 12 JAN. 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 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
HAVE YOU HEARD?
While the C-5 was turning over its engines, a female crewman gave the G.I.s on board the usual information regarding seat belts, emergency exits, etc.
Finally, she said, ‘Now sit back and enjoy your trip while your captain, Judith Campbell, and crew take you safely to Afghanistan’
An old MSgt. sitting in the eighth row thought to himself,
‘Did I hear her right? Is the captain a woman? ‘
When the attendant came by he said ‘Did I understand you right? Is the captain a woman?’
‘Yes,’! said the attendant, ‘In fact, this entire crew is female.’
‘My God,’ he said, ‘I wish I had two double scotch and sodas. I don’t know what to think with only women up there in the cockpit.’
‘That’s another thing, Sergeant,’ said the crew member,
‘We No Longer Call It ‘The Cockpit’
‘It’s The Box Office.’
45 lessons life taught me
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio – “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me it is the most-requested column I’ve ever written.”
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. it’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Its estimated 93% won’t forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title “7%”…I’m in the 7%.
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves
ONLY A MAN WOULD ATTEMPT THIS
Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!!
Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:
Last weekend I saw something at Larry’s Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse- sized tazer. The effects of the tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety….
WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I’d get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.
AWESOME!!!
Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn’t be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.. Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and tazer in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I’m looking at this little device measuring about 5″ long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, ‘no possible way!’ What happened next is almost beyond description, but I’ll do my best..
I’m sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, ‘don’t do it dip-****,’ reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn’t hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and . ….
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD . .. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION . . . WHAT THE HELL!!!
I’m pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room..
Note: If you ever feel compelled to ‘mug’ yourself with a tazer, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor.. A three second burst would be considered conservative!
IT HURT LIKE HELL!!!
A minute or so later (I can’t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was. My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.. I had no control over the drooling.
Apparently I pooped on myself, but was too numb to know for sure and my sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head which I believe came from my hair. I’m still looking for my nuts and I’m offering a significant reward for their safe return!
PS.. My wife, can’t stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!
If you think education is difficult, try being stupid !!!
Clever History Lesson
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be.
Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.
Hence the saying; “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water”.
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.
It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.
Hence the saying; “It’s raining cats and dogs”.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how “canopy beds” came into existence.
The floor was earth – usually hardened by traffic over years. Only the wealthy had something other than earth. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor”.
The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway.
Hence the saying a “thresh hold”.
(Getting quite an education, aren’t you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold
overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme; “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old”.
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.
When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that “a man could bring home the bacon”. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the fat”.
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or “the upper crust”.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would
wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the
wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (“the graveyard shift”) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ….”dead ringer”.
And that’s the truth. Now, whomever said History was boring!! Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.
VETERAN LEGISLATION 12/28/09
Of the 4470 House and 2920 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 are new additions to this summary. 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 (128) 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 (17) 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 (8) 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 (87) 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 (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.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 (None) 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 (122) 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 (13) 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 (9) 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 (119) 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 (120) 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 (1) 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 (39) 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 (134) 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 (2) 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 (36) 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 (38) 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.598 : American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Science and Technology; House Education and Labor; House Financial Services House Reports: 111-8 Part 1, 111-8 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Ways and Means, H. Rept. 111-8, Part II. Note: For further action, see H.R.1, which became Public Law 111-5 on 2/17/2009. ________________________________________ 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 (59) 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 (12) 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 (1) 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 (43) 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 (9) 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 (313) Companion Bill S.535 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/17/2009 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 or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746 ________________________________________ 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 (5) 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 (193) 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 (4) 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 (3) 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) 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 (19) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (94) 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 (54) 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 (2) 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 (27) Related bill S.1204 Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (8) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (2) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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 (204) 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 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 (13) 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 (77) 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: 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.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 (11) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 – 12. ________________________________________ 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 (7) 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 (20) 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 (22) 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 (16) 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: 12/16/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. ________________________________________ 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 (48) 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 (104) 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 (20) 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 (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.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 (11) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. 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 (335) 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 (27) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (72) 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 (226) 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 (2) 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 (55) 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: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (1) 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 (31) 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 (13) 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 (8) 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. ——————————————————————————– Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (47) 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 (23) 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 ——————————————————————————– 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 (23) 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 (46) 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 (34) 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 (12) 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 (47) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. ——————————————————————————–
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 (7) 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 (2) 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 (21) 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 (None) 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 (28) 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 (21) 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 (10) 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 (12) 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) 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 (3) 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. ——————————————————————————– 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 (84) 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 (14) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. ________________________________________ 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 (2) 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 (15) 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 (1) 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 (30) 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 (3) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. ——————————————————————————– 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 (11) 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.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 (43) 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 (114) 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 (28) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (19) 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 (1) 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 (36) 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 (40) 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 (3) 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 (55) 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 (4) 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 (None) 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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (13) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Small Business, 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.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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (None) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.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 (None) 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: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (3) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. ——————————————————————————– Senate S.35 : IRS Sales Tax Permanent Deduction. A bill to provide a permanent deduction for State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill H.R.369. Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. ________________________________________ S.46 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to 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 (26) 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) 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 (1) 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 ________________________________________ 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 (46) 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 (54) 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 (49) 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 (17) 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 (19) 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 (27) 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 (3) 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 (None) 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 (37) 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 (13) 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 (6) 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 (5) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– 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 (1) 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 (13) 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 (17) 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 (6) 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.1603 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009. A bill to amend section 484B of the 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: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 8/6/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.2456, H.R.2561 Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (11) Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. ——————————————————————————– 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 (8) 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 (5) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ——————————————————————————– 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 (12) 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 (5) Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ——————————————————————————– 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 (4) 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 (3) 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. ——————————————————————————– [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 28 Dec 09 ++] |
RAO BULLETIN 01/01/10
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Health Care Reform [20] ————– (Vet Protection Omitted)
== Bloedner Monument ———————————— (Relocated)
== Life Expectancy ———————————– (All-Time High)
== Estate Tax Update 03 (U.S.) —————– (2010 Elimination)
== Tricare Vaccines ———————– (Out-of-Pocket Expense)
== DoD Vet Betrayal [01] ——- (Pentagon Limits Law’s Pledge)
== Mobilized Reserve 29 DEC 09 —————- (1,358 Decrease)
== TRDP [08] ———————————– (Tooth Loss Options)
== VA Blue Water Claims [09] ———— (Validation Database)
== Celiac Disease ———————- (The Overlooked Diagnosis)
== Agent Orange Record of Neglect [01] — (Danger Not Averted)
== Revisit Korea Tours ————————- (Subsidized by ROK)
== VA Benefits Eligibility ———————————- (Criteria)
== VA Benefits Eligibility [01] ——— (Military-related Service)
== VA Home Loan [17] ————————————- (Summary)
== VA Prostate Radiation Treatment [03] —- (Violations Denied)
== VA Outside Medical Claims ————————— (Procedure)
== AAFES Exchange/Refund Policy ———- (Holiday Extension)
== Tricare EOBs [04] ————————————— (Pharmacy)
== Traumatic Brain Injury [10] ————— (HBOT Study Stalled)
== VA Tinnitus Care [01] ———– (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)
== GI Bill [65] ——————————- (New BAH Rates Impact)
== VA Hospital Report Card ———————- (2009 Evaluation)
== Wisconsin Veterans Homes [02] – (Union Grove Rent Increase)
== VA SAH [06] ——————– (HVAC Subcommittee Hearing)
== Medicare Rates 2010 [02] ————– (CSRS Retiree Increase)
== Pay Parity [02] ———————————— (2010 Pay raise)
== VA Contractor Use [01] ——————————– (H.R.4221)
== Tricare Retired Reserve ——————- (Gray Area Coverage)
== VA Benefits Assistance ————————— (Offers of Help)
== Flag Presentation [02] ———- (Display Citations Withdrawn)
== Veterans’ Court [04] ———————— (Travis County Texas)
== Agent Orange Guam [01] —————– (H.R.2254 Inclusion?)
== PTSD [35] ———————- (Military Rules Hinder Therapy)
== Breast Cancer [02] ———————- (New Treatment Option)
== Vinegar ——————————————————— (Uses)
== Enlistment [06] ———————— (Military Couple Criteria)
== Medicare Fraud [29] ——————————- (16-31 Dec 09)
== Medicaid Fraud [05] ——————————- (16-31 Dec 09)
== Military History Anniversaries ———— (Jan 1-15 Summary)
== Tax Burden for Louisiana Retirees ———————– (2009)
== Veteran Legislation Status 28 DEC 09 —— (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard ———————————- (Fighter Pilots)
===============================
Health Care Reform Update 20: As you are most probably aware of by now, on the morning of 4 DEC, the Senate passed 60-39 a much amended H.R.3590, “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This vote and the previous House passage of this legislation is contrary with the growing sentiments of 2/3 of the American People who are against this “stealth” legislation. Regardless of which national poll you might consider this public disapproval of this legislation varies little from poll to poll. As the next step in the process is reconciliation of the significantly different House and Senate versions, but which neither makes provision to protect Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense health-care from the provisions of this legislation. Such protection would fulfill President Obama’s promise made last August that neither program would “be affected by our efforts at broader health-care reform.” Unless Tricare, Tricare for Life, and VA health care programs are exempted from a proposed excise tax, veterans and military retirees face the very real prospect of paying a new tax on so-called “Cadillac” health care plans, which Tricare and VA health-care might easily be considered. As has been pointed out by a number of federal employee labor unions, such a tax would “have a discriminatory impact on plans that cover older workers and retirees …” Such excise tax could result in a tax increase of as much as 1.4% on veterans and military retirees and our widows, many of whom are retired on fixed incomes with no way to offset that additional tax other than by cutting back elsewhere in their family budgets.
If you could be impacted by this you have the option to contact your legislator and let him/her know of your concerns. Especially the very real potential that the near $500 Billion cuts in Medicare will adversely impact Tricare and Tricare for Life which are directly indexed to Medicare. If Medicare goes away then so do Tricare and Tricare for Life. Urge your legislator to immediately seek an amendment to H.R.3590 to make it clear that nothing in the reconciled bill act shall interfere with VA or DOD existing authorities and that VA and DOD health care programs are excluded from any excise tax on health care programs. If H.R.3950 is not so amended then request that he/she vote AGAINST this legislation when it comes to the House floor for a vote. To facilitate contacting your legislator USDR has provided an editable message at http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14493596&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] that addresses the issue and can be automatically forwarded to your representative. [Source: USDR Action Alert 26 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Bloedner Monument: The Bloedner Monument, the nation’s oldest Civil War memorial, was removed in DEC 08 from Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville Kentucky and taken to a temporary facility where it was professionally conserved to arrest further damage. “The removal of an important monument from a national cemetery is rare and was not undertaken without great deliberation,” said VA Secretary Shinseki. “However, the overwhelming significance of the Bloedner Monument and its failing condition warranted this unusual step.” The monument was carved in January 1862 by Pvt. August Bloedner to commemorate his fellow soldiers of the 32nd Indiana Infantry, all of them German immigrants who fell in the Battle of Rowlett’s Station near Munfordville, Ky. The monument’s original location was on the battlefield, marking the graves of 13 soldiers who perished there. When most of these remains were removed to Cave Hill National Cemetery in 1867, the Bloedner Monument was moved there as well.
The monument was fabricated from St. Genevieve limestone, with a base of Bedford limestone added in 1867. It measures approximately 5 feet long, 1 foot deep and 3 ½ feet high. The monument is carved on one side with a relief of an eagle and an inscription in German in a rustic script. The text was approximately 300 words and 2,500 characters long at the time it was carved. Because of the poor quality of the limestone and effects of the environment, the monument has lost a significant amount of material. Only about 50% of the original carving and inscription remains. The monument was temporarily relocated to a University of Louisville facility for treatment while VA conducted a thorough evaluation of potential sites. The evaluation process included written proposals and site visits. VA posted information on the Internet, mailed information to Veterans and Civil War heritage groups and held a public information meeting to solicit suggestions. A new monument, with an interpretive sign explaining the significance of the original Bloedner Monument and indicating its location, will be placed at Cave Hill National Cemetery in 2010.
VA historians, in collaboration with the Kentucky Heritage Council and Heritage Preservation Inc., selected the Frazier International Museum as the new home from three interested facilities based on Civil War exhibit plans, controlled environment and security, financial stability, annual visitation and proximity to Cave Hill National Cemetery.The Museum brings history to life through live interpretations by costumed interpreters, multimedia presentations, educational programming and hands-on learning. Covering 1,000 years of history, their collection is housed in a 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility at 829 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202-2619 Tel: (502) 753-5663 or (866) 886-7103. They are open throughout the year Mon thru Sat 0900 – 1700 & Sun 1200 – 1700 except holidays. Admission Rates (without audio tour) are $9 adults; $8 military; $7 seniors (60+); $6 children under 14 and students with I.D; and no charge for children under 5. For details about exhibits and services offered refer to www.fraziermuseum.org/about.asp . [Source: VA News Release 30 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Life Expectancy: Life expectancy is up and the death rate is down, according to recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From data collected in 2007, life expectancy for newborns reached a new high of 77.9, according to the latest mortality figures reported in Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007. The figures are based on nearly 90% of all death certificates in the United States. The 2007 increase in life expectancy was the continuation of a long trend. Between 1997 and 2007, life expectancy increased by 1.4 years, from 76.5 years to 77.9 years. Other highlights of the report include:
- The average 65-year-old senior can now expect to live another 19 years or so, to nearly age 84.
- Record high life expectancy was recorded for both males (75.3 years) and females (80.4 years) in 2007. While the gap between male and female life expectancy has narrowed since the peak of in 1979, the 5.1 year difference recorded in 2007 is the same as in 2006.
- For the first time, life expectancy for black males reached 70 years.
- The U.S. death rate fell for the eighth year in a row to an all-time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2007. This is 2.1% lower than the 2006 rate of 776.5 and about half of what it was 60 years ago in 1947.
- Heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death, accounted for nearly half (48.5 percent) of all deaths in 2007.
Want to improve your longevity? In addition to getting exercise, regular medical checkups, and eating healthy food, researchers say that making time to travel and making new friends help to increase our longevity. Travel can increase longevity by helping people establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, says Dr. David Lipschitz, director of the Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In a 10-year longevity study of people aged 70 and older, researchers at the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia concluded:
- Close relationships with children and relatives had little effect on longevity rates for older people during the 10-year study.
- People with extensive networks of good friends and confidantes outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%.
- The positive effects of friendships on longevity continued throughout the decade, regardless of other profound life changes such as the death of a spouse or other close family members.
[Source: About.com Guide to Senior Living Sharon O’Brien article 26 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Estate Tax Update 03 (U.S.): Unless Congress changes the law, the federal estate tax will disappear on 1 JAN 2010. For the first time since the 1916 inception of the tax, the estate of anyone dying in 2010 will go to heirs tax free, a result of the 2001 tax law that phased out the estate tax over 10 years. But that law itself expires in 2011 and the estate tax will revert to pre-2001 law. The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 increased the effective estate tax exemption in steps from $675,000 in 2001 to $3.5 million in 2009 and reduced the top tax rate from 55% to 45%. Raising the exemption cut the share of estates subject to tax by nearly 90% — from 2.14% in 2001 to a projected 0.23% in 2009. That percentage is the lowest since at least 1934. With the 2009 exemption of $3.5 million, an estimated 5,500 estates will pay the estate tax, yielding revenue totaling nearly $14 billion. Revenues will drop to zero in 2010 (but a sharp increase in gift tax collections will make up some of the loss, albeit at the cost of lower estate taxes in future years). If the estate tax reverts to pre-2001 law and its $1 million exemption, an estimated 44,000 estates — representing just under 2% of all deaths — will owe tax totaling more than $34 billion.
Congress is currently debating various options to change the estate tax in 2010 and subsequent years. One
approach would make the 2009 parameters permanent, thus imposing the tax on about one-quarter of 1 percent
of estates in 2010. That share would grow slowly over time if the $3.5 million exemption were not indexed for inflation, rising to about 0.4% by 2019. Revenues would roughly double over the decade from $14.8 billion in 2010 to $28.9 billion in 2019. Indexing the exemption would slow but not halt that growth as wealth will likely increase faster than prices. Other proposals in Congress would increase the exemption to $5 million and reduce the tax rate to 35%, either immediately or by 2019. The higher exemption would cut the number of estates subject to tax and, in combination with the lower tax rate, would slash revenues by nearly half. The Tax Policy Center has projected the effects of those and other proposals at www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?Docid=2506.Estate. [Source: Tax Policy Center Tax Facts Roberton Williams article 21 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Tricare Vaccines: Tricare beneficiaries can now receive select vaccines with no out-of-pocket expense at retail pharmacies. For the first time ever, beneficiaries can visit Tricare retail network pharmacies to receive seasonal flu, H1N1 flu and pneumonia vaccines at no cost. This expanded coverage is available to all Tricare beneficiaries eligible to use the Tricare retail pharmacy benefit. Other vaccines must still be administered in a doctor’s office or authorized convenience clinic to be fully covered by Tricare’s preventive health services cost-share waiver. “Vaccines are the most effective defense against the seasonal and H1N1 flu and pneumonia,” said Rear Adm. Thomas McGinnis, Tricare’s chief pharmacy officer. “We hope this new, convenient and affordable option encourages Tricare beneficiaries to get their vaccinations.” To receive the vaccines, beneficiaries can call their local Tricare retail network pharmacy to make sure it participates in the vaccine program and has the vaccine in stock. To locate a participating retail network pharmacy, go to http://www.express-scripts.com/Tricare and enter your zip code or call Express Scripts at 877-363-1303. [Source: Tricare News Release No. 09-84 dtd 9 DEC 09 ++]
===============================
DoD Vet Betrayal Update 01: Veterans groups hailed the passage of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which made it easier for wounded soldiers to have their injuries rated and treated by the federal government. But less than a year after President Bush signed the bill, the Defense Department interpreted the law in a way that reduced its scope and denied many veterans the benefits they thought they had been promised. The Pentagon’s interpretation, which veterans groups are challenging, is laid out in two memos written in 2008 by David S.C. Chu, who was undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The effect of the memos, which have been obtained by The Washington Times, is to disqualify numerous soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from receiving medical benefits and to prevent others from receiving extra pay that the NDAA promised to veterans with combat-related injuries. In drafting the NDAA, Congress relied on the recommendations of a bipartisan panel headed by former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala. The legislation permitted troops who were injured during training operations to receive extra pay, but Mr. Chu, in one of his memos, defined “combat-related operations” in such a way that troops injured during training or simulated conditions of war would not qualify.
Some lawmakers involved in enacting the 2008 law had expected differently. During debate on the Senate floor, Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) said: “This addition expands the population that is eligible for the enhancement of disability severance pay to include injuries incurred during performance of duty in support of combat operations.” But Congress did not explicitly include in the bill a definition of combat-related operations, leaving it to the Pentagon to make that determination. The result was Mr. Chu’s first memo, issued in MAR 08. Mr. Chu said that the injury must have been inflicted during “armed conflict,” or in a combat zone, in order for the service member to receive the benefits authorized. “The fact that a member may have incurred a disability during a period of war or in an area of armed conflict, or while participating in combat operations is not sufficient to support this finding [of a combat-related disability]. There must be a definite causal relationship between the armed conflict and the resulting unfitting disability,” Mr. Chu wrote in a document attached to his MAR 08 memo. This excluded soldiers who were hurt while engaging in operations outside combat zones, including situations Mr. Pryor envisioned: conducting training exercises, jumping from helicopters in rough terrain or participating in other hazardous duties.
Officials maintain that the scope of the law was narrowed to ensure that combat-wounded soldiers would receive the bulk of the new benefits. Many veterans groups view it as an unwelcome cost-saving measure. David Gorman, executive director of the Disabled American Veterans, wrote a letter to every member of Congress in AUG 08 that said: “Sadly, the 2007 Walter Reed scandal, which resulted mostly from poor oversight and inadequate leadership, pales in comparison to what we view as deliberate manipulation of the law” by Mr. Chu and his deputies. “He must not be allowed to continue thumbing his nose at the will of Congress and the American people,” Mr. Gorman said. Mr. Chu, who is no longer with the Defense Department, told The Times that an “enormous amount of confusion” has been associated with the memo and advised The Times to speak with William Carr, the acting deputy undersecretary for military personnel policy. The Department of Defense did not make Mr. Carr available for an interview and instead issued a statement through Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith, who confirmed that the MAR 08 memo was still in effect.
The 2008 NDAA also made it easier for soldiers dismissed from service because of PTSD to undergo treatment and receive compensation. The law said veterans dismissed from service because of PTSD must be given a disability rating of 50%, high enough to ensure disability pay and health care for the soldiers and their families. But another memo written by Mr. Chu on 14 OCT 08, added a catch: It said the policy should not go into effect until the date of the memo, nine months after the bill had been signed into law, leaving out any soldiers dismissed from service because of PTSD before that date. Many soldiers with PTSD who were dismissed from service before the October deadline suffered severe physical injuries as well. They included long-serving, decorated soldiers regularly exposed to mortar fire and roadside bombs. Seven of them have banded together with the National Veterans Legal Services Program in a class-action lawsuit, filed in DEC 08, seeking the 50% rating. Bart Stichman, a lawyer handling the case for the veterans legal services program, said the military has a “history of lowballing” the ratings and estimates that there are “thousands who have been discharged before OCT 08 that the military has done nothing about.”
One of the soldiers suing is former Army Sgt. Juan Perez, who was discharged from the military in 2006 after being deemed unfit for further service because of a PTSD diagnosis. During his first deployment to Iraq, he routinely carried out reconnaissance missions near the Syrian border. On one occasion, his Bradley fighting vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device. But it was during his second deployment when he sustained an injury, as an industrial-strength bungee cord restraining ammunition lost its hold and snapped violently against his head. The injury caused him to temporarily lose his eyesight, and he was flown to Germany for treatment. He then began suffering migraines and sometimes losing consciousness. He was sent later to the United States, where he began to experience PTSD symptoms, including insomnia, paranoia and extreme irritability. He was later diagnosed with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Because of the PTSD diagnosis, the Army officially declared him no longer fit to serve and dismissed him from duty in 2006, before any of the 2008 NDAA benefits became available. Perez said, “They didn’t include my eye injury. They just said I was unfit to be a soldier anymore. And they gave me 0 percent for PTSD. They gave me a severance package, but that didn’t even last three months. If I would have gotten a 30% rating, at least, I could have medical care for my wife and kids, but now I don’t have that.” Sgt. Perez says he can see, but not as well as before the accident. He suffers from migraines and carries an oxygen tank to help alleviate the headaches. [Source: The Washington Times Amanda Carpenter article 28 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Mobilized Reserve 29 DEC 09: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 29 DEC 09. The net collective result is 1,358 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the for 15 DEC 09 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 105,243; Navy Reserve, 6,281; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,706; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,600; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 774. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 135,604, 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/Dec2009/d20091229ngr.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 1010-09 30 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
TRDP Update 08: Tooth loss can be a difficult and sometimes embarrassing condition. Quality of life, confidence or daily functioning can be affected by the loss of permanent teeth. Tricare wants beneficiaries to know that conventional crown and bridge treatment and dentures aren’t the only options to address tooth loss. Dental implants are an option for medically qualified candidates. A thorough dental evaluation is required to determine whether a patient is a good candidate for dental implants. Good candidates for a dental implant are non-smokers with healthy gums and adequate bone remaining in the area where the implant will be placed. A dental implant is a replacement for the root portion of a natural tooth and is surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, below the gum line. After a healing period, the implant supports a crown or bridge, or secures a denture firmly in place. Beneficiaries considering dental implants should speak with their dentist about the total cost of the procedure to determine their out-of-pocket expenses. On average, dental implants cost approximately $1,500 to $3,500 per tooth replacement. Beneficiaries should plan ahead to properly budget their annual dental benefit. To learn more about Tricare’s dental benefits refer to http://www.tricare.mil/dental. [Source: Tricare News Release 09-81 24 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Blue Water Claims Update 09: The VA is currently building their list of Blue Water Navy ships (which include Coast Guard vessels) that performed duties on inland waterways. The Washington office at VA Headquarters is spearheading this effort and they have notified all the Regional Offices that whenever they get information regarding Blue Water Navy ships that sailed on inland waters and/or BWN ships that docked in Vietnamese ports or harbors, they are to submit that information to the DC offices for verification. Information from Deck Logs and other sources will be investigated for credibility. In filing a claim based on presumptive exposure to herbicides if your ship was in port or on inland waters, the best thing you can do is present the Regional Office (RO) along with your claim submission certified copies of the information you are using to prove this situation. In many cases, information from a Cruise Book is ideal. Information from your ship’s history from Internet sites is also good. Send a copy of that portion of the Cruise book, ship’s history and/or photos that show river service or docking, along with a request for the Regional VA Office to obtain the deck logs for that time period to substantiate your claim. Statements attesting to the fact that what you are submitting is true to the best of your knowledge should also be sent. You should have a VSO or the RO itself certify that the copies being submitted are true copies of the original documents which you need to show, but retain in your possession. The ROs will submit the certified copies of this information to the Comp & Pen Division in Washington, and the database of these inland water services will be created after verification of this information. The ultimate goal of this will be a database searchable by the Regional Offices that will validate your claims for presumptive exposure if the ship, for your specified timeframe, is in the database already from someone else’s claim. Otherwise, your submission will create the first entry into the database. You will not have to bear the cost of obtaining the Deck Logs under this scenario. That will be the responsibility of the VA. Include a copy of the 19 OCT 09 letter from Secretary Shinseki to Senator Akaka which mentions the development of this searchable database of BWN ships serving in Vietnam. To download a copy of that letter refer to www.bluewaternavy.org/10-19-09-VA-Shinseki-response.pdf. [Source: www.bluewaternavy.org/newspage2.htm Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Celiac Disease: This digestive disorder causes damage to the small intestine when gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, is ingested. People with the disease need to follow a strict gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives to avoid serious complications like osteoporosis and lymphoma, an immune system cancer. It takes the average patient 10 years to receive a diagnosis. And according to specialists, they are the lucky ones. Studies show that 3 million Americans or 1 in every 133 people have celiac disease. But 95% of them have yet to learn they have it, according to the National Institutes of Health. “The entire disease and all of its manifestations are incredibly under diagnosed,” said Dr. Charles Bongiorno, the chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Patients often have it for a decade or two before they are diagnosed.” Celiac disease is often difficult to detect because the symptoms vary so widely from person to person. Ten years ago, the medical community thought it was a rare disorder that affected only 1 in every 10,000 people, primarily children who had digestive problems and failure to thrive.
Physicians now know that the disease is much more common. Most patients never experience the so-called classic symptoms: bloating, chronic diarrhea and stomach upset. Instead, the signs are often as nebulous as anemia, infertility and osteoporosis. “It’s a problem,” said Dr. Ritu Verma, section chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition and director of the Children’s Celiac Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The majority of patients do not have the traditional signs and symptoms. If someone’s only presenting symptom is anemia, physicians will think of a hundred other things before they think of celiac disease.” As a result, the condition is also commonly mistaken for other ailments. Part of the problem is also a lack of education among physicians, particularly internists. According to Dr. Bongiorno, most primary care physicians are simply unaware of new research that shows the disease is common and can manifest itself in unusual ways. “They think it is an exotic malady,” he explained. “That persistent fallacy causes a less-than-appropriate effort to order the right blood tests and refer to gastroenterologists for care.”
In 2006, the National Institutes of Health started a campaign to raise awareness of the disease among both the general public and physicians. A goal was to increase rates of diagnosis because, unlike many ailments, there is a definitive way to stop celiac disease from progressing once it is recognized. “The vast majority of cases experience a complete remission from symptoms once they are diagnosed and go on a gluten-free diet,” said Dr. Stefano Guandalini, director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. “So essentially, you have no disease. That is what makes it all the more important to be diagnosed.” And there is no better time to be on a gluten-free diet. In 2008, 832 gluten-free products entered the market, nearly 6 times the number that debuted in 2003. Last year gluten-free even emerged as a fad diet in the general population. Dr. Fasano said gluten-free products used to taste like cardboard but had significantly improved in recent years. “The only problem,” he said, “is that they cost five or six times more than their normal counterparts.” Researchers are also beginning to experiment with drugs that may be able to block the immune response to gluten, much like a lactate pill. If the clinical trials are successful, individuals with celiac disease may be someday able to ingest small amounts of gluten. [Source: New York Times Health Guide 22 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Agent Orange Record of Neglect Update 01: Documents show that decisions by the U.S. military and chemical companies that manufactured the defoliants used in Vietnam made the spraying more dangerous than it had to be. As the U.S. military aggressively ratcheted up its spraying of Agent Orange over South Vietnam in 1965, the government and the chemical companies that produced the defoliant knew it posed health risks to soldiers and others who were exposed. That year, a Dow Chemical Company memo called a contaminant in Agent Orange “one of the most toxic materials known causing not only skin lesions, but also liver damage.” Yet despite the mounting evidence of the chemical’s health threat a review of court documents and records from the National Archives has found the risks of exposure were downplayed and the spraying campaign would continue for six more years. Records also show that much of the controversy surrounding the herbicides might have been avoided if manufacturers had used available techniques to lessen dioxin contamination and if the military had kept better tabs on levels of the toxin in the compounds. Dow Chemical knew as early as 1957 about a technique that could eliminate dioxin from the defoliants by slowing the manufacturing process, according to documents unearthed by veterans’ attorneys. Since the Vietnam War, dioxin has been found to be a carcinogen associated with Parkinson’s disease, birth defects and dozens of other health issues. Thousands of veterans as well as Vietnamese civilians were directly exposed to the herbicides used by the military. Debilitating illnesses linked to defoliants used in South Vietnam now cost the federal government billions of dollars annually and have contributed to a dramatic increase in disability payments to veterans since 2003.
Documents show that before the herbicide program was launched in 1961, the Department of Defense had cut funding and personnel to develop defoliants for nonlethal purposes. Instead it relied heavily on the technical guidance of chemical companies, which were under pressure to increase production to meet the military’s needs. The use of defoliants led to massive class-action lawsuits brought by veterans and Vietnamese citizens against the chemical firms. The companies settled with U.S. veterans in the first of those suits in 1984 for $180 million. Since then, the chemical companies have successfully argued they are immune from legal action under laws protecting government contractors. The courts also found that the military was aware of the dioxin contamination but used the defoliants anyway because the chemicals helped protect U.S. soldiers. A 1990 report for the secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that the military knew that Agent Orange was harmful to personnel but took few precautions to limit exposure. The report quotes a 1988 letter from James Clary, a former scientist with the Chemical Weapons Branch of the Air Force Armament Development Laboratory, to then- Sen. Tom Daschle, who was pushing legislation to aid veterans with herbicide-related illnesses. “When we initiated the herbicide program in 1960s, we were aware of the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in the herbicides,” Clary wrote. “We were even aware that the ‘military’ formulation had a higher dioxin concentration than the ‘civilian’ version due to the lower cost and speed of manufacture. However, because the material was to be used on the ‘enemy,’ none of us were overly concerned.”
Military scientists had been experimenting with herbicides since the 1940s, but funding cuts in 1958 left few resources in place to fully evaluate the chemicals for use in Vietnam. “I was given approximately 10 days notice to come to Vietnam to undertake ‘research’ in connection with the above tasks,” wrote Col. James Brown of the U.S. Chemical Corps Research and Development Command in an October 1961 report to top brass just as the defoliation program was ramping up. “Thus, a large order was placed on a very poorly supported research effort.” The military launched a limited herbicide program in 1962 that involved 47 missions. At the time, relatively little was known about the health effects of dioxin, in part because cancer and other illnesses can take decades to develop and the herbicides had only been in wide use since 1947. But documents uncovered by veterans’ attorneys show the chemical companies knew that ingredients in Agent Orange and other defoliants could be harmful. As early as 1955, records show, the German chemical company Boehringer had begun contacting Dow about chloracne and liver problems at a Boehringer plant that made 2,4,5-T, the ingredient in Agent Orange and other defoliants that was contaminated with dioxin. Unlike U.S. chemical companies, Boehringer halted production and dismantled parts of its factory after it discovered workers were getting sick.
The company studied the problem for nearly three years before resuming production of 2,4,5-T. In doing so, the company found that dioxin was the culprit and that they could limit contamination by cooking the chemicals at lower temperatures, which would slow production. Dow said it didn’t purchase the proprietary information on the technique until 1964 and didn’t start using it until 1965. Records show it did not inform other manufacturers or the government about the technique until the military began planning construction of its own chemical plant to make herbicides in 1967. By that time, Dow also had developed a procedure to test dioxin levels in batches of 2,4,5-T. The company provided that technique to other companies in 1965 but not to the military until 1967, the company said. Earlier in the decade, nearly two dozen military officials and chemical industry scientists met in April 1963 to issue a “general statement” about the health hazards from 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. No one raised concerns about using the chemicals in Vietnam, according to minutes from the meeting. Evidence focused largely on the fact that more than 300 million gallons of the compounds had been used domestically since 1947, even though the formulations for Vietnam would be far more concentrated and contain more dioxin. “The committee concluded that no health hazard is or was involved to man or domestic animals from the amounts or manner these materials were used in aforementioned exercise,” the minutes show.
In 1965, the chemical companies involved in producing the defoliants met at Dow’s headquarters in Midland, Mich., to discuss the contaminant’s threat to consumers. “This material (dioxin) is exceptionally toxic; it has a tremendous potential for producing chloracne and systemic injury,” Dow’s chief toxicologist, V.K. Rowe, wrote to the other companies on 24 JUN 65. But none of the companies informed the military personnel charged with overseeing the defoliation contracts of the safety concerns until late 1967, according to depositions from the lawsuits. Internal documents from multiple companies indicate they were worried about the specter of tighter regulation. Only after a study for the National Institutes of Health showed that 2,4,5-T caused birth defects in laboratory animals did the military stop using Agent Orange, in 1970. Alan Oates, a Vietnam veteran who chairs the Agent Orange committee for Vietnam Veterans of America, said veterans have had little luck in their legal fight for compensation since the 1984 settlement. Veterans have argued unsuccessfully in court that the settlement was insufficient because it came too early for thousands of people whose illnesses did not develop until after all the settlement money had run out. One unresolved issue, Oates said, is whether chemical companies can be held liable for health costs associated with birth defects seen in the children of Vietnam veterans. “Now that it’s starting to show it has an impact on future generations, what is the recourse for those folks?” Oates said. [Source: Chicago Tribune’s Part 5 Agent Orange’s lethal legacy 17 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Revisit Korea Tours: Since 1975, the Republic of Korea has been inviting Korean War Veterans, and family members, to return to Korea on a subsidized visit to thank them for their sacrifices that saved their country from Communism. Thousands of veterans, from all the Allied Countries that participated in the war, have enjoyed this sojourn to the “Land of the Morning Calm.” The Korean government pays for hotel rooms and meals for 5 nights and 6 days plus in country tours. Accommodation is based on two persons per room. Commencing in JUN 2010, the Revisit Korea tours will be increased “three fold” and, for the first time, the ROK government is planning to subsidize the airfare of both the veteran and his family member/companion. A veteran is allowed to bring one family member. The eligibility requirements will also be relaxed in view of the age of the veterans. The exact dates have not been published. However, they are planning on five major commemorations, the first being the Invasion Anniversary, 25 JUN. This will be followed by the Pusan Perimeter, the Inchon Landing, the Liberation of Seoul and the Northern Winter Campaign of 1950.
Applications are available at www.kwva.org/graybeards/gb_09/gb_0912/gb_0912_revisit_korea_application.pdf. A $400 deposit per person is required to be included with the application and payment in full must be made prior to 60 days of the tour departure. Participants are required to have a valid passport. A visa is not required for 15 days or fewer in Korea. Registrations will be date stamped and will be “First Come – First Served”! To register, call (800) 722-9501 or (703) 590-1295. Check the KWVA web site at www.KWVA.org or www.miltours.com for tour dates. You can also mail the Revisit Coordinator at [email protected] , to request a brochure. Those eligible to participate include:
- Veterans who supported ground, naval, or air operations between 25 JUN 50 and 25 OCT 54.
- A widow or family member of a veteran killed in action during the war.
- A family member of a Korean War veteran physically unable to travel.
- Anyone who has previously participated in the Revisit Korea program
[Source: www.kwva.org Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Benefits Eligibility: Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharge under other than dishonorable conditions. Other groups may also be eligible for some health benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for five years following discharge from active duty. Active military service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Armed Services, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Active duty for training for the National Guard and Reserve does not qualify as full-time service. There’s no length of service requirement for former enlisted persons who started active duty before 8 SEP 80 or former officers who first entered active duty before 17 OCT 81. All other veterans must have 24 months of continuous active duty military service or meet one of the exceptions described below:
- A reservist who was called to Active Duty and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge.
- A National Guard member who was called to Active Duty by federal executive order, and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge.
- Request a benefit for or in connection with:
a.) A service-connected condition or disability; or
b.) Treatment and/or counseling of sexual trauma that occurred while on active military service; or
c.) Treatment of conditions related to ionizing radiation; or
d.) Head or neck cancer related to nose or throat radium treatment while in the military.
- Discharged or released from active duty for a hardship.
- Discharged with an “early out”.
- Discharged or released from active duty for a disability that began in the service or got worse because of the service.
- Been determined by VA to have compensable service-connected conditions.
- Discharged for a reason other than disability, but you had a medical condition at the time that was disabling, and in the opinion of a doctor, would have justified a discharge for disability (in this last case, the disability must be documented in service records).
[Source: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Benefits Eligibility Update 01: In addition to active military service veterans a number of groups who have provided military-related service to the United States have been granted VA benefits. For the service to qualify, the Secretary of Defense must certify that the group has provided active military service. Individuals must be issued a discharge by the Secretary of Defense to qualify for VA benefits. Service in the following groups has been certified as active military service for benefits purposes:
- Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs).
- World War I Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit.
- Engineer Field Clerks.
- Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
- Quartermaster Corps female clerical employees serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.
- Civilian employees of Pacific naval air bases who actively participated in defense of Wake Island during World War II.
- Reconstruction aides and dietitians in World War I.
- Male civilian ferry pilots.
- Wake Island defenders from Guam.
- Civilian personnel assigned to OSS secret intelligence.
- Guam Combat Patrol.
- Quartermaster Corps members of the Keswick crew on Corregidor during World War II.
- U.S. civilians who participated in the defense of Bataan.
- U.S. merchant seamen who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry in the World War II invasion of Normandy.
- American merchant marines in oceangoing service during World War II.
- Civilian Navy IFF radar technicians who served in combat areas of the Pacific during World War II.
- U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas in World War I.
- U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas under U.S. armies and U.S. army groups in World War II.
- U.S. civilian employees of American Airlines who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between 14 DEC 41 and 14 AUG 45..
- Civilian crewmen of U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessels who served in areas of immediate military hazard while conducting cooperative operations with and for the U.S. Armed Forces between 7 DEC 41 and 15 AUG 45.
- Members of the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) who served between 7 DEC 41 and 18 JUL 42.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of United Air Lines who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between 14 DEC 41 and 14 AUG 45.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. (TWA), who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between 14 DEC 41 and 14 AUG 45.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. (Consairway Division) who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between 14 DEC 41 and 14 AUG 45.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Pan American World Airways and its subsidiaries and affiliates, who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service between 14 DEC 41 and 14 AUG 45.
- Honorably discharged members of the American Volunteer Guard, Eritrea Service Command, between June 21, 1942, and March 31, 1943.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northwest Airlines who served overseas under the airline’s contract with Air Transport Command from 14 DEC 41 to 14 AUG 45.
- U.S. civilian female employees of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps who served in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor during the period 2 JAN 42 to 3 Feb 45.
- U.S. flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, who served overseas as a result of Northeast Airlines’ contract with the Air Transport Command during the period 7 DEC 41 through 14 AUG 45.
- U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Braniff Airways, who served overseas in the North Atlantic or under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, as a result of a contract with the Air Transport Command during the period 26 FEB 42, through 14 AUG 45.
- Honorably discharged members of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II.
[Source: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/Others.asp Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Home Loan Update 17: VA offers a number of home loan services to eligible Veterans, some military personnel, and certain surviving spouses.
- Guaranteed Loans: VA can guarantee a portion of a loan made by a private lender to help you buy a home, a manufactured home, a lot for a manufactured home, a condominium unit, or a unit in a cooperative dwelling. VA also guarantees loans for building, repairing, and improving homes.
- Refinancing Loans: If you have a VA mortgage, VA can help you refinance your loan at a lower interest rate. You may also refinance a non-VA loan.
- Special Grants: Certain disabled Veterans and military personnel can receive grants to adapt or acquire housing suitable for their needs.
- Time Limits: There is no time limit for a VA home loan.
[Source: VA Pamphlet 21-00-1 JUL 09 ++]
===============================
VA Prostate Radiation Treatment Update 03: In a predecisional enforcement conference that was often pointed the Department of Veterans Affairs yesterday apologized repeatedly for a prostate-cancer program that gave incorrect radiation doses to veterans for six years at its main Philadelphia hospital. At the same time, officials from the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and the Veterans Health Administration mounted a vigorous defense against charges by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that they had apparently violated eight regulations in the medical use of radioactive materials. VA officials also withdrew their own previous estimates of the number of patients who were affected, asserting that the mistakes were far less common than previously believed. NRC officials said they were surprised by the VA’s about-face. After 19 months and numerous on-site inspections and delays, “now you come with a new criteria” for counting botched cases, said Steven A. Reynolds, director of nuclear-materials safety for NRC’s Region III, which has led the agency’s investigation. “It is troubling.” The NRC demanded written testimony by 15 JAN to back up the VA’s rationale to limit sanctions. The NRC also said it would issue violations and any penalties four to six weeks after that.
The four-hour hearing on 17 DEC was a chance for the VA to explain its troubled brachytherapy program. Between FEB 02 and JUN 08, a VA team gave incorrect radiation doses to 97 of 114 veterans implanted with tiny radioactive seeds to destroy their cancer. That was the official count the VA gave up until yesterday. Using new assessment criteria developed by a “blue-ribbon panel” of medical experts – and not yet approved for use by the VA – the agency’s top radiation oncologist said that in fact 19 veterans, not 97, had gotten incorrect doses of radiation to their prostate or surrounding tissue. The VA’s original standard estimated the radiation dose delivered to the prostate. The agency’s new methodology is to examine where the seeds are placed in and around the prostate. The new criteria are less subjective, said Michael Hagan, the VA’s national director of radiation oncology. They are not meant to “mitigate” the problems of the Philadelphia program, which included no quality assurance or independent oversight, he said. Even by the new standard, about one in five veterans treated with brachytherapy got substandard care at the Philadelphia VA. “In my opinion, these results reflect a program that had substantial problems, but not at the level characterized,” Hagan said. Before Hagan’s introduction of a new analysis of the treatments yesterday, the VA’s own analysis of the implants found that 63 were underdosed and that 35 got too much radiation to tissue near their prostates.
So far, 11 of the 114 men have had a recurrence of prostate cancer, a rate that is within the expected range for brachytherapy treatments, the VA officials told the NRC. An additional eight men have shown signs of a possible return of the cancer, and Hagan said he would not be surprised if the number of those whose cancer returns rises in the next few years. Prostate brachytherapy involves implanting dozens of tiny radioactive seeds into the acorn-size gland to kill cancerous cells over several months. It is an effective treatment when done correctly. Records show that the Philadelphia VA’s program was deeply flawed from its earliest patients, and that doctors and officials repeatedly missed chances to correct it. So far, 31 veterans or wives have filed claims totaling $58 million against the VA. The mistakes led to internal investigations, congressional scrutiny, the NRC probe, and one by the VA’s inspector general. So far one physician has accepted a three-day suspension. A radiation safety official received a letter of reprimand. Several lawmakers who have investigated the cases said that the VA responses were weak and that the agency acted only after prominent newspaper articles appeared in the summer, detailing radiation overdoses and underdoses. Last month, the NRC cited the VA for eight apparent violations, including the failure to train doctors and other staff on how to identify bad implants, lacking procedures to ensure safe implants and not reporting mishaps as quickly or fully as required. [Source: Philadelphia Inquirer Josh Goldstein article 18 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Outside Medical Claims: Occasionally veterans go to or are transported to non-VA civilian health care facilities for “emergent” treatment of their particular medical condition. To obtain VA payment for this care certain procedures must be followed to file a claim for payment for these services. Beginning with dates of service on and after 1 MAR 09 you must submit claims for VA payment consideration for emergency care not previously authorized to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Financial Services Center (FSC), Non-VA Emergency Claims, P.O. Box 149364, Austin, TX 78714-9364. All claims with dates of service before 1 MAR 09 must be mailed to your local VA Medical Center. To expedite claims processing, be sure that each claim is complete and filed within 90 days following the episode of care. Incomplete claims will be returned. Do not forget to include documentation of any communication with the VA regarding patient treatment or disposition. A call center at FSC is available to assist you with payment and claims processing inquiries. You may contact the customer call center at 1(866) 372-1144, M-F 08-1630 (CST) excluding Federal holidays. A claim file is complete if it has the following documentation:
a. Complete UB-04 or CMS-1500 claim form to include the National Provider Identification (NPI) number
b. Supporting medical documentation for the following services is needed for claims adjudication:
- Inpatient: Admission sheet, discharge summary, operation reports, daily progress notes, and doctor orders.
- Outpatient: Emergency room treatment notes (including chief complaint, and examination/evaluation results), applicable observation notes, any consultation reports, and diagnostic findings.
- Emergency Transportation: Transportation notes indicating location the episode of emergency care took place and facility and address the patient was transported to. The transportation notes should include the chief complaint, examination/evaluation results, applicable observation notes, and any diagnostic findings
[Source: California VFW VSO msg. 18 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
AAFES Exchange/Refund Policy: Military shoppers checking off their holiday lists at Army & Air Force Exchange Service facilities between Thanksgiving and Christmas can breathe a little easier if gifts don’t measure up as AAFES has extended its refund/exchange policy for the holidays. While AAFES standard policy states that items in new condition may be exchanged or returned within 15, 30 or 90 days with a sales receipt, the new holiday return/exchange policy will extend these guidelines through 31 JAN 2010, for any items purchased between 26 NOV 09 and 24 DEC 09. The extended holiday return/exchange policy will end on 31 JAN 2010, at which time the standard return policy will go back into effect. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 18 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Tricare EOBs Update 04: The new pharmacy contract requires the contractor; Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI), to mail, on a monthly basis, an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) which provides Tricare beneficiaries information on all pharmacy claims filled through either the retail or mail order program in the previous month (The EOB will not include any prescription information for items filled at Military Treatment Facilities). The first distribution of the monthly EOB’s was scheduled to begin on 10 DEC. EOBs are an important tool in identifying potential fraudulent activity and it is important that you read each one carefully. In the event you find that Tricare has paid for any services you did not receive, or you were charged by a healthcare professional you did not see, call the Express Scripts Fraud and Abuse Hotline at 1(866) 759-6139. General questions regarding the pharmacy EOB should be directed to Express Scripts at 1(877) 363-1303 (note that this number should NOT be used if fraud or abuse is suspected. For that purpose, use the one listed above). Additionally, all medications might not be included in the document. Per Tricare policy, medications used to treat certain conditions may not be included in the Explanation of Benefits (EOB). For additional information about these exclusions, call the Express Scripts general contact line (877-363-1303) and they will be more than glad to help you. A final note: If beneficiaries want to receive EOBs via the web instead of paper, they can, by going through the Express Scripts website. Health care fraud is a pervasive and costly drain on the entire healthcare system and beneficiary involvement is critical in the fight against it. Everyone should play an active role in the fight against it. Note: To avoid delays at a local pharmacy, make sure you take your Military ID card with you. Ask the pharmacy to enter your name and date of birth exactly as it appears on your Military ID card when they submit your prescription. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 18 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 10: On 16 DEC a briefing was held by former Secretary of the Army Martin Hoffman in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of brain injuries. During the presentation, Sec. Hoffman highlighted the need for additional funding and research into the treatment of the numerous traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from Iraq and Afghanistan by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT 1.5). The 1.5 in the acronym represents the treatment atmospheric pressure of 1.5 atmospheres. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a well-tested option in treating at least 13 other medical conditions. A very small sample of around 30 Iraq/Afghanistan casualties have been very successfully treated using this method. Additionally there are other civilian studies that support this treatment method. On 12 JUL, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) to recognize and report the results and planned expansion of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Veterans Affairs medical facilities. As an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act (H.R.3082), Sessions’ legislation requires the VA to submit a report to Congress detailing the current and planned use of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in VA medical facilities, including the number of veterans and types of conditions being treated with HBOT, their respective success rates, and the current inventory of hyperbaric chambers. Over a year ago DoD announced a clinical trial for HBOT 1.5, but no progress has been made due to lack of resources to design the test and begin testing patients. If the preliminary results of a very tiny test can be duplicated for the larger number of wounded warriors who have been diagnosed with TBI, this needs to be proven as soon as possible in order that our troops can be given the very best treatment. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 18 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Tinnitus Care Update 01: A University of Alabama researcher is embarking on a $5.6 million phase-three, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative treatment that uses a noise-generating device, along with counseling, to alleviate the debilitating effects of tinnitus – that ringing in the ears that drives some people to distraction. The non-medical habituation-based treatment being studied is known as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy or TRT. The investigational study of TRT will involve tinnitus sufferers drawn from the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force, and will be conducted in Navy and Air Force flagship hospitals in California, Texas, Maryland and Virginia. Researchers expect to recruit 228 participants for the study. Dr. Craig Formby, UA distinguished graduate research professor in the department of communicative disorders, leads the NIH-sponsored study. Formby’s team at UA leads the clinical part of the study, which is funded by a $3.2 million award from the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have received a $2.4 million award to manage and analyze the study data. The project will be spread over five years, including four years for recruiting study participants and conducting the treatment and follow-up measurements.
Tinnitus is the No. 1 service-connected disability among veterans returning from the Middle East conflicts. In 2008, compensation for tinnitus disability in the VA medical system alone exceeded $500 million and is projected to exceed $1.1 billion and affect more that 800,000 veterans by 2011. “Tinnitus is a noise inside the ear or head in the absence of any sound that could account for it,” Formby says. “We don’t know wht happens. In some cases, it’s related to an acoustic insult or gunfire. However, there may be no obvious cause for the tinnitus for many sufferers. It’s some sort of over-stimulation of the auditory system that produces hyperactivity either at a peripheral or central level.” Most people who have tinnitus ignore it, Formby says, but for some it’s torture. As many as 50 million Americans experience tinnitus. Estimates are that for about 2 to 5 million people, the problem is incapacitating. “We know of reports of sufferers who have chronic debilitating tinnitus that is so troublesome that they would elect to cut the auditory nerve to get rid of the persistent ringing,” Formby says. The current standard of care involves counseling people with debilitating tinnitus. The counselors typically try to help the tinnitus sufferer to manage the problem by suggesting coping strategies and by providing information about tinnitus. “The standard of care historically has included reassurance that the patient’s condition is not life threatening nor an indicator of imminent hearing loss,” he says.
Formby will compare the current standard of care for management of tinnitus in the military with TRT and with a placebo condition that will control for the treatment effects of the noise-generator component of the TRT treatment. After specialized TRT counseling to start the habituation process, each of the affected military personnel will use a pair of ear-worn noise-generator devices produced by General Hearing Instruments that produce a “soft seashell-like noise,” which blends with the tinnitus. “In TRT theory, the soft noise throughout the day from the noise generators helps to facilitate the habituation process, which is initiated by the counseling,” Formby says. “Patients are encouraged to use their devices from the time they start their day until the end of the day or at least for eight hours a day. The patients are told to forget the devices are on. Don’t worry about the tinnitus, don’t keep a log, and don’t worry about how bad their tinnitus is from hour to hour or day to day; just go on with their lives.” They are also taught about their auditory system and how it is believed to work together with parts of the brain and central nervous system to give rise to their debilitating tinnitus conditions.”
In the clinical trial, Formby and his co-researchers will measure treatment-related changes in the impact of the tinnitus on each participant’s daily activities. They also will track measures of perception, awareness, and annoyance of the tinnitus for each participant in the study. The questionnaire responses for participants who are assigned to the TRT treatment group will be compared with the responses of tinnitus patients given the current standard-of- care treatment for tinnitus in the military and with a third treatment group who are assigned to the placebo noise-generator control. “If successful, then most patients receiving the full TRT treatment will likely report the tinnitus is no longer troublesome for them at the conclusion of the study,” Formby says. “If you make a measurement of the tinnitus in terms of its pitch and loudness characteristics at the start of the study and at the end of the study, then the perceived tinnitus properties will likely be similar. But the patient’s perception of the annoyance and awareness of the tinnitus will be reduced, and the tinnitus will not be bothersome to them in the way it was at the start of the study. The other treatment groups are not expected to benefit appreciably from their interventions.”
Formby has been working with the U.S. military since 1999, to develop the study protocol for this pioneering investigation, which is the first definitive phase-three clinical trial of TRT sponsored by NIH. The clinical trial will take place at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Irvine, Calif.; the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va.; the San Diego Naval Hospital; the David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.; and the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The department of communicative disorders is part of UA’ s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team. [Source: University of Alabama Press Release 16 Dec 09 ++]
======================
GI Bill Update 65: The DoD released the 2010 Basic Allowance for Housing charts on 15 DEC. This is potentially big news for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill because the living stipend (aka housing stipend) is directly tied to the BAH for an e-5 with dependents. Although some may see their GI Bill Living stipend increase by as much as 13.6% in 2010, the average increase will be more like 2.5%. Some may see no increase at all because the rates for 43% of the military housing areas covered by BAH will actually drop in 2010. The first question is, when will this new BAH rate go into effect for the GI Bill? Will it be increased in January or will they wait until July and increase it with the annual tuition and fee rate adjustment? Also, what will the VA do in cases where the local BAH has dropped? The DoD has a grandfathering policy (individual rate protection) that prevents the decrease of a BAH rate as long as the status of a servicemember remains unchanged. In the case of a veteran student this should mean that a current student will not see a decrease in their living stipend. Only new students or those changing their status would see the lower rate. As always, it seems there are more questions with the Post-9/11 GI Bill then there are answers. [Source: Military.com Terry Howell article 16 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Hospital Report Card: For the second consecutive year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a “hospital report card” as part of VA’s effort to provide the public with a transparent accounting of the quality and safety of its care. In addition, for the first time, data from both the 2008 and 2009 reports will be available to the public in machine-readable format on www.Data.gov. To empower Veterans and the public at large to track quality, safety and access to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, VA’s hospital report cards include raw data on care provided in outpatient and hospital settings, quality of care within given patient populations, and patient satisfaction and outcomes. VA issued its first facility-level report on quality and safety in MAY 08. As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to open government and accountability, VA highlights its rigorous quality programs and actions taken to address the issues VA identified from the last report.
The report gives the health care system high marks, with VA facilities often outscoring private-sector health plans in standards commonly accepted by the health care industry. “Patient-centric care is our mission,” said Shinseki. “As Secretary, I am committed to continuing to meet and surpass our high standards of care each and every day. In addition to allowing VA to demonstrate the quality and safety of its care, the report card provides opportunities to enhance health services … it will become a valuable resource of information for Veterans, stakeholders and the department … It will allow VA’s health care system to be forward looking and focused on advancement.” The 2009 report card highlighted:
- Marked improvements in smoking cessation counseling provided to 89% of Veteran patients, a 6% improvement from 2008 and among all ages at risk, 94% of Veterans received a pneumonia immunization, a 4% improvement.
- There is more to be done for women Veterans. To address this priority and provide women Veterans with the highest quality care VA has implemented several initiatives, such as placement of women advocates in every outpatient clinic and medical center, and creating a “mini-residency” program on women’s health for primary care physicians.
- Minority Veterans are generally less satisfied with inpatient and outpatient care than other Veterans. In addition to targeting outreach efforts to these Veterans, a minority Veteran program coordinator has been placed in every medical center.
[Source: VA Press Release 9 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Wisconsin Veterans Homes Update 02: A plan to raise rent at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove by as much as 37% starting 1 JAN has not only confused and concerned residents and their families, it has stymied the board appointed to oversee the agency that runs the home. Veterans Affairs Board members have been trying to get answers from Department of Veterans Affairs officials as to how rates at Union Grove have been set since it opened in 2001, board chairman Marv Freedman said. Board members are concerned about the size of the rate increase at Union Grove, one of two homes the agency runs, Freedman. There are no proposed rate increases at the Veterans Home at King next year, officials have said. Board members have been trying to get answers since NOV 08, when the issue was first brought to their attention by current Veterans Affairs Secretary Ken Black, Freedman said. The rate increase at Union Grove is one of the issues that spurred the board in September to ask the state to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since that time, the board fired former secretary John Scocos, blaming him for a host of financial and communications problems within the agency, and replaced him with Black. Scocos is now suing the state and the board.
Some residents and their families are concerned they can’t afford the rate increases at the Union Grove home. Some plan to move. Others plan to stay and see what the board does at its next meeting in January. The meeting was supposed to take place this month, but was canceled due to weather. Freedman said the board cannot evaluate the issue of rate setting at Union Grove until it gets answers to what he considers fair and appropriate questions. “We realize some of those we won’t have answers to until the audit is completed,” Freedman said. “We take these concerns dead seriously and because we haven’t been able to get answers to some of these questions it heightens the concern when we hear from residents and their families.” The state Legislative Audit Bureau is in the process of auditing the management and operations of both veterans’ homes at King and Union Grove. The report is expected to be finished sometime this summer. [Source: The Journal Times Paul Sloth article 16 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA SAH Update 06: Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on economic opportunity, recently conducted a hearing to review the Department of Veterans Affairs’ special adapted housing (SAH) grants programs. Veterans or service members who have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a VA grant for the purpose of constructing an adapted home or modifying an existing home to meet their adaptive needs. The goal of these programs is to provide a barrier-free living environment that affords the veterans or service members a level of independent living that they may not normally enjoy. The hearing specifically addressed the flexibility and sufficiency of the existing grants to address the current needs of veterans. “According to the Defense Manpower Data Center at the Department of Defense, approximately 35,000 service members have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Sandlin. “Today, we will receive timely testimony that foreshadows the increased need for adaptive housing grants. In caring for our injured men and women in uniform, we must continue to address their needs so they may live as independently as possible after their honorable military service.” Three types of grants are administered by VA to assist severely disabled veterans in their adaptive housing needs.
- Specially Adapted Housing Grant generally used to create a wheelchair-accessible home.
- Special Home Adaptations Grant generally used to assist veterans with mobility throughout their homes.
- Temporary Residence Adaptation Grant available to eligible veterans temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member.
Thomas Zampieri of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) provided testimony about the need for sufficient adaptive housing grants for veterans. He said it is “important that adaptive housing basic grant adjustments keep pace with residential home cost-of-construction index for each preceding year for labor and construction materials.” If disabled veterans are not able to make adaptive changes to their homes, they run the risk of falls and injuries that result in expensive emergency-room visits and costly hospital admissions. Further, if accessible housing grants are not sufficient to allow disabled veterans to live independently at home, the alternative high cost of institutional care in nursing homes will occur, he said. Mr. Zampieri also reported that current blindness standards are overly restrictive, hurting “functionally blinded” veterans from the Iraq and Afghan wars and some veterans with visual impairments caused by traumatic brain injuries requiring assistance and adaptive technology “because they would never qualify for this current 5/200 standard leaving them with no grants.”
Mark Bologna, director of Loan Guarantee Services at VA, discussed recent improvements: “Congress changed the program from a one-time to a three-time use program. This change has allowed individuals to make additional adaptations to their homes or upgrade existing adaptations. If they move to other homes and have remaining eligibility, they may now use the program to adapt the new homes as well. These legislative changes have significantly improved the benefits available to severely injured veterans and service members and have increased the overall flexibility of the SAH Grants program. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs noted, “Every year, we have a new pool of veterans returning from the combat zones with serious injuries that include losing a limb, loss of vision, or suffering from traumatic brain injury. Now, more than ever, VA needs to actively advocate and provide support for wounded veterans, and the adaptive housing grant program is absolutely instrumental in the reintegration efforts of these heroes.” [Source: Washington Times Sgt. Shaft article 17 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Medicare Rates 2010 Update 02: A bill that would correct what supporters say is an inequity in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) is languishing in the Senate Finance Committee because of a block by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). In September, the House overwhelmingly passed the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (H.R.3631), which aims to give CSRS retirees, among others, some relief from higher rates in 2010 by suspending a quirk in the current Medicare Part B premium system. According to current law, premium increases for Medicare Part B, the buy-in Medicare program which covers outpatient care and other needs, are limited by annual cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits. With the recession curbing inflation, the Social Security Administration announced earlier this year that there would be no cost-of-living increase in 2010. Therefore, premiums for most Medicare Part B enrollees will not rise next year. So far, so good. But CSRS was created before the government established Social Security, so CSRS retirees do not receive Social Security benefits and thus are not affected by those cost-of-living increases. That means the premium rates for CSRS retirees enrolled in Medicare Part B will continue to rise in 2010. Since most of the population is held harmless against possible increases because of their enrollment in Social Security, CSRS retirees and others outside the Social Security system will bear the brunt of paying for everyone else through increased premiums, which will rise from $96 per month to $110 or more per month.
The legislation would mitigate this effect for one year by debiting $2.8 billion from the Medicare Improvement Fund to freeze premiums at 2009 levels for everyone, including CSRS retirees. H.R.3631 also would help many others in the same situation, including state and local government workers, lower-income Medicare enrollees under Medicaid, higher-income Medicare enrollees, and new Medicare enrollees. Meanwhile, Medicare bills are going out. Many CSRS retirees already have been notified that their premiums are going up in 2010. Even if the legislation were passed before the end of the congressional session, it likely would take the government months to implement. Pointing to high-income Medicare enrollees and those with Medicaid coverage, Coburn said most of those affected don’t need the help. “We are going to take $2.8 billion from our kids or from future Medicare payments — one way or the other, we are going to steal it from our kids — to fix a problem for 5% of the people who are on Medicare or will be on Medicare,” Coburn said on the Senate floor in October. It’s not only Republicans who agreed with him. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., also opposed the bill, likening it to freezing billionaire Ross Perot’s Medicare premiums.
To supporters of the bill, such as the National Active and Retired Federal Employee Association (NARFE), it’s a matter of fairness. “Government employees who do not receive Social Security are being singled out, and are subsidizing the cost of others,” said NARFE legislative director Daniel Adcock. Adcock said he still was hopeful that something could be done so that at least half the 2010 premiums could be altered, but noted there’s little indication the Senate will pass the bill anytime soon. At the very least, it will be delayed until after senators vote on the massive health care reform bill. Adcock said if the Senate doesn’t pass the bill by the end of the year, it might have to go back to the House, stalling it even further. “We’re hearing that the political will to act on it in the Senate has been waning,” Adcock said. [Source: GOVExec.com Alex M. Parker article 17 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Pay Parity Update 02: The Senate on 13 DEC passed a catchall spending bill which President Obama signed on 16 DEC that includes a 2% pay raise for civilian federal employees in 2010. That figure is in keeping with his request, but contrary to his 30 NOV proposal to freeze locality pay, a portion of the raise would vary depending on costs of labor where employees are based. Lawmakers granted civilians a 1.5% increase in base pay and a 0.5% boost in locality pay. Congress has yet to complete the Defense appropriations measure, but it appears likely military members will receive a higher raise than civilians for the first time in recent years. The fiscal 2010 Defense authorization bill, signed into law in October, included a 3.4% pay hike for service members, a figure even more generous than Obama’s 2.9% request for the military. House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has said administration officials have assured him pay parity between civilians and members of the military will resume in 2011. [Source: GOVExec.com Amelia Gruber article 13 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
VA Contractor Use Update 01: Lawmakers are considering legislation to shape up what one called “major deficiencies” in Veterans Affairs Department contracting, in the wake of critical watchdog reports. In October, the Government Accountability Office released a report showing the service-disabled, veteran-owned small business contracting program was vulnerable to fraud and abuse. By conducting 10 case studies, the watchdog agency found $100 million in contracts earned through fraud or abuse of the program. GAO reviewed the results of that study for the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations during a hearing on 16 DEC. The subcommittee also heard from several veteran-owned companies, which lamented everything from significant contract delays to a lack of communication between the agency and vendors. “It is no secret that there are major deficiencies within VA’s procurement process, and to blame are a number of things, including a lack of a centralized acquisition structure, self-policing policies in place that allow fraud and abuse, and continuous material weaknesses,” said Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), chairman of the subcommittee. Mitchell said he is optimistic that reform of the system can be accomplished, but added that policy and procedural changes might be necessary.
Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), ranking member of the full Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on 8 DEC introduced a potential legislative fix. According to Buyer, the 2009 Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act (H.R.4221) would “completely restructure VA’s procurement contracting system in an effort to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall acquisition process.” The bill would establish an Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Construction and Asset Management, and charge this unit with setting procurement policy and structuring the acquisition bureaucracy appropriately. The office also would be responsible for overseeing contracts and maintaining a verifiable database of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. “It is clear that VA requires a centralized system that provides strict oversight and direction for its acquisition processes,” Buyer said. “The bill … would implement a streamlined process that allows for greater efficiency and better enforcement of policies and regulations intended to increase contracting opportunities for disabled veteran entrepreneurs.”
Glenn Haggstrom, executive director of the VA Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction and acting chief acquisition officer, told the subcommittee the department is making significant strides centralizing and improving its procurement processes. He touted the realignment of the Veterans Health Administration under a central structure with four regional offices focused on internal business processes, as well as training and oversight. The department also is working to improve relationships with contractors. Haggstrom said VA recently established a Supplier Transformation Relationship Initiative. “For the first time ever, VA’s supplier community is being treated as a critical component to VA’s success,” Haggstrom said. “This initiative improves VA’s acquisition process by establishing better and more transparent communications with vendors, which increases VA’s access to industry’s best practices and innovation.” [Source: GOVExec.com Elizabeth Newell article 16 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Tricare Retired Reserve: A new program will offer “gray area” reservists the opportunity to purchase Tricare health care coverage. While qualified members of the Selected Reserve may purchase premium-based coverage under Tricare Reserve Select (TRS), retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have Tricare health coverage options until they reached age 60. Under a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010, that’s all changed. The new provision will allow certain members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60 “gray-area retirees), to purchase Tricare Standard (and Extra) coverage. Tricare Extra simply means beneficiaries have lower out of pocket costs if they use a network provider. “We’re working hard to coordinate all the details of eligibility, coverage and costs, and expedite implementation of this important program,” said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity. “This is a major benefit program with implementation on the same magnitude as TRS. It will require detailed design, development and testing, but qualified retired reservists should be able to purchase coverage by late summer or early fall of 2010.”
While the health care benefit provided for gray-area retirees will be Tricare Standard and Extra – similar to TRS – the new program will differ from TRS in its qualifications, premiums, copayment rates and catastrophic cap requirements. The program is tentatively called Tricare Retired Reserve. The new statute requires premium rates to equal the full cost of the coverage. That is the major difference contrasted with TRS, where the statute provides that Selected Reserve members pay only 28 percent of the cost of the coverage. Premiums for the new gray area retiree program will be announced after program rules are published in the Federal Register. This new program offers an important health coverage option for Reserve and National Guard members who served their country honorably before hanging up their uniforms at retirement, said Hunter. For more information about Tricare benefits go to http://www.tricare.mil. [Source: Tricare No. 09-76 17 News Release Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Offers of Help
VA Benefits Assistance: If you need help learning about VA programs or with a VA application process, recommend you work with an approved Veterans Service Organization (VSO). It’s their job to help you at no cost. To find a VSO go to VA’s Directory of Veterans Service Organizations at http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm. You can also check with your state VA department and your state’s network of county veteran service officers. Most are listed at www.va.gov/statedva.htm. If someone approaches you to help with a VA application, claim, or appeal, check to see if they are a VSO. Chances are they won’t be because VSOs don’t solicit for your business, you have to find them. There are a few organizations which use the front of helping with VA benefits as a way to meet prospective customers. These groups solicit for your business. They offer to get you money from the VA for long term care cost, assisted living, or survivor benefits. Tread lightly around these offers. On the surface, they appear legitimate but if not, it could wind up costing you time and money in the long run. Some things to look for are:
- Organizations having at their base, a financial services firm.
- Organization that are not an official Veteran Service Organization (VSO). VSOs are chartered by the VA to act as an official VA representative for members on VA matters.
- Organizations wanting to help in an area that is not their core business.
- Inability to get a satisfactory answer about how they make their money.
- The motive behind a financial service firm’s interest in helping you with issues that get them nothing in return. The process, bureaucracy and time involved in helping vets with VA programs is substantial. Also, helping with some VA programs provides access to a veteran’s complete financial information.
[Source: MOAA Financial Frontlines Shane Ostrom article 9 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Flag Presentation Update 02: A series of citations against a 67-year-old Army veteran for displaying the American flag upside down on federal property have been dismissed only days after the U.S. Attorney’s Office learned that the ACLU of Southern California was representing him in defense of his free speech rights. Robert Rosebrock, who has been protesting the planned conversion of Veterans Administration property in the Brentwood area to a public park, received the dismissal order signed by a federal judge. The order means that five citations he received for displaying the American flag upside down as part of his protest have been dropped. Rosebrock began protesting the planned transfer of VA land for use as a public park in MAR 08. Since then he has virtually become a fixture outside the Brentwood-area property every Sunday, hanging a flag on a fence around it to draw attention to his viewpoint that the agency’s land is legally and morally bound to be used for the care and housing of veterans, particularly homeless veterans. For more than a year, Rosebrock and his supporters hung the flag right side up, but in June they began hanging the flag upside down to signify their view that the property was in distress and that its transfer would endanger veterans. He received the first of five citations a few weeks later from federal law enforcement officers. Subsequently, he got an e-mail from Lynn Carrier, associate director of the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration office, that said he “may not attach the American flag, upside down, on VA property” because “this is considered a desecration of the flag and is not allowed on VA property.” Peter Eliasberg, Manheim Family Attorney for First Amendment Rights and managing attorney for the ACLU/SC said, “The government has no business telling Mr. Rosebrock that it is OK to hang the flag one way because it is fine with the message expressed, but that he cannot hang the flag another way because it expresses a different message that the government does not approve of. Protecting the right of Americans to criticize government officials or their decisions is one of the key goals of the First Amendment of the Constitution. Displaying the flag upside down may be offensive to some, as burning the flag was in the Vietnam-war era. But in our society and in our courts, we have a long tradition of giving protesters wide latitude, and we uphold our principles as a free country in doing so.” [Source: Veterans-For-Change NEWS 15 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Veterans’ Court Update 04: In hopes of helping veterans suffering from mental illness and substance abuse, Texas Travis County authorities are looking at creating a special veterans court docket, which would channel those charged with certain crimes into treatment and social services rather than incarceration. A handful of such courts have been created across the country since 2008, as officials respond to growing numbers of veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As many as 30% are thought to suffer from illnesses ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury to major depression. Too many, officials say, turn to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate, often leading to entanglements with the criminal justice system. Last month, Harris County set up a veterans court pilot project, and Tarrant County last week decided to accept a $200,000 grant from Gov. Rick Perry’s office to hire staffers to manage a veterans court there. The Texas Legislature passed a law this year allowing counties to create veterans courts. Travis County officials say not enough is being done locally to identify veterans in need of mental health treatment.
The possible creation of a local veteran’s court was hailed by veterans groups as a vital step. “Treatment is far more effective and far less expensive,” said Paul Sullivan, head of the Austin-based group Veterans for Common Sense. Travis County Attorney David Escamilla said a team of prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges will need to work out several details before a veterans court becomes reality, including determining which offenses would be eligible and what services would be offered. Officials will also need to identify funding for the court. “But there’s a great deal of momentum to move forward with this,” Escamilla said, adding that the court would probably begin handling misdemeanor cases but could take on felony cases. He said the court would be modeled on the county’s mental health court, which handles offenders suffering from mental health problems in hopes of preventing repeat offenses. The nation’s first veterans court began in January 2008 in Buffalo, N.Y., where veterans are typically ordered to undergo counseling, find work and stop using drugs or alcohol instead of being sentenced to jail or prison time.
The court isn’t the only program local officials hope will reach veterans. This month, Travis County embarked on a six-month pilot program that requires veteran offenders to get evaluated and treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of their pretrial release from jail. The efforts stem from a two-year Travis County program called the Veterans Intervention Project, which on 14 DEC released the results of a 90-day study of veterans booked into the Travis County Jail. The study, which relied on self-reporting through questionnaires, found that about 150 veterans were booked into the Travis County Jail each month, or 3.4% of total bookings. Of those, 18% served in Iraq or Afghanistan, 13% in Vietnam and 54% in noncombat zones. Most charges (73%) were for misdemeanor crimes, with driving while intoxicated, assault and drug possession the most frequent charges. Of the felony charges, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping and delivery of a controlled substance were the top ones. About one-third of the veterans were arrested two or more times during the 90-day study, highlighting the need for early intervention, officials said.
The jail study found that few locked-up veterans were accessing help through the VA, which offers services for mental health issues and substance abuse. While 86% of the arrested veterans were eligible for such services, just 35% had received them. Officials said the reasons the veterans did not seek help include the stigma within the military attached to seeking mental health help and other-than-honorable discharges, in which veterans are not allowed access to VA services. Some veterans advocates point to a vicious cycle in which active-duty service members suffering from post-traumatic stress and other maladies turn to drugs to self-medicate, which can lead to a dishonorable discharge and inability to access needed mental health help. Maj. Darren Long, who represents the Travis County sheriff’s office on the veterans’ task force, said there needs to be more understanding of the issues facing veterans, especially those fresh from combat tours. “We come across them when they are in a mental health crisis,” he said. “We owe it to them. They take care of us and our freedoms. Now it’s our turn to take care of them when they come back home.” [Source: American-Statesman Jeremy Schwartz article 15 DEC 09 ++]
===============================
Agent Orange Guam Update 01: GUAM may be included in a congressional bill that expands the compensation program for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and other types of defoliants used by American troops during Vietnam War. H.R.2254, titled “The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009,” has received a bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, with over 200 congressmen having signed up as cosponsors. “Republicans and Democrats alike have joined together to stand up for Agent Orange veterans,” said Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) author of H.R.2254, and chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. In a press statement released in late NOV, Filner said his bill would expand the eligibility for presumptive conditions to all combat veterans of the Vietnam War “regardless of where they served.” The current compensation program for Agent Orange exposure covers only those who were deployed to Vietnam. Filner issued the statement on the heels of a recent ruling by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Board of Appeals in Texas, which rejected the benefit claims sought by a veteran who was stationed at Andersen Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. Despite personal testimonies and photos of herbicide barrels sent via mass email by veterans who claimed to have handled Agent Orange at AAFB, the U.S. Department of Defense has not officially acknowledged that Agent Orange and other rainbow herbicides were ever used on Guam.
While acknowledging the statements made by the claimant, the appeals board said the claims were not supported by official evidence. “The veteran’s record personnel records indicate that he served in Guam during the war in Vietnam,” the appeals board stated in its JUN 09 ruling. “However, the Department of Defense has not established that Agent Orange was used in Guam during the period of the veteran’s service.” The most recent ruling, however, was inconsistent with four previous decisions that confirmed the use of Agent Orange on Guam between early 1960s and late 1970s. These four previous decisions were based on the 2004 Dow Chemical Risk Report. With no legal support to back them up and no immediate relief on the horizon, veterans who were deployed to Guam have created an online network and sending mass email to demand U.S. lawmakers’ attention to their plight. Filner, meanwhile, acknowledges that while Current law requires the Department Veterans Affairs to provide care for service members exposed to Agent Orange by virtue of their ‘boots on the ground,’ it “ignores veterans that served in the blue waters and the blue skies of Vietnam. Time is running out for these Vietnam veterans. Many are dying from their Agent Orange related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice,” Filner said in a press statement. “There is still a chance for America to meet its obligations to these estimated 800,000 noble veterans. The courts have turned their backs on our veterans, but I believe this Congress will not allow veterans to be cheated of their earned benefits,” he added. [Source: Marianas Variety News & Views Mar-Vic Cagurangan article 30 Nov 09 ++]
===============================
PTSD Update 35: Many soldiers, lawyers and mental health workers say that the rules governing confidentiality of psychotherapist-patient relations in the military are porous. The rules breed suspicion among troops toward therapists, those people say, reducing the effectiveness of treatment and complicating the Pentagon’s efforts to encourage personnel to seek care. The problem with the military rules, experts say, is that they do not safeguard the confidentiality of mental health communications and records as strongly as federal rules of evidence for civilians. Both systems say therapists should report patients when they seem a threat to themselves or to others. But the military rules include additional exceptions that could be applied to a wide range of suspected infractions, experts say. “There really is no confidentiality,” said Kaye Baron, a psychologist in Colorado Springs who has been treating soldiers from Fort Carson and their families for eight years. “You can find an exception to confidentiality in pretty much anything one would discuss.”
The issue has gained new attention with the recent mass shootings at Fort Hood that killed 13 and wounded 43. In the weeks before the rampage, the accused gunman, Maj. Nidal M. Hassan, an Army psychiatrist, told colleagues and Army lawyers that he wanted to report soldiers who had admitted in counseling sessions that they witnessed or committed war crimes in Iraq or Afghanistan. War crimes can include acts like torture, murder, sexual assault and cruel treatment. Though Major Hasan was discouraged from filing reports on his patients, military officials say, he would have been within his rights as an Army psychiatrist to have done so. Major Hasan’s efforts to report war crimes were first reported by ABC News. Pentagon officials acknowledge that the psychotherapy-patient privilege in the military is not absolute. But they assert that the exemptions are relatively narrow. Those rules apply to both civilian and military mental health professionals who deal with military personnel. Cynthia L. Vaughan, a spokeswoman for the Army medical command, said the rules were intended mainly to protect military personnel, installations and operations, or to prevent child or spousal abuse. In those situations, she said, therapists have a duty to report patients to commanders without their patients’ consent. But they do not have a duty to report other kinds of crimes, she said.
The waiver that soldiers are asked to sign is simply to notify them that “there are circumstances when disclosure of behavioral health information can occur without prior consent,” Ms. Vaughan said. “We strongly encourage soldiers to seek behavioral health treatment,” she added. Psychotherapists are not required to report possible war crimes, Ms. Vaughan said. But it is considered a “general duty” under Defense Department directives to do so. Ms. Vaughan said the Army could not comment on whether Major Hasan, whose job was to interview Fort Hood soldiers who were being medically discharged, actually filed reports on his patients. She added that “in normal day-to-day operations, the Army will investigate any report of a possible war crime by whatever means it is made known.” Some legal and mental health experts say the military’s rules on psychotherapist-patient privilege are not clear-cut. Michelle Lindo McCluer, a former Air Force lawyer who is the executive director of the National Institute of Military Justice, said that some exceptions to the privilege are so broadly worded that “you could drive a truck through them.”
One exception in the military rules states that confidentiality can be breached without a patient’s consent when “federal law, state law or service regulation imposes a duty to report information.” Another says privilege can be broken to ensure the safety of military personnel and “the accomplishment of a military mission.” The phrase “military mission,” Ms. McCluer said, could entail almost anything a unit does. Ms. McCluer said that when she was a defense lawyer for the Air Force from 2000 to 2003, she advised clients to seek mental health counseling from chaplains because the privilege rules on their communications are stronger than for therapists. Until about 10 years ago, there was no psychotherapist-patient privilege in the military, meaning that any communication between a therapist and service member could be reviewed by prosecutors or commanding officers without the consent of the patient. The qualified privilege was created in 1999 to bring military rules more in line with the 1996 Supreme Court ruling in Jaffee v. Redmond that said federal courts must allow psychotherapists and other mental health professionals to refuse to disclose patient records in judicial proceedings. In the years since the limited privilege was established, there has been little litigation testing its bounds, lawyers say. There has also been little written guidance for therapists, experts say.
Without bright-line rules, many troops say they are concerned that their therapists will reveal not just admissions of major crimes but also minor infractions that might hurt their military careers or prevent them from being returned to combat duties. “I personally have learned to be very vague about what I say,” said a 16-year Army veteran at Fort Carson who is in the process of receiving a medical discharge and did not want to be identified because he was concerned that speaking out about his experience would jeopardize his case. Shannon P. Meehan, a former Army captain and tank platoon leader who was recently medically discharged from the Army, said his candid conversations with a psychiatrist at Fort Hood helped him cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. He had felt deep guilt about an order he gave in Iraq for a missile strike that killed women and children. That 2007 event became a central chapter in a book he has written with one of his former English professors, “Beyond Duty.” Mr. Meehan said that the strike was clearly within the rules of engagement. But other soldiers might not be so certain about their actions during the chaos of combat, and he said he worried that troops who thought their therapists might report them would not discuss their deepest secrets — secrets that may be at the root of personal anguish or mental problems. [Source: New York Times Kames Dao/Dan Frosch article 6 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Breast Cancer Update 02: Some women with very advanced breast cancer may have a new treatment option. Doctors report a combination of two drugs that more precisely target tumors significantly extended the lives of women who had stopped responding to other medicines. It was the first big test of combining Herceptin and Tykerb. In a study of 300 patients, women receiving both drugs lived nearly five months longer than those given Tykerb alone. Doctors hope for an even bigger benefit in women with less advanced disease, and were elated at this much improvement for very sick women who were facing certain death. “We don’t see a lot that works in patients who have seen six prior therapies as they did in this trial, so that alone is exciting,” says Jennifer Litton, a breast cancer specialist at the Univ. of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The good results are in stark contrast to two other studies that found no survival advantage from Avastin, a $30,000-a-month drug whose approval for breast cancer patients was very controversial. Considering Avastin’s potential side effects—blood clots in the lungs, poor wound healing, kidney problems—a survival benefit “would have made the cost of the drug less painful to take,” Litton says. She had no role in any of the studies, which were reported 11 DEC at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, Baylor College of Medicine and the UT Health Science Center.
Herceptin and Tykerb aim at a protein called HER-2 that is made in abnormally large quantities in about one-fourth of all breast cancers. Herceptin blocks the protein on the cell’s surface; Tykerb does it inside the cell. “It’s kind of like having a double brake on your tumor. If the first one fails, the second one does the job,” says Kimberly Blackwell of Duke Univ. She led the combo treatment study and has consulted for its sponsor, British-based GlaxoSmithKline PLC, which makes Tykerb, and for Genentech, which makes Herceptin and Avastin. Women in the study had already received Herceptin alone or with various chemotherapy drugs and still were getting worse. They were randomly assigned to receive only Tykerb or both drugs, to see whether the combo might help Herceptin regain its effectiveness. Median survival was analyzed after about 75% of the women had died — roughly two years after the study began. It was 61 weeks in the combo group versus 41 for those taking only Tykerb. That likely underestimates the combo’s true benefit because women on Tykerb alone were allowed to add Herceptin partway through the study if they continued to worsen, and many of them did, Blackwell says. One woman on the combo in the study suffered a fatal blood clot. The only other common, serious side effect was diarrhea, which plagued 7 to 8% of each group. Herceptin costs about $10,000 a month; Tykerb, $5,000 to $6,000.
Eric Winer, breast cancer chief at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston, says several studies now show that Herceptin still helps women even when their cancers seem to be getting worse. “Herceptin is like a big roadblock on a superhighway. Eventually the cancer finds a way around it by taking an off ramp. But it’s much less efficient to take that off ramp, so Herceptin is still having some influence on that cancer,” says Winer, who, like Litton, has no financial ties to any drugmakers. “Herceptin is a drug that keeps on giving,” he says. Not so for Avastin, which works by crimping a tumor’s blood supply. The federal Food and Drug Administration approved its use in women whose cancers had spread beyond the breast over the objections of FDA advisers who wanted more evidence of benefit for these patients. Now, two big international studies show that Avastin modestly delayed the time breast cancer took to worsen, but had no effect on overall survival. Avastin also is approved to treat certain lung, brain and colon cancers, and the new studies that follow have no bearing on its use in those patients:
- A 684-patient study of Avastin with chemotherapy as a second-try treatment for women whose cancers do not respond to Herceptin.
- A 736-patient study of Avastin plus Taxotere or a dummy drug as first-time treatment for cancers that had recurred or spread beyond the breast.
[Source: Lab News Daily AP article 14 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Vinegar: For those who are not aware following are a number of uses for vinegar that will make your life a little easier:
Using Vinegar for BEAUTY, HAIR & BATH
- In your bathwater – Add ½ cup of vinegar or so to warm bath water when bathing and get double benefits softer skin and a cleaner bathtub with less work!
- Hair Conditioner – vinegar makes a simple, inexpensive conditioner for your hair and helps remove the sticky stuff shampoo can leave behind. About a tablespoon will do it.
- Dandruff Treatment – Simply pour a few Tablespoons of vinegar on your hair and massage into your scalp. Wait a few minutes, then rinse and wash hair like normal. Try this for a few days until you see results.
- Weight Loss – Vinegar naturally helps to remove fat from the body – apple cider vinegar is especially good for this. Drink some in a glass of water a few times a day, and add a little lemon or honey for a nicer flavor. This will also help reduce your appetite.
- Cracked, dry skin – Smooth a little vinegar on dried skin to help it heal.
- Clean dentures – Soak dentures overnight in Heinz White Vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.
- Facial spritzer – mix 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water into a spray bottle. Refreshing!
- Hair Cleanser – Take 1 cup of vinegar and warm water into a large glass and use to rinse your hair after you shampoo. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.
- Longer lasting pantyhose – Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the rinse water when washing and your pantyhose will last longer!
Using Vinegar for CLEANING
- Cleans Glass – Mixed with water or simply sprayed full-strength on glass and mirrors, vinegar does a great job quickly and easily. Simply wipe windows dry with crumpled-up newspapers and watch your windows sparkle.
- Clean your car – Use it full-strength to polish car chrome with a cloth and see it shine! Use it on your car’s windshield and windows, too.
- Cleans drinking glasses – Soak cloudy drinking glasses in warmed white vinegar for a few hours to remove the film, simply wipe clean, rinse, and dry.
- Clean your washing machine – Periodically run a gallon of distilled vinegar through your washing machine to clean it thoroughly, get rid of soap scum, and clear out the hoses. Run the machine through the warm water wash cycle empty and then add the vinegar during the rinse cycle.
- Furniture Polish – Make your own furniture polish with one part vinegar and three parts lemon oil or olive oil.
- Remove price tags or stickers – Paint them with several coats of vinegar and let it soak in. Depending what you are removing them off of is whether they’ll slide off easily or require a little heavier rubbing.
- Clean your IRON – Put vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Remember to flush it with water when you are done.
- Clean paintbrushes – Simmer paintbrushes in pure vinegar, then wash in hot soapy water.
- Wash walls – Wipe down your walls with a vinegar-water mixture and it will help absorb odors and clean the surfaces.
- Remove spots from glass – Use a vinegar-soaked cloth to remove spots from any glassware or crystal.
- Unclog drains – Pour boiling white vinegar down clogged drains to remove the clog!
- Clean jars – Remove odors and stains from jars by cleaning them out with vinegar.
- Clean an old lunchbox – Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.
- Clean and deodorize a garbage disposal – Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through
- Teapot cleaning – Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
- Dishwasher cleaning – Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.
- Microwaves – Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.
- Remove smoke smells from clothing – Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.
- Clean eyeglasses – Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
- Remove stains from furniture and upholstery – Remove stubborn stains from furniture upholstery and clothes. Apply Heinz White Vinegar directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Natural air deodorizer – Heinz Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.
- Remove rust – Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted Heinz White Vinegar overnight.
- Toilet bowl – Pour in one cup of Heinz White Vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.
- Brighten fabrics – Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- Natural cleaning wipes – A cloth soaked with vinegar for sanitizing kitchen counters, stove, and bathroom surfaces. This is just as effective as the anti-bacterial products and does not promote resistant strains like the commercial products can, this is also a cheaper and greener way to protect your loved ones.
- Remove lint from laundry – Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- Remove grease from suede – Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
- Remove perspiration stains from clothing – Apply one part vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.
- Clean coffee or tea stains from china – A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from chinaware.
- Clean coffeepots and coffee makers – Vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers. Fill the reservoir with vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished.
Using Vinegar for FOOD & COOKING
- Cheese Storage – Cheese will last longer if you store it in a vinegar-soaked cloth.
- Whiter Cauliflower – Add a teaspoon or so of white vinegar to your cooking water while cooking cauliflower – it will retain a whiter color.
- Ketchup – Only have a little ketchup left in the bottle? Add a bit of vinegar and give it a good shake and you’ll have a bit more!
- Boiling Eggs – Add a bit of white vinegar to the water you’re boiling your eggs in, and the shells won’t crack.
- Cooking Cabbage – Add a bit of vinegar to the water you’re cooking your cabbage in to remove that stinky cabbage smell.
- Fluffier Meringues – Add 1 teaspoon vinegar for every three egg whites and you’ll have fluffier meringues.
- Tenderize Meat Soak in vinegar over night.
- Unsticky Rice – To cook rice without sticking add a spoon full of vinegar in it.
- Remove onion odors from skin – Eliminate onion odor by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.
- Disinfect/clean cutting boards – Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.
- Make buttermilk – Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand 5 minutes to thicken.
Using Vinegar for GARDENING & YARD
- Clay Pot Cleaning – Remove white salt buildup on old clay pots by soaking them in full strength vinegar.
- Kills grass – Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks.
- Kills weeds – Spray full strength on weeds – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass as it will kill that too.
- Deter Ants – Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather.
- Keep Cats Away – Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.
- Freshen Cut Flowers – Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.
Using Vinegar for HEALTH
- Suffering from a sore throat? Mix a teaspoon vinegar with a glass of water. Gargle with the mixture and then swallow.
- Remove calluses – Try soaking your feet in a combination of white vinegar and warm water nightly and watch your feet soften noticeably.
- Sunburn – Soak a washcloth in vinegar and gently apply it to sunburned skin for cool relief. Reapply as needed as it evaporates. Besides sunburn, vinegar also soothes the itch and irritation of bee stings!
- Arthritis Tonic – Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, several times a day.
- Jellyfish Stings – Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
- Sinus Infections and Head Colds – Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
- Wart Removal – Mix one part Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.
- Soothe an upset stomach – Drink two teaspoons Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.
- Mosquito bites – Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Heinz Vinegar straight from the bottle.
Using Vinegar for PETS & ANIMALS
- Pet’s drinking water – Add a teaspoon of vinegar to your pet’s drinking water to encourage a shinier coat, and reduce odor.
- Remove skunk odor – Use vinegar straight to remove skunk odor from your pet’s fur.
- Stop your cat’s scratching furniture – Sprinkle or spray vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat scratching on.
- Fish bowl cleaner – Eliminate that ugly deposit in the gold fish tank by rubbing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinsing well.
- Remove pet stains from carpets – Blot up urine with a soft cloth, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.
[Source: http://opossumsal.homestead.com/household.html Oct 09 ++]
===============================
Enlistment Update 06: Applicants wishing to enlist in the US Military, and are married to a military member can generally enlist without a waiver, as long as there are no children in the household. However, applicants should understand that there is no guarantee that they will be stationed at the same base as their spouse. If there are children in the household, the applicant is disqualified for enlistment. The active duty services rarely waive this, while the reserve forces (Reserves and National Guard), often approve waivers, as long as the applicant can show a workable family care plan. DOD Instruction 1342.19, Family Care Plans, standardizes the requirements of the plan for all of the military services. While there are some minor administrative differences in each of the services, family care plans have three basic requirements: short-term care providers, long-term care providers, and care provision details.
- Short-Term Care Provider. Single-parents and military couples with children must designate a non-military person who will agree, in writing, to accept care of the member’s children at any time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, in the event the military member is called to duty or deployed with no-notice. While this person cannot be another military member, the person can be a military spouse. The short-term care provider must live in the local area where the military member(s) are stationed/located. The short-term care provider must sign the family care plan, indicating that they understand the responsibilities that are being entrusted to them.
- Long-Term Care Provider. In addition to the short-term care provider, the military member(s) must also designate a non-military person, who will agree, in writing, to provide long-term care for their children in the event the military member(s) are deployed for a significant period, or in the event they are selected for an unaccompanied overseas tour, or are assigned to a ship at sea. The long-term care provider does not have to live in the local area, but the family care plan must contain provisions to transfer the child(ren) from the short-term care provider to the long-term care provider (finances, airline tickets, etc.), in the event a no-notice deployment turns into a long-term deployment. The long-term care provider must sign the family care plan, indicating that they understand the responsibilities that are being entrusted to them.
- Care Provision Details. In addition to designating short-term and long-term care providers, the family care plan must include detailed plans for the care and support of the children. Family care plans must include provisions for logistical movement of the family or caregiver. Logistical arrangements include, but are not limited to, arrangements to relocate, if necessary, the caregiver or family to a new location, financial, medical and legal support necessary to ensure continuity of care and support of family members during the movement. Logistical arrangements must provide for financial support necessary to transport the family or caregiver to a designated location. The military member(s) must also give consideration of a non-military escort for family members requiring assistance such as infants, children, elderly and disabled adults should be outlined when personal family considerations dictate.
Family care plans must also include arrangements for the financial well-being of family members covered by the family care plan during short- and long-term separations. Arrangements for financial care should include power(s) of attorney, allotments, or other appropriate means to ensure the self-sufficiency and financial security of family members. Each of the services have special provisions in place which allow designated care-providers to have access to military base facilities (commissary, BX/PX, medical) in order to affect the care of the military dependents, when the family care plan is actually in effect (i.e., care has been transferred from the military member to the care provider). The regulations require that each family care plan be reviewed for workability and completeness by the commander or a designated representative. After the initial review, the plans are updated by the member and reviewed at least annually. [Source: About.com: U.S. Military Rod Powers article 19 Sep 09 ++]
===============================
Medicare Fraud Update 29:
- Detroit MI – Three Detroit-area individuals pleaded guilty 9 & 10 DEC for their roles in connection with several Detroit-area health care fraud schemes. Baskaran Thangarasan, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, Thangarasan, a licensed physical therapist, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sandeep Aggarwal, 38, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money. At sentencing, Aggarwal faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Wayne Smith, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, Smith faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Theses cases were brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since MAR 07, the Strike Force has obtained indictments of more than 331 individuals and organizations that collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $720 million.
- Jacksonville NC – Dr. Janet Johnson-Hunter, age 50, pleaded guilty 10 DEC in federal court to bilking $400,000 out of the government in Medicare fraud., admitted to conspiring to conceal material facts in connection with the delivery of and payment for health care benefits, items, and services. She changed medical records and ordered employees to change records to indicate patients’ needs to ride in an ambulance, when they did not, in order to be reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid. The programs only cover non-emergent transportation by ambulance in rare occasions. If a patient is able to walk or ride in a wheelchair, the government does not pay for ambulatory transportation. However, from JAN 02 to AUG 05, Johnson-Hunter, a licensed medical doctor and former owner and manager of a private ambulance transportation company in Jacksonville, instructed her employees to change medical files to maximize the likelihood of reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid for ambulance transports. She faces a possible prison sentence of five years, three years of supervised parole, and could also be ordered to pay a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced early next year.
- Miami, Detroit and New York – Federal agents on 15 DEC arrested 26 doctors, nurses and healthcare operators in Miami, Detroit and New York on charges of submitting $60 million in bogus bills to the taxpayer-funded Medicare program. The indictments represented yet another Justice Department crackdown on Miami, dubbed the nation’s Medicare fraud capital. Justice officials at a news conference in New York announced the expansion of a federal Medicare fraud strike force to Tampa, Brooklyn and Baton Rouge. The strike force, launched in Miami in MAR 07, also operates in Los Angeles, Detroit and Houston — other major metropolitan areas plagued by phony Medicare claims for medical equipment, HIV infusion services, physical therapy and home healthcare. Since 2007, Justice Department prosecutors with the strike force have filed criminal charges involving more than $1 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims in Miami and three other cities, records show. But South Florida, especially Miami-Dade, is at the root of the crisis. The U.S. attorney’s office in Miami, coupled with the strike force, has prosecuted more than 900 defendants charged with submitting more than $2.5 billion in phony Medicare claims since 2005, according to records.
- Merced CA – An 88-year-old audiologist was sentenced in federal court 14 DEC to six months in prison for operating a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting false billings for services. Adam Sortini was found guilty by a jury earlier this year on 17 counts of mail fraud and one count of health care fraud. His prison sentence will be followed by 15 months of home confinement, plus restitution of $100,000. Sortini visited skilled nursing facilities throughout Northern California, billing for hearing tests not reimbursable by Medicare because they were routine and performed without a referring physician’s order. When he was audited by Medicare, he submitted forged physician referrals to justify his billings. Sortini also billed Medicare for unwarranted and unnecessary hearing tests, including tests for patients with severe mental deterioration, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and senility. He claimed to have tested between 25 and 50 or more patients on certain days at skilled nursing facilities located more than 100 miles apart. He billed and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for these services. At sentencing, United States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger found Sortini had obstructed justice by committing perjury at trial, abused the trust of the Medicare program, and taken advantage of vulnerable, elderly victims — many of whom were mentally incompetent. In making his determination, the judge considered the defendant’s age and medical condition, but said a prison sentence was warranted, given the nature of the crimes.
- Los Angeles CA – Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that Janet Gail Wroe, 49, of Canyon Country has been convicted of felony identity theft and sentenced to two years in prison after she stole the identity of a senior citizen and forged the victim’s name on a Medicare Advantage plan enrollment form in order to receive a commission. A California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigation revealed that on 3 JUL 07, Wroe, a licensed fire and casualty and life insurance broker-agent, tried to enroll a Hawthorne senior citizen into a Medicare Advantage plan, to which the victim declined. Wroe then obtained the victim’s personal identification information, completed the enrollment form and forged the senior’s signature. Wroe then submitted the enrollment application to another agent, who in turn submitted the application to an insurance company. Wroe then received a commission payment. On 17 SEP 09, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of forgery and one count of identity theft against Wroe. She was facing a maximum of four years in prison. CDI revoked Wroe’s license on 2 JUN 08 on unrelated charges.
- Brooklyn NY – On 16 DEC Parke Levy, 47, owner of Americare In Home LLC (Americare) and Lorraine Levy, 78, the director of customer service at Americare, were each charged with participating in a scheme to submit claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment. According to the indictment, Americare purported to provide diabetic supplies, including shoes and custom-made inserts, as well as other equipment to Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare covered up to one pair of diabetic shoes and three pairs of inserts annually for each patient, provided that the items were medically necessary, as determined by the treating physician; that a physician signed a certification that the patient was diabetic; that the patient had a specified condition, such as a foot ulcer, foot deformity, or poor circulation; and that the doctor had treated the patient under a comprehensive plan of care for diabetes. Parke and Lorraine Levy allegedly would solicit Medicare beneficiaries in order for Americare to provide them with diabetic supplies, including “free” shoes and inserts every year, even if they were not medically necessary. Parke Levy and others would meet with Medicare beneficiaries to measure their feet using a measuring stick or ruler. Parke Levy and Lorraine Levy would then allegedly submit or cause to be submitted false Medicare claims for three pairs of custom molded inserts, when in fact only off-the-shelf inserts had been provided to beneficiaries.
- Detroit MI – Rebecca Ann Sharp, 44, owner and president of the former Continuing Senior Care Inc. in Ypsilanti MI, will serve 18 months in federal prison on conspiracy to violate the federal Health Care Anti-Kickback Statute. She will also serve 3 years of federal probation after her release and must pay more than $1.4 million restitution to the Medicare Trust Fund. Sharp instructed her company’s staff to telephone senior citizens and offer medical services and chore workers — claiming in some cases that the company obtained their names from Medicare. Later a doctor employed by Sharp would visit the senior citizen, measure vital signs and prescribe home health care. Sharp, who pleaded guilty in June, claimed she could refer up to 80 patient names per week to a home health care agency and charged a referral fee of $250 per patient. Federal officials contend she received over $1.1 million in kickbacks for the referrals from 2002-05.
- Houston TX – Amudat Williams, 54, and his co-defendant spouse were sentenced 16 DEC to 44 months each in federal prison without parole and ordered to jointly pay $2,190,772 in restitution to Medicare. They were convicted after pleading guilty on 18 DEC 08, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and receiving kickbacks. Both were originally charged in an 13-count indictment with executing a well organized scheme to defraud the Medicare program by operating several DME companies and billing Medicare for providing motorized wheelchairs when less expensive equipment known as scooters were actually provided.
- Willingboro NJ – On 16 DEC a settlement brought to a close four years of litigation that began after a whistleblower filed a suit against Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County. The suit alleged that the hospital inflated its charges to Medicare patients in order to obtain enhanced reimbursement from the government in the form of outlier payments. Outlier payments are provided to hospitals by Medicare for hospitals cases where the expenses far exceed the typical Medicare reimbursement amount. Similar over-billing also occurred at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden NJ. The hospitals maintain that the Medicare payments received were appropriate but that they agreed to settle, without any admission of liability, in order to avoid protracted and costly litigation. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has since implemented regulatory changes that provide clearer outlier billing guidelines.
- Charleston WV – Dr. John Theodore Tiano, age 41, pleaded guilty 15 DEC in U.S. District Court in Charleston to conspiracy to misuse a registration number and aiding and abetting health care fraud. He allowed a Mingo County clinic and its employees to use his name and Medicare provider number to bill for services that he didn’t personally provide. He also allowed others to use his federal drug registration number to issue prescriptions to acquire controlled substances. Tiano faces up to 14 years in prison when he’s sentenced 18 MAR.
- Beaumont TX – On 21 DEC Ashley Collinwood Walkes who pleaded guilty on 3 JUN 09 to Misprision of Health Care Fraud was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Walkes was also ordered to pay restitution of $4,315,280.21 to Medicaid, $514,390.24 to Medicare and $70,585.55 to Blue Cross Blue Shield, for a total of $4,900,256.00 in restitution. Walkes, who had no medical training, ordered Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance patients to attend physical therapy sessions in order to receive their prescription refills. These sessions were then billed as if a physician had performed them, but they were actually performed by untrained, unlicensed, unsupervised personnel. Further, Medicaid, Medicare, and BCBS were billed for multiple physical therapy sessions each time the patient attended. In a separate scheme, Walkes directed Medicaid and Medicare to be billed for thousands of physician office visits at a code indicating the patient spent twenty-five minutes with the physician, when the physician actually spent five minutes or less with each patient.
- Houston TX – Dr. Michael D. Kim, 69, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment 21 DEC on a number of charges including conspiring to defraud Medicare of more than $1.7 million. He was further ordered to pay Medicare $10.8 million in restitution and to forfeit $1.1 million to the United States. Kim was involved in an extensive Medicare fraud conspiracy that was one of the “motorized wheelchair fraud schemes” that were prevalent in the Greater Houston area from 2002 to 2004. Kim was previously convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program and 17 counts of health care fraud in a scheme to defraud Medicare of $29 million by a jury’s verdicts following trial in SEP 08.
- Farmington Hills MI – Visiting Physicians Association (VPA) will pay the United States and the state of Michigan $9.5 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, Tricare and the Michigan Medicaid program. VPA is a Michigan professional corporation which has provided home health services at various times in Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Wisconsin. This settles allegations that VPA submitted claims for unnecessary home visits and care plan oversight services, for unnecessary tests and procedures, and for more complex evaluation and management services than the services that VPA actually provided. This 3 DEC settlement resolves four lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on the government’s behalf and share in any recovery. The settlement provides that the four whistleblower plaintiffs will collectively receive a total of approximately $1.7 million.
- Grand Blanc MI – Genesys Health System on 28 DEC agreed to pay the United States $669,413 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health care provider violated the False Claims Act. The violation was billing Medicare for higher levels of service than were actually rendered to patients. Specifically, for evaluation and management services provided to cardiology patients. The allegations resolved by the settlement were initiated by a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to sue for fraud on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. The whistleblower in this case will receive a $133,882 share, 20% of the settlement.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-31 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Medicad Fraud Update 04:
- Atlanta GA – Varian V. Scott, of Miami, was sentenced 14 DEC to 12 years in federal prison for being part of a health-care fraud scheme that cost Georgia Medicaid $1.1 million. Scott, 36, also was ordered in federal court in Atlanta to pay $1.14 million in restitution to Georgia Medicaid. The charges arose out of scheme to present forged doctors’ prescriptions for high-dollar cancer and HIV medications to dozens of Atlanta-area pharmacies using the identities of Georgia Medicaid recipients, causing the cost of the medications to be billed to the Georgia Medicaid program, and resulting in an approximately $1.1 million loss to state and federal taxpayers. Scott and his cousin Hezron Collie, 29, of Atlanta, were indicted in March on charges of conspiracy to commit health-care fraud and health-care fraud in connection with a scheme to present more than $1 million in forged prescriptions to pharmacies throughout metro Atlanta. The prescriptions were billed to Georgia Medicaid. Between SEP 05 and APR 06, Scott, Collie and others got blank doctors’ prescription pads from Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute — Collie’s former employer — and two other doctors. The defendants allegedly used names, dates of birth and Georgia Medicaid numbers of dozens of people, and allegedly forged multiple doctors’ prescriptions for Neupogen and related medications used to treat cancer and AIDS patients. The defendants then allegedly presented the forged prescriptions along with the patient information to CVS, Publix, Walgreens, Kroger, and Eckerd pharmacies around metro Atlanta. Scott and Collie also allegedly recruited a pharmacy employee at least one of the pharmacies as part of the scheme. That employee is cooperating with authorities and pleaded guilty to related charges in Gwinnett County Superior Court on 13 JAN 09. The pharmacies billed about $1.1 million to Georgia Medicaid for the cost of the medications Scott and Collie fraudulently acquired.
- Secaucus NJ – A dentist on 15 DEC pleaded guilty to defrauding more than $70,000 from Medicaid. Anna Padva-German, 47 pleaded guilty to third-degree Medicaid fraud before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr. Padva-German is a licensed dentist who works for New Jersey Mobile Dentist P.A. of Colts Neck. Four dentists with the company have pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the state Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Medicaid, a state healthcare program for low-income and disabled residents, allegedly paid New Jersey Mobil Dentist more than $1.3 million for dental procedures that were not performed. Padva-German admitted in court to received payments beyond what she was entitled between JAN 03 and MAR 09. The investigation uncovered New Jersey Mobile Dentist, which used Padva-German’s Medicaid provider number received over $200,000 in payments to which it was not entitled. The company contracts with dentists to provide mobile services at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state. Padva-German will be sentenced 25 JUN 2010. Under her plea agreement, she must pay $138,731 in restitution and penalties to the state.
- Bakersfield CA – On 17 DEC a $21.3 million settlement with Schering-Plough Corporation was agreed to, resolving allegations the company “deliberately inflated” the price of Albuterol and other drugs, causing California’s Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program to overpay millions of dollars in pharmacy reimbursement. Albuterol is a widely prescribed generic drug, delivered through inhalers, nebulizers and masks, and used to treat asthma and other breathing problems. “With healthcare costs spiraling out of control, it’s unconscionable that a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company deliberately inflated its drug prices to cheat California’s public healthcare system out of millions of dollars,” said Attorney General Brown. “This is a company that made more than $12 billion in profits last year, yet still raided the pockets of California taxpayers.” The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower against several pharmaceutical companies accused of Medicaid fraud. The case is still proceeding against Dey, Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sandoz, Inc. and their parent companies. Schering-Plough recently merged with Merck, and is now known as Merck & Co. California’s $21.3 million agreement is one of three settlements negotiated with Schering-Plough, collectively totaling $69 million, over falsely inflated drug prices.
- New York – Settlement agreements have entered into with three home health agencies to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to the New York Medicaid and Medicare programs. The New York Medicaid program provides coverage for home health aides only if those aides have valid certificates showing that they received proper training. The DOJ contended that Nursing Personnel Home Care (Nursing Personnel) knowingly supplied aides with phony training certificates to Extended Home Care (Extended) and Excellent Home Care (Excellent), which then billed New York Medicaid for the aides’ services; that Extended and Excellent knowingly billed for aides with phony certificates who were untrained; and that Extended and Excellent knowingly submitted claims to the Medicare program for home health aide services purportedly rendered by aides supplied by Nursing Personnel that were not actually provided. The United States is receiving approximately $9.7 million as a result of the settlement with these three companies, and the state of New York is receiving approximately $14.3 million, for a total recovery of $24 million. The allegations resolved by the 17 DEC settlements were initiated by two lawsuits filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to file suit on behalf of the United States for fraud and share in any recovery. Maurice Keshner will receive $251,107 from the government’s recovery from Nursing Personnel. Deborah Yannicelli will receive $1,663,040 from the government’s recovery from Extended and Excellent.
- Albany NY – Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli scolded New York state health officials 22 DEC for failing to prevent Medicaid fraud while he released audits exposing another $92 million in sham payments by the health-insurance program for the poor. He said three audits reveal the Department of Health continues to bungle oversight of the $45 billion program that is poised for further expansion under President Obama’s health-care plan. “The state’s Medicaid system is leaking millions of dollars — taxpayer dollars,” DiNapoli said. “Safeguards designed to protect the taxpayers by detecting waste, fraud and abuse keep failing.” He estimates outright fraud could make up as much as $1.3 billion. The agency insisted it was making changes to address the concerns, but also accused DiNapoli of oversimplifying issues.
[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-31 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Military History Anniversaries:
- Jan 01 1945 – WWII: In Operation Bodenplatte, German planes attack American forward air bases in Europe. This is the last major offensive of the Luftwaffe.
- Jan 02 1904 – Latin America Interventions: U.S. Marines are sent to Santo Domingo to aid the government against rebel forces.
- Jan 02 1942 – WWII: In the Philippines, the city of Manila and the U.S. Naval base at Cavite fall to Japanese forces.
- Jan 02 1966 – American forces move into the Mekong Delta for the first time (Vietnam War)
- Jan 03 1920 – WWI: The last of the U.S. troops depart France.
- Jan 04 1951 – Korea: Chinese communist forces recapture Seoul from United Nations troops
- Jan 05 1781 – American Revolution: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.
- Jan 05 1904 – American Marines arrive in Seoul, Korea, to guard the U.S. legation there.
- Jan 05 1942 – WWII: U.S. and Filipino troops complete their withdrawal to a new defensive line along the base of the Bataan peninsula.
- Jan 05 1951 – Korea: Inchon, South Korea, the sight of General Douglas MacArthur’s amphibious flanking maneuver, is abandoned by U.N. force to the advancing Chinese Army.
- Jan 06 1941 – WWII: President Franklin D. Roosevelt asks Congress to support the Lend-lease Bill to help supply the Allies.
- Jan 06 1967 – Vietnam: Operation Cedar. Over 16,000 U.S. and 14,000 Vietnamese troops start their biggest attack on the Iron Triangle, northwest of Saigon.
- Jan 07 1944 – WWII: The U.S. Air Force announces the production of the first jet-fighter, Bell P-59 Airacomet.
- Jan 07 1975 – Vietnam: Vietnamese troops take Phuoc Binh in new full-scale offensive.
- Jan 08 1815 – War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans – A rag-tag army under Andrew Jackson defeats the British on the fields of Chalmette in the Battle of New Orleans.
- Jan 08 1863 – Civil War: Second Battle of Springfield ends with a Confederate withdrawal.
- Jan 08 1877 – Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle with the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain (Montana Territory).
- Jan 09 1861 – Civil War: The “Star of the West” incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina. It is considered by some historians to be the “First Shots of the War”.
- Jan 09 1945 – WWII: U.S. troops land on Luzon, in the Philippines, 107 miles from Manila.
- Jan 10 1847 – Mexican War: General Stephen Kearny and Commodore Robert Stockton retake Los Angeles in the last California battle of the war.
- Jan 10 1923 – WWI: The United States withdraws its last troops from Germany.
- Jan 11 1863 – Civil War: The Battle of Fort Hindman Arkansas ends with a Union victory.
- Jan 11 1940 – Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., becomes the U.S. Army’s first black general, his son would later become a general as well.
- Jan 11 1967 – Vietnam: Operation Deckhouse Five”, a combined USMC and ARVN troop effort in the Mekong River delta ends in failure.
- Jan 12 1991 – Persian Gulf War: The U.S. Congress gives the green light to military action against Iraq in the Gulf Crisis.
- Jan 12 1846 – Mexican War: President James Polk dispatches General Zachary Taylor and 4,000 troops to the Texas Border as war with Mexico looms.
- Jan 13 1968 – Vietnam: U.S. reports shifting most air targets from North Vietnam to Laos.
- Jan 14 1911 – The USS Arkansas, the largest U.S. battleship, is launched from the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Company.
- Jan 14 1943 – WWII: Operation Ke, the successful Japanese operation to evacuate their forces from Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign, begins.
- Jan 14 1943 – WWII: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill begin the Casablanca Conference to discuss strategy and study the next phase of the war.
- Jan 15 1865 – Civil War: Union troops capture Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
- Jan 15 1944 – WWII: The U.S. Fifth Army successfully breaks the German Winter Line in Italy with the capture of Mount Trocchio.
[Source: Various Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Tax Burden for Louisiana 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 Louisiana:
State Sales Tax: 4%; 3.8% for electricity, water utility services and steam; Interstate telecommunication services are taxable at 2%. Political subdivisions also levy their own sales tax that could bring the total to 10.75%. Food, drugs, wheelchairs and prosthetic devices are taxed locally.
Fuel & Cigarette Tax:
- Gasoline Tax: 20 cents/gallon
- Diesel Fuel Tax: 20 cents/gallon
- · Cigarette Tax: 36 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 2.0%; High – 6.0%
Income Brackets: 3 (Lowest – $12,500; Highest – $50,000). For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.
Personal Exemptions: Combined personal exemption and standard deduction is single – $4,500; married – $9,000; dependents – $1,000; 65 and older – $1,000.
Standard Deduction: Included in personal exemptions
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: Full.
Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security, military, civil service, state/local government pensions are exempt. For qualified private pensions a person age 65 and older. Federal retirement benefits received by federal retirees, both military and nonmilitary, may be excluded from Louisiana taxable income. Out-of-state government pensions qualify for the private pension/retirement exemption. Interest and dividends from all state and local government obligations are exempt from federal income tax. Louisiana only exempts interest and dividends from obligations from the State of Louisiana and its political subdivisions and municipalities. Interest and dividends from obligations from other states or their political or municipal subdivisions are exempt from federal income tax but taxed by Louisiana.
Retired Military Pay: Not taxed.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
Taxes are assessed and collected at the local level — 64 parishes and 7 municipal districts. The Louisiana State Tax Commission has a regulatory role regarding property assessments. Property assessments are based on 10% of the fair market value of the property. Homeowners receive a homestead exemption in the amount of $7,500. Exemption is applied against the assessed value of the home which is equal to 10% of the fair market value. Therefore, only homes with a market value over $75,000 would be subject to the parish (county) property tax. However, this exemption does not generally apply to municipal taxes.
A Special Assessment applies to the homestead of persons who are 65 years of age and older if the adjusted gross household income is below a certain level. For the tax year 2006, that level was $58,531. The level may change from year to year, so it is advisable to check with the assessor’s office to determine whether you qualify. This special assessment will freeze the assessed value of the homestead for as long as the applicant owns and resides in the home and income does not exceed the maximum allowed. It will be lost if improvements in excess of 25% of the home’s value are added. Call 225-925-7830 for details.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
Effective January 1, 2008, the inheritance tax is not applicable to deaths that occur after June 30, 2004. Refer to Acts 2008, No. 822 at www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=285580. Louisiana does levy an estate transfer tax. Revised Statute 47.2436 requires that an estate transfer tax return be filed by or on behalf of the heirs or legatees in every case where estate transfer tax is due or where the value of the deceased’s net estate is $60,000.000 or more.
For further information, refer to the Louisiana Department of Revenue site www.rev.state.la.us or call 255-219-0102. Additional information can be found at the Louisiana Tax Commission site www.latax.state.la.us.
Source: www.retirementliving.com Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Veteran Legislation Status 28 DEC 09: After a session that dragged into Christmas Eve for the first time since 1963, the Senate finally adjourned at 10:19 a.m. 24 DEC. That brought an end to the first session of the 111th Congress. The House had departed for the year 16 DEC, and will reconvene 12 JAN. The Senate had been in session for 25 straight days, one short of the all-time record, before presiding officer Paul Kirk, D-Mass., gaveled proceedings to a close. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), serving as floor leader after other senators had fled the chamber, announced that the Senate would next convene on 5 JAN and again 19 JAN in pro forma sessions. The second session will begin in earnest starting at 10 a.m. 20 JAN. A pro forma session is a daily meeting of the House or Senate during which no votes are held and no legislative business is conducted. The session “in form only” is held for purposes of meeting the 3-day rule in the Constitution. It requires each House to gain the permission of the other for recesses longer than 3 days (Article I Section 5). When the permission is not forthcoming, or not requested in time, the affected chamber convenes briefly with hardly anyone in attendance [the opening prayer, routine announcements, and sometimes short non-legislative speeches are conducted], and then adjourns.
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 Dec 09 ++]
===============================
Have You Heard?
Q: How do you know if there is a fighter pilot at your party?
A: He’ll tell you.
Q: What’s the difference between God and fighter pilots?
A: God doesn’t think he’s a fighter pilot.
Q: What’s the difference between a fighter pilot and a jet engine?
A: A jet engine stops whining when the plane shuts down.
===============================
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
BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION NOTES:
== To subscribe first add the above RAO email addee to your address book and/or white list and then provide your full name plus either the post/branch/chapter number of the fraternal military/government organization you are currently affiliated with (if any) “AND/OR” the city and state/country you reside in so your addee can be properly positioned in the directory for future recovery. Subscription is open to all veterans, dependents, and military/veteran support organizations. This Bulletin was sent to 78,294 subscribers.
== To change your email addee or Unsubscribe from Bulletin distribution click the automatic “Change address / Leave mailing list” highlighted tab on the bottom of the message containing this attachment or hit reply and place the word “Remove” in the subject line or send a message which includes your full name plus your old & new email addee.
F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
‘Oh excuse me please’ was my reply.
He said, ‘Please excuse me too;
I wasn’t watching for you.’
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
‘Move out of the way,’ I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.
While I lay awake in bed, God’s still
small voice came to me and said,
‘While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
you’ll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise;
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.’
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
‘Wake up, little one, wake up,’ I said.
‘Are these the flowers you picked for me?’
He smiled, ‘I found ’em, out by the tree.
I picked ’em because they’re pretty like you.
I knew you’d like ’em, especially the blue.’
I said, ‘Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.’
He said, ‘Oh, Mom, that’s okay.
I love you anyway.’
I said, ‘Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.’
FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don’t you think?
So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU