New legal, financial protections stall out (Army Times)

A legislative update in Army Times:

New legal, financial protections stall out

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 12:00:58 EDT

"Improvements in legal and financial protections for troops and their families were removed from the final version of the 2010 defense authorization bill because of questions about which congressional committee is responsible for changes to the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act.

The decision by congressional negotiators leaves in limbo the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act that the Senate had added to the annual defense policy bill and an expansion of the types of contracts that can be canceled or suspended without penalty for service members who are deployed or transferred to a new duty station. That provision, involving cellular phone service, Internet and cable services, and utilities, was part of the House-passed defense bill.
Jurisdiction over the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act rests with the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees, which objected to having the provision included in HR 2647, the defense authorization act for fiscal 2010. Removal of the provision was one of the many compromises made by congressional negotiators as they prepared a final defense bill, which the House passed Oct. 8. The Senate is expected to vote on the final defense bill this week.
What happens with the military spouse and contract cancellation legislation depends on the veterans’ committees, which are slow to pass compromise legislation.

The Senate passed the military spouse residency bill as separate legislation Aug. 4, and it is now pending in the House.

However, the record of the House and Senate getting identical veterans bills passed and signed into law is slight.

1 veterans bill passed

Nineteen veterans-related bills have passed the House of Representatives this year, but only one has also passed the Senate and been signed into law. That measure provided the same cost-of-living adjustment to veterans and their survivors as is received Dec. 1 by Social Security recipients, which this year is likely be no increase. A second veterans’ bill, providing advance funding for Veterans Affairs Department medical programs beginning in 2011, passed the House last week and is expected to pass the Senate this week.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economic opportunity panel has taken the first step in resurrecting the spouse residency and contract cancellation proposals. The subcommittee met last week to approve HR 1182, its version of the military spouse residency provisions involving homeownership, voting rights, taxation and other residency issues, and HR 2874, which would expand protections from contract termination fees.

Passage of the two bills by the full House Veterans’ Affairs Committee could happen as early as Oct. 28, aides said.

House and Senate aides said they believe the two veterans’ affairs committees will reach a compromise on an omnibus bill that could include the provision stripped from the defense bill, but they were not willing to predict when that might happen.

Spouse residency

The residency bill for spouses includes a provision that would allow spouses accompanying service members on official reassignments to keep their voter registration in a state where they no longer live and let them vote by absentee ballot in federal, state and local elections. Another provision would allow spouses to maintain residency in another state for tax purposes as a result of an official move by a service member.

The contract cancellation bill pending in the House would make changes in termination provisions all ready in law;

Current law allows service members to cut a cell phone contract without having to pay a termination fee if they deploy or make a permanent change-of-station move. The bill would extend this penalty-free cancellation right to family cell phone plans.

Also, HR 2874 would protect service members from having to pay an early termination fee for canceling a residential lease. Such cancellation is allowed under current law, but service members may have to pay termination fees.

Current law allows service members who are deploying or moving to a new assignment to cancel motor vehicle leases with no termination penalties."

• Full article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_SCRA_Congress_101309w/
• There's still time to contact Congress; why not telephone your local Congresscritter's office?

Agent Orange Equity Action on Facebook

Our Blue Water Navy veterans of Vietnam need our help in getting help with their Agent Orange Injuries, as mentioned earlier in Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (HR 2254, 111th Congress)

A network is rapidly forming, of citizens calling Congress to politely (please!) ask our Congresscritters whether they back the bill and, if not, why not. If we get enough people asking, they will act; imagine having to explain to your constituents that you oppose this!

The network, hosted by Facebook, is called Support Passage of Agent Orange Equity Act 2009 - H.R.2254. I hope you will consider joining us (and whether or not you do, call Congress now ... what reason can you have to delay?)

Together, we can get this done. The technology makes it easier, but we need to make the call and then tell our friends.

The Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2009 (H.R. 2546)

The purpose of the The Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2009 (H.R. 2546) is "To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged."

For those who are new to the terms, the Blue Star Service Flag was created to display on the house of families who have a member serving in our Armed forces. If the service member died, it became customary to replace the Blue Star with a Gold Star. It is an indoor flag, displayed to be visible outside. Currently, rules such as condominium rules may prohibit the reasonable display of Blue Star/Gold Star indicia, e.g. a service flag.

On May 21, the bill was introduced by Congressman (and Iraq veteran) John A. Boccieri (OH-16)  and as of today (Memorial Day) it has no co-sponsors (which may not be unusual since it's been only 4 days).In my opinion, this appears to be a relatively minor, yet helpful, change to the law, that might slightly inconvenience some people (e.g. the neighbors of Blue Star/Gold Star families) but would provide a not-insignificant benefit to the families of servicemembers. I hope you will consider contacting your congresscritters concerning prompt action.

• Bill Text 
• Bill Status on Gov Track
  
• Contact your Representative 
• Contact your Senators

Thanks to VoteVets for alerting me to this; consider signing their petition!

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (HR 2254, 111th Congress)

What's the Problem?

For you younger kids, Agent Orange was a poison we sprayed on Vietnam to make it harder for the enemy to hide in the jungle.

Problem is, the poison got on our guys too and causes all sorts of problems. Since they were essentially wounded in service, the surviving veterans deserve care for their wounds.

Problem is, some of the wounded were "Blue Water Navy". Those supply ships carrying the poison wouldn't necessarily touch shore, just pull up and dump stuff off. The sailors who didn't set foot in Vietnam got exposed all the same in the normal course of handling the poison.

Problem is, when the Blue Water Vets try to get help for their injuries, the Courts ruled in Haas vs. Peake that they are Shucks-Out-Of-Luck. The reasoning is crazy .... the Court says it's just TOO HARD to figure out whether a ship came close to Vietnam; the Court never having heard of a ship's log.

What's the Solution?

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 is to fix this maddening injustice. If you have a yellow ribbon on your SUV, you'd better call your congresscritter to support this thing ... before the Blue Water vets are all dead and you can just wax sentimental.

According to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs:

Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!
May 8, 2009

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 2254, a bill to restore equity to all Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

“We owe it to our veterans to fulfill the promises made to them as a result of their service,” said Chairman Filner (D-CA). “If, as a result of service, a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and it has resulted in failing health, this country has a moral obligation to care for each veteran the way we promised we would. And as a country at war, we must prove that we will be there for all of our veterans, no matter when they serve. The courts have turned their backs on our veterans, but I believe this Congress will not allow our veterans to be cheated of their earned benefits.”

H.R. 2254 would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from the ravages of Agent Orange exposure. In order to try to gain a better military vantage point, Agent Orange, which we now know is a highly toxic cocktail of herbicide agents, was widely sprayed for defoliation and crop destruction purposes all over the Vietnam War Battlefield, as well as on borders and other areas of neighboring nations. It was also stored on U.S. vessels and used for vegetation clearing purposes around U.S. bases, landing zones and lines of communication.

Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove a “foot on land” occurrence in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses afforded under current law. This issue has been the subject of much litigation and on May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld VA’s overly narrow interpretation and the Supreme Court later denied certiorari essentially affirming this ruling. However, Congress clearly did not intend to exclude these veterans from compensation based on arbitrary geographic line drawing by VA.

H.R. 2254 is intended to clarify the law so that Blue Water veterans and every service member awarded the Vietnam Service medal, or who otherwise deployed to land, sea or air, in the Republic of Vietnam is fully covered by the comprehensive Agent Orange laws Congress passed in 1991. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that are linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War and that are identified in current law.

Chairman John Hall leads the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over these issues. He stated, “With this legislation, Congress will leave no doubt that the ‘Blue Water Navy’ and all combat veterans of Vietnam are intended to be covered and compensated; thus ensuring that these veterans will receive the disability benefits they earned and deserve for exposure to Agent Orange. This is the cost of war. We asked these brave men and women to fight for us and serve their country, and it is a grave injustice that they have had to wait this long for treatment. We must place care of our soldiers among our top priorities. This applies for all past, present, and future conflicts.”

“Time is running out for these veterans,” concluded Chairman Filner. “Many are dying from their Agent Orange related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. There is still a chance for America to meet its obligations to these noble veterans. I will work with my Congressional colleagues to provide the earned disability benefits and health care to the thousands of Navy blue water veterans and survivors that earned this care in battle.”

(full press release)

What's can Little Old Me Do?

• Call your Congresscritter; you can get the 800 number at www.callcongress.orgAsk your Representatives whether they support the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009; if they do, thank them nicely; if they don't, ask why not? Letters o.k. too, but take too long to get through the anthrax screening; emails are better than nothing but are so easy to do that they lack punch. A phonecall to your rep's local office might be good too.
• Read the Text of the bill
• See who's sponsoring it and what the bill status is on GovTrack
• Pick apart the idiotic court decision that lead to denying health care to injured "Blue Water" veterans: Haas vs. Peake
• Remember, HR 2254 appears to be a re-start of the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008, but let's hope the new Congress can get'r'done this time
• Learn more about Agent Orange and the Blue Water Navy.

Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009

A press release from Senator Murray (D-WA)

WOMEN VETERANS: Murray Introduces Bi-Partisan Legislation to Prepare VA for Rapidly Growing Number of Women Veterans

Legislation will address unique needs of women veterans, provide improved care for Military Sexual Trauma, and explore the effects service in Iraq and Afghanistan has had on female veterans
For Immediate Release: Monday, March 16, 2009
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced major bi-partisan legislation to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the influx of women veterans who will access care there in the coming years. Senator Murray’s bill, the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009, will address many of the unique needs of female veterans, particularly those women who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is the lead co-sponsor of the legislation and has also played a vocal role in ensuring the VA meets the unique needs of female veterans.

“Women have stepped up to serve at unprecedented levels,” said Senator Murray. “Which means the VA is now faced with unprecedented challenges in caring for them as they return home. This bill addresses the unique challenges women face by providing specialized care for the visible and invisible wounds of war. As more women begin to transition home, and step back into lives as mothers, wives, and citizens, the VA must be there for them.”

“Women serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and performing dangerous missions throughout the world make up an important and growing segment of our veteran population. The number of women veterans receiving care through the VA is expected to double in less than five years,” said Senator Hutchison. “Our bill will help improve access to quality health care services for women who have bravely served in our armed forces.”

“Generations of women have served honorably in all of this country’s major conflicts. These women have earned the right to expect the same high quality health care services and benefits as their male counterparts,” said Dave Gorman, Executive Director of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). “While significant progress has been made in recent years to remove institutional barriers that often discourage women veterans from seeking assistance at VA facilities, more needs to be done. The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act will help ensure these women have equal access to VA benefits and services. DAV is proud to have worked on this legislation with Senator Murray, who has proven herself time and again to be a steadfast and effective champion for all of America’s veterans.”

Senators Murray and Hutchison’s bill was co-sponsored by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (D-AK), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

“The brave women of our military have been fighting side-by-side in Iraq and Afghanistan with our men in uniform so that we may live in freedom – they deserve the same support from the government when they return home,” Senator Mikulski said. “There is currently an unprecedented number of women defending their country at war. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and that means making sure they have a VA health care system that meets their needs.”

“More women are serving in the military today than at any time and this number is only growing. They face unique challenges and the VA must be prepared to meet their needs,” said Senator Boxer.

“With over 10,000 women veterans in Maine, and almost two million across the nation, each are patriots that have answered their nation’s call, and it is essential the nation be there for them when they return to the homefront and their families,” Senator Snowe said. “I am honored to join with my colleagues to introduce this bill today that rightfully recognizes and addresses issues with which many of these veterans and their families are managing today.”

“Our women vets have served courageously and selflessly alongside their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. The time has come that we recognize the unique needs of these veterans by respecting their differences and addressing the inequities that may exist in the system,” said Senator Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Military Construction / VA Appropriations Subcommittee.

“This legislation will help ensure that our women in the military return home to a high quality health care system that they certainly deserve and have earned. I am proud to recognize the invaluable service that our service members have made, and I will continue to assist those who do so much to protect our nation,” said Senator Lincoln.

“For far too long, the VA has operated with a “one size – fits all” culture,” said Senator Murkowski. “Those days are gone. The physical, mental and reproductive health challenges that face women veterans may require a different menu of services, delivered in a different way than the VA has grown accustomed. This legislation sends a powerful wake-up call that America’s 1.7 million women veterans earned their benefits too and it is time for the VA to step up and meet its needs.”

“American service women need to know that their commitment to this country is both recognized and honored,” said Senator Brown. “We must meet the obligations of every veteran in a way that reflects their bravery and sacrifice. This bill would expand the VA’s resources to address gaps in services and provide women with access to benefits they have earned.”

Among other things, the legislation introduced today will:

• Require the VA to implement a program to train, educate, and certify VA mental health professionals to care for women with sexual trauma
• Require the VA Secretary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the barriers women are facing in accessing care at the VA.
• Authorize a report to Congress on the effects the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had on the physical, mental, and reproductive health of women who have served there.
• Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides child care to women veterans that seek mental health care services at the VA.
• Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides readjustment counseling to women veterans in group retreat settings.

Senators Murray and Hutchison introduced similar legislation last year in the 110th Congress which passed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee before the Senate session ended.

See more detailed Information on the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009.

H.R. 23 - Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009

A bill to assist the Merchant Mariners of World War II has been re-introduced in the House.
Called the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009", its purpose is

"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."

From the House Veterans Affairs Committee:

Filner Reintroduces Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act

Chairmutive comment. No further action was taken on the he bill before the 108th Congress adjourned last year, so Filner reintroduced it as H.R. 23 before the new Congress which convened last month.

As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, H.R. 3729 among other things called for compensation of $1,000 per month for people in any service in harm’s way—including the U.S. Merchant Marine—during the period from Dec. 5, 1941 through Dec. 31, 1946, the same period as all other GI Bills. The bill also stipulated that any surviving wife of a qualified veteran also shall be eligible to receive the same benefit as the veteran.

In official remarks to fellow members of Congress in 2004, Filner noted, World War II Merchant Mariners suffered the second-highest casualty rate of any of the branches of services while they delivered troops, tanks, food, airplanes, fuel and other needed supplies to every theater of the war. Compared to the large number of men and women serving in World War II, the numbers of merchant mariners were small, but their chance of dying during service was extremely high. Enemy forces sank over 800 ships between 1941 and 1944 alone.

Filner further pointed out mariners weren�rred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

A fuller explanation of the need for this bill is provided by the Seafarers International Union:

"‘Belated Thank You’ legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Filner (1/13)

U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) earlier this month introduced a bill before the 109th Congress to amend title 46, United States Code, and title II of the Social Security Act.

The bill, H.R. 23, would 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.

Filner last year (Jan. 27, 2004) introduced the same legislation before the 108th Congress. That bill, numbered H.R. 3729 and titled the “Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004,” had more than 150 cosponsors. The last major action taken on it came July 27 when the Veterans’ Affairs Committee asked for executive comment. No further action was taken on the bill before the 108th Congress adjourned last year, so Filner reintroduced it as H.R. 23 before the new Congress which convened last month.

As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, H.R. 3729 among other things called for compensation of $1,000 per month for people in any service in harm’s way—including the U.S. Merchant Marine—during the period from Dec. 5, 1941 through Dec. 31, 1946, the same period as all other GI Bills. The bill also stipulated that any surviving wife of a qualified veteran also shall be eligible to receive the same benefit as the veteran.

In official remarks to fellow members of Congress in 2004, Filner noted, World War II Merchant Mariners suffered the second-highest casualty rate of any of the branches of services while they delivered troops, tanks, food, airplanes, fuel and other needed supplies to every theater of the war. Compared to the large number of men and women serving in World War II, the numbers of merchant mariners were small, but their chance of dying during service was extremely high. Enemy forces sank over 800 ships between 1941 and 1944 alone.

Filner further pointed out mariners weren’t included in the GI Bill of Rights, which Congress enacted in 1945. “The merchant marine became the forgotten service,” he said. “The fact that merchant seamen had borne arms during wartime in the defense of their country did not seem to matter.”

Many WWII mariners finally received veterans’ recognition in 1988, along with access to what Filner described as a “watered-down” GI Bill. It took another 10 years to extend the cutoff date for recognition of mariners as veterans so it matched the date utilized by the military.

A member of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Filner observed, “While it is impossible to make up for over 40 years of unpaid benefits, I propose a bill that will acknowledge the service of the veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine and offer compensation for years and years of lost benefits. The average age of (World War II) merchant marine veterans is now 81. Many have outlived their savings. A monthly benefit to compensate for the loss of nearly a lifetime of ineligibility for the GI Bill would be of comfort and would provide some measure of security for veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine.”

You Can Lobby the Incoming Administration

An important part of advocating for our servicemembers, veterans and their families is to "petition the government for redress of grievances". However, this can be difficult since we are nearly 300 million Americans; letters, phonecalls and emails can get lost in the flood. Few of us can afford the time away from work and/or family to knock on the White House door.

However, the incoming Obama Administration has an innovative website which (in theory) makes it easier for individuals and small groups. How this works in practice remains to be seen but it costs nothing to try to influence our government on important issues.

Go the http://www.change.gov/ (not http://www.change.org/, which is a private advocacy site, not a bad thing, but it's different; and not http://www.change.com/, which is a site specializing in underwear, again not necessarily a bad thing to change as needed.)

Within that site are various topics. You can click around to the ones that interest you, use the search feature, or go directly to a few that I've listed below.

Then ... and this is the IMPORTANT part ... click on the "Submit Your Ideas" box to share your ideas. And get your friends & family to do the same.

Don't be shy. This is what our nation's Founders envisioned!

Topics I suggest you try

Please note I am NOT telling you HOW you should think on these issues; it's just my opinion that you SHOULD think on them.

• Veterans
  Access to prompt and high-quality healthcare; the claims backlog; post traumatic stress disorder, etc.: http://change.gov/agenda/veterans_agenda/
• Iraq
  Taking care of our troops, diplomacy, fulfilling our obligations (what ARE our obligations?): http://change.gov/agenda/iraq_agenda/
• Defense
  (too many issues to list....): http://change.gov/agenda/defense_agenda/
• Civil Liberties
  domestic surveillance, torture, Habeas Corpus: http://change.gov/agenda/homeland_security_agenda/

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A shout-out to http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ whose recent bulletin inspired this posting.

National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008

The National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 (S. 3197) exempts, for a limited period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days. Basically, it (temporarily) exempts qualifying persons from the means test in determining eligibility for Chapter 7 relief under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

Co-sponsors: Sens. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard
J. Durbin (D-Ill.), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); Signed it into law: October 20, 2008.

Omnibus Veterans' Benefits Bill Now Law ...

... improves veterans’ housing, disability, and employment benefits, according to this Press release from the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

"October 10, 2008 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today regarding enactment of S. 3023, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.

"Veterans have earned these benefits and more through their honorable service to our country and I am proud that this legislation to improve veterans' housing, disability claims processing, judicial review and employment rights is now law," said Akaka.

S. 3023 is an omnibus veterans' benefits bill that includes a wide range of provisions, including claims processing improvements, compensation enhancements, employment and education assistance, and housing benefits for veterans. These provisions include:

Claims Assistance: Simplification of letters to veterans claiming disabilities, so as to provide meaningful notice of the information and evidence needed to substantiate a claim.

Veterans Housing: Enhancement of home loan refinancing options, an extended increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount, and an extension of the expiring authority for VA to guarantee adjustable-rate mortgages.

Improving Access to the Court System: Expansion in the number of judges on the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to decide the increased number of cases filed and removal of the ban on judicial review of actions concerning VA's rating schedule.

Employment Rights: Updating of veterans' right to return to work, federal agency assistance in that effort, and more timely Department of Labor investigations of potential violations of veterans' employment rights.

S. 3023, introduced by Chairman Akaka, was reported by the Senate Committee in June, 2008, then passed by the full Senate unanimously on September 15. It was amended in the House and passed by that body on September 24, then passed by the Senate again. President Bush signed the bill into law on October 10, 2008."

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More information:

• VA Announcement at http://www.homeloans.va.gov/new.htm
• S.3023 on GovTrac
• S.3023 on Thomas
• Enhanced VA Mortgage Options Available article on military.com

Veterans Mental Health Bill Now Law (S. 2162)

From the US Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today regarding enactment of S. 2162, the Veterans Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008. S. 2162, introduced by Senator Akaka and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators, makes various improvements to veterans’ mental health and other forms of care. The bill pays tribute to Justin Bailey, an Iraq war veteran who returned from combat only to lose his life to PTSD and an accidental overdose of prescription medications.

“Now that S. 2162 has been enacted, VA can incorporate these provisions to improve its strategy against the injury and enemy of PTSD and other invisible wounds,” said Akaka.

In his floor statement urging passage of S. 2162, Akaka detailed the origins of his legislation: “The legislation did not stem from a lobbyist or an interest group. It came about because of one letter - a letter to me from the parents of Justin Bailey - Mary Kaye and Tony Bailey.

“Justin Bailey was a war veteran who survived Iraq only to die while receiving care from VA for PTSD and substance use disorder. A week after his death last year, Justin’s parents were naturally heartbroken by the death of their only son, but even more than that, they were concerned that other veterans might share his fate if VA mental health care did not improve,” said Akaka.

The Bailey family has worked actively to improve veterans’ mental health, testifying before the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and supporting S. 2162.

S. 2162’s improvements to veterans’ mental health care include:

• Setting a standard minimum level of care for substance use disorder, and creating innovative enhancements to treatment
• Improving treatment to veterans with multiple disorders, such as PTSD and substance use disorder
• Mandating a review of VA’s residential mental health care facilities, to ensure that they are adequately staffed
• Creating a research program on PTSD and substance use disorder, in cooperation with the National Center for PTSD
• Enabling VA to provide mental health services to veterans’ families, and setting up a program to aid the families of returning servicemembers

S. 2162 also makes significant improvements in other areas of veterans’ health care:

Rural Veterans: More than doubles the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement (from 11 to 28.5 cents per mile) eligible veterans can receive for travel to receive VA care, permanently sets the deductible to $3 each way for such travel, creates a pilot program on the use of peers to enhance outreach to rural veterans, and encourages coordination between VA and rural community-based resources.

Emergency Care for Veterans: Corrects current procedures used by VA to reimburse community hospitals for emergency care provided to eligible veterans.

VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence: In recognition of the link between traumatic brain injury, a signature wound of the current conflicts, and epilepsy, establishes up to six VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence focused on research, education, and clinical care for epilepsy.

Veterans’ Pain Care: Requires a pain care program, including care for acute pain, for all VA inpatient facilities for long-term mental health and substance abuse care and to prevent long-term chronic pain disability, expands VA health care staff education on pain assessment and treatment, and increases VA research on pain care.

Veterans’ Caregivers: Extends authority for VA to provide institutional and non-institutional long-term care and caregiver assistance services.

Medical Construction: Authorizes a series of major medical facility construction projects and outpatient clinic leases.

Homelessness: Creates targeted programs to assist low-income veterans, and increases funding capacity for the successful VA Grant and Per Diem program, which assists community-based organizations that serve homeless veterans.

Rehabilitating Veterans: Expands a program to help formerly incarcerated veterans reintegrate into society through employment counseling and other services.

S. 2162, introduced by Chairman Akaka, was reported by the Senate Committee, then passed the full Senate unanimously before being amended and passed in the House, then passed again in the Senate. President Bush signed the bill into law on October 10, 2008.

Thanks for the Head's-Up! from Swords To Plowshares!

Military Voting Protection Act of 2008 (S 3073)

The Senate has just passed the Military Voting Protection Act of 2008 to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to improve procedures for the collection and delivery of absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters.

Tom Tarantino, of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, explains why this bill is important, and its limit:

"Military Overseas Voting: Help may be on the way
Our most basic charge as service member is to defend the country and its way of life. No action exemplifies the core principles of freedom more than the simple act of voting. It is our most basic right and one that we have had to fight for throughout our history. One would think that for those charged with its defense, casting a vote would be simple. Sadly, this is not the case. Many service members vote not in the district in which they are stationed, but in their home of record. The transitory lifestyle of the military makes this a common and necessary practice, and local municipalities generally have effective procedures in place to accommodate its constituents serving around the country. However, for those serving overseas the process is difficult, and for those deployed overseas, the process is practically impossible to navigate without the help and support of the DOD.

In 2000, I was deployed to Bosnia during the Presidential Primary Elections. Knowing beforehand that I would be deployed, I applied for an absentee ballot. As I did not know where I would be stationed, I had it sent to my parents thinking that they would be able to send it to me, and I could return it in time. As you can imagine, this was not the case. The ballot took two weeks to get to me at Camp Tuzla, another two weeks for it to return to California, and it missed the deadline. For all of us who have been deployed, we all know and accept the realities of the Military postal system. By and large, the system works pretty well, but it is near impossible to deal with anything time sensitive. In Bosnia, the system was unpredictable. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the system is functional, but chaotic. Clearly, there needs to be a special emphasis and assistance from the DOD in order to ensure that those who are fighting for our freedoms are able to cast their vote and be counted.

Currently the DOD uses the Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP), which provides a 460 page instruction manual detailing the step by step procedures for completing and sending the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA is a combined voter registration and absentee ballot application that was created from the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voter Act of 1986. As states have a variety of different requirements, the “catch all” FPCA is difficult to fill out and a significant portion end up getting rejected by the states. According to a Pew Research study, 40,000 military FPCAs were rejected in 2006 due to some error in filling out state requirements. Furthermore, units Voter Assistance Officers are not given proper training on the difference between local registration and the FPCA.

In 2004 I was appointed as the Voter Assistance Officer (VAO) for my Troop. The only information or guidance I received was the memo assigning me the extra duty. Being responsible, I set out on my own to find resources and pathways to get my soldiers registered either locally or in their home state. I did locate the FVAP, and made attempts to get every soldier that was interested properly registered. In 2004 this was not as easy of a task as it is today. In garrison, this program works, as it relies on the predictability of the US. Mail. However, the Pew study shows that in 2004 VAOs reached only 50%of military voters. Furthermore, states require a myriad of different requirements that lead to confusion and error when filling out the FPCA. The Federal Voter Assistance Program is assigned the responsibility to register overseas voters, yet does not have the authority to affect and change the systems needed to make registration happen.

On October 1, the Senate passed S 3073, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. This act requires the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures for collecting absentee ballots of military overseas voters in elections for federal office; and delivering such ballots to the appropriate state election officials. Additionally, it mandates that the delivery must take place prior to the polls closing and authorized the DOD to use express mail and contract delivery services to ensure local receipt of ballots.

This Act takes care of the biggest and most obvious flaw with Federal Voter Assistance Program. As anyone who has been deployed will tell you, it is impossible to plan for anything time sensitive through the mail from a combat zone. In 2006 86% of the FPCAs were sent via the mail, and with the military postal system average round trip being 24-36 days to and from Iraq and Afghanistan there is little to no room for error. Given that most service members transfer units every two to three years, and are deployed every 18- 24 months; most addresses are obsolete by the next election cycle. In 2006 this resulted in 35,000 military and overseas citizen absentee ballots being returned to local election officials as undeliverable. By requiring the DOD to ensure the safe and timely passage of military ballots to their home districts each election cycle, service members are one step closer toward ensuring that the vote that they fight to defend gets counted. Additionally, by not distinguishing between FPCAs and locally obtained election materials, the DOD allows for a much smoother process in requesting and returning the service member’s absentee ballot.

S 3073 is not a complete solution. While it does provide a greater level of assistance to the service members in ensuring timely delivery of election materials, it does not directly address the variance in state registration requirements, nor does it provide the FVAP broader authorities in reducing barriers for military voters. S3073 is a good first step, and one that I feel is long since overdue." ... Tom Tarantino.

IAVA's Top Ten Issues....

From Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a few things to think about:

"With the new president in office next year, America will have the chance to turn the page on the way veterans were treated after Vietnam. Below are the top 10 actions the new president must take:

1. Ensure Thorough, Professional, and Confidential Mental Health Screening

IAVA supports mandatory and confidential mental health and TBI screening by a mental health professional for all troops, both before and at least 90 days after a combat tour.

2. Advance-Fund VA Health Care

Year after year, the VA budget is passed late, forcing hundreds of veterans' hospitals and clinics to ration care. IAVA believes the only way to ensure timely funding of veterans' health care is to fund the program one year in advance. In addition, IAVA endorses the annual Independent Budget, produced by leading Veterans Service Organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and AMVETS, as the blueprint for VA funding levels.

3. Overhaul the Military and Veterans' Disability System

IAVA believes the military and veterans' disability system needs a fundamental overhaul to streamline the process and provide adequate benefits to our wounded troops.

4. Cut the Claims Backlog in Half

Hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans are awaiting an answer from the VA on their benefits claims. Without this crucial source of income, many are struggling to make ends meet. The claims backlog must be cut in half with the new president's first year in office.

5. End the Passive VA System

The VA offers a wide array of benefits and services - but many veterans do not know what they are eligible for. The VA must do much more to aggressively advertise their services, especially online and in rural areas, and ensure that eligible veterans are receiving the care and benefits they have earned.

6. Combat the Shortage of Mental Health Professionals

The VA must be authorized to bolster its mental health workforce with adequate psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers to meet the demands of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. IAVA also supports increased funding for Vet Centers to alleviate staffing shortfalls. Furthermore, the next president should issue a national call to service, bolstered by incentives, for mental health care workers in America.

The Department of Defense must address current shortages of mental health professionals. IAVA recommends a study of reasons for attrition among military mental health professionals, and the creation of new recruitment and retention incentives for mental health care providers, such as scholarships or college loan forgiveness.

7. Create Tax Incentives for Patriotic Employers

IAVA supports tax credits for the hiring of veterans, including National Guardsmen and Reservists, and those at risk for homelessness. IAVA recommends tax credits for employers who, when their reserve component employees are called to active duty for over 90 days, continue to support their employees by paying the difference between the servicemembers' civilian salary and their military wages.

8. Fight Homelessness among Veterans

50,000 new vouchers should be issued to house homeless veterans and the next president should end homelessness among veterans by the end of his first term.

9. Give Families Access to Mental Health Support

Military families should have improved access to mental health services, and active-duty families should be given unlimited access to mental health care, including family and marital counseling, on military bases. Families should also be given more effective training in the warning signs and effects of psychological injuries.

IAVA supports the creation of new VA programs to provide family and marital counseling for veterans receiving VA mental health treatment.

Congress should appropriate funding so that the military can formalize and coordinate the current volunteer family support services for the families of deployed servicemembers.

10. Repeal the Waiver of High-Deployment Pay

IAVA opposes the Secretary of Defense's use of national security waivers to avoid paying servicemembers "high deployment allowances" of $1,000/month. The high deployment allowance should be enforced, and should include servicemembers who are currently in a combat theatre and have served more than 365 days in a hazardous duty zone over the past two years (for active-duty troops) or over the past five years (for those in the reserve component)"

IMO, it's hard to quarrel with these!

Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2008 - S 2969

Rick Maze of Army Times writes:

Opening the nation’s 232 Vet Centers to active-duty and reserve component members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan so they could receive readjustment counseling might duplicate existing military programs, but it would still help combat veterans, according to a new analysis by a nonpartisan arm of Congress.

The Congressional Budget Office, tasked with putting a price tag on pending legislation, looked at counseling services as it estimated the cost of S 2969, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2008, passed by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

The committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, passed the health bill in June, but the full Senate has not yet considered it. In preparation for floor debate on veterans’ legislation, the budget office reviewed the bill, including the potential cost of expanding eligibility for Vet Centers to include people still in the military.

By CBO’s estimate, about 1 million people still in the military — active or reserve forces — are or have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Having all of them show up at Vet Centers would overwhelm a system that now serves about 165,000 people a year, but that is unlikely. CBO estimates that about one-third would seek mental health counseling and that only about 5 percent of those who seek counseling would use Vet Centers rather than the free on- and off-base counseling already provided by the Defense Department.

To come up with a cost, CBO assumed it would take abut $415 a year per person to provide counseling. After adjusting for inflation, this means that Vet Centers would need $24 million a year in extra funding over five years, a relatively small amount considering their current annual operating costs of $131 million."

Servicemember Homeownership Protections in Housing Bill

Several improvements in homeownership protection for servicemembers were included in the Fanne Mae/Freddy Mac Bailout Bill (HR 3221)

As summarized on govtrack.us:

H.R. 3221: Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008

Title II - Mortgage Foreclosure Protections for Servicemembers

Section 201 -
Sets forth a temporary increase, through December 31, 2008, in the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.
Section 202 -
Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a program to advise members of the Armed Forces who are returning from active duty abroad on actions to prevent or forestall mortgage foreclosures, including credit counseling and home mortgage counseling.
Section 203 -
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to increase from 90 days to nine months the period of: (1) protection against mortgage foreclosure proceedings; and (2) the stay of proceedings and adjustment of mortgage obligations. Sunsets such provisions December 31, 2010.
Revises the 6% interest rate limitation during the period of military service for debts incurred before military service whose interest rate did not exceed that percentage. Extends the 6% limitation for one year beyond the period of military service if the debt is a mortgage, trust deed, or other security in the nature of a mortgage.

More information: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3221

Thanks to the Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans of America blog for the head's up!

Veterans Voting Support Act (H.R. 6625)

H.R. 6625 would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies.

Recently the head of the VA blocked voter registration efforts on VA facilities, thereby hindering the right to vote of veterans hospitalized or permanently retired (see VHA Directive 2008-25) The reasons given for this are pure bluster; contrary to the lie in that publication, non-partisan voter registration drives do not violate the Hatch act. They can be conducted with dignity and in a non-partisan way, but it appears that the rights of those who defended our Constitution on the battlefield must again be defended in Congress because of the unilateral action of a political appointee afraid that his incompetence will result in veterans exercising the franchise in a way he doesn't like.

If this blogger sounds intemperate about this bill, it's because the actions of the political head of the VA are completely outrageous and the excuses given are insulting to the intelligence of every American. It is clear that someone at the VA is worried that people living in VA facilities might not be entirely happy about their treatment, and use the right to vote for which the suffered the injuries now putting them in the VA's power.

This is no time for partisanship; this is time to enforce the rights of veterans; it is time to act:

• Read the text of HR 6625
• Understand the Key Points about what the bill does:
  Require the VA to make voter registration services available at VA facilities in states that request it, in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act. These services include providing voter registration forms, answering questions on registration issues and assisting with submitting voter registration forms
  • Require the VA to assist veterans at facilities to receive and use absentee ballots if they choose to vote absentee
  • Allow non-partisan groups and election officials to provide voter information and registration information to veterans
  • Require an annual report to Congress from the Department of Veterans Affairs on progress related to this legislation
• Call Congress Now! (one phone call is worth many emails)
• • Learn More:
  • Comments by Veterans for Common Sense
  • Swords-to-Plowshares weighs in
  • Add YOUR links via the reply function below

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008

Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced the introduction of the Agent Orange Equity Act (HR 6562) with the stated goal to "restore{} equity to all Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange". According to the Press Release:

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from the ravages of Agent Orange exposure. In order to try to gain a better military vantage point, Agent Orange, which we now know is a highly toxic cocktail of herbicide agents, was widely sprayed for defoliation and crop destruction purposes all over the Vietnam War Battlefield, as well as nearby nations. It was also stored on U.S. vessels and used for vegetation clearing purposes around U.S. bases, landing zones and lines of communication.
Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove "foot on land" in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses afforded under current law. This issue has been the subject of much litigation and on May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld VA’s overly narrow interpretation. Congress clearly did not intend to exclude these veterans from compensation based on arbitrary geographic line drawing by VA.
The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 is intended to clarify the law so that every service member awarded the Vietnam Service medal, or who otherwise deployed to land, sea or air, in the Republic of Vietnam is fully covered by the comprehensive Agent Orange laws Congress passed in 1991. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have conclusively linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War and that are identified in current law. With this legislation, Congress will leave no doubt that the "Blue Water Navy" and all combat veterans of Vietnam are intended to be covered and compensated; thus ensuring that these veterans will receive the disability benefits they earned and deserve for exposure to Agent Orange.

Naturally, this has excited much discussion.
VNvets blogspot notes:

"The concept that Agent Orange, and its effects, stopped dead in its tracks at the shoreline is simply too illogical, and too ludicrous to accept. (MORE)

But VA Watchdog calls the act "Woefully Inadequate" because, as currently written, the act:

"...doesn't include those veterans exposed in nearby countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. He also forgets about other areas through which large quantities of Agent Orange were shipped (and used) such as Guam." (MORE)

Read for yourself, and follow the bill, here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6562

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Spread the news via digg

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Update June 27, 2009: the legislation has been reintroduced as Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (HR 2254, 111th Congress)

• Call your Congresscritter (the local office is probably best since the DC office gets swamped) and ask whether they have sponsored this bill and if not, why not
• Join the HR2254 Facebook Cause to stay current with the issue and tell others what you learned from contacting Congress. Technology makes it easier to get our representatives moving!

GI Bill Compromise Today!

From GI Bill 2008 (a project of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America):

"After overwhelming bipartisan votes for a new GI Bill in the House and Senate, the White House has reached a compromise with House leadership to pass a new GI bill, modeled after Rep. Mitchell and Rep. Brown-Waite’s H.R. 5740. This WWII style GI bill will renew the social contract with our men and women in uniform and their families. This new GI Bill will not only fully fund the cost of an education, it will also allow servicemembers who stay in the military the opportunity to transfer their education benefits to spouses and their children.

The bipartisan agreement reached by the House Majority and Minority Leaders and endorsed by the White House is just one more shining example of the broad bipartisan support for this new GI Bill.

The best news is that the basic benefit structure of HR 5740 is still completely intact; the only substantive changes involve transferability. The White House’s included proposal for a permanent transferability program breaks down like this:

• Six years of service, coupled with an additional service agreement of at least four years grants up to 36 months transferability. This 10-year commitment is similar to what our transferability amendment would have required for full 36-month transferability.
• Spouses would be eligible to receive transferred benefits after the service member has reached six years.
• To transfer to children, the service member would need to serve 10 years before transferring.
• The Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs may prescribe regulations changing the years of service required.
• There are no reporting requirements to Congress as our pilot program amendment had required.
• They have included language to create similar transferability programs in the three existing GI educational benefit programs as well: Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Select Reserve (1606), and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (1607).
• This transferability program has apparently been scored at $10 billion over 10 years, bringing the cost of the total package to $62 billion.
• There is no offset for the GI bill, tax or otherwise.

This is a big victory for veterans and their families. We hope to see an overwhelming show of bipartisan Congressional support when this bill comes up for a vote later today.

Thank you from Senator Chuck Hagel

IAVA received the following letter from Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, one of the original Senate sponsors of the new GI Bill (S.22): Click here to view the original (PDF):

Dear Paul and Friends, As you know, the Webb-Hagel GI Bill passed both Houses of Congress with overwhelming bi-partisan support. The Senate’s vote last week (75-22) was a big win for us. We could not have made this progress without your organization’s strong support. Thank you for your commitment and leadership in ensuring that we get this legislation passed and signed into law. This effort is not over. I will continue to do all I can to see the Webb-Hagel GI Bill become a reality for America’s deserving veterans. Thanks again to you and your colleagues for all your help. We’re getting close! Best wishes.

Learn More at http://www.gibill2008.org/news/

GI Bill 2008 progress

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (H.R. 5740), an attempt to give returning war veterans the same benefits of the original GI Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), passed on May 15, 2008. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America lists who voted for and against.
Now the action moves to the Senate, where the equivalent measure (S-22) has 57 co-sponsors.

• Text of S.22
• Similar information on Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.22:
  
• CBO Report: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/92xx/doc9212/s22.pdf
  
• For a list of Senate Supporters: http://www.gibill2008.org/state.html
  

Some War Veterans Find GI Bill Falls Short

"Decades after the GI Bill transformed American society after World War II, another generation of veterans is returning home -- more than 800,000 as of last summer. What they find is quite different from the comprehensive benefits that once covered all the costs of an education, from undergraduate straight through Harvard Law.... "

This Washington Post article has useful information on several current legislative proposals ...
read more | digg story

110th Congress Legislation: Homeless Veterans

In The House of Representatives

H.R. 2874, Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2007

Introduced by: Michael Michaud (D-ME)
Referred to: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
Action: Passed House July 30, 2007 (voice vote)

• Expands and extend authority for the Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), a joint DOL and VA initiative authorized by Congress to assist incarcerated veterans in their reentry to the community.
• Authorizes the VA to make financial assistance available to nonprofit organizations to facilitate their provision of supportive services for very low-income veterans in permanent housing.
• Provides for permanent authority for domiciliary services for homeless veterans and enhances the VA’s capacity to provide domiciliary care for women veterans.
• Reduces from 60 to 30 the number of days required for homeless veterans to be enrolled for and receive care in a VA program in order to be eligible for dental services.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2874
  
• CBO Report: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/84xx/doc8493/hr2874.pdf
  
• WashingtonWatch.com estimates this bill would cost the average individual $0.57

H.R. 3329, Homes for Heroes Act of 2007

Introduced by: Al Green (D-TX)
Referred to: House Committee on Financial Services
Action: House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity conducted a hearing on Affordable Housing needs of America’s Low Income Veterans on December 5, 2007; H.R. 3329 was discussed during the hearing.

• Would establish a supportive housing program for very low-income veterans, with housing assistance financed by HUD and supportive services financed by VA.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3329

H.R. 4161, Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act

Introduced by: Al Green (D-TX)
Referred to: House Financial Services and House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health
Action: In Committee

• Would authorize a pilot housing program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veterans’ families from falling into homelessness.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-4161
  
• Related Bill(s): The Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act (S. 2330)

In The Senate

S. 1084, Homes for Heroes Act of 2007

Introduced by: Barack Obama (D-IL)
Referred to: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Action: In Committee

• Would establish a supportive housing program for very low-income veterans, with housing assistance financed by HUD and supportive services financed by VA.
  

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1084
  

S. 1233, Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Act of 2007

Introduced by: Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Referred to: Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
Action: Reported out of Committee in July. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders

• Expands and extend authority for the Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), a joint DOL and VA initiative authorized by Congress to assist incarcerated veterans in their reentry to the community.
• Authorizes the VA to make financial assistance available to nonprofit organizations to facilitate their provision of supportive services for very low-income veterans in permanent housing.
• Provides for permanent authority for domiciliary services for homeless veterans and enhance the VA’s capacity to provide domiciliary care for women veterans.
• Repeals authority for adjustments to per diem payments to homeless veteran service centers for receipt of other sources of income.
• Makes grant funds available to maintain adequate staffing for services in homeless veteran service centers.
• Requires VA to conduct a demonstration program to identify veterans at risk of becoming homeless after discharge or separation from the armed services and provides referral and counseling services to help prevent such veterans from becoming homeless.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1233
• CBO Report: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billreport.xpd?bill=s110-1233&type=cbo
• Related Bill: The Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007 (H.R. 2199)

S. 2273, Enhanced Opportunities for Formerly Homeless Veterans Residing in Permanent Housing Act of 2007

Introduced by: Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Referred to: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
Action: In Committee

• To enhance the functioning and integration of formerly homeless veterans who reside in permanent housing.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2273
  

S. 2330, Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act

Introduced by: Barack Obama (D-IL)
Referred to: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Action: In Committee

• Would authorize a pilot housing program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veterans’ families from falling into homelessness.

More Information:

• Bill Status (GovTrack): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2330
• Related Bill: H.R. 4161: Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act

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Kudos to National Coalition for Homeless Veterans for this list, to which I've added some information