VFW Washington Weekly

May 21, 2010

 

In This Issue:

1. Defense Bill Update

2. Senate VA Committee Hearing

3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings

4. Mojave Desert Memorial Update

 

1. Defense Bill Update: The House Armed Services Committee marked-up the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill, HR 5136, provides $760 billion for DOD programs and is the primary vehicle for all military activities, to include quality of life improvements for service members and their families.  It is scheduled for a floor vote next week.  Some of the VFW-supported provisions include:

·      A 1.9-percent military pay raise.

·      Increased hostile fire pay and family separation allowances.

·      Authorizes the most comprehensive legislative package ever to address Military Sexual Trauma.

·      A pilot program to provide career counseling to military spouses.

For more details, go to: http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/HASCFY11NDAA051910.pdf.

 

2. Senate VA Committee Hearing: The VFW testified before the Senate VA Committee on a wide-range of bills designed to address the changing needs of veterans.  Of particular interest was a comprehensive employment bill sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).  VFW was instrumental in helping to draft portions of the bill, which will improve training, provide placement services and increase small business opportunities for veterans, to help ease unemployment for those hardest hit - OEF and OIF veterans. 

For more on the bill or the recorded hearing, visit the Senate VA Committee website at http://veterans.senate.gov/.

To send a letter to your senators to encourage their support of S. 3234, visit the VFW website at http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=15058441.

 

3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings:

·      Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations discussed VA's IT security infrastructure. The GAO lists VA as having one of the lowest federal ratings in security information safety. Members of the committee stressed the need for major improvements and centralization of IT to protect the millions of records housed within the VBA and VHA.

·      Thursday, the Subcommittees on Health, and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, held a joint hearing on Military Sexual Trauma. The committees asked witnesses, including service members who have experienced MST themselves, to discuss and offer ways in which the VBA, VHA, and DOD can better address the needs of veterans impacted by MST, and to identify ways to better prevent, treat and properly compensate them. Panelists reported that victims must have confidence they can report incidents (90% go unreported) without repercussions or retribution. One witness said "DOD's failure to protect our service members ought to be the subject for a separate set of hearings, and Congress should consider a third party oversight committee of sexual assault and harassment cases." The committee plans to have more hearings on the issue in the future.

·      Thursday, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity discussed VA's successful Home Loan Guaranty program, which Congress has improved over the past two years. Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) focused on several issues of concern to veterans purchasing or refinancing homes in today's uncertain housing market. Items discussed included increasing the maximum loan guarantee and expanding the adjustable rate mortgage program.

For more information on all the subcommittee hearings, visit the House VA Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/.

 

4. Mojave Desert Memorial Update: The National Park Service will remove a replica of the cross-shaped Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial that someone installed Wednesday night atop Sunrise Rock because it is not the original, which was stolen May 9.  Good intentions, yes, but whoever installed the replacement memorial broke the law in an attempt to correct someone else who broke the law.  Had it been the original memorial, the Park Service would have allowed it to stay, though covered up by a court-ordered plywood box until the District Court of California revisits Salazar v. Buono.  An exact replica is ready to be installed by Henry Sandoz, who has been the memorial's caretaker since 1984, but only if the original memorial is not recovered and the district court authorizes the land swap with the VFW.  Reward money now stands at $125,000 for information that leads directly to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.  The National Park Service Tip Line is 1-760-252-6120.