LZ:DC: Highlights from Congressional Silver Helmet

Last week, AMVETS presented Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., with the 2011 Congressional Silver Helmet Award during a reception in the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill.

To learn more about Dr. Roe's award in AMVETS' official announcement, Click Here.

Video of the award presentation can be viewed below. It is also available on the AMVETS National YouTube page.



Roe, who also served in the U.S. Army as a surgeon, was honored for his sustained commitment to caring for American service members, veterans and their loved ones, which has spanned his careers as both a soldier and a statesman.

Here are photo highlights from last week's Silver Helmet presentation.

(Image: AMVETS family members gather in the Cannon Caucus Room to honor 2011 Congressional Silver Helmet Award recipient, Rep. Phil Roe, on March 17.)


(Image: AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop reads the Silver Helmet citation for Dr. Roe during last week's reception, while AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Dee Kreiling and AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King applaud.)

(Image: Dr. Roe accepts the Silver Helmet Award from Cmdr. Hotop, while Kreiling and King look on.)





(Image: Dr. Roe explains what the Silver Helmet Award means to him during the reception.)





(Top Image: AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Dee Kreiling, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop, and AMVETS Past National Commander Bill Kilgore pose for a photo alongside 2011 Congressional Silver Helmet Award recipient Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., during last week's reception honoring the Congressman in the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill. All photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

AMVETS Calls on Shinseki for Department-wide Service Dog Policy

Yesterday, AMVETS Executive Director Jim King sent a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, asking the secretary to close a critical health care loophole for veterans utilizing service dogs.

Last year, through extensive work advocating for veterans who use service dogs as prosthetic devices for physical injuries, AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof discovered that VA medical centers around the country are not only exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, but that each medical center was allowed to dictate its own policies toward service dogs.

In two instances, AMVETS members who needed the assistance of their service dogs to make it to their VA appointments were denied care based on the antiquated VA policy that only provides concessions for seeing-eye or guide dogs in VA facilities.

VA already acknowledges that service dogs certified through a doctor's authority to assist with physical disabilities are to be considered prosthetic devices, allowing veterans to receive compensation for regular maintenance.

Last year, AMVETS successfully worked with VA to start properly processing claims for these prosthetic benefits when Roof discovered the access loophole.

AMVETS has attempted to work through proper VA channels to remedy this oft-overlooked policy to ensure that veterans who need their service dogs would not be turned away for care, but Roof said that proper channels have not yielded results, which is why King decided to bring the issue to the attention of Shinseki.

AMVETS is also rallying support for the issue within veterans' advocacy circles, with many partners on The Military Coalition volunteering to send similar letters in the coming days.

AMVETS leaders encourage concerned veterans around the country to use King's letter as a model and send letters of their own to VA and to representatives in Congress.

"A strong, unified voice from the veterans community is the only way to effect positive change," said Roof. "This is the best way for our nation's leaders to see how serious these issues are."

American Veteran will continue to follow the issue closely, and Roof said she will continue to push for equal access for all veterans utilizing VA-sanctioned prosthetic devices like service dogs.

(Image: Official letter from AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King asking VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to close a loophole for veterans' service dogs.)

President to Sign Historic Veterans' Caregiver Bill

This afternoon, AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King will join President Barack Obama and the nation's other leading veterans' organizations at the White House for the signing of the historic Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act.

The landmark bill, for which AMVETS has advocated for more than a year, establishes a new program for VA which will finally offer training, living stipends and respite care for veterans' family members tasked with caring for their wounded loved one.

The bill also includes new provisions providing improved care for women veterans and rural/remote veterans--two of AMVETS' top legislative priorities for 2010.

Though the bill represents a compromise between the House and Senate, only offering caregiver assistance for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans, AMVETS leaders see the bill as a critical first step in ensuring comparable care for all generations of veterans.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley said AMVETS will continue to push for equity in the new benefit, but that the current caregiver plan represents a significant step in improving the quality and effectiveness of care that VA offers to today's wounded warriors.

As always, please let us know what you think of today's historic signing and the continued fight to improve care for America's veterans.

(Video: President Barack Obama signs the landmark veterans' caregiver bill at the White House. Official White House video, released.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will be following VA's announcement of its FY2011 budget proposal, which takes place at VA headquarters in Washington this afternoon. AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King and National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will be on hand for the announcement. VA will formally present its budget proposal to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on Thursday.

AMVETS is a partner in the Independent Budget, a comprehensive line-by-line analysis, compiled by the nation's top VSOs, explaining how the veterans' community believes Congress should allocate funds for VA each fiscal year. To learn more about the IB, Click Here.

American Veteran will also be following several key hearings in the House and Senate this week, such as tomorrow's hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee where Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen will announce their plans for addressing the military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

In the wake of last week's State of the Union address, AMVETS clarified its stance on the issue, as voted on by AMVETS membership.

American Veteran will also follow Wednesday's hearing in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs where VA and Humana will discuss the Project HERO pilot program, which was designed to offer critical health care services to rural and remote veterans consistent with VA standards. AMVETS has made rural and remote veterans' access to care a top legislative priority for 2010.

Next, today is Feb. 1--the day VA claimed all Post-9/11 G.I. Bill requests would be processed, should all necessary paperwork be received by Jan. 19. AMVETS leaders will be following the situation closely, though initial reports suggest that veterans are already receiving payment for their spring semester living stipends. If you hear otherwise, please let us know by posting on this blog or contacting the AMVETS National Communications Department via email.

AMVETS will also participate in meetings this week with the Department of Labor to further discuss the Veterans Employment Initiative, which is designed to help veterans enter the federal workforce. AMVETS is one of the few VSOs working directly with the Department of Labor to ensure the program succeeds.

As always, we're eager to hear from our readers and from AMVETS posts and departments around the country. Last week, we posted our first Keeping Posted Online story. We're eager to share as much as we can down the road. Check back regularly for updates.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we'll cover the 2010 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference, taking place at the Capitol Hill Hyatt Regency in Washington. To view the conference agenda, Click Here.

AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof and other AMVETS leaders will be on hand throughout the week to participate in the meetings. VA released disturbing statistics on veterans' suicide at the conference this morning. To read the Associated Press report on increased suicides, Click Here.

AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin has made military mental health and suicide-prevention a top priority for his term.

AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley and SERV Director John Schupp have meetings scheduled throughout the week to discuss expanding the SERV program, in the wake of the recent passage of federal grants for student-veterans' centers of excellence on college campuses. American Veteran will continue to keep you posted on Kelly and Schupp's progress.

AMVETS Executive Director Jim King and Kelly are also working with Independent Budget partners on how to discuss advance appropriations in the upcoming Independent Budget for the VA in Fy2011.

This week, AMVETS leaders will also continue hammering out details for this summer's AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans taking place at this summer's national convention in Louisville. Check back regularly for updates on the symposium as we march closer to the spring meeting of the AMVETS National Executive Committee.

Over the weekend, King was in San Antonio to attend the Army East-West football game, the annual high school All-American game featuring the best young players from around the country. While in San Antonio, King took the time to tour Brooke Army Medical Center and to visit with wounded troops at the military's top burn facility.

Finally, the editorial staff will be sending the winter issue of American Veteran magazine down range at the end of the week, so any last minute Keeping Posted submissions should be sent to the communications department no later than close-of-business on Wednesday.

As always, we're eager to hear what you think.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will wrap up our coverage on Capitol Hill, as Congress prepares to break for a holiday district work period.

AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will be on hand for Wednesday's hearing before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, discussing VA contracting. AMVETS submitted testimony for the record.

AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin and AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King will also be on hand at the White House throughout the week. More details to come.

The deadline for the winter issue of American Veteran is fast approaching. We plan to have the latest issue prepared prior to the Christmas break. If you would like us to include your letters or your photos in Keeping Posted, please submit content no later than Friday, Dec. 18.

AMVETS Fall NEC Recap

On Saturday, Dec. 5, AMVETS National Executive Committee convened for its fall meeting at the BWI Hilton in Linthicum, Md. AMVETS leaders from all 38 departments around the country were on hand to report the business of the organization and discuss the way forward in serving the veterans' community.

AMVETS Past National Commander Bill Boetcher and National Finance Director Velma Hart discussed the second annual AMVETS leadership conference, which will take place January 22-24, 2010 at Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Boetcher and Hart encouraged interested participants to register as soon as possible, since space will fill quickly. To read the conference agenda and to find registration information, Click Here.

The AMVETS National Conference Committee also announced rule changes to this summer's AMVETS National Convention in Louisville, Ky. This year, all AMVETS members who plan to attend activities of AMVETS subordinate organizations at the convention must also register to participate as AMVETS members at the convention.

National Sons of AMVETS Commander David Spencer also joined Cmdr. Miskulin and AMVETS National Executive Director Jim King, who officially signed the paperwork commissioning the new Sons of AMVETS Department of Tennessee.

AMVETS Riders National President Vincent "Dutch" Stivason announced that the AMVETS Riders enjoyed another successful year of growth in posts and departments around the country.

On the NEC floor, AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin presented a check for $10,000 to the winner of the first AMVETS National Sweepstakes, Henson Bedeau of Severn, Md.

With the help of AMVETS' partners at the University of Phoenix, AMVETS also presented Sharon Adger with one of this year's $4,000 scholarships to attend the university. University of Phoenix awarded 50 scholarships to veterans and their dependents through the AMVETS partnership in 2009.

AMVETS partner Choice Hotels also introduced a new rewards program exclusively for AMVETS members to earn additional travel discounts and credits while staying at any Choice Hotels location.

(Photos: Top: The floor at the AMVETS fall NEC meeting. Middle: AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin presents AMVETS sweepstakes winner Henson Bedeau with his check for $10,000. Bottom: University of Phoenix Military Liaison Manager Kristen Nolan and Cmdr. Miskulin present Sharon Adger with her $4,000 scholarship. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Agent Orange Announcement a Long Time Coming for Vietnam Veterans

This morning, VA announced it is extending service-connected presumptions for Agent Orange exposure to cover Parkinson's Disease, ischemic heart disease, B cell leukemias, and hairy cell leukemia. VA's announcement is available on the AMVETS National Web site.

AMVETS, which represents thousands of Vietnam veterans around the country, still views the Agent Orange debacle as a major blemish for the VA and DoD, but AMVETS leaders say they are proud to see a fellow Vietnam veteran, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, taking the issue seriously.

"It wasn't until 1991 that the government finally recognized the horrific effects of Agent Orange on our veterans," said AMVETS Executive Director Jim King, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam. "At this point, it was already far too late for some. But as more information has become public about the dangerous defoliant over the years, the veterans' community has made strides in care for those who were exposed. With today's announcement, Secretary Shinseki further demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that Vietnam veterans receive the care and compensation they deserve for the horrible conditions that resulted from Agent Orange exposure."

Today, 15 health conditions are presumed to be linked to Agent Orange exposure, meaning that Vietnam veterans suffering from these conditions are entitled to service-connected compensation and health care through VA without needing to provide additional evidence--an often daunting task for veterans so far removed from a conflict.

AMVETS leaders, recognizing similarities between Agent Orange and several potential maladies facing today's veterans, are keeping a close eye on issues such as burn pit-related respiratory issues, certain cancers, and traumatic brain injuries to ensure that today's veterans do not need to wait decades for proper care and acknowledgment.

Maryland AMVETS recognize Sgt. Shaft

On Saturday, April 4, AMVETS Department of Maryland honored Washington Times columnist and blinded veterans' advocate John Fales with its prestigious PNC A. Leo Anderson Memorial Free State Award of Excellence.

Fales, better know by his pen name "Sgt. Shaft," accepted the award during a special ceremony at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. AVMETS National Commander John C. Hapner and National Executive Director Jim King were on hand to congratulate Fales on receiving AMVETS Department of Maryland's highest award.

Fales, a native of Silver Spring, Md., served in the U.S. Marine Corps for tours in Vietnam and Beirut before losing his eye sight while on active duty. Fales became a vocal advocate for wounded and disabled veterans, and in 1985 founded the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, one of the nation's leading advocates for sensory-disabled veterans.

Today, Fales is an award-winning advice columnist with the Washington Times, and his work has been syndicated in a variety of print and online media across the country, including one of the nation's leading online military forums, Military.com.

AMVETS Department of Maryland Commander Michael P. Mahoney presented Fales with the award. Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs and State Adjutant General James Adkins also said a few words on the contributions of Fales to the veterans' community.

(Photo: AMVETS Department of Maryland Commander Michael P. Mahoney presents Fales with the PNC A. Leo Anderson Memorial Free State Award of Excellence, while master of ceremonies and AMVETS Life Member Clarence Bacon looks on. Photo courtesy of AMVETS Department of Maryland.)

White House Backs Down on Third-Party Billing

During a meeting with leaders from the nation's top veterans' service organizations, including AMVETS, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the White House had scrapped the idea of billing veterans' third-party insurance companies for service-connected health care.

Earlier in the afternoon, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel once again hosted veterans' leaders to discuss the Administration's controversial proposal.

"The meeting didn't last all of 15 minutes," said AMVETS Executive Director Jim King. "We walked in unified against the policy, we said our piece, and it was clear that [Emanuel] understood."

AMVETS was happy to hear that the White House reconsidered its proposal, and King said that he's prepared to move forward with the Administration on veterans' issues.

Immediately following Monday's meeting with President Obama, AMVETS started work on a proposal that would allow the VA to collect necessary third-party funding without placing a new burden on service-connected veterans. AMVETS stands ready to present this option to the White House in the coming weeks.

(Photo: On a Saturday in January, President Barack Obama and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met with the National Economic Council and the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the FY2010 federal budget. White House photo by Pete Souza, released.)

PS - King also mentioned that during the meeting someone chimed in with: "When John Stewart and Rush Limbaugh agree on something, it's probably a good indication of how the country feels." To view Rush Limbaugh's comments, Click Here. John Stewart's feelings on the issue can be viewed here:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

That Can't Be Right - Veterans' Health Insurance

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

AMVETS Speaks with President Obama on Third-Party Billing

On Monday afternoon, AMVETS Executive Director Jim King had the opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama and leaders from the nation's leading veterans' service organizations to discuss the controversial third-party billing proposal for service-connected veterans.

AMVETS was encouraged by the President's commitment to not implement the new policy outright, should it have negative effects on veterans. However, Obama and the White House staff would not entirely rule out a policy change, and asked for help from veterans' leadership to come up with alternative proposals to fund the VA internally.

On the surface, the proposal seems to be a reasonable way from the VA to bring in extra income, since the White House has assured the veterans' community that the VA would not directly bill veterans for any service-connected medical services. However, when the cost is passed along to a third-party insurance company, AMVETS is concerned that the proposal could have serious unintended consequences for veterans, making many uninsurable in the private sector.

King said that veterans would quickly reach their third-party caps for health care within a few short visits to treat service-connected conditions. Veterans could also face drastic increases in premiums, or lose third-party coverage altogether, since they will become a greater liability for private insurance companies. The proposal could also have detrimental effects on veteran employers and business owners, driving up the costs of health care for veteran-friendly businesses.

King suggested to the White House that the VA step up its current third-party billing for non-service-connected conditions to help recoup some vital income. On Thursday, AMVETS legislative team will have the opportunity to present White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel with alternatives to the third-party billing proposal.

AMVETS remains vehemently opposed to the controversial policy, and AMVETS' leaders will continue to work with the White House and the VA to ensure that it does not become a reality. During recent testimony on Capitol Hill, AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley and the Independent Budget partners voiced their fervent opposition to the proposal. Their concerns resonated with both Congressional committees on veterans' affairs, as both committee chairmen, Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Bob Filner, indicated that they would not approve a VA budget proposal that included third-party billing for service-connected veterans.

American Veteran magazine will be following this story closely. Check back regularly with the blog for updates.

-Ryan

(Photo: President Barack Obama visits with troops at the Pentagon in January for the first time as Commander-in-Chief. DoD photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley, released.)