This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we're putting the finishing touches on the fall issue of American Veteran magazine. Thank you to each of the posts and departments that submitted content for consideration in Keeping Posted. Keep it coming. If we run out of space in the magazine, we're eager to share photos and stories on this blog.

The AMVETS National Legislative Department is also in the final stages of preparing the report from this summer's AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans. With recent legislation and policy changes within the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Legislative Directory Ray Kelley has had to adjust fire on the report and recommendations. This is good news, considering that some of the recommendations made at this summer's symposium have already resonated with leaders in Washington, such as calls for equity in care for female veterans and increased access to mental health counseling for veterans' family members. American Veteran Online will keep you posted on the publication date for the final symposium report.

AMVETS legislative team is also currently compiling the 2011 AMVETS Legislative Agenda, which will be available on the AMVETS National Web site by Veterans Day. AMVETS' top legislative priorities are based on critical issues within the veterans' community and the national resolutions as voted on by AMVETS members at each year's national convention. Last year's legislative agenda proved to be exceedingly popular among AMVETS leaders across the country and national policy leaders in Washington, which is why AMVETS is expanding on the concept for 2011. Check back on Veterans Day to learn about this year's top priorities and AMVETS' proposed solutions.

Next, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop is scheduled to leave for his Far East tour on Thursday. Hotop will visit with American troops stationed on the Korean peninsula, visit with leaders from the allied Republic of China (Taiwan) and their Veterans Affairs Commission, with a final stop scheduled at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, which AMVETS helped to finance and refurbish. We will bring you highlights of this annual tour.

As always, we're eager to hear from you, our readers. The recent posting on the malicious COLA hoax proved to be our most popular blog posting to date. Thank you for your comments. As a result, we will post the accurate COLA charts for 2011 this week. We will continue to bring you timely information on veterans' issues, so please keep the comments coming.

COLA Hoax: Benefits Will Not Double in 2011

Over the last few weeks, a chain e-mail started to circulate in military and veterans' circles, purporting that this year's increases in compensation for service-connected disabled veterans would nearly double. However, the e-mail is a hoax.

The e-mail included a mock version of a Congressional bill, H.R. 4667, which was rife with errors. The text included a chart outlining how the rates would supposedly increase "to bring monies in line to the America[sic] middle class." Here is a copy of the phony bill:

The four-page text contains multiple inconsistencies ranging from the type font to erroneous capitalization and syntax errors such as "disable veterans" and "be low." The bill also claims to be from the first session of the 111th Congress, which ended on Dec. 4, 2009.

Recently, Congress did pass a version of H.R. 4667 that will increase COLA rates for 2011 keeping with the standard percentage increases in Social Security taking effect on Dec. 1, 2010. To view a copy of the bill, which is now Public Law 111-247, Click Here.

The hoax bill was forwarded to AMVETS National Headquarters by an AMVETS National Service Officer in Georgia who was suspicious of the e-mail's content, after receiving it from a client. Other service officers soon started to receive similar inquiries into the validity of the e-mail.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley quickly discovered that the e-mail was fake and AMVETS National Service Department informed service officers in the field, providing each of them with the accurate bill to properly inform the veterans they serve.

Stars & Stripes Rumor Doctor also caught wind of the e-mail and published findings on the hoax.

AMVETS leaders supported the real version of H.R. 4667, which ensures veterans' service-connected compensation will increase for 2011, accounting for perpetual increases in the cost of living.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS Discusses Tinnitus with House Caucus

Yesterday afternoon, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will take part in the House Invisibile Wounds Caucus roundtable discussion on tinnitus, a common invisible wound of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan most commonly associated with ringing in the ears.

Many veterans who have served in the conflict suffer from the condition which results from continued exposure to loud noises and stress such as explosions and gun shots. Today, tinnitus is the most common service-connected condition for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

During the roundtable, hosted by Reps. Harry Teague (D-N.M.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), experts pointed out the common misconception that tinnitus is an inner ear condition, but it is in fact a neurological condition that can be exacerbated by conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kelley, who personally has dealt with the condition, described his experiences with tinnitus and expressed frustration that though it is his lowest-rated service-connected condition, it is the only one for which he has no viable treatment option.

"There's no cure," Kelley said. "Tinnitus is my lowest rating, yet it is something that I have no relief from and no strategies to deal with."

Today, VA spends more on service-connected compensation for tinnitus than it invests in research on treating the condition. Kelley and the other veterans advocates who participated in the roundtable called on Congress and VA to increase the funding for cutting-edge research on the condition in an effort to develop a viable treatment option.

The caucus plans to continue to the discussion on tinnitus and American Veteran will continue to follow the issue as it develops. Check back regularly for updates.

Live from Capitol Hill: House VA Subcommittee to Hear Testimony on Pending Legislation

This afternoon the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will host a hearing on pending veterans' legislation. To view live video from the hearing at 1 p.m., Click Here.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley submitted comments for the record and AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof will be on hand for the hearing.

To read Kelley's submitted remarks, Click Here.

This afternoon's hearing will focus on seven specific bills being considered by the subcommittee ranging from expansion of Chapter 30 benefits to improving veterans' employment resources and protecting homes for veterans and surviving spouses.

In Kelley's prepared testimony, AMVETS voiced its opposition to the proposed Chapter 30 G.I. Bill changes, H.R. 114, that would allow veterans to use the money toward the start-up costs of a small business. AMVETS believes that the change would set a bad precedent for all veterans' education benefits and redefine the role VA plays in distributing education funding.

AMVETS voiced its support for the other bills under discussion in the hearing, including H.R. 3685, which would establish a specific "Employment" menu for veterans on VA.gov simplifying access to VA's employment resources; H.R. 4635, which mandates mediation for veterans facing home foreclosure; H.R. 4664, which protects surviving spouses' military housing for one year after the combat death of their loved one, and H.R. 5360, which changes VA's strict definition of blindness to fall in line with the federal definition of legal blindness.

American Veteran will continue to follow developments out of the subcommittee, should these bills proceed in the House. Check back regularly for updates.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will remember D-Day, June 6, 1944, when allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in an effort to liberate Europe from Nazi oppression in WWII.

We will also highlight the AMVETS Riders national project, Camp Hope, and the recent visit by AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Patty Piening to the AMVETS Department of Maine.

On Thursday, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will also testify before the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on pending veterans' legislation. A live video link will be available on this blog the morning of the hearing.

American Veteran will also follow this week's House hearing when VA's Office of the Inspector General will testify on VA's problem-solving ability. AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof has been working closely with OIG on several critical issues, including the implementation of the VA's Uniform Mental Health Service Handbook and the continued implementation of new veterans' assistance dog policies.

We will also highlight the recent Congressional letter, orchestrated by Roof, which was sent to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, calling for an update on the VA's assessment of service dog benefits for today's wounded veterans. Roof secured 14 signatures from leaders on veterans' issues.

As always, please submit your story ideas and photos for American Veteran Online and the print edition of American Veteran magazine, and please let us know how we're doing.

Symposium Update: July 9th Deadline for Participants

This week AMVETS leaders continue to prepare for this summer's AMVETS 2010 Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place prior to the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention in Louisville, August 9-11, 2010. To register or to learn more about the symposium, Click Here.

AMVETS continues to confirm subject matter experts to lead discussions as part of the symposium and sign on key sponsors, and AMVETS National Headquarters continues to receive participant registrations for the three-day event.

To date, AMVETS Department of Ohio and Indiana AMVETS Post No. 99 lead the way in identifying participants, and AMVETS leaders encourage posts and departments to submit their registrations in early to ensure space, as AMVETS plans to host 100 veterans representing a broad spectrum of today's veterans community for this year's symposium.

Many AMVETS departments have chosen to wait until after the conclusion of state conventions to identify participants. With this in mind, AMVETS National Headquarters asks that all participants be identified and registered no later than Friday, July 9, 2010.

All participants' information should be submitted directly to AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley at rkelley@amvets.org.

AMVETS is hosting the 2010 symposium as a follow-up to the 2006 National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans, which helped to identify hundreds of shortfalls in meeting the needs of the newest generation of American veterans.

Many problems identified in 2006 have been remedied as a result of the symposium, however, new issues have arisen and many problems persist. With this in mind, AMVETS leaders decided to hold a follow-up to ensure continued progress.

American Veteran will keep you posted as we move closer to the symposium. We will also be on hand to cover the event in August. Check back regularly for updates.

(Images: Top: Official logo for the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans. Bottom: Veterans register for the 2006 National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans in Chicago.)

AMVETS Calls on Congress to Divert Wasteful Defense Spending to Help Ground Troops

This week, AMVETS submitted letters to Congress, calling on legislators to once-and-for-all put an end to the wasteful alternate engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Over the years, both the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration have called on Congress to pull funding form the program with the support of the nation's top military minds saying that the alternate engine was unnecessary.

This year, legislators have introduced an amendment to strip the program of its funding, diverting much of the funds to the National Guard & Reserve Equipment Account, which has faced persistent shortfalls throughout the Global War on Terrorism.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley has sent letters of support for the amendment to legislators playing a key role in the process, such as amendment cosponsor Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.).

AMVETS leaders from the Department of Pennsylvania have also become involved with the issue, calling on Congressmen Chris Carney and Patrick Murphy, two veterans of the current conflicts, to support dissolving the program. AMVETS leaders have also submitted "letters to the editor" calling for an end to the program.

AMVETS posts and departments interested in becoming involved with the issue should contact AMVETS National Legislative Department for more information.

For updates on this issue and the upcoming vote in the House, check back regularly with American Veteran.

(Image: Letter to Congressman Larson voicing AMVETS' support to diverting funds from the F-35 alternate engine to finance equipment for reserve troops.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will follow this week's House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable on veterans' unemployment.

This week, AMVETS leaders are hammering out details for the upcoming Symposium for 21st Century Veterans. AMVETS posts and departments interested in sending participants to this year's symposium are encouraged to send participants' names to AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley as soon as possible.

We will also post photos from the recent launch of the AMVETS Warrior Transition Workshops in Elkins Park, Pa., and the recent open house at Camp Hope in Missouri.

The spring issue of American Veteran magazine will also ship this week, and we will feature a run-down of this spring's magazine.

As always, we're eager to hear from our readers. Feel free to comment on all our stories and please send photos and stories of your own for us to post on the blog, or in the summer issue of American Veteran magazine.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to Testify on VA's STAR Program

This afternoon, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will appear before the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs to discuss VA's Systematic Technical Accuracy Review program, or STAR.

To view live video from the 2 p.m. hearing, Click Here.

While Kelley applauds VA's recent efforts to improve STAR, the next critical issue is what VA does with the data it collects. AMVETS suggests enhancing STAR to allow regional offices to easily identify error trends in claims-processing, encouraging the Veterans Benefits Administration, or VBA, to strive for accuracy in claims-processing, rather than timeliness, and VA's Office of the Inspector General must conduct periodic review of STAR to ensure a reasonable margin of error in the program's findings.

American Veteran will follow today's hearing. Check back later this afternoon for updates.

Microsoft Launches Initiative to Assist Veterans in the Workforce

Yesterday, Microsoft officially announced its new Elevating America's Veterans Initiative to assist veterans with developing the necessary technology skills to compete in today's job market.

Building upon the successful Elevate America program, Microsoft will bring together a coalition of public, private and non-profit organizations to provide veterans and their family members with the requisite skills and resources to succeed in the civilian work force.

“Our servicemen and women are amazing leaders, but to be able to compete in the tough job market when they return from duty, many of them need access to technology training,” said Pamela Passman, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Corporate Affairs, who announced the initiative at yesterday’s National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) forum in Washington. “We are bringing together organizations and companies that can combine their competencies and resources with ours to make the greatest possible impact to help veterans and their spouses.”

Passman went on to say that every sector of the economy should be open to veterans and that Microsoft hopes to leverage existing infrastructures within the veterans' community, such as veterans' service organizations, to ensure that Microsoft resources reach those looking to compete in today's job market.

As part of the initiative, Microsoft will contribute $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software over the next two years to assist members of the military and military spouses looking to reintegrate into the civilian work force.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, or IAVA, was the first veterans' group to officially partner with Microsoft on the day of the launch. Microsoft is also looking for other eligible veterans' service organizations, work force agencies, community colleges, and other non-profits to ensure access to these resources for veterans from coast to coast.

"Microsoft wants to use all of the tools at our disposal to bring forth the skilled individuals from today's veterans' community," said Bill Kamela, Microsoft's senior director for education and workforce law and corporate affairs.

Microsoft has acknowledged that veterans bring to bear skills that many employers seek, yet the unemployment situation remains dire for those transitioning from today's military.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, more than 180,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are currently unemployed and total veterans' unemployment far eclipses the nations' already-daunting civilian unemployment figures.

AMVETS leaders have spoken out on the veterans' unemployment crisis, calling on Congress to develop better reintegration programs for today's transitioning service members and pushing Congress to pass the landmark Post-9/11 G.I. Bill in 2008, offering unprecedented educational opportunities to today's veterans.

In 2010, two of AMVETS' top legislative priorities include reintegration and education, with AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof currently sitting on the advisory board for the Federal Government Veterans' Employment Initiative with the Department of Labor.

AMVETS has also launched new programs on the local and national levels to address job training and education ranging from AMVETS partnership with Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran, to the AMVETS Department of Ohio pilots Ohio Vets CAN and AMVETS Career Centers.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley applauded yesterday's Microsoft announcement.

"This is a critical step by Microsoft that will help veterans and their spouses launch viable 21st century careers--not just find jobs," said Kelley. "The Elevate America's Veterans Initiative is about making real connections and providing real resources to help our veterans excel, which is why we hope Microsoft will explore any and all resources to reach today's transitioning vets."

(Image: Microsoft's Pamela Passman announces the Elevate America's Veterans Initiative at yesterday's NAWB forum in Washington. Photo courtesy of Merritt Group and Microsoft.)

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to Testify on VA's Benefits Delivery on Discharge Program

This afternoon, AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley will appear before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs to discuss the VA's Benefits Delivery on Discharge program, or BDD.

A video feed from the hearing may be available in the early afternoon for the 2 p.m. hearing. Check back shortly for an update.

Kelley will appear alongside leaders from other veterans' organizations, including IAVA and Independent Budget partners DAV and VFW.

AMVETS supported VA's implementation of BDD as a way to streamline the VA claims process for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans. However, as Kelley points out, improvements can be made.

During his testimony, Kelley will focus on VA's need to expand its program, allowing for all VA Regional Offices to rate BDD claims, places where VA can improve communication and outreach to eligible service members, and ways in which VA can improve the paperwork process for claims across the board.

Kelley will also discuss the program's use of DoD, VA, and contracted assets and the need for better understanding of local Memorandums of Understanding to avoid duplicate exams.

AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof also submitted testimony for the record for this morning's full House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the relationship between medication and suicide.

This morning's hearing brings together top medical minds from VA and the private sector to discuss whether prescription practices for today's veterans have exacerbated the suicide issue.

To view live video from the hearing, which commences at 10 a.m., Click Here.

American Veteran will follow both of these hearings closely. Check back later for updates.

Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Update: VA Emergency Check Collections

VA announced this week that it will send a second round of notifications to veterans who took advantage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill emergency checks in the fall semester.

According to Military Times, VA plans to offer several repayment options for veterans, including possible debt waivers for those experiencing financial hardships.

AMVETS leaders were surprised to hear of VA's recoupment plan earlier this year and continue to call on VA to hold off on collections until all back pay issues from the fall semester have been sorted out.

AMVETS continues to receive e-mails and phone calls from concerned veterans who have received some payments, but for whom back pay from fall semester remains a critical missing piece.

VA recently told AMVETS that a high percentage of emergency checks may have been issued to ineligible active duty personnel around military installations, prompting VA to seek swift recovery of its funds. However, AMVETS leaders remain concerned that casting a wide net to recover bad checks could lead to more headaches for legitimate student-veterans.

"While we understand that VA wants to collect from folks who didn't deserve checks in the first place, many recipients of Chapter 33 are struggling to make ends meet because they haven't received their back pay from the fall," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "VA's focus should be on ensuring that this money is provided to these veterans before adding another stress by insisting on recoupment of the emergency payment."

AMVETS originally suggested a similar emergency payment program to VA in late August, when reports of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill delays started to surface. VA implemented its emergency check program in October with the intent of recovering check funds quickly once the backlog was sorted out.

AMVETS and Independent Budget Partners Testify on VA Budget for FY2011

Yesterday AMVETS and its partner organizations on the Independent Budget testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on the proposed FY2011 VA budget. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki also appeared before the committee to answer questions on the Administration's budget proposal, which was released on Monday. To view video from yesterday's hearing, Click Here.

In his testimony, Shinseki said his goals for VA were to eliminate the claims backlog, improve access, and end homelessness. To read Shinseki's prepared remarks, Click Here.

However, with new presumptions for Agent Orange conditions and a continued influx of complex Iraq and Afghanistan-related benefits claims, VA admitted that the lag time for VA claims may worsen in the short term. VA's goal is to reduce the wait time to 125 days by 2012, completely eliminating the backlog by 2015.

When asked about why claims were more complex, Shinseki deferred to Acting Undersecretary of Benefits Michael Walcoff who explained that successful outreach efforts have made veterans more keenly aware of their entitlements.

"We used to see only two or three issues on each claim, now we're seeing more than four," said Walcoff. "We've had better outreach to veterans and the service organizations are doing a good job of informing veterans--which are all good things--but it adds to the complexity of the work."

In an effort to improve the backlog, VA has asked for an additional 4,000 full time claims processors. However, AMVETS and the nation's other leading VSOs believe that simply more staff will not be enough to solve the problem. AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley said many options remain on the table to help streamline an antiquated paper-based process.

AMVETS has also proposed shifting VA evaluation criteria to focus on quality of output, rather than quantity, which could significantly reduce the number of appeals in the system.

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) discussed a proposal for VA similar to an IRS auditing system to help deliver benefits in a more timely manner--a proposal that has raised significant concerns for AMVETS and other leading VSOs.

DAV Assistant National Legislative Director John Wilson briefly discussed the backlog during his testimony on behalf of the IB partners.

This is the 24th year that AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and VFW have partnered to author the IB, which Filner called his Bible when considering how to properly fund VA each fiscal year.

The FY2011 IB is the first to include advance appropriations for the following fiscal year since President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 into law last October. The IB partners called on Congress to provide $54.2 billion as a baseline for VA health care in FY2012.

Kelley testified on the VA's National Cemetery Administration and its funding needs on behalf of the IB, applauding NCA for its efficiency. NCA recently expanded its eligibility threshold, affording more veterans with the opportunity to be buried in national cemeteries. To read Kelley's prepared remarks, Click Here.

American Veteran will continue to follow the VA budget process for FY2011. Check back regularly for updates.

(Photos: Top: VA Secretary Shinseki discusses the proposed VA budget before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Bottom: Kelley testifies on the Independent Budget alongside VFW's Eric Hillman, DAV's John Wilson, and PVA's Carl Blake. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

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.

AMVETS Outlines Legislative Agenda for House Veterans Affairs Committee

This morning, AMVETS National Legislative Directory Ray Kelley laid out AMVETS legislative agenda for 2010 during the House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable with 40 of the nation's top veterans' organizations.

During his brief testimony, Kelley explained that AMVETS will work with leaders in Congress and other top VSOs to overhaul the VA claims process, bring equity to the current chapters of the G.I. Bill, implement comprehensive reintegration programs for today's returning veterans, improve services to rural and remote-located veterans, and provide improved health care services to meet the unique needs of female veterans.

To download a copy of the AMVETS 2010 legislative agenda, Click Here.

Thirty-three of the 40 assembled organizations outlined remedying the VA claims backlog as their top priority, citing long wait times, antiquated processes and inequities in reviews as primary causes.

During the question and answer portion of the roundtable, Kelley explained that 22 percent of claims caught up in the backlog of nearly one million claims and appeals are the result of inaccurate or incomplete paperwork, pointing to a need for improved accuracy in claims-filing, rather than focusing simply on speed.

Other central topics of discussion included updating the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to include members of the National Guard activated under Title 32 orders, inequities in survivor's benefits, VA procurement issues, and veterans' unemployment.

Committee Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) asked each VSO to consider ways to improve mechanics of implementation once Congress passes legislation.

Congressman Tim Walz (D-Minn.) also took the opportunity to discuss his legislation that would extend veterans' status to National Guard and Reserve retirees who did not serve the requisite time overseas during their military careers.

(Photos: Top: Forty of the nation's top veterans' organizations joined the House Committee on Veterans Affairs round table on veterans' issues this morning in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Bottom: AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley outlines AMVETS' legislative agenda at this morning's roundtable. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS Joins House Roundtable on Veterans' Issues

This morning, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will be on Capitol Hill to participate in a House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable discussion with many of the nation's other top veterans' organizations. To view a list of the organizations participating in the discussion, Click Here.

Kelley will discuss AMVETS' legislative priorities for 2010, which were first published on Veterans Day in November. To download a copy of the 2010 AMVETS legislative priorities, Click Here.

American Veteran will be on hand to cover the roundtable. Check back later today for photos and details on the morning's discussion.

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.

Department of Education Budget to Include Funding for Student-Vets' Centers

This morning, AMVETS received confirmation from Congressional staffers that the FY2010 budget for the Department of Education will included funding for federal grants to colleges and universities to establish student-veterans' "centers of excellence."

Two summers ago, AMVETS worked with Congress to include a provision in the Higher Education Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 that would commission the grants, however, actual funding for the grants remained a major question throughout this year's fiscal budget process.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley worked with leaders in the House to include $8 million in funding for student-vets' centers in their version of the bill, but the provision was absent in the original Senate bill.

Once the budget went to conference, both chambers compromised to include $6 million in funding for a pilot program for these student-vets' centers.

AMVETS anticipates that the conference budget should easily pass both the House and Senate, and that President Obama should sign it into law shortly.

Federal funding for student-veterans' "centers of excellence" has been a top priority for AMVETS since the passage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. While AMVETS viewed the new G.I. Bill as an integral tool in ensuring student-veterans had an opportunity to go to college, AMVETS believed that student-veterans' centers would ensure that today's veterans would have all the tools necessary to succeed in the classroom.

AMVETS continues to work with Cleveland State University Professor John Schupp, founder of the Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran (SERV) program as a model for campuses to meet the needs of their student-veterans.

AMVETS and Schupp were the visionaries behind the original legislation in Congress to commission these grants in an effort to ensure college campuses were prepared for the influx of veterans seeking to use their education entitlements.

Once Department of Education clarifies the grant process, AMVETS will work with Schupp and other student-veterans' advocates around the country--such as John Powers at the University of Rhode Island--to ensure campuses have the tools necessary to receive federal grants and establish quality student-veterans' centers.

Stars & Stripes reports on student-vets' centers.

(Photos: Top: Ray Kelley speaks with John Schupp between meetings on Capitol Hill, advocating for student-veterans' "centers of excellence. Photo by Ryan Gallucci. Bottom: Student-veterans enrolled in Schupp's SERV program pose for a photo with the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, Eric D. Fingerhunt, who visited Cleveland State University to see the merits of SERV first-hand. Photo courtesy of SERV.)

President to Outline New Way Forward in Afghanistan

Tonight, President Barack Obama will outline his new plan for Afghanistan in a prime time address to America. The address, which will take place at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point starts at 8 p.m. eastern time and will be broadcast on most major television networks.

The Pentagon has indicated that after months of deliberations that the President has decided to send more than 34,000 additional U.S. troops to quell the continuing violence in Afghanistan. The first new unit will consist of Marines who are scheduled to be in-country before Christmas.

AMVETS leaders have supported American action in Afghanistan since 2001 and have urged military leaders to do everything in their power to assure American military success in the region.

However, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley cautioned that should the Pentagon continue to escalate America's presence overseas, Congress and the Administration must ensure they fund every aspect of the war, including the war-fighters.

"With more of our men and women going into harm's way, it's our responsibility to ensure they're properly cared for when they return home," Kelley said. "This means increased funding for VA and swift passage of the new VA and defense budgets, which are now two months late."

The President has heard sharp criticism over Afghanistan from both sides of the aisle, with liberals urging the President to cut off further escalation and conservatives urging the President to take decisive action to ensure the success of our men and women in uniform.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that the President hopes to assure his critics that the decision to send more American troops into harm's way eight years into the conflict is the prudent and responsible decision to preserve American interests in the volatile region.

The additional troops are intended to flush out members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda sympathizers in an effort to stabilize Afghanistan and defeat those responsible for attacking the United States on 9/11.

(Photo: U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment patrol outside Now Zad, Afghanistan in Nov. 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel M. Moman, released.)

Sen. Coburn Lifts Hold; Senate Passes Monumental Veterans' Caregiver Bill

For the last few weeks, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) had a hold on the Senate version of a bill (S. 1963) that would establish monthly living stipends, travel reimbursement, and health care benefits for family caregivers of severely disabled veterans. Yesterday, Coburn lifted his hold and tonight the Senate passed the bipartisan bill 98-0.

Coburn put a hold on the bill after the Congressional Budget Office determined that it could cost up to $4 billion over the next four years to implement the new programs without an offset in other government spending.

AMVETS testified in support of the companion family caregiver bill in the House, calling it a critical step in caring for today's war-fighters.

Though AMVETS leaders were happy to see Coburn lift his hold, AMVETS still disagrees with the CBO assessment that the family caregiver plan represented a completely "new" cost of war.

"CBO looked at the family caregiver program as if no other program existed to care for our severely injured veterans," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "However, the family caregiver plan is an innovative and more efficient way to offer the kind of care already available through VA. Over time, the family caregiver plan should only open up more resources to veterans and their families."

In addition to the family caregiver plan, the bill includes increased funding for veterans' health care facilities, improved care for female veterans, and expanded programs for rural and remote veterans.

As as cost-controlling measure, the Senate version of the family caregiver plan limits the program to OIF/OEF-era veterans.

Versions of the landmark bill have now passed in both the House and the Senate. Now the bills will go to committee before Congress votes on a final version. Check back with American Veteran Online for updates, as we inch closer to a groundbreaking family caregiver plan for today's veterans.

(Photo: Stock image of the U.S. Capitol from spring 2009 by Ryan Gallucci.)