LZ:DC: National Commander Hotop Delivers Legislative Agenda to Congress

This morning AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop appeared before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees to deliver AMVETS' legislative agenda for 2011.

To view a full list of witnesses, read their prepared remarks and to watch the hearing in its entirety, Click Here.

Cmdr. Hotop's testimony and AMVETS Legislative Priorities for 2011 were guided by three sources, AMVETS adopted resolutions from the 2010 AMVETS National Convention, findings from the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, and the concerns of AMVETS members.

In his prepared remarks, Hotop discussed each of AMVETS' top legislative priorities in depth, ranging from improving services for rural veterans, improving services for female service members and veterans, improving screening and treatment for polytraumatic blast injuries, modernizing VA's prosthetic services, ending the claims backlog, and providing education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for veterans.

Given the time constraints, Hotop's remarks focused on meeting the needs of underserved veterans--particularly women veterans, whose ranks continue to grow; and rural/remote veterans, who comprise nearly half of today's veterans who utilize VA services.

Hotop also took the time to praise VA's efforts to end homelessness within five years, but also acknowledged that VA needs to implement more innovative programs to stop homelessness before it starts.

"We must go to the veterans, not simply sit back and hope the veterans come to us," Hotop said. "This is not a handout. This is providing the entitlements and care they have earned through their service to our country."

The AMVETS national commander's testimony before Congress is an annual tradition around which the AMVETS family of organizations converges on Washington, D.C., to advocate for veterans' causes. This year's testimony is part of the inaugural "LZ:DC," where AMVETS has landed on Capitol Hill for a week of advocacy on behalf of American veterans and their loved ones.

American Veteran is following the week's events closely. Check back regularly for updates from the LZ.

(Images: Top: AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop waits to testify before the Congressional Veterans Affairs committees. Middle: Cmdr. Hotop delivers AMVETS' legislative priorities to Congress while AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof looks on. Photos by Jay Agg. Middle, left: AMVETS members from across the country joined Cmdr. Hotop for his testimony. Bottom, right: Roof discusses Sons of AMVETS legislative visits as part of LZ:DC with a member of the Sons of AMVETS prior to the hearing. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Recap of Last Week on Capitol Hill

Last week, AMVETS was out in force on Capitol, testifying before the Senate, meeting with House minority leadership and submitting remarks on veterans' employment assistance.

On Wednesday morning, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof appeared alongside the Independent Budget partners--Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars--and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to discuss the fiscal year 2012 VA budget proposal.

It was the first full committee hearing to be chaired by newly-selected Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash. Murray is the first woman to hold the powerful position on the committee.

On the first panel of the hearing, Murray and Ranking Member Richard Burr, R-S.C., expressed bipartisan disappointment with VA over the proposed implementation of the new VA caregiver benefits, saying that the Wade family, which advocated for the critical services in the bill, would not be eligible under the current threshold.

"It's important to remember why we wrote [caregiver]," said Murray. "The narrow draft excludes many of the people we believed it would cover."

Burr pointed out that the intention of the bill was to ensure that institutional care was not the only option for severely-wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, but under VA's issued guidelines, institutional care was now the threshold to qualify for the benefit.

The committee called on Secretary Shinseki to recall the proposal from the Office of Management and Budget and rewrite the guidelines.

"If it goes the way it is written, [VA] will be in for one hell of a fight," said Burr.

During the hearing, VA's proposal to expand its central office in the 2012 budget also became a heated topic of discussion, drawing criticism from committee Republicans who want to see fiscally responsible decision-making across the federal government.

While veterans' advocates testifying did not wish to speculate on why VA requested the expansion, Roof said that if the choice came between VA hiring health care practitioners or speech writers, that VA should focus on its mission to deliver services to veterans.

To view a full list of witnesses, to read prepared remarks and to view video from the hearing, Click Here.

Wednesday afternoon, Roof also participated in a roundtable discussion with House minority leadership, chaired by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the nation's leading military and veterans' advocates.

Democratic leadership has hosted regular roundtable discussions with the veterans community for the last few years in an effort to better understand the unique issues facing American service men and women during a time of war.

Major topics of discussion included the ongoing VA claims backlog, veterans' educational opportunities, unemployment and homelessness.

On Thursday, AMVETS was also represented during the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on the budget for Veterans Employment and Training Service, or VETS, and state grant programs.

To view a full list of participants and to read their prepared remarks, Click Here.

Roof submitted testimony for the record, which focused on two state grant programs, the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, or DVOP, and Local Veterans Employment Representative, or LVER.

In her remarks, Roof said that both DVOP and LVER programs lacked proper metrics to measure success in placing veterans in quality jobs. Under the current system, any veteran who seeks information from a DVOP or LVER office is recorded as a "veteran having received counseling," and veterans who find employment without the assistance of DVOP or LVER is considered a successful placement and a positive termination.

Given the inconsistencies among each state-administered DVOP and LVER program, AMVETS recommended to the committee that DVOP and LVER be at least temporarily federalized to ensure proper oversight, management and placement of veterans seeking assistance.

AMVETS also recommended stricter enforcement of standards within each program and allocation of program funds based on performance of each DVOP or LVER.

To read Roof's prepared remarks and AMVETS' full recommendations on DVOP and LVER, Click Here.

This week, AMVETS will once again be on Capitol Hill for a series of meetings in preparation for next week's LZ:DC events.

American Veteran will continue to follow the work of the AMVETS National Legislative Department closely. We will also bring you highlights of next week's work on Capitol Hill as it happens. Check back regularly for updates.

(Images: Top: AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof testifies on the proposed VA budget before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Middle: VA Secretary Eric Shinseki discusses the proposed VA budget before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Bottom: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hosts a roundtable discussion with the nation's leading military and veterans' advocates, including AMVETS. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Senate Hears Tesimony on Arlington Mismanagement

This morning the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight hosted a hearing on the recent scandal at Arlington National Cemetery, where hundreds of mismarked graves had been identified by an Army Inspector General investigation. To view video of this morning's hearing, Click Here.

The Army's investigation only focused on a random sampling of Arlington plots and the Senate's own investigation prior to Thursday's hearing clarified that more than 6,000 graves at the cemetery could be mismarked as a result of cemetery management issues.

In the wake of the Army's scathing report, both the cemetery superintendent, John Metzler, and his deputy, Thurman Higginbotham, were dismissed and the Department of the Army established a new chain of command to ensure proper oversight over Arlington.

Metzler and Higginbotham were both subpoenaed to testify before the committee, though Higginbotham chose not to answer questions and was quickly dismissed by Subcommittee Chairwoman Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. Metzler accepted the blame for the scandal, offering his regrets to families whose loved ones were interned at Arlington under his watch.

The hearing focused on a general lack of oversight within the Arlington National Cemetery contracting process, as the cemetery sought to migrate from its paper-based record-keeping system to a digital tracking system similar to what VA uses at its national cemeteries around the country. Arlington officials estimated that nearly $5.5 million had been spent over the years to update the cemetery's record-keeping system, but the Senate's investigation discovered that the figure was closer to $8 million.

Committee members were baffled by answers Metzler gave when asked why VA was able to more effectively transition its systems at all 131 national cemeteries for a fraction of the cost Arlington has amassed since first awarding contracts in 2004.

The hearing took a more positive turn during the second panel's testimony, when Chairwoman McCaskill and Subcommittee Ranking Member Scott Brown, R-Mass., had the opportunity to ask current Army leadership about the command climate change at Arlington since the scandal broke.

Army leaders were contrite in admitting that the department did not exercise proper oversight while Metzler was in charge and that the newly-established chain of command, headed by Kathryn Condon, offered improved transparency and oversight in the process.

Condon, who took on the new role last month, outlined a series of steps Arlington has taken to remedy the situation from double-checking old maps for accuracy and reaching out to VA for insight on how to properly implement digital record-keeping at the nation's most revered veterans' cemetery.

McCaskill said she didn't buy Metzler's notion that a funding and staffing shortfalls led to the mistakes, and that the lack of oversight in contracting at Arlington was tantamount to fraud, waste and abuse. She also indicated that her subcommittee would continue to monitor the situation and look to hold those responsible for the mismanagement accountable for their actions.

AMVETS has been outspoken about the issue at Arlington since the story broke last month, saying that Arlington officials have no room for error because the facility is the nation's testament to the sacrifices of all American veterans.



American Veteran will continue to follow the Arlington story, ensuring that Army leaders keep their promises to ensure that Arlington cemetery properly honors the sacrifices of America's heroes.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate Discusses G.I. Bill; House Roundtable on PTSD, TBI

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs will host a hearing on potential improvements to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which AMVETS has been calling for since last summer when the new benefits took effect.

Some of the improvements AMVETS has called for include expansion of benefits for mobilized National Guard troops on Title 32 orders, increased equity in benefits for students attending private universities, living stipend benefits for full time online students, and increased access to vocational training outside of traditional colleges and universities.

This morning, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs is also hosting a roundtable discussion on treating the invisible wounds of war--post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The committee has brought together leaders within the health care industry alongside Department of Defense and VA officials to discuss the issues.

To view a list of this morning's participants in the roundtable, Click Here. To view live video starting at 10 a.m., Click Here.

AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin made addressing the invisible wounds of war his top personal priority for his year in office and AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will be on hand for the roundtable. To read about Miskulin's chief initiative to address these invisible wounds and the broader reintegration issues faced by today's veterans through AMVETS Warrior Transition Workshops, Click Here. '

American Veteran will follow both of these hearings closely. For updates, check back later.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will continue to follow hearings on Capitol Hill, including Wednesday's roundtable discussion on post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and a hearing on healing the physical injuries of war, both in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs will also host a hearing on Post-9/11 G.I. Bill improvements. Details on each hearing will be available later in the week.

We will also discuss this weekend's ruling in U.S. District Court, deeming the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 unconstitutional. AMVETS issued a statement this afternoon, calling for an appeal to uphold the critical law, which roots out fakers exploiting the veterans' community. AMVETS was the first major veterans' organization to tackle the Stolen Valor issue when it launched ReportStolenValor.org in December 2009.

This week we will also bring you updates on the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place during this year's AMVETS National Convention in Louisville. AMVETS leaders are finalizing details for the event and we will bring you highlights here.

As always, we're eager to hear from you and hear what's happening at AMVETS posts and departments around the country for our Keeping Posted Online section. We will also keep you up to date on the latest news in the veterans' community. Finally, we also encourage you to comment on our stories whenever possible. Details on how to publish your comments can be found on the right hand tool bar.

AMVETS Asks For Clarification on Service Dogs

Yesterday, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof sent a formal letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki asking for a formal update on VA's study of service dogs for wounded veterans and clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current benefits available to veterans using eligible service animals.

The letter was similar to letters Roof has worked on with leaders in the House, which was sent to Shinseki in May, and the Senate, which is currently in circulation among Senate staff.


AMVETS and Congressional leaders are looking for clarification on the VA's study of service dogs and the health impacts for both physically and psychologically wounded veterans as commissioned by the 2010 defense authorization.

Under the law, VA had 270 days to clarify how it would conduct the study--a deadline approaching on July 8.

Prior to the deadline, AMVETS hopes to ensure that VA's Office of the General Counsel has kept with the intent of the study, especially in light of this week's hearing in the House where Congressional leaders chastised VA's General Counsel for a lack of proper oversight and neglecting to adhere to guidelines outlined in laws pertaining to veterans' benefits.

AMVETS latest letter also asked for clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current service dog benefits provided under Title 38, the body of law governing veterans' benefits. Under the current law, veterans who make use of service dogs for physical injuries are entitled to compensation for veterinary care and other types of routine care for their service animals through VA's office of prosthetics and sensory aides.

However, for years VA had failed to properly enroll veterans in the program. Recently, AMVETS has been working with VA prosthetics to help reach out to veterans, but efforts hit a road block last month. AMVETS hopes to continue leveraging all available resources to inform veterans of these benefits.

AMVETS has been a critical voice on veterans' service dogs since partnering with non-profit Paws With A Cause in 1987 to place service dogs with deserving wounded veterans.

In the last few months, AMVETS and Paws have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the issue with VA leadership and on Capitol Hill to ensure responsible implementation of veterans' service dog programs.

American Veteran will continue to follow VA's service dog study and benefits outreach closely. For updates, check back regularly.

(Images: Top: AMVETS' letter to VA Secretary Shinseki asking about veterans' service dog issues. Bottom: AMVETS member and U.S. Paralympian Kevin Stone and his assistance dog Mambo speak with Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) during recent visits to Capitol Hill, while CNN collects b-roll for a story on veterans and their assistance dogs. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will highlight this week's hearing in the House VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, discussing the VA's Office of the General Counsel and the hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, where AMVETS' Independent Budget partners will testify on the VA claims process and current efforts by VA to streamline the system.

This week, AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will be out in force on Capitol Hill, bringing together signatories from the Senate on a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki asking for clarification on the veterans' assistance dog study authorized under the 2010 defense appropriations.

Similar to Roof's letter which had 14 signatories in the House, the Senate version also asks for clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current assistance dog benefits, which were unexpectedly stalled last month.

We will also discuss recent changes VA has made to the claims paperwork for veterans seeking service-connected compensation. VA recently released a 10 page version of the VA form 21-526, allowing first time claims applicants to use the more streamlined version.

We will also continue to follow the command transition in Afghanistan, as the Senate considers Gen. David Petraeus to replaces Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who resigned last week.

We will also post an update on the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place this summer in Louisville prior to the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention. A quick reminder that the deadline for registering participants is close-of-business on Friday, July 2.

Finally, we are laying out the summer issue of American Veteran magazine in an effort to ensure that the issue is in your hands prior to the national convention in August. If you have letters to the editor, photos and stories that you would like to share for consideration in our letters section or Keeping Posted, please send them to rgallucci@amvets.org as soon as possible. The final deadline in Friday, July 2.

And, as always, please leave your comments on this blog and let us know what you think.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate Listens to Testimony on TBI

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs listened to testimony on traumatic brain injury and the effects on today's service members.

The committee heard testimony for experts on the invisible wounds of war from top research institutions, alongside Karen Bohlinger, the mother of TBI sufferer, and Jonathan Barr, a Marine who was medically retired for TBI in 2009.

To view video from the hearing, a list of this morning's witnesses and prepared remarks, Click Here.

AMVETS has paid close attention to the invisible wounds of war, like TBI, and continues to advocate for improved screening and treatment for today's wounded veterans.

American Veteran will follow developments on this issue closely. Check back regularly for updates.

BREAKING: Senate Passes Landmark Caregiver Bill

Tonight the Senate passed the Caregivers and Veterans Health Services Omnibus Act, offering groundbreaking aide and benefits for family caregivers of wounded veterans. The bill also includes significant improvements in care for female veterans and rural/remote veterans--two of AMVETS' top legislative priorities for 2010.

AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin applauded yesterday's passage of the bill in the House, calling it a "significant innovation in how VA cares for our wounded veterans and our underserved veteran populations."

AMVETS leaders were on hand at the U.S. Capitol yesterday for a press conference by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) alongside wounded warrior Ted Wade and his wife, Sarah, and other House veterans' advocates.

Since Ted was severely injured in Iraq, suffering a severe traumatic brain injury and losing his right arm, Sarah left school, quit her job and took on the role of caring for her husband.

"I was going to do whatever it took for Ted to live in the community, out of institutional care," said Sarah during the press conference, "but I would lay awake at night wondering how we'll get through this."

Sarah, who now telecommutes for the Wounded Warrior Project, said the new caregiver benefits will allow more than 2,000 other military families in similar situations to make ends meet while properly caring for their loved ones thanks to living stipends, formal caregiver training, available health care, and respite care.

The caregiver bill will now go to President Barack Obama for signing and American Veteran will be following closely. Check back regularly for updates.

(Photo: Wounded warrior Ted Wade and his wife, Sarah, discuss what the passage of the veterans' caregiver bill means to them. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

AMVETS Meets With Sen. Franken to Discuss Vets' Assistance Dogs

Yesterday, AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof and AMVETS member Luis Montalvan joined Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on Capitol Hill to discuss assistance dogs for wounded veterans.

Accompanied by Montalvan's assistance dog, Tuesday, AMVETS met with Franken and his staff to discuss the current VA study on the benefits of assistance dogs and recent policy changes, allowing veterans to enroll their assistance dogs with VA to cover associated costs, as outlined in Title 38.

Since AMVETS and partner non-profit Paws With A Cause came to Capitol Hill last month with Montalvan, Tuesday, and fellow AMVET Kevin Stone and his assistance dog, Mambo, AMVETS has been inundated with calls and e-mails about the status of VA's study and VA's policies on assistance dog enrollment. VA's Prosthetics and Sensory Aides department and Office of the Inspector General also took notice, reaching out to AMVETS on the issue.

Earlier in the week, Montalvan received confirmation from VA that Tuesday would now be enrolled with the VA's assistance dog program, entitling Montalvan to reimbursement for requisite veterinary care. Montalvan also received clarification on how VA plans to implement the assistance dog provisions in Title 38, offering veterinary benefits for more than 200 veterans who currently rely on assistance dogs to perform day-to-day tasks.

Earlier in the day, Roof also met with staff for Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, who have started to circulate a letter to Congressional colleagues, asking for support to further veterans' assistance dog programs.

This afternoon, Roof will be on Capitol Hill, rallying support for the letter.

During yesterday's meetings, Franken was called to the Capitol for a series of votes and asked AMVETS to accompany him. Between votes, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) came over and took the time to greet Roof, Montalvan, and Tuesday. During last month's meetings, AMVETS and Paws sat down with McCain's staff to explain the assistance dog issue.

AMVETS will look to build on the momentum of yesterday's meetings, asking VA to publish its policies on assistance dog enrollment authorized under Title 38 and bolstering support in Congress for veterans' assistance dog programs.

Last month's meetings were designed as a way to refocus attention on the issue, which Franken brought to light during his first days in office. For more on this issue as it develops, check back regularly with American Veteran Online.

(Photos: Top: Luis Montalvan and Christina Roof discuss veterans' assistance dogs with Sen. Al Franken outside the floor of the Senate yesterday afternoon. Bottom: Sen. John McCain takes a moment for a photo alongside Montalvan and Roof between votes yesterday. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate to Host Hearing on Mental Health

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs will host an oversight hearing on mental health and suicide prevention. AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof, who submitted a statement for record on the subject, will be on hand for the morning's hearing.

The morning's panels will include Iraq war veteran Daniel Hanson, VA's acting undersecretary for health, Gerald Cross, National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, board member Clarence Jordan, and other key VA mental health personnel. Each panelists remarks should be available shortly after this morning's hearing. To view a full list of panelists and details about this morning's hearing, Click Here.

Military and veterans mental health has been one of AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin's top priorities during his term.

NAMI also signed a memorandum of understanding with AMVETS in 2008, looking for new ways to improve mental health services to the veterans' community.

AMVETS plans to introduce a new program in an effort to improve the mental health climate for today's veterans, as Miskulin indicated in his quarterly column in American Veteran magazine. American Veteran online will keep you posted as more information on the new program becomes available.

Live from Capitol Hill: Pentagon to Discuss Plan for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

This afternoon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen will discuss the Pentagon's plan to address the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee will be broadcast live on C-SPAN 3 at noon eastern time. For a live video link on C-SPAN's Web site, Click Here.

President Barack Obama asked Congress and the military to find ways to responsibly overturn the policy during last week's State of the Union address.

AMVETS delegates voted on a resolution at this summer's national convention--Resolution 10-17--calling for continued support to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" until Congress and the military addressed broader social issues associated with overturning the policy during a time of war. To read the resolution, Click Here.

AMVETS leaders demanded equitable treatment for all service members with regard to benefits and entitlements, should the policy be overturned--something that hasty legislative changes could not guarantee. To read AMVETS' full response to last week's announcement, Click Here.

Preliminary reports indicate that the Pentagon may seek a long-term solution to ensure the policy is changed in a responsible manner, taking into consideration many of the concerns voiced by AMVETS.

American Veteran will follow today's developments closely. Check back later for details.

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.)

UPDATE: Senate Passes VA Budget

This afternoon, the Senate passed the FY2010 Military Construction and VA budget by a vote of 100-0. AMVETS leaders have been calling on Congress to work out the details in the VA budget for weeks, since the Oct. 1 due date lapsed.

"This marks the 20th time in the last 23 years that the VA budget has been delivered late, further reinforcing why the recent signing of advance appropriations for VA health care was so critical," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "Now, even when politics stalls the process, our veterans' care will not suffer at the same time."

Last month, President Obama signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 into law, authorizing Congress to finance VA health care one year in advance. The FY2010 VA budget will be the first to contain advance appropriations for the following fiscal year.

The Senate version of the VA/MilCon budget includes $133.9 billion to fund VA. With the addition of Senate amendments, the budget will now go to conference before Congress votes on a final version to send to the President. Check back with American Veteran Online for updates on this year's VA budget process.

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

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hosts Hearing on Burn Pits

AMVETS leaders are on Capitol Hill this morning for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and the health impact on American troops.

To view live video of this morning's hearing, Click Here.

AMVETS is concerned that the health effects associated with burn pit exposure could turn into the next Agent Orange debacle for today's veterans.

Today, the Pentagon and VA are aware of the risks associated with burn pits appearing all across the combat zone and VA plans to study the effects on veterans known to have been exposed.

However, AMVETS is concerned that hundreds of thousands of veterans may slip through the cracks since they may have deployed early on in the conflicts.

American Veteran will be following this hearing closely. Check back later today for updates.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate hearing on veterans' chemical exposure

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is hosting a hearing on DoD and VA's response to veterans' chemical exposure while on active duty. To view live video of the hearing on the committee's Web site, Click Here.

AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof is on hand at the Russell Senate Office Building for this morning's hearing.

Check back later today with American Veteran Online for details.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate listens to testimony on VA health contracting

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs will host a hearing on VA health care contracting. AMVETS, which submitted testimony for the record, will be on hand for the hearing.

For more information about this morning's hearing, Click Here.

Check back later today with American Veteran Online for more details.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, Army veteran and AMVET, dies at 77

After a year-long battle with brain cancer, the second most senior U.S. Senator, Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), died last night at his home in Cape Cod.

Kennedy, who long served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and left his mark on such noteworthy military and veterans' legislation as defense appropriations for up-armored humvees, anti-IED technology, and the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, was one of the most recognizable political figures in the United States and an astute leader capable of reaching across party lines.

In 1951, Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Army and served on the honor guard at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris. He left the military honorably in 1953 as a private first class. Kennedy's name appears on the official membership rolls of AMVETS.

In 1991, Kennedy played an integral role in passing the bill that paved the way for women to serve as combat aviators. This first rule change ultimately set the stage for women to achieve greater equality in today's armed forces.

Kennedy is most remembered for his work championing social causes stateside, such as disabled Americans' rights, anti-discrimination, and education.

In the summer of 2008, Kennedy worked to pass the Higher Education Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008, providing significant improvements to the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Included in the 2008 act, which was signed into law by President Bush, was a provision AMVETS introduced commissioning federal grants for student-veterans' "centers of excellence" on college campuses nationwide.

AMVETS envisioned these grants as a way for colleges and universities to prepare for the next generation of leaders returning from the front lines to take advantage of their G.I. Bill benefits. AMVETS recently learned that the provision for these centers has been included in the House version of the 2010 budget for the Department of Education.

Kennedy's courageous return to the Senate last summer while battling brain cancer made the passage of the higher ed bill possible.

Kennedy is the only one of four brothers to die of natural causes. His oldest brother, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., died as a bomber pilot during Operation Aphrodite in WWII, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated during his presidential campaign in Los Angeles in 1968.

Kennedy is survived by his wife Victoria Kennedy, sons Edward Jr. and Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), daughter Kara Kennedy Allen, and two stepchildren, Caroline Raclin and Curran Raclin.

To read Kennedy's New York Times obituary, Click Here.

(Photo: Sen. Edward Kennedy sits in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet at Naval Air Station Miramar in California on a visit with the Senate Armed Services Committee in 1985. U.S. Navy photo, released.)

Senate listens to tesimony on VA claims process

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs heard testimony from VA, Department of Defense, DAV, and the Government Accountability Office on the VA claims process and progress on mitigating the daunting VA claims backlog.

To view video from yesterday's hearing, Click Here.

To review each witness' written statements, Click Here.

Perhaps the most eye-opening aspect of the hearing was the new GAO report highlighting improvements and continued shortcomings in VA's efforts to mitigate the claims backlog, which veterans' advocates believe is approaching one million claims.

The GAO report notes that the VA experienced a dramatic increase in the overall time it takes to process a claim between 2005 and 2007, topping out at 200 days. Over the last year, VA has managed to reign in the average claims-processing time to about 180 days. The GAO believes that the initial increase was due not only to an overall increase in volume of claims resulting from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also because of legislative and policy changes, entitling veterans to a variety of new benefits.

However, the GAO also reported that the overall time for VA to adjudicate claims appeals has actually increased to a time of about 21 months--a number that AMVETS leaders balk at--in spite of the overall number of appeals dropping dramatically. VA claims that repeated submissions of new evidence and multiple pending appeals have exacerbated the situation.

Since 2005, GAO reports that VA has increased its claims-processing personnel by 58 percent, with plans to hire an additional 1,500 employees in the coming year. VA has also relaxed its rules on redistributed claims work, allowing overtaxed regional offices to ship claims to offices capable of handling the workload.

During the hearing, DAV outlined its plan to mitigate the claims backlog, a system that would take full advantage of 21st century technology, with a single point-of-entry for claims, and the capability to digitally track all records which have been submitted. For a full overview of DAV's proposal, Click Here.

The claims backlog is a critical issue to AMVETS and many leaders across the veterans' community. AMVETS encourages veterans seeking service-connected compensation from the VA to visit with a certified veterans' service officer who offer their services free of charge. To view the most up-to-date list of AMVETS National Service Officers on the official AMVETS Web site, Click Here.

American Veteran will continue to follow work on Capitol Hill to ensure that the VA claims backlog is properly addressed. As always, we welcome your comments on this issue.

Senate votes down alternate engine for Joint Strike Fighter

Yesterday, the Senate voted down a provision in the FY2010 defense budget that would continue to fund an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Earlier this month, AMVETS drafted a letter to House appropriators, asking them to support the Pentagon's decision to scrap the wasteful program. While the controversial provision passed in the House, the Senate's decision to squash the program could now set the stage for a contentious conference on the budget.

According to the letter from AMVETS National Headquarters, AMVETS wants to see the Pentagon focus on mission-critical acquisitions for the Department of Defense. The Pentagon has been trying to kill the alternative engine program since 2006, when the Bush Administration first labeled the program as wasteful.

However, Congress continued to tack on the provision, wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money for a program that America's top military minds say they do not want.

Over the last few weeks, top brass from all branches set to receive versions of the Joint Strike Fighter have discussed exactly why the program would cripple military readiness. Air Force Gen. Mark Shackelford said that the alternate engine program would delay the timely delivery of more than 50 fighters to the Air Force's already-strained fleet of fighter jets.

The Navy said it cannot possibly maintain multiple engine systems for its fleet of Joint Strike Fighters during sea-based operations.

Finally, the Marine Corps called for an end to the alternative engine program, since the funding would be diverted from the badly-needed H1 helicopter program. In a recent letter to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who sponsored the amendment to kill the alternate engine program, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway said that the helicopter programs needed to continue unabated, or the Corps risked relying on a fleet long-overdue for retirement to transport Marines on and off the battlefield.

Conway's comments struck a particular chord with AMVETS leaders who had served in the Marine Corps, such as AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley.

"Conway's comments only reiterate what we heard from Secretary Gates on this issue--one dollar of pork is a dollar that we can't spend on our Marines," Kelley said. "I was happy to see the Senate vote responsibly on this issue, and we must continue to ensure that the next defense budget represents the best interests of our military."

Proponents of the alternate engine have stirred tension over potential job losses in a tough economy. However, executives from GE-Rolls Royce, the contractor for the alternate engine, confirmed before the Senate that the company's industrial base would not be threatened, should the program be terminated. In addition, the program remains in the development phase, with a large portion of the work set to be shipped overseas, should the project advance.

AMVETS will continue to push members of the House to support the Pentagon's position on this issue. Continued development of the alternative engine will siphon billions of badly-needed defense dollars to a program that threatens the well-being of our troops on the ground.

American Veteran will continue to track this story, as it develops. In the meantime, we're eager to hear what you have to say about the issue.