AMVETS Says 'No' to TRICARE Increases

This week AMVETS took a stand on proposed increases in military health care premiums, voicing support for legislation that would keep premiums for TRICARE at the current rate.

The Military Health Care Affordability Act, H.R. 1285, was introduced by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof sent a letter of support to the Congresswoman, expressing the importance of the bill.


At the 2010 AMVETS National Convention in Louisville, Ky., AMVETS members voted on a resolution to fight increases in military health care premiums. The resolution is included in the 2011 AMVETS Legislative Priorities book and has guided AMVETS' legislative department in its decision-making on proposed TRICARE increases.

AMVETS is one of the few veterans' organizations to put its foot down on the issue of TRICARE increases, calling health care an earned entitlement for military service.

AMVETS leaders call the proposal particularly unconscionable during a time of war, and encourage AMVETS members around the country to reach out to their representatives in Congress, voicing their opposition to the proposed increases.

To find your representative and to voice your opinion on TRICARE increases, Click Here.

LZ:DC: Video of Cmdr. Hotop's Testimony Before Congress

On Wednesday, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop delivered AMVETS' 2011 Legislative Agenda to a special joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee as part of LZ:DC. Below is video of Hotop's remarks, highlighting the needs of underserved veterans and VA's goal to eliminate veterans' homelessness.



To read Hotop's full submission for the Congressional record and to view a full video of the hearing, Click Here.

American Veteran continues to follow this week's events closely. Check back regularly for updates from the LZ.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to Discuss DVOP & LVER With House

This morning AMVETS will once again be on Capitol Hill testifying before the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on the budget and state grant programs for Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Services, or VETS.

The hearing comes to order at 10:00 a.m. in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs chambers, Cannon House Office Building room 334.

AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof's prepared testimony focuses on the state grant programs, Disabled Veterans Outreach Programs, or DVOPs, and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives, or LVERs.

To view a full list of participants and the read their written statements, Click Here.

In her submitted remarks, Roof notes that the programs were designed to offer comprehensive employment assistance services to veterans facing barriers to employment such as disabilities, education or economic conditions, but that a general lack of oversight has led to inconsistencies within each of the state-level programs, leaving many DVOPs and LVERs ineffective at accomplishing their missions.

American Veteran will follow this morning's hearing closely. We will also bring you highlights of yesterday's VA budget hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the veteran and military support roundtable hosted by House minority leadership. Check back later today for updates.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to Testify Before Senate; Meet with House Minority Leadership

Tomorrow AMVETS will deliver testimony alongside the Independent Budget partners before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and participate in a veterans' support and military support roundtable discussion with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki will sit on the first panel of the hearing, explaining the Obama Administration's budget proposal for VA in fiscal year 2012 and VA health care for 2013.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Christina Roof will then appear alongside IB partners Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars to discuss the 25th Independent Budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs--a roadmap for how Congress should fund VA, which has been developed by the nation's top veterans' organizations for a quarter century.

The hearing will commence at 10:30 a.m. in Russell Senate Room 418. To view a full list of participants and to read their prepared remarks, Click Here.

Live video should also be available on the committee's Web site at 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Roof appeared before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs two weeks ago alongside the IB partners and Secretary Shinseki, discussing how to best fund VA services in the coming fiscal year.

In the afternoon, AMVETS will also join the nation's leading veterans and military support organizations for a special roundtable discussion on issues facing today's military and veterans' communities with House minority leadership, chaired by Minority Leader Pelosi.

American Veteran will be on hand for both tomorrow's hearing and the roundtable. Check back for highlights from the day's events.

Live from Capitol Hill: House to Hear VA Budget Proposals

Tomorrow morning the House Committee on Veterans Affairs will host its first full committee hearing of the new Congress to discuss the fiscal year 2012 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki will outline the department's budget proposal and AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will join the Independent Budget partners--Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars--to outline the 25th Independent Budget, or IB, proposal.

The hearing will commence at 9:30 a.m. in the committee chambers, 334 Cannon House Office Building.

To view a full list of witnesses and to read their prepared statements, Click Here.

To view live video of the hearing, Click Here.

The Obama Administration issued its budget recommendations for VA on Monday, calling for increased overall investment in the department, which AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop called a "good jumping-off point."

In light of the current fiscal climate, VA was one of the few federal agencies tabbed for an increase in funding for 2012, but the IB partners said they believe further investment is needed for VA to properly accomplish its mission--particularly in medical and prosthetics research and major construction projects.

For a quarter century, the IB has served as a road map for the nation's leaders on how to best fund VA, which is why the leaders from the IB organizations said they look forward to the opportunity to outline their recommendations to a new Congress tasked with making difficult fiscal decisions.

In her testimony, Roof will focus on the IB budget recommendations for VA's National Cemetery Administration and veteran entrepreneurship.

“We encourage Congress to review our recommendations and we invite an open dialogue on how to best serve our nation’s heroes,” said Hotop when the IB rolled out yesterday.

American Veteran will be on hand for tomorrow's hearing. Check back with the blog in the afternoon for highlights.

AMVETS Expresses Condolences to Rep. Giffords and Staff

This morning, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop sent a letter of condolences to Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, expressing his condolences on behalf of AMVETS and wishing the congresswoman the best in her recovery in the wake of the shooting that took place at a constituent event hosted by Giffords last weekend.
Hotop expressed his sentiments to the family of Gabe Zimmerman, a constituent staffer for Giffords who was killed in the attack and also commended the professional staff and interns who helped to save lives during the event.

Hotop called the shooting a "dark day" for America's political discourse and echoed national calls for respect and cooperation in solving the complex issues facing our nation today.

Giffords, who is an Air Force wife and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, remains in critical condition at Arizona University Medical Center, but CNN reports she is now breathing on her own and doctors remain hopeful for recovery.

New Year at American Veteran: G.I. Bill Fixes Signed; VA to Vet Small Businesses

The New Year is upon us at American Veteran magazine and this afternoon marks the start of the 112th Congress--with many shifts in leadership among the veterans affairs and armed services committees. Aside from the party shift in the House, the Senate is also slated to make significant changes to its committee assignments. American Veteran will follow today's developments and we will publish comprehensive lists of relevant committee assignments as they become available.

Over the next few weeks, AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof will work diligently to deliver AMVETS Legislative Priorities for 2011 to each relevant committee member.

Yesterday marked another significant step in delivering quality educational and vocational training benefits to today's veterans with President Barack Obama's signing of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010, which passed Congress during the lame duck session.

The bill includes many of the improvements which AMVETS has called for over the last two years in an effort to make the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill more equitable for today's war fighters.

Among the critical improvements are offering benefits to Active Guard & Reserve, or AGR, soldiers and members of the military activated on Title 32 orders for homeland defense missions. The new law also allows veterans enrolled in non-degree or vocational training programs an opportunity to utilize their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to defray costs, and also offers distance learners a portion of the living stipend benefit.

The changes could make Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits available to an additional 400,000 veterans and current service members.

Unfortunately, the total law did not satisfy all of AMVETS' expectations, as Congressional leaders scrapped break payments of living stipends for more than 350,000 veterans currently enrolled under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. AMVETS recognized that offering break payments remained a budget-neutral proposal and asked Congressional leaders to keep the benefit intact. However, in the hours prior to the vote, the controversial proposal was kept in the bill.

Starting next fall, students enrolled under Chapter 33 will no longer be entitled to living stipend payments during winter and summer break months.

American Veteran will continue to follow implementation of the new G.I. Bill fixes.

On Monday, VA also announced its new plan to vet veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses seeking government contracts. To read VA's announcement of the new policy, Click Here.

AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof, who previously served as a small business consultant, has consistently called on VA to audit its contractors to ensure compliance. Roof called the new policy a "step in the right direction," but expressed concerns that the new verification process could create a backlog of contractors looking for work.

Under the new policy, VA will require the 13,000 companies currently listed in the Vendor Information Pages, or VIP, database to verify their status within 90 days. After this time, VA will consider additional applications for the VIP database from other potential VOSBs and SDVOSBs.

AMVETS outlined contractor compliance as a top priority in the 2011 Legislative Agenda. American Veteran will continue to follow this story closely. Check back regularly for updates.

(Image: Cover of AMVETS Legislative Priorities for 2011. Photo courtesy of Architect of the Capitol.)

Big Weekend For American Veterans: G.I. Bill Fixes and DADT

This weekend proved to be historic for American veterans, with the passage of a bill to repeal the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, or DADT, and the passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010.

This morning, AMVETS issued its reaction to the repeal of DADT, calling for the Pentagon to work responsibly in implementing a new policy that will ensure continued mission success and equitable service for all patriotic Americans.

AMVETS reiterated concerns over the impact of a drastic policy shift on kinetic operations and urged the Pentagon to work pragmatically to properly implement a new, mission-centric policy.

This weekend also marked the passage of critical fixes for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill through the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010, offering more equitable benefits for today's student veterans, closing loopholes for National Guard soldiers who served on active duty stateside, and opening up benefits for veterans seeking non-degree accreditation programs.

AMVETS leaders applauded the passage of the bill, which many analysts believed would die with the current Congress. AMVETS has consistently advocated for these improvements as outlined in both the 2010 and 2011 legislative priorities books available on the "Legislative" page at www.amvets.org.

AMVETS has testified in support of the legislation since its infancy and also sent letters to legislators voicing support to the bill, such as last week's letter urging House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) to support the bill.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign both bills into law this week. American Veteran will continue to follow each of these stories. Check back regularly for updates.

AMVETS Supports G.I. Bill Fixes

Yesterday, AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof sent a letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) voicing AMVETS' support for legislation to improve the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Here is a copy of Roof's letter:

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010, or S. 3447, passed the Senate last week and could be considered by the House prior to the closing of the lame duck session of Congress on Friday.

The bill was conceived by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Legislative Director Patrick Campbell, and received staunch support from the nation's other leading veterans' advocates, including AMVETS.

AMVETS has called for many of the bill's provisions--such as expanding eligibility to National Guard members who served under Title 32 orders, creating a more equitable tuition and fees reimbursement process, and opening educational options to include apprenticeships, certificate and other non-degree programs--in both the 2010 and 2011 Legislative Priorities books, available on the AMVETS National Web site.

The House is scheduled to consider the bill today, and Roof said that she hopes the bill will pass, ensuring equitable G.I. Bill benefits for today's war fighters.

American Veteran will continue to follow this bill closely. Check back regularly for updates, as Congress considers this critical series of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill updates.

One More Day to Collect Stop Loss Pay

Tomorrow, Dec. 3, is the last day for eligible Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans to claim Special Stop Loss Pay benefits from the Department of Defense. To apply for benefits, Click Here.

The benefit, authorized by Congress, entitles all personnel held under the military's stop loss policy after 9/11 to $500 per month for each month of their mandatory extension of service. Pentagon analysts believe the average benefit is about $3,500.

The original deadline was Oct. 21, but Congress extended it to Dec. 3 after most of the money remained unclaimed. The Pentagon also sent out letters to all personnel they believed would be eligible for the payment and President Barack Obama filmed a message encouraging all potentially eligible veterans to apply.

Veterans contacted AMVETS about the certificate verification prompts on the Pentagon's Special Stop Loss Pay Web sites, voicing concerns that their personal information could be compromised on the internet. The Army, Navy and Air Force have since remedied the system, creating a more user-friendly portal for eligible veterans to apply. However, the Marine Corps Web site still prompts applicants to accept a security certificate exception. Marines who wish to apply online should simply add the exception to their Web browser to access the secure system.

AMVETS leaders encourage all potentially-eligible service members and veterans to apply for the benefit. Pentagon officials have indicated that all applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3.

(Image: Screengrab of the U.S. Army Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Web site, https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil.. Countdown clock created using OnePlusYou. www.oneplusyou.com)

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.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we are in full convention mode, preparing for the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention, taking place next week at the Galt House in Louisville, Ky. During this year's convention, AMVETS is also hosting its 2010 Symposium for 21st Century Veterans.

American Veteran will be on hand bringing you up-to-the-minute updates from the convention floor, the symposium business sessions, and the 2010 AMVETS Expo, featuring dozens of exhibitors looking to serve the veterans' community.

As we reported last week, the latest issue of American Veteran magazine has gone to print. We will bring you a preview of the new issue shortly, which features stories on POW/MIA recovery, wounded warrior services, and the latest news from around the AMVETS community. In the meantime, be on the look-out for the summer issue of American Veteran in your mailbox, featuring golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who recently helped to design the new American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Washington.

This week, Congress adjourned for the summer district work period, but that does not mean that the work stops on Capitol Hill for AMVETS. AMVETS legislative team continues to work with staffers to advance critical legislation to better serve our veterans, such as the new proposal to update the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, continued discussions on how to alleviate the VA claims backlog, and new potential legislation to better serve disabled veterans using assistance animals.

As always, we're eager to hear your comments, so please feel free to post on any of the threads you see on this blog.

We look forward to seeing each of you at convention this year in Louisville. We'll be the ones with the giant camera, so be sure to smile.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will discuss VA's recent changes to policies on PTSD claims processing. This morning VA officially announced changes waiving additional evidence requirements for veterans seeking service connection for PTSD. We will discuss in depth on this blog, but in the meantime, to read VA's Q&A on the PTSD changes, Click Here.

This week we will also be sending the summer issue of American Veteran magazine to the printer for delivery in time for the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention next month in Louisville, Ky. As we finalize this magazine, you may not see as frequent of updates on the American Veteran blog. However, we continue to invite your feedback and any submissions of photos and stories you would like us to consider for publication in the magazine or on the blog.

As convention draws closer, we will also post an update on the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans. Submissions for participants are due to AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley as soon as possible to ensure that veterans receive all necessary materials prior to arriving in Lousiville. More to come this week.

On Capitol Hill this week Congress is back in session after the Fourth of July recess, and American Veteran will be following hearings in both the Senate and House committees on Veterans Affairs. On Wednesday, The Senate will hear testimony on VA's current efforts to alleviate the VA claims backlog--AMVETS' top legislative priority for 2010--and the House will hear testimony on VA's suicide prevention efforts--one of AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin's personal priorities for 2010.

Details on each hearing, including updates on witnesses, links to testimony and live video feeds will be available on this blog Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, VA's update on its study of service dog benefits for physically and psychologically wounded veterans is due to Congress. As the leader in advocating for veterans' service dogs, AMVETS will be watching closely, with updates posted to the American Veteran blog.

As always, let us know how we're doing and check back regularly for updates.

AMVETS Reacts to "Hostile Work Environment" Allegations from VA Claims Processors

Last week, the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hosted a hearing on the state of the Veterans Benefits Administration, or VBA.

During the morning's testimony, American Federation of Government Employees representative Molly Ames accused the current VA administration of fostering a hostile work environment for VA's claims processors--a comment that stirred a reaction from AMVETS' leaders, in light of the current VA claims backlog.

Ames made vague allegations of individual discrimination against union members, but went on to say that the total workforce faced a "constant threat of termination" while struggling to comply with increases in production requirements.

AMVETS leaders attribute the new production requirements to the laissez-faire workplace attitude propagated throughout the last decade, which has led to a backlog of nearly 1 million claims and appeals.

"To AMVETS, it appears that the new administration has created an environment of accountability for VA claims processors in an effort to stave off a decade's worth of apathy within the workforce," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "Allegations about singling out workers must be taken seriously, but from what we've seen, the current administration has only asked VA claims processors to do their jobs or face consequences."

During her statement, Ames also called for VA to study the work credit and work management systems, which AMVETS supports. AMVETS leaders said that VA needs to focus more on quality of output, rather than volume of claims processed to measure success.

AMVETS' Independent Budget partner Disabled American Veterans appeared before the subcommittee and also discussed perceived issues within VBA that have exacerbated the claims backlog and the status of VA's pilot programs designed to remedy the situation.

To view a full list of witnesses from the hearing and to read their testimony, Click Here.

AMVETS Sends Congressional Letter to VA on Service Dogs

Since AMVETS members and their assistance dogs stormed Capitol Hill in March to raise awareness of the benefits to today's wounded veterans, AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof has been working with Congressional offices, bolstering support for a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

AMVETS' letter calls for an update from VA on progress of the assistance dog benefits study commissioned in the 2010 Defense Authorization--a measure successfully spearheaded by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).

In the weeks leading up to sending the letter to Secretary Shinseki, AMVETS secured 14 signatures from a bipartisan group of legislators, including leading Congressional voices on veterans' issues, Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.), who spearheaded efforts to expand availability of PTSD treatment, and Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), who led efforts in the House to pass the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.





The letter, which can be viewed by clicking on the images above, calls on VA to furnish Congress with a report on progress in commissioning a three-year study on the benefits of assistance dogs for today's wounded veterans.

Under the 2010 Defense Authorization, VA had 270 days to commence the study, leaving VA with a July 2010 deadline.

AMVETS leaders will continue to work with VA for an update on the assistance dog study, tracking the issue closely. AMVETS has recognized the benefits assistance animals can offer wounded veterans since partnering with non-profit Paws With A Cause to place assistance dogs with worthy wounded veterans. Today, AMVETS is the only major veterans' service organization actively addressing the issue.

As VA's study moves forward, check back regularly with American Veteran Online for updates.

(Images: Congressional letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki calling for an update to the assistance dog study for wounded veterans.)

Boccieri Service Flag Bill Passes House

Congressman John Boccieri (D-Ohio), a veteran of the war in Iraq and life member of AMVETS Post No. 44 in Youngstown, Ohio, today announced the House passage of legislation he introduced to prevent restrictions on the display of Service flags. H.R. 2546, the Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2009 ensures the rights of individuals to display a Service flag on residential property without limitation. H.R. 2546 has more than 50 bipartisan cosponsors, including 22 Republicans.

“The Service flag is a symbol of respect for our military members who put their lives on the line only because their country asked them to,” said Boccieri. “As a veteran, I am proud to champion this important measure for military families, giving them the right to honor their soldiers’ sacrifices, no matter where they live.”

The Service flag, sometimes referred to as either the Blue Star or Gold Star flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families of members serving in the armed forces during a period of war. Each blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty, while a gold star signifies a service member killed in action or who died in service.

Boccieri’s bill is similar to the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 which prohibits a condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association from preventing residents from displaying the American flag on or around their homes. Boccieri’s bill extends these same privileges to the Service flags.

According to regulations established by the Secretary of Defense, organizations can fly the Service flag as long as it honors the members of that organization serving during a period of war. The Ohio House of Representatives displayed a Service flag for then-State Representative Boccieri and State Senator Steve Stivers while they deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004-2005.

AMVETS, which was a vocal supporter of the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, also supports Boccieri's bill, allowing Blue Star and Gold Star families to display their flags without recourse from housing associations or other groups.

"It's ridiculous for these associations to attempt to prohibit proud military families--particularly Gold Star families--from demonstrating support to their loved ones and honoring their sacrifices," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "AMVETS hopes that this bill moves through the legislative process quickly, so we can protect the rights of our military families, putting an end to this petty squabble once and for all."

Now, Boccieri's bill will head to the Senate for consideration. American Veteran will follow developments closely. Check back regularly for updates.

(Video: Congressman John Boccieri delivers remarks on the House floor on why the passage of the service flag protection act is important to him. Video courtesy of the Office of Congressman John Boccieri.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will follow the AMVETS Legislative Department to Capitol Hill, where Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof will testify before the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on veterans' small businesses.

Roof will also be on Capitol Hill throughout the week, continuing to muster support for wounded veterans' assistance dogs.

We will also continue to follow the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Care Act, which passed both the House and Senate last week and is awaiting Presidential approval. The new act establishes new benefits allowing veterans' families to care for their wounded loved ones and creates new programs to better serve female veterans and rural/remote-located veterans.

We will also post on the recent open house at Camp Hope hosted by William "Mike" White, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary 2010 Humanitarian of the Year. Camp Hope, the wounded warriors' outdoor retreat in Missouri, is the national project for the AMVETS Riders, who were on hand for the open house.

This week, we will also highlight this weekend's benefit run in honor of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy Kane in Cherry Hill, N.J., hosted by the Rutgers University student-veterans group, Veterans For Education. Veterans For Education was featured in the fall 2008 issue of American Veteran magazine, discussing veterans on campus. Kane was a student-veteran at Rutgers who was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

We will also highlight this year's military opening night for the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego and the Padres' ongoing commitment to serving the military community.

We are also in the process of laying out the spring issue of American Veteran magazine. Be on the look-out for the new issue in mid May.

Reps. Boccieri and Hunter Introduce Resolution on Military Funerals

Last week, two Iraq veterans serving in Congress, Reps. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the Supreme Court to preserve privacy for military families mourning their loved ones.

The resolution, House Continuing Resolution 261, would express the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court should uphold lower court decisions that military funeral proceedings should be private, peaceful ceremonies where Gold Star families are allowed to mourn with dignity.

The resolution comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case of Gold Star father Albert Snyder, who sued the Kansas church that picketed the funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snider, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.

The church, which we refuse to acknowledge on this blog, has picketed military funerals since 2005, brandishing offensive signs and screaming at mourning Gold Star families, posturing that American troops were dying in combat as a result of America's tolerance for homosexuality.

In an effort to protect grieving families, motorcycle groups like the Patriot Guard Riders and AMVETS Riders have offered escorts and cordons for funeral processions alongside local law enforcement.

After being exposed to the group's hateful message, Snyder decided to take action, suing the Kansas church for defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Snyder was originally awarded more than $10 million in damages, until the decision was overturned by the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which also ordered Snyder to pay associated court fees for the Kansas church.

With the case making its way to the Supreme Court, AMVETS leaders support Boccieri and Hunter's resolution, calling to preserve dignified military funerals.

"What this radical church has done is abhorrent and cannot simply be viewed in the context of preserving First Amendment rights," said AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin. "Our grieving Gold Star families deserve only the utmost respect when mourning the loss of their loved ones. AMVETS hopes that the Supreme Court will agree that picketing military funerals violates the personal rights of a grieving family."

The Boccieri/Hunter resolution, which has already garnered support from fellow veterans in Congress, Reps. Chris Carney (D-Pa.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.), among others.

Both Hunter and Boccieri said the issue was personal in nature to them, given their experiences in the current conflicts. Hunter has served multiple combat tours, leading Marines in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and Boccieri, a life member of AMVETS Post No. 44 in Youngstown, Ohio, flew C-130 missions in Iraq.

"Service members who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation--as well as their families--deserve our unending respect and appreciation," said Hunter. "Those who attempt to discredit their sacrifice by hurling insults and engaging in other offensive behavior bring great shame to themselves. The right to free speech is one of our nation’s most fundamental and protected rights, but it’s unfortunate when certain individuals or groups think it’s appropriate, for the purpose of creating controversy, to publicly malign our fallen heroes and disrupt such an important moment for their families. It’s my hope is that the Supreme Court will move to uphold existing laws that allow these families to mourn the loss of their loved ones without disturbance."

"The right to free speech ends where the privacy of a family mourning the loss of a service member begins,” said Boccieri. “While our law doesn’t restrict hate groups from spewing their venom, it forces them to do it at a respectful distance from the grieving family. This is personal for me after flying wounded and fallen soldiers out of Baghdad."

The Supreme Court granted certiorari on the Snyder case earlier this year and it has been placed on the docket for the current session, with a decision expected to come by fall.

American Veteran will continue to follow developments closely.

(Image: Dear Colleague letter from Reps. Boccieri and Hunter, calling for support to H.CON.RES 261. Letter courtesy of the Office of Congressman John Boccieri.)

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS Testifies on VA's Center of Veteran Enterprise

This afternoon, AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof appeared before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Development to discuss the VA's Center for Veteran Enterprise, or CVE, which handles vetting and certification for veteran-owned and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

To view a Web cast of this morning's hearing, Click Here.

Roof has been a leading voice before Congress on veterans' small businesses, commonly referred to as VOSBs and SDVOSBs, calling attention to critical oversight issues within VA.

In this morning's hearing, Roof applauded VA's efforts to address oversight issues in recent months, but cited several issues within VA's newly-established guidelines for VOSBs ownership and operation.

Roof said that the current verification process focuses solely on ownership, still leaving the door open for fraud, and that the new guideline that veterans can only register one VOSB stifles entrepreneurship.

Roof also reiterated the call from the Independent Budget partners for all federal agencies to use VA's VIP program as its sole source to verify veterans' status for small business owners.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will follow AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin and AMVETS National Service Foundation President Joe Piening to Reno, Nevada, as they honor AMVETS' partners with the Special Olympics.

This week is a district work period for members of Congress, so AMVETS National Legislative Department will be collecting itself for upcoming hearings--including those rescheduled as a result of the recent blizzards.

The winter issue of American Veteran also made its way to the printer on Friday, meaning the new issue should be available online later this week and should arrive in your mailboxes soon.

AMVETS continues to receive inquiries about the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, with reports of veterans still waiting on payment for the spring. Fortunately, many veterans have received confirmation that their benefits have been processed and payments should be flowing throughout the month of February. Associated Press reported on the new G.I. Bill last week.

American Veteran will continue to follow the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill throughout the semester, along with dozens of other critical veterans' issues. Check back regularly for updates.