HVAC Markup Schedule July 29 – August 2
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) today released the markup schedule for July 29 – August 2. The following events are open to the press:
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Markup of Pending Legislation (Legislation TBD)
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
(10:00 am – 334 Cannon and streaming at veterans.house.gov)
Sailors Posthumously Receive National Intelligence MedalBy Terri Moon Cronk MCLEAN, Va., July 24, 2013 - Two fallen Navy petty officers became the 18th and 19th recipients of the National Intelligence Medal for Valor in a July 22 ceremony at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence here.
Calling Day and Strange "two young heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country," Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper presented the medals in front of a standing-room-only gathering of families, friends and shipmates. Knowing the valley served as an enemy safe haven with no sustained coalition force presence, and knowing that their mission was to interdict and ambush an armed enemy force, Day and Strange volunteered to pursue an enemy known to have attacked and killed coalition forces with plans for future attacks, the citations said. Both "selflessly chose to interdict the fleeing enemy when [they] boarded the helicopter with [their] teammates," the citations said, but the aggressive mission ended tragically when their helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, causing it to crash and killing all on board. Twenty-eight other Americans, eight Afghans and a military working dog were en route to assist an Army Ranger unit engaged in a firefight with Taliban forces west of the Afghan capital of Kabul, Clapper added. "For each of them, the courageous choice to ride to the sound of gunfire was one they'd made many times before," he told the audience. The accident was the largest single loss of American life during the Afghanistan campaign and the greatest single loss of life ever suffered by the U.S. Special Operations community, Clapper said. The U.S. intelligence community looks up to Day and Strange for their heroism and for "setting the example for our entire community," Clapper said. "They served at an amazing nexus of the Navy, special operations and the intelligence community." Serving with the Navy SEALS, he added, Day and Strange were unique, elite and truly remarkable young men. "We continue to look to them as selfless examples of service to this great nation," Clapper said. "They were the best of us." Both men are now part of the history of this country, he said, calling them "a legacy of sacrifice toward something larger than just oneself." Sam Day and Karolyn Kimball Day of Salt Lake City received the medal for valor for their son. "He was just amazing," Elizabeth Kimball Day said of her son, adding that he was only 6 years old when he declared he wanted to join the Navy, and did so when he was 19. "He was always the funny one" she said. "He always got up with a smile, and went to bed with a smile. He always took the underdog under his wing." Michael Strange also joined the Navy at a young age, his mother said, adding that she and Michael's father had to sign papers when he was 17 to allow him to go into the Navy when he graduated from high school at age 18. "It was a decision he made, and he was really determined," she added. Strange's family didn't believe he wanted to join the military at first. His mother said he wasn't one to arrive at school on time, but he scored very high on tests and was excited when the Navy told him about the jobs he could perform. "He meshed well with the Navy, [and] I couldn't believe it," his mother said. "He excelled at it." | ||
| Biographies: James R. Clapper Related Articles: |
| Web: | http://americancoldwarvets.org/ |
| Blog: | Cold War Veterans Blog |
| Email: | Sean.Eagan@gmail.com |
| Phone: | |
| Network: | My Fast Pitch! Profile |
Stratcom Braces for 'Readiness Avalanche' from SequestrationBy Donna Miles WASHINGTON, July 24, 2013 - Recognizing that the services have made tough choices to ensure U.S. Strategic Command can maintain its deterrence mission in the face of sequestration, the Stratcom commander said he has grave concerns about the "readiness avalanche" that's ahead. The nuclear triad and Stratcom's space, cyber and other essential activities have not felt the day-to-day readiness impact of across-the-board budget cuts, Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler told reporters today at a Defense Writers Group breakfast roundtable. "Not yet," Kehler emphasized. "Because of the nature of Strategic Command's missions, the services have given us preferential treatment," he explained. "So far the services have been able to scrape together readiness money to keep it on things like the dual-capable bomber force," reprogramming funds as possible to cover those costs. "They are not going to be able to sustain that," Kehler said. "If sequestration continues, it is not going to continue." Kehler saw evidence of that during his recent visit to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., home of Global Strike Command. Walking the floor of the maintenance dock and talking to the flight crews, Kehler said he was struck by reactions to the sound of aircraft operations. "Everyone commented that they had not heard any flying activity for two or three days," he said. "They were motivated again, hearing aircraft fly." Those sounds reflected the Air Force's conscious decision to continue nuclear certification for B-52 Stratofortress aircraft crews, he said, recognizing that the funds came at the expense of something else. "I know, behind the scenes, both the Air Force and the Navy have had to make a lot of decisions" to be able to support Stratcom, he said. "I am worried about readiness," Kehler said. "It is like watching an avalanche where you see it start small, and if you ignore readiness accounts and the momentum builds, then eventually you have a readiness avalanche." Kehler said he's particularly concerned about "the human dimension" of sequestration and the long-term impact it could have on the Defense Department. While military units reduce flying hours and stand down units, civilian workers experiencing furloughs are reassessing their futures with DOD, he said. "I am worried that those [civilians] near retirement age will not hang on, because they will not be confident in us," Kehler said. Equally concerning, he said, is the discouraging impact sequestration is having on younger civilian workers who represent the command's and department's future. Kehler pointed to Stratcom's successful internship program that attracts talented young employees to the command. "Some [interns] have said they won't stay [because they] don't see the future here," he said. "So I am very concerned about the human dimension of all this." |
| Biographies: Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler Related Sites: Related Articles: |
| Web: | http://americancoldwarvets.org/ |
| Blog: | Cold War Veterans Blog |
| Email: | Sean.Eagan@gmail.com |
| Phone: | |
| Network: | My Fast Pitch! Profile |
DAV Legislative Alert | |||||||
| |||||||
WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Friday, July 19, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing to examine Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense medical care and treatment options for survivors of military sexual trauma.
Military sexual trauma, or MST, refers to experiences of sexual assault or repeated, threatening acts of sexual harassment. DoD estimates that 26,000 service members experienced some form of MST in 2012, and according to VA, about one in five women and one in 100 men seen by the Veterans Health Administration report having experienced some form of sexual trauma during their military service. While MST rates are higher among women, the majority of victims are men, according to DoD.
The effects of MST do not disappear once a victim leaves military service, and can have long-term physical and mental health consequences. The purpose of this hearing is to examine VA and DoD capabilities for treating MST within the active duty and veteran populations as well as any gaps in care and services that may exist in order to help ensure a structured, competent and coordinated continuum of care for MST survivors.
WHO: Subcommittee on Health
WHAT: Hearing: "Safety for Survivors: Care and Treatment for Military Sexual Trauma"
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 19, 2013
WHERE: Room 334, Cannon House Office Building and streaming at veterans.house.gov
The witness list is as follows:
Panel 1
Victoria Sanders
Veteran, MST Survivor
Lisa Wilken
Veteran, MST Survivor
Brian Lewis
Veteran, MST Survivor
Tara Johnson
Veteran, MST Survivor
Panel 2
Michael Shepherd M.D
Physician, Office of Health Care Inspections
Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
Karen McGoff-Yost LCSW
Associate Director, Bay Pines Office of Healthcare Inspections
Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Jonathan M. Farrell-Higgins Ph.D.
Chief, Stress Disorder Treatment Program
Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System
Veterans Integrated Service Network 15
Veterans Health Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Carol O'Brien Ph.D.
Chief, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Programs
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
Veterans Integrated Service Network 8
Veterans Health Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Panel 3
Rajiv Jain M.D.
Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Patient Care Services
Office of Patient Care Services
Veterans Health Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
David Carroll Ph.D.
Acting Chief Consultant, Mental Health Services
Office of Patient Care Services
Veterans Health Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Stacey Pollack Ph.D.
National Mental Health Director of Program Policy Implementation
Mental Health Services, Office of Patient Care Services
Veterans Health Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Karen S. Guice M.D., M.P.P
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Office of Health Affairs
U.S. Department of Defense
Statements for the Record
The American Legion
Disabled American Veterans on Behalf of the Independent Budget
Indiana Coalition against Sexual Assault
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Servicewomen's Action Network
###
Updated July 17, 2013 14:28:20
Cuba says it owns weapons seized aboard a North Korean cargo ship in Panama.
Yesterday the president of Panama said the cargo ship had been caught trying to smuggle sophisticated missile equipment through the Panama Canal.
But Havana says the weapons are obsolete and defensive and include Soviet-era anti-aircraft batteries and disassembled rockets that were being sent for repair in North Korea.
The shipment could constitute a violation of strict United Nations arms sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear program and further sour relations between the US and Cuba.
A Cuban government statement said the repair of the weapons was important for "our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty".
"Cuba reiterates its firm and unwavering commitment with peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament and respect for international law," the statement said.
Panama president Ricardo Martinelli tweeted a photo of the contraband haul, which experts have identified as an ageing Soviet-built radar control system for surface-to-air missiles.
His government said the contraband munitions were hidden under thousands of bags of sugar aboard the North Korean-flagged Chong Chon Gang, which was stopped on suspicion it could be transporting drugs.
Panama's security minister, Jose Raul Mulino, told RPC radio the affair was now a matter for UN investigators, while the US hailed the Panamanian action.
The magazine IHS Jane's Defence Weekly said on Tuesday that the photo tweeted by Mr Martinelli appeared to show a "RSN-75 'Fan Song' fire-control radar system".
The weapons were developed in 1957 and frequently used during the Vietnam War.
Cuba said the shipment contained 240 tonnes of weaponry "manufactured in the mid-20th century".
But Panamanian officials said the crew resisted searches and that the ship's captain attempted to commit suicide after the vessel was stopped.
"The manner in which the cargo was concealed, and the reported reaction of the crew, strongly suggests this was a covert shipment of equipment," Jane's Defence Weekly said in a statement.
Mr Martinelli said the ship, which was sailing from Cuba with a crew of about three dozen, was targeted on Friday by drug enforcement officials as it approached the canal and was taken into port in Manzanillo.
After a search, officials found the contraband missiles hidden in a shipment of 100,000 kilograms of sugar.
A Panama government spokesman said an examination of the ship by weapons specialists may take a week.
"The world needs to sit up and take note: you cannot go around shipping undeclared weapons of war through the Panama Canal," Mr Martinelli told Radio Panama on Monday.
The vessel was being held in a restricted zone and the crew has been detained, officials said. No drugs have been found on board.
UN sanctions bar the transport of all weapons to or from North Korea apart from the import of small arms. Several of the country's ships have been searched in recent years.
In July 2009 a North Korean ship heading to Myanmar, the Kang Nam 1, was followed by the US navy due to suspicions it was carrying weapons. It turned around and headed home.
Pyongyang has yet to comment on the latest incident.
Five per cent of the world's commerce travels through the century-old Panama Canal and that is expected to increase following the completion of a major expansion project.
Veterans to Have Easier Access to Health Care
WASHINGTON (July 10, 2013)– Veterans will have improved access to health care under a Department of Veterans Affairs initiative that supports new transportation services for those living in highly rural areas.
VA began accepting applications this month for grants to help state Veterans Service Agencies and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) operate or contract for transportation services to transport Veterans to VA medical centers and other facilities that provide VA care. A new regulation establishes the program that will administer these grants. Transportation will be provided at no cost to Veterans.
"VA wants to be sure that all Veterans, including those who live in rural and remote areas, can receive the health care they have earned through service to our country," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "State Veterans Agencies and VSOs will now be able to employ innovative approaches to transportation services for Veterans in our highly rural areas. The end results will include better service and better health care for Veterans."
VSOs and State Veterans Service Agencies may apply for grants up to $50,000 to fund transportation of Veterans to and from VA medical centers and other facilities that provide VA care. If specified in the application, the services may be provided under agreements with contractors, such as private bus or van companies.
A highly rural area is defined as a county or counties with a population of fewer than seven persons per square mile. Many highly rural areas are found in the western and southwestern United States but at least half of the states have at least one highly rural area.
One of Secretary Shinseki's top three priorities is increasing access to VA care and services for Veterans wherever they live. VA is expanding access in a three-pronged effort that includes facilities, programs and technology. Veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan are eligible for an extended period of eligibility for health care for 5 years after they have left the service.
For more information, please see the Federal Register.
# # #
From a Department of Veterans Affairs News Release WASHINGTON, July 11, 2013 - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced the award of nearly $300 million in grants that will help approximately 120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. The grants have been awarded to 319 community agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. "With these grants, we are strengthening our partnership with community non-profits across the country to provide veterans and their families with hope, a home, and a future," Shinseki said. "The work of Supportive Services for Veteran Families program grantees has already helped us prevent and end homelessness among tens of thousands of homeless veterans and their families, but as long as a single veteran lives on our streets, we have work to do." Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, VA is awarding grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very low-income veteran families living in -- or transitioning to -- permanent housing. The SSVF program supports VA's efforts to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless and rapidly re-house those who have recently fallen into homelessness. Thanks to the SSVF grants, those community organizations will provide a range of services that promote housing stability and play a key role in connecting veterans and their family members to VA services such as mental health care and other benefits. Community-based groups can offer temporary financial assistance on behalf of veterans for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs. This is the third year SSVF grants have helped veterans and their families find or remain in their homes. Last year, VA provided about $100 million to assist approximately 50,000 veterans and family members. In 2009, President Barack Obama and Shinseki announced the federal government's goal to end veterans' homelessness in 2015. The grants are intended to help accomplish that goal. According to the 2012 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness, homelessness among veterans has declined 17.2 percent since 2009. Through the homeless veterans initiative, VA committed over $1 billion in fiscal year 2013 to strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among veterans. VA provides a range of services to homeless veterans, including health care, job training, and education. |
| Related Sites: VA Homeless Programs Veterans Families Program U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Web: | http://americancoldwarvets.org/ |
| Blog: | Cold War Veterans Blog |
| Email: | Sean.Eagan@gmail.com |
| Phone: | |
| Network: | My Fast Pitch! Profile |
 |
| The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and local Department of Veterans Affairs teamed up in May 2010 to host Operation Troop Employment, a job fair for America's veterans and their families. The job fair also had a companion 12-page special section that was distributed through the newspaper and at the event. Image supplied |
|
|
