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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
VA Prosthetic Care at a Crossroads
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to examine VA's current capabilities to provide state-of-the-art care to veterans with amputations. The Committee heard testimony concerning VA's proposal to change procurement processes for prostheses, potentially hindering a veteran's ability to acquire the latest prosthetic and corresponding care and support.
"VA has been struggling to keep pace with the rising demands of younger and more active veterans with amputations," stated Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health. "VA must continue to provide multi-disciplinary care to maintain long-term and life-time quality of life. Placing prosthesis procurement into the hands of contracting officers is alarming. VA needs to match the determination and spirit demonstrated by our wounded warriors and recommit themselves to becoming a leader once again in prosthetic care."
Currently, VA provides care to approximately 42,000 veterans with limb loss. As of August of 2011, 1,506 servicemembers had experienced amputations on active duty from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. An additional 2,248 veterans underwent major amputations at VA in 2011. VA prosthetic costs have more than doubled in the past five years, yet, VA's care has fallen behind that of the Department of Defense (DoD).
"Prosthetics are a truly individualized extension of one person's body and mobility, not your typical bulk supply purchase," stated Jim Mayer, a Vietnam veteran, double amputee, and wounded warrior advocate and mentor. "When today's warriors are referred to VA and seek the newer, cutting-edge, technologically superior prosthetics they have been accustomed to [through DoD], will VA be able to meet that demand? DoD centers of excellence provide state-of-the-art and often newly evaluative prosthetics that have allowed warriors to thrive, not just in walking, but also run competitively, compete in the Paralympics, rock climb, play myriad sports and other endeavors."
"Prosthetic technology and VA have come a long way from the Civil War era. Following World War II, veterans dissatisfied with the quality of VA prosthetics stormed the Capitol in protest. Congress responded by providing VA with increased flexibility for prosthetic options and federally funded research and development," said Buerkle. "As a result, VA has been a leader in helping veterans with amputations regain mobility and achieve maximum independence. This is why I am troubled by VA's proposed changes in procurement policies and procedures which shifts the emphasis from the doctors to contracting officers."
For more news from House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, please visit:
http://Veterans.House.Gov
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Sean P Eagan
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Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans
U.S.-South Korea Alliance Provides Security in Northeast Asia
By Jim Garamone WASHINGTON, May 16, 2012 - The U.S.-South Korea alliance provides security and stability in Northeast Asia and that partnership will continue into the future, said Brig. Gen. Kang Yong-hee, chief of public affairs for the South Korean Army. The United States and South Korea today stand together to face the threat posed by North Korea, Kang said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel. That partnership, he said, stems from the two nations' comradeship during the Korean War. "We fought together to protect values we both share -- freedom and democracy," Kang said. "I think this experience is the founding stone of the ROK [South Korea]-U.S. alliance." North Korea has a 6 million-man military out of a population of 23 million. An armistice, rather than a peace treaty, ended the Korean War, which was fought from 1950 to 1953. Technically, this means the North and South are still at war. The United States has about 28,000 troops serving in South Korea who exercise and train with their South Korean counterparts. They are seasoned by 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and are passing lessoned learned to their South Korean counterparts. "I think the realistic, action oriented training system based on real combat experience has been very helpful," Kang said. South Korea is scheduled to assume wartime command of allied forces on the peninsula in 2015. "As we develop our level of cooperation beyond the realm of military and security to areas such as politics, economics, society and culture, we need to enhance our military partnership beyond operational level," Kang said. "I believe we can achieve that." During his visit, Kang received briefings and met with officials at the Pentagon. He also visited Fort Meade, Md., where he toured the studios of the Defense Media Activity. |
| Related Sites: State Department Background Note on South Korea |
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Sean P Eagan
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Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans
Sign The Card
| | Dear Sean, I hope you got my last email. Let me get right to the point ... VFW wants to get a signed card in the hands of as many hospitalized veterans as we can. Please help us and sign a Thank You card today. I need every member to take action. I will personally make sure your card is printed and delivered to a hospitalized veteran who needs to feel remembered. But I need to hear from you soon, comrade! Sign your card by May 18 so we can make sure your card is delivered promptly. And please forward this email to your friends and family. Thank you for your service, Sean, and for your concern for your fellow veterans. FOR  VETERANS, Allen "Gunner" Kent |
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Sean P Eagan
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Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
VRAP Every Veteran Eligible Should Apply
Miller: "I Encourage All Unemployed Veterans to Apply"
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, issued the following statement on the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program:
"Starting today, unemployed veterans can apply to learn a new skill or trade through the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP was the cornerstone of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
"Veterans over the age of 35 comprise more than two-thirds of all unemployed veterans. Too many unemployed veterans, who did not expect to have to begin a second career at this stage of their life, are now faced with the need for new skills to compete in this struggling economy. VRAP will provide nearly 100,000 unemployed veterans the ability to use the Montgomery GI Bill for one-year to train for a new career in industries such as technology and manufacturing. I encourage all unemployed veterans, ages 35-60, to apply today.
"I also hope that every outlet will help get the word out to unemployed veterans about VRAP, including the White House. This is a bipartisan effort, and if the President is serious about reducing veteran unemployment, I hope he will use his bully pulpit to tout this opportunity as a long-term solution to help America's veterans find meaningful employment and financial stability."
To apply for VRAP and learn more about eligibility, please click here.
Secretary Shinseki (Department of Veterans Affairs) and Secretary Solis (Department of Labor) are expected to testify before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the implementation of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act on May 31 at 10:15 a.m. in Room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building.
Here are the basic eligibility requirements for the VRAP program from: http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm
Congress passed, and the President has signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012.
The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
- Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
- Are unemployed
- Received an other than dishonorable discharge
- Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
- Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
- Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
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Sean P Eagan
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Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans
ADDABBO & MILLER VETERANS (and Spouses) Queen's JOB FAIR
WHAT: VETERANS JOB FAIR - FREE - OPEN TO VETERANS & SPOUSES ONLY!
This event will take place indoors. Many potential employers will be looking to hire qualified candidates, so bring plenty of resumes, dress for success! Industries represented include: Finance, Health Care, Retail, Sales, Social Services, Transportation, Trades, Information Technology, and more. Training opportunities will also be available. Bring Veterans ID (VA ID, Active Military ID, DD214, etc.). Spouse should bring service member's DD214 and proof of marriage.
WHERE: The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Avenue, Glendale (@80th Street, formerly where Steinmart's had retail space, on lower level beneath Regal movie theatre)
Free parking available in the South Garage only; wheelchair accessible. Travel by subway: L train to Grand Street, then take Q54 to Atlas Park. M train to Metropolitan Ave. Middle Village, then take Q54 to Atlas Park. M/R to Woodhaven Blvd./Queens Blvd.; then take Q29 to Atlas Park (bus stop on Hoffman Drive). E train to Jamaica/Van Wyck, then take Q54 to Atlas Park. Travel by bus: Q54 between Williamsburg & Glendale on Metropolitan Avenue, stops directly outside Atlas Park; Q45 between Jackson Heights & Glendale, stops outside Atlas Park; Q29 between Jackson Heights & Glendale, stops directly outside Atlas Park. Check online at http://tripplanner.mta.info/_start.aspx for more specific public transit directions.
WHEN: Friday, June 8, 2012, 10 AM – 3 PM
For more information, driving directions or if you would like to attend, please contact Senator Addabbo's district offices: Howard Beach at 718-738-1111 or Middle Village at 718-497-1630 . Follow us on Facebook at 'Senator Joe Addabbo'. Visit us online: http://addabbo.nysenate.gov.
on Friday, June 8 from 10 AM – 3 PM, Shops at Atlas Park (Steinmart's former space) – List of Potential Employers:
AARP Foundation WorkSearch
ASA College
Avon
B & H Photo
Bloomberg LP
Borough of Manhattan Community College
British Airways PLC
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Cablevision
Collabera Inc.
Council for Airport Opportunity Inc.
Delta Airlines
Dunli Group (USA)
Enterprise Holdings
Experis
The FDM Group
FEDCAP
General Services Administration
GoodTemps
Green Mountain Energy
Helmets to Hardhats
Heroes Villages LLC/Solar Change Inc
Home Depot
Hope for the Warriors
HSBC Bank USA, NA
Hurwitz Strategic Staffing
Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults
Jericho Project
Kelly's Car Service
Matco Tools
Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs
Mercy College
MSC Industrial Supply
MTA - NYC Transit
New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
New York Life
Nontraditional Employment for Women
NorthCoast Financial Group/MetLife
NYC Citywide Administrative Services
NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol
NYC Police Department
NYS Department of Civil Service
NYS Department of Labor
NYS Department of Taxation & Finance
NYS Police
Per Scholas Institute for Technology
Port Authority of NY & NJ
Prudential
Resorts World New York at Aqueduct
Robert Half International
Time Warner Cable
Transportation Security Administration
Toyota of Manhattan
Troops to Teachers PA & NY
United Parcel Service
US Department of Veterans Affairs-Manhattan & Bronx VA Medical Centers
Valley National Bank
AARP Drivers Safety
Brooklyn Public Library
Chrysalis Career Coaching
CNYCN
Crystal Clear Connextions
Dress for Success
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
NYS EPIC Program
Learning Disabilities Association NYC
Neighborhood Health Providers
NYS Comptroller
NYS EPIC Program
Purzue
Queens Legal Services
Queens Public Library
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Sean P Eagan
| | | | | | |
Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans
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