VFW Washington Weekly Dec 7th 2012

The VFW Remembers Pearl Harbor
VFW National Commander John Hamilton and Ladies Auxiliary National President Leanne Lemley are in Hawaii to lay a wreath at the USS Arizona memorial to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They also discussed veteran and military healthcare with Dr. James Hastings, director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, and Army Brig. Gen. Dennis Doyle, commander of Tripler Army Medical Center. They were also scheduled to discuss the VFW's full support of MIA recovery efforts with the commander of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kelly McKeague, and military troop and family issues with Army Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. Accompanied by Hawaii Department Commander Ben Acohido and Ladies Auxiliary President Anita Acohido, they also laid a wreath at the National Cemetery of the Pacific to commemorate the opening of a new Vietnam War mural. For photos and highlights from Commander Hamilton's visit, check back with the Capitol Hill blog next week. Also check out the VFW's Pearl Harbor Day message.

Senate Passes NDAA
This week, the Senate passed their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a vote of 98-0. The bill does not contain any TRICARE fee increases, which were a part of the House-passed version. The House and Senate now meet in conference to iron out differences in the bills. Some of the items the VFW is advocating that remain in the final bill include:

• Requiring DOD to report on changes to TRICARE Prime coverage areas.
• TRICARE beneficiary coverage for certain autism treatment disorders.
• Revised Stolen Valor Act – making it a federal crime to falsify military decorations for personal gain.
• A comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention program within DOD.
• Improvements in the transition process for active duty.
• CRSC payments to combat–disabled retirees forced into medical retirement

The bill also included a VFW-supported provision which requires DOD to provide Congress a comprehensive policy on sexual harassment and to keep copies of restricted reports on sexual assaults on file for 50 years. The conference committee is set to begin working out differences early next week with a final bill expected to be voted on before Christmas. For more information on the bill and the roll call vote, click here.

TRICARE Fees Not Included in Senate NDAA
Absent from the Senate-passed NDAA bill were any increases to TRICARE premiums and pharmacy copayments, which the VFW vehemently opposed. However, the issue of TRICARE fee increases is not quite over. The House-passed NDAA included a provision calling for increases in pharmacy co-pay fees, and the Pentagon has claimed that healthcare costs are unnecessarily burdening the defense budget. The VFW disagrees with this premise, and has been one of the few veterans' organizations in Washington fighting to prevent any increases in military healthcare premiums, encouraging other cost-cutting measures that will not burden military families or break faith with military retirees. Now we want to know your opinion. Visit our blog for more information and to add your voice by voting on the most responsible way to handle the situation. To learn more and to find our online poll, click here.  

Congressman Michaud Appointed Ranking Member on VA
Congressman Michael Michaud of Maine was named the Ranking Member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee this week. Michaud takes the gavel from retired member and new Mayor of San Diego, Bob Filner (D-CA).  Michaud has been on the committee for over 10 years and, most recently, was the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health. Michaud has consistently served as a vocal advocate for rural and remotely-located veterans who face significant barriers to receiving the care they are entitled to. The VFW looks forward to working with him to improve the care and benefits of all veterans in the 113th Congress. To read Michaud's press announcement regarding his new appointment, click here.

House Committee Discusses VA/DOD Claims
Earlier this week, the House VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled, "Wading through Warehouses of Paper: The Challenges of Transitioning Veterans Records to Paperless Technology." The Subcommittee has had many hearings on the subject of joint claims and had asked witnesses to discuss innovative ways to move the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) into the 21st century. During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Jon Runyan (R-NJ) expressed the need for better collaboration between the VA and DOD to aid veterans who are transitioning out of the service. The VFW will continue monitoring the process as we move into the 113th Congress. To view the recorded webcast or to read witnesses testimony, click here.

Two MIAs Recovered
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office recently announced the identification of remains belonging to two soldiers who had been missing in action from their wars in Korea and Vietnam. Identified are:

• Army Sgt. Bobby R. King, 19, of Seymour, Texas. In August 1950, King and his unit, Battery A, 90th Field Artillery Battalion, were fighting against North Korean forces in a battle known as the "Bloody Gulch," near Pongam-ni, South Korea. King was listed as missing in action after the battle.
• Army Sgt. John R. Jones, 22, of Louisville, Ky. On June 4, 1971, Jones was working with indigenous commandos to defend a radio-relay base, known as Hickory Hill, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. When enemy forces attacked the site, Jones and another serviceman took up a defensive position in a nearby bunker. The following morning, Jones was reportedly killed by enemy fire and the other soldier was captured and held as a POW until 1973.

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile

U.S. Monitors Possible North Korean Rocket Launch

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2012 - U.S. Pacific Command has moved ships into place to monitor a possible North Korean rocket launch, Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III said here today. North Korean officials have threatened to launch a satellite-tipped rocket into space sometime this month. Locklear, Pacom's commander, said such a move would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. "We encourage the leadership in North Korea to consider what they are doing here and the implications on the overall security environment on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in Asia," Locklear said during a Pentagon news conference. The move would be similar to what the nation would do to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korea has been pursuing nuclear technology in defiance of the international community and has claimed to have carried out several tests of nuclear devices. Launching the rocket could show that North Korea has a delivery system for a nuclear weapon. "And this ... would be very destabilizing ... not only to the region but to the international security environment," Locklear said. The possible rocket launch would counter what has been a series of positive steps North Korea has made. "There have been ... a number of signs that might lead you to believe that the new regime leadership is going to take a more ... rational approach to how they deal with their own economy and how they deal with their own people, and how they deal internationally," Locklear said. "There's been a feeling that there might be some hope there." Locklear's priority -- like that of all U.S. commanders -- is the defense of the United States. As such, he is watching North Korean preparations carefully and talking with friends and allies in the region. The command has moved U.S. Navy ships in place to achieve optimal monitoring of the threatened launch. This is also important because Pacom has a homeland defense mission for Guam, the Marianas islands and other states in Oceana.

Biographies: Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III Related Sites: U.S. Pacific Command Related Articles: Pacific Command Seeks Collaboration, Not Confrontation

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile

Readout of Vice Chief of Naval Operations Meeting with Chinese Admiral

            Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson, met today with Vice Commander-in Chief, People's Liberation Army (Navy) Vice Adm. Zhang Yongyi at the Pentagon. 

            Ferguson and Zhang discussed U.S.-China military to military relations, counter piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden, the upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC 2014), and future opportunities to work and train together. 

            "I enjoyed the opportunity to meet today with Adm. Zhang, and I believe our discussion helped foster better understanding and awareness between our two navies.  I am grateful for both Adm. Zhang's time and his candor," said Ferguson.  "There remains much work to do, but I am convinced that the leaders of both navies remain committed to that effort."

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile

Lost Luggage To Homeless Vets, Not a Bad Idea

ELEPHANT CORNER: Lost Luggage Finds Its Way To Homeless Vets, Thanks To Toomey

http://www.phillyrecord.com/2012/12/elephant-corner-lost-luggage-finds-its-way-to-homeless-vets-thanks-to-toomey/

This Tuesday, US SEN. PAT TOOMEY held a press conference at the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center in Northern Liberties. The Center's Executive Director MARSHA FOUR introduced Toomey. Toomey discussed a bill he had introduced which would require the Transportation Administration to distribute any unclaimed articles at airport-security checkpoints to homeless and needy veterans. This luggage often includes high-quality apparel. The US House of Representatives passed a companion bill sponsored by KATHY HOCHEL (D-NY) recently.

Attendees at the press conference included elected officials and veterans. STATE REP. NICK MICCARELLI, STATE SEN. MIKE STACK and CITY COUNCILMAN DAVID OH, who are both elected officials and veterans, were there. Miccarelli, a Republican from Delaware Co. and University of Pennsylvania graduate, expressed his gratitude to the Vietnam War veterans who greeted him at the airport on his return from Iraq. He noted we Americans are treating our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan far better than we did those who came back from Vietnam.

While this demonstration of respect is positive, he noted we must remember that many of these returning solders are suffering both physically and psychologically from their wartime experiences. Many have found it hard to transition into civilian life.  Many have not found jobs and many are homeless.

The Veterans Affairs Dept. states about 75,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Toomey's involvement in this bill illustrates his willingness to reach across the aisle. Earlier this year, the President signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. This legislation makes it easier for mid-sized companies to issue the equity needed to expand and thus make jobs. Toomey sponsored this bill with SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY).

Toomey was one of the first Republicans in Washington to put forth a detailed plan to avoid the "fiscal cliff". If the President and Congress do not reach an agreement on taxes and spending cuts, the Bush-era tax cuts will expire for all Americans and automatic spending cuts will go into effect on Jan. 1. The spending cuts include significant decreases in military spending which could affect local employers such as Boeing. Many economists believe if we do not avoid the fiscal cliff, the country will go into another recession.

Toomey is averse to tax increases, as he believes our federal government does not have a revenue problem but a spending problem. However, in order to avoid the fiscal cliff, Toomey has proposed we increase taxes primarily on the wealthy through revising the tax code and getting rid of numerous exemptions. He also believes we need to change both Social Security and Medicare because these plans as currently structured are not economically sustainable.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives JOHN BOEHNER offered a similar plan to the President this week but was rebuffed. The President still wants to let the Bush-era tax cuts remain in place for all except families making $250,000 per year or more. He refers to these people as the "2%". He revised this from his previous talking point of the "1%" when I assume his advisers told him that those in the1% make much more than $250,000.

The President recognizes that this tax hike on the "rich" will cover only a small fraction of this year's deficit, but he states that these high-income people need to pay their fair share. This elephant is not sure what their "fair share" is. The Internal Revenue Service data shows in 2009, the top 5% of households paid roughly 40% of federal income-tax revenues. Approximately 50% of the households in the US pay no federal income taxes.

This elephant is also curious as to why the President is fixated on the $250,000 figure. I am sure a family of four living in Des Moines, Iowa is living very well on this figure. However, in New York City a veteran police officer and his nurse wife could make $250,000 (with overtime). The cost of living in New York is much higher than in Iowa. Not to mention they may feel that the need to send their children to private school if their offspring are not lucky enough to get into magnet schools. This police officer and his family are better off than many, but they are not living large. This is not lost on Schumer, a liberal Democrat, who has recommended the higher tax bracket apply to those making $1,000,000.

Meanwhile, word in the Philly elephant herd is Republican City Committee has a dream ticket and is trying to persuade Common Pleas JUDGE PAUL PANEPINTO to run for District Attorney and Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association PRESIDENT FRED ANTON to run for City Controller. The logic goes that with a 6-to-1 Democratic edge, there's no way either would realistically win. However, a bona fide city GOP ticket will assure super GOP voters will come out to vote – and thus cut into the Democrats' Philly voter margin to assure that VIC STABILE, the anticipated GOP candidate for Superior Court wins. Stabile needs a strong GOP turnout in Philly despite this being an off-election, because Allegheny Co. has a strong turnout to the hot Pittsburgh mayoral race.

No word yet from the Judge or Anton, but this will be the most viable DA/Controller ticket since Specter-Gola! Additionally, Panepinto and Anton know how to fund-raise.



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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
Web: http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog: Cold War Veterans Blog
Email: Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:  716 720-4000
Network: My Fast Pitch! Profile

Greetings from the NYU PTSD Research Program!

 

We need military members who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom to participate in our research study "Biomarkers for PTSD," which investigates the biological risk and protective factors for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder.

 

You can earn up to $450 if you are eligible and complete all study procedures.

 

We are looking for veterans or active duty service members who:

·         Served in OEF/OIF

·         Do or do not have PTSD symptoms (e.g., intrusive memories, nightmares, trouble sleeping, irritability, emotional numbing, flashbacks, avoidance, nervousness in crowds, being easily startled by loud noises)

 

Participation includes:

·         An interview

·         2 physical exams

·         Memory testing

·         A survey

·         An MRI scan

 

We maintain a strong ethical and legal commitment to the privacy of our participants, therefore your participation is confidential.  The information learned will only be used for purposes of the study.

 

Please call Sharon at 877-698-3299 if you are interested.

 

Call: 877-698-3299

Email: ptsdresearch@nyumc.org

Visit: http://ptsdresearch.nyumc.org/

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile

From Republicans, a Parting Slap at Bob Dole and Disabled Americans

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/from-republicans-a-parting-slap-at-bob-dole-and-disabled-americans/

Former Senator Bob Dole, 89 years old and in a wheelchair, went onto to the floor of the Senate today to urge his former colleagues to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. Mr. Dole, a disabled veteran, has been one of the leading voices urging ratification of the treaty, which seeks to bring the world closer to the high standard set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the landmark civil-rights law enacted under President George H.W. Bush.

One by one, according to Roll Call, the senators approached Mr. Dole to pat his shoulder or clasp his hand, making gestures of respect for the man who was for many years the Republican majority leader.

Then he was wheeled away, and all but a handful of the Republicans bailed out on him. The treaty failed. It needed a two-thirds vote to pass, or 67 votes, and fell six short.

So much for America's support of a global agreement "to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities."

The vote was a triumph for Glenn Beck, Rick Santorum and others on the hard-right loon fringe, who have been feverishly denouncing the treaty as a United Nations world-government conspiracy to kill disabled children (you can look it up).

Only eight Republicans voted yes: Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John McCain of Arizona.

Several Republicans who might have made a difference but voted "no," as Roll Call pointed out, are up for re-election in 2014 and are facing possible primary challenges from the right: Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, who changed his "yes" to a "no" after it was obvious the treaty would fail.

Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement after the vote: "This is one of the saddest days I've seen in almost 28 years in the Senate, and it needs to be a wake-up call about a broken institution that's letting down the American people."

He added: "Today the dysfunction hurt veterans and the disabled, and that's unacceptable. This treaty was supported by every veterans group in America and Bob Dole made an inspiring and courageous personal journey back to the Senate to fight for it. It had bipartisan support, and it had the facts on its side, and yet for one ugly vote, none of that seemed to matter. We won't give up on this and the Disabilities Treaty will pass because it's the right thing to do, but today I understand better than ever before why Americans have such disdain for Congress and just how much must happen to fix the Senate so we can act on the real interests of our country."

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile