Colleagues and Fellow Veterans,

I would like to provide you a brief update with respect to Section 702 of the Choice Act.  Today the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs announced a blanket waiver to all non-compliant states until December 31, 2015 (granted a waiver).

In November, I wrote about the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ("the Choice Act") which included a provision affecting students using the Post-9/11GI Bill® and Montgomery GI Bill.  The law requires us to disapprove programs under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty at a public institutions of higher learning if the school charges certain individuals tuition and fees in excess of the resident rate for terms beginning after July 1, 2015.

We've been working with every state and territory since December on complying - no state or territory has indicated its schools do not intend to comply with the law. In fact, as of today 21 states comply with the resident rate-requirements of the Choice Act (www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/702.asp).

We are working hard to ensure all GI Bill beneficiaries have up to date information.  As well, we are updating the GI Bill website with the latest information as schools and states comply with these requirements. We will also post breaking information on the GI Bill Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gibillEducation.

Folks may read our new FAQs by visiting https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/answers/list  and searching "702." They can also call our hot line at 1-888-GIBILL-1 to speak with a Customer Service Representative who is ready to answer their questions.

Please help us raise awareness about this important law and the Secretary's waiver by sending this missive to your colleagues.

V/R

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Core Values:  Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence ("I CARE")

Please Remember:

If you would like to review prior messages sent through this listserv, click http://benefits.va.gov/vow/economic_opportunity.htm.

If you would like to research, find, access, and, in time, manage your VA benefits and personal information please visit and/or register at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal.

If you looking for a job or an employer committed to hiring Veterans, please register on the Veterans Employment Center (VEC) at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs

HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MARK UP (Joint Hearing SVAC)

May 15, 2015

Media Contact: Curt Cashour

(202) 225-3527

HVAC Hearing and Meeting Schedule May 18 - 22

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) today released the hearing schedule for May 18 – 22. The following events are open to the press:

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Hearing: "Joint Hearing of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees to receive the Legislative Presentation of Multiple Veterans Service Organizations" (PVA, AMVETS, MOAA, MOPH, IAVA, VVA, BVA and NCOA)

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

(10:00 AM – Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216, and streaming at www.veterans.house.gov)

                                   

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Hearing: "Markup of Pending Legislation"

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

(9:00 AM – 334 Cannon House Office Building, and streaming at www.veterans.house.gov)

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For more news from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, please visit:

Veterans.House.Gov

Re: BLS Data - March 2015 and 1st Quarter 2015

Vet Employment Data

On Apr 3, 2015 2:40 PM, "VA Office of Economic Opportunity" <Veteransbenefits@public.govdelivery.com> wrote:

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans,   As with the first Friday of every month, the BLS employment statistics were released today.  Attached is our 'cheat sheet' for your use and information.  We have also included the 1st quarter 2015 statistic report. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5% and the Veteran unemployment rate decreased from 5.3% to 4.9%.  The quarterly Veteran unemployment rate decreased from 6.0% in the first quarter of 2014 to 5.2% in the first quarter of 2015.       Thanks to all of you who are working directly or indirectly, to ensure our Veterans have meaningful employment.   BLS Employment Data - March 2015.pdf BLS Employment Data - 1st Quarter 2015.pdf   V/R   Curtis L. Coy Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity Veterans Benefits Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs   VA Core Values:  Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence ("I CARE")   Please Remember: If you would like to review prior messages sent through this listserv, click http://benefits.va.gov/vow/economic_opportunity.htm.   If you would like to research, find, access, and, in time, manage your VA benefits and personal information please visit and/or register at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal.   If you looking for a job or an employer committed to hiring Veterans, please register on the Veterans Employment Center (VEC) at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs   If you are seeking employment in the federal government, particularly the VA, our VA for Vets high-tech tools and resources can help. Visit online at http://vaforvets.va.gov/ or call 1-855-824-8387.   If you would like to contact us about your VA education benefits:   You can send us a secure email that will usually be answered within 48 hours. You can also search for answers to frequently asked questions and register to be notified of any updates to the information. This contact method is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can also be utilized worldwide. Click here to enter the "Ask A Question" site or here to review our frequently asked questions.   You can call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). This line only accepts calls from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM central time Monday – Friday.     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Sent to sean.eagan@gmail.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration · 810 Vermont Avenue, NW · Washington, DC 20420 · 1-800-827-1000

Dan Caldwell Fixing VHA

Sean,  Last Friday, President Barack Obama visited the Phoenix VA hospital with Secretary Bob McDonald to meet with veterans service organizations for a round-table discussion, where he proposed a "veterans committee" to improve service at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Sadly, anyone who has been following the problems at the VA knows that the last thing it needs is another committee that spends its time telling the VA what it's doing wrong. Now is the time for action.For reform. While it was a positive gesture for the President to visit the Phoenix VA, this administration, along with VA Secretary McDonald, has shown little resolve for tangible and substantive reform.  Luckily, we have a solution: the Veterans Independence Act, which lays out concrete plans to bring accountability, choice and timely care to veterans.   A key aspect of these reforms is a restructuring of the Veterans Health Administration, separating its payor and provider entities into two different institutions.  But what does that mean, exactly?  The VHA's payor institution would function as a health insurance program,while the provider institution would run the brick and mortar hospitals and medical facilities that currently serve veterans.  Why does separating these entities matter when the VA is already providing these services?  By separating these functions and creating two separate organizations, VA hospitals would be freed from the bureaucratic red tape and political considerations that currently prevent effective management of their facilities and resources.  These changes would also allow these hospitals to compete with facilities in the private sector -- improving the quality of care for the veterans they serve.  These are undeniably huge steps we're asking the VA to take, but if the agency's goal is truly to serve America's veterans as well as they deserve, it would put the needs of the veterans before its own -- and the Veterans Independence Act provides the tools they need to do it. To read all of our recommendations in the Veterans Independence Act, view the full Fixing Veterans Health Care Report. In pursuit of meaningful reform,  Dan Caldwell  Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan  Legislative and Political Director, Concerned Veterans for America

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 Sean Eagan

 Life Member VFW NY Post 53
 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

The VA and its latest emailer but will this changes be for the good or just further slow a bogged down system ?

Online Tools, Standardized Forms, and More Effective March 24th, 2015, VA is implementing improvements to make it easier for you to apply for benefits. Online application tools, standardized forms, and a new intent to file process will create faster and more accurate decisions on your claims and appeals. See how the changes affect you: What does it all mean? As part of the VA's full-scale transformation in 2015, these new changes will: Streamline the benefits process, making it faster and easier Use standardized forms to file disability claims and compensation appeals Establish a new intent to file a claim process Learn more about these important changes:

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 Sean Eagan

 Life Member VFW NY Post 53
 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

VFW Action Corp Weekly March 13

                                                            

                                                       March 13, 2015

 

In This Issue:

1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix

2. Choice Card Survey

3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership

4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel

5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified

 

1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix: President Obama is visiting the Phoenix VA Medical Center today and VFW National Inspector General Ray Thomas is expected to join him in a roundtable discussion on veterans' health care issues. In a newspaper interview, Thomas said most of the veterans he's talked with seem pleased that patient wait times have improved substantially, but that there is still an issue with specialists, especially cancer specialists. Last year, the VFW championed the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act to help counter the nationwide crisis in care and confidence that Phoenix ignited—but now in hindsight could have been started at a different facility anywhere. The VA still has an uphill climb to fix what's broken, to hold employees accountable, and to restore the faith of veterans in their VA. 

2. Choice Card Survey: The VFW has commissioned a second survey to poll members on their experiences accessing the Veterans Choice Program. Thank you to those who have taken the second survey. Your participation has allowed the VFW to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of this important program and evaluate progress as the Veterans Choice Program enters its fifth month. If you took our first survey, but have not taken the second survey, which went live on February 6, 2015, please help us track any changes in your experiences. If you are taking this survey for the first time, your input is critical to holding VA accountable for delivering timely non-VA care options to veterans. 

Take the survey here: https://www.research.net/s/VFWChoiceSurvey2. To learn more about the Veterans Choice Program or to share your stories with us, please visit: http://www.vfw.org/VAWatch/.

3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership: On Wednesday, the VFW hosted the VA's Research and Development team for a discussion on the status of their research programs. VA has many promising research projects, including: women's health, which will increase VA's knowledge on best ways to deliver care for women; health disparities and access needs in minority populations; and the on-going Million Veteran Program (MVP), a genetic data collection and research program that lead to a better understanding of the relationship between genetics and diseases and military-related illnesses. To learn more about VA Research and Development or how to participate in the MVP program click here: http://www.research.va.gov/. 

 

4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel: Operation Freedom's Sentinel is now a qualifying operation for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The Defense Department said the award is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015. Service members deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Freedom's Sentinel continue to be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Troops deployed abroad in support of Freedom's Sentinel, but stationed outside of the campaign medal's area of eligibility, are now eligible for award of the GWOT Expeditionary Medal. Also now authorized are service stars on medals or ribbons to reflect multiple deployments. The GWOT-EM, as well as the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, are VFW membership qualifiers. Read more about the Pentagon's policy change at: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128351&source=GovDelivery.

 

5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of remains belonging to seven Army soldiers who had been lost and unaccounted-for since the Korean War. Returned home for burial with full military honors are:

• Sgt. 1st Class Donald R. Strum, Company C, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, who was lost in North Korea on Nov. 4, 1950.
• Cpl. Robert Higgins, 21, of Bucks County, Penn. He was assigned to Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in battle in South Korea on Feb. 13, 1951.
• Sgt. Floyd J.R. Jackson, 20, of Warrensburg, Mo., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which made up part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team.
• Pfc. John R. Bowers, of Greenville, S.C. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in South Korea on Feb. 14, 1951.
• Sgt. Arnold V. Andring, 25, of Gary, Minn., died while a POW in North Korea after being captured on Feb 14, 1951. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 8th Army.
• Pfc. Lotchie J.R. Jones, 18, of Jasper, Tenn., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 28, 1951. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. 
• Cpl. Lindsey C. Lockett, 25, of Henrico, Va., died while a POW in North Korea on May 31, 1951. He was assigned to Medical Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.

 

To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

 

As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here: http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

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 Sean Eagan

 Life Member VFW NY Post 53
 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