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Request For Action Legislative Alert! The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (Blue Water and Blue Sky Veterans) - Click Here Heinrich Introduces Bill To Help Military Families Extend Health Care Coverage To Their Children WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) has introduced H.R. 4923, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act, a bill that would increase the maximum age to 26 at which our troops and military retirees are allowed to provide health coverage to their dependent children. Click for Full Story NEWS FROM… CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2010 Contact Kristal DeKleer at (202) 225-9756 http://veterans.house.gov House Passes Bills Package to Eliminate Homelessness, Provide Job Opportunities and Protect Home Ownership for Veterans Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve seven measures this week that would improve benefits and services to veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Click for Full Story NEWS FROM…CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS http://veterans.house.gov House Affirms Commitment to Nation’s Veterans, Men and Women in Uniform Washington, D.C. – On June 8, 2009, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that H.R. 466 passed the House of Representatives. H.R. 466 – The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act (Doggett) H.R. 466 seeks to expand the protections of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to include veterans with service-connected disabilities who seek an excused leave of absence from work to obtain medical attention. Chairman Filner provided the following statement in support of H.R. 466: “Recognizing the special needs of injured veterans and openness to work with these men and women is a crucial step that allows our veterans the ability to heal and remain gainfully employed. Today we have thousands of business owners who have taken the initiative of providing our injured men and women with workforce protections of seniority, status, retention, and pay as well as other rights and benefits determined by employment. Unfortunately, there is still room for improvement and this bill seeks to bridge that gap. I thank my House colleagues for reaffirming our nation’s commitment to care for our service members, veterans and their dependents by supporting H.R. 466.”
Senators introduce Woman Veterans legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Julia Wanzco (Snowe) March 16, 2009 202-224-1304 Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Bill to Prepare VA for Rapidly Growing Number of Women Veterans WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in announcing bipartisan legislation to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the influx of women veterans who will access care there in the coming years. The Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009 will address many of the unique needs of female veterans, particularly those women who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. "With over 10,000 women veterans in Maine, and almost two million across the United States each are patriots that have answered our nation's call, and it is essential the nation be there for them when they return to the home front and their families," Senator Snowe said. "I am honored to join with my colleagues to introduce this bill today that rightfully recognizes and addresses issues with which many of these veterans and their families are managing today." "Women have stepped up to serve at unprecedented levels," said Senator Murray. "Which means the VA is now faced with unprecedented challenges in caring for them as they return home. This bill addresses the unique challenges women face by providing specialized care for the visible and invisible wounds of war. As more women begin to transition home, and step back into lives as mothers, wives, and citizens, the VA must be there for them." "Women serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and performing dangerous missions throughout the world make up an important and growing segment of our veteran population. The number of women veterans receiving care through the VA is expected to double in less than five years," said Senator Hutchison. "Our bill will help improve access to quality health care services for women who have bravely served in our armed forces." "Generations of women have served honorably in all of this country's major conflicts. These women have earned the right to expect the same high quality health care services and benefits as their male counterparts," said Dave Gorman, Executive Director of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). "While significant progress has been made in recent years to remove institutional barriers that often discourage women veterans from seeking assistance at VA facilities, more needs to be done. The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act will help ensure these women have equal access to VA benefits and services. DAV is proud to have worked on this legislation with Senator Murray, who has proven herself time and again to be a steadfast and effective champion for all of America's veterans." Among other things, the legislation introduced today will: Require the VA to implement a program to train, educate, and certify VA mental health professionals to care for women with sexual trauma Require the VA Secretary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the barriers women are facing in accessing care at the VA. Authorize a report to Congress on the effects the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had on the physical, mental, and reproductive health of women who have served there. Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides child care to women veterans that seek mental health care services at the VA. Require the VA to begin a pilot program that provides readjustment counseling to women veterans in group retreat settings. In addition to Senators Murray, Hutchison and Snowe, the legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (D-AK), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

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Filner Acts to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 23, 2008, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) held a press conference to announce the introduction of H.R. 6562, the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008. The bill restores equity to all Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

“We owe it to our veterans to fulfill the promises made to them as a result of their service,” said Congressman Filner. “If, as a result of service, a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and that exposure has resulted in failing health, our nation has a moral obligation to care for each veteran the way we promised we would. And as a country at war, we must prove that we will be there for all of our veterans, no matter when they serve. The courts have turned their backs on our veterans, but I believe this Congress will restore their hard earned benefits.”

Ron Abrams, Executive Director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, spoke at the press conference and shared the history of disability benefits for blue water veterans. He said, “From 1991 to 2002, the VA granted hundreds, if not thousands of disability claims filed by Navy blue water veterans suffering from one of the many diseases that VA recognizes as related to Agent Orange exposure. These benefits were awarded based on VA rules providing that service in the waters offshore Vietnam qualified the veteran for the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. In February 2002, VA did an about face and required veterans to have ‘actually served on land within the Republic of Vietnam… to qualify for the presumption of exposure to’ Agent Orange. As a result, all pending and new disability claims filed by Navy blue water veterans for an Agent Orange-related disease were denied unless there was proof that that the veteran actually set foot on Vietnamese soil. In addition, the VA began to sever benefits that had been granted to Navy blue water veterans prior to the 2002 change in VA rules.”

Rick Weidman serves as the executive director for policy and government affairs of Vietnam Veterans of America. He spoke of the need for proper government funding for research on this issue. “The current administration is not funding any research on the consequence of Agent Orange exposure – not at the VA, not at the Department of Defense, not at the National Institutes of Health, nor at the Environmental Protection Agency. The only unforgivable sin is willful ignorance which results in indifference to suffering. What is happening now is in fact willful ignorance.”

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from the ravages of Agent Orange exposure. In order to try to gain a better military vantage point, Agent Orange, which we now know is a highly toxic cocktail of herbicide agents, was widely sprayed for defoliation and crop destruction purposes all over the Vietnam War Battlefield, as well as nearby nations. It was also stored on U.S. vessels and used for vegetation clearing purposes around U.S. bases, landing zones and lines of communication.

Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove “foot on land” in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses afforded under current law. This issue has been the subject of much litigation and on May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld VA’s overly narrow interpretation. Congress clearly did not intend to exclude these veterans from compensation based on arbitrary geographic line drawing by the VA.

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 would ensure that every service member awarded the Vietnam Service medal, or who otherwise deployed to land, sea or air, in the Republic of Vietnam is fully covered by the comprehensive Agent Orange laws Congress passed in 1991. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have conclusively linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War and that are identified in current law.

“Time is running out for these veterans,” concluded Congressman Filner. “Many are dying from their Agent Orange related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. There is still a chance for America to meet its obligations to these noble veterans. I will work with my Congressional colleagues to provide proper disability benefits and health care to the thousands of Navy blue water veterans and survivors that earned this care in battle.”

This bill needs to be worked on ASAP or it will lose support
H. Res. 111: Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs -

February 3, 2009

Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mrs. BONO MACK, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. COBLE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. GOHMERT, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HELLER, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. ISSA, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. LINDER, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MACK, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. PAUL, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. TERRY, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. WOLF, Mr. WU, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

Resolved, That there is established in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.

FUNCTIONS

Sec. 2. The select committee shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including MIA's and POW's missing and captured.

APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP

Sec. 3. (a) Members- The select committee shall be composed of 10 Members of the House, who shall be appointed by the Speaker. Not more than half of the members of the select committee shall be of the same political party.

(b) Vacancy- Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the select committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES

Sec. 4. (a) Authority- For purposes of carrying out this resolution, the select committee (or any subcommittee of the select committee authorized to hold hearings) may sit and act during the present Congress at any time or place within the United States (including any Commonwealth or possession of the United States, or elsewhere, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned) and to hold such hearings as it considers necessary.

(b) Rules of Procedure- The provisions of clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House shall apply to the select committee.

(c) Prohibition Against Meeting at Certain Times- Subsection (a) may not be construed to limit the applicability of clause 2(i) of rule XI of the Rules of the House to the select committee.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Sec. 5. (a) Expenses- Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as required by clause 6 of rule X of the Rules of the House, the select committee may incur expenses in connection with its functions under this resolution.

(b) Staff and Travel- In carrying out its functions under this resolution, the select committee may--

(1) appoint, either on a permanent basis or as experts or consultants, any staff that the select committee considers necessary;

(3) fix the compensation of the staff at a single per annum gross rate that does not exceed the highest rate of basic pay, as in effect from time to time, of level V of the Executive Schedule in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code;

(4) terminate the employment of any such staff as the select committee considers appropriate; and

(5) reimburse members of the select committee and of its staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their functions for the select committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting of the select committee, or a subcommittee thereof, held in the District of Columbia.

(c) Expiration- The select committee and all authority granted in this resolution shall expire 30 days after the filing of the final report of the select committee with the House.

REPORTS AND RECORDS

Sec. 6. (a) Final Report- As soon as practicable during the present Congress, the select committee shall submit to the House a final report setting forth its findings and recommendations as a result of its investigation.

(b) Filing of Reports- Any report made by the select committee when the House is not in session shall be filed with the Clerk of the House.

(c) Referral of Reports- Any report made by the select committee shall be referred to the committee or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the report.

(d) Records, Files, and Materials- Following the termination of the select committee, the records, files, and materials of the select committee shall be transferred to the Clerk of the House. If the final report of the select committee is referred to only one committee under the provisions of subsection (c), the records, files, and materials of the select committee shall be transferred instead to the committee to which the final report is referred.

DEFINITIONS

(1) The term `Member of the House' means any Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

(2) The term `MIA' means any United States personnel that is unaccounted for and missing in action.

(3) The term `POW' means any United States personnel that is unaccounted for and known to be a prisoner of war.

(4) The term `select committee' means the Select Committee on MIA and POW Affairs established by this resolution.