VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY
December 21, 2007

In This Issue:

1. Final VA Funding Passed
2. NDAA Sent to President's Desk
3. Senate to Stay in Pro Forma Session Over Break
4. New VA Secretary Sworn In
5. Task Force Wants TRICARE Fees Increased
6. WWI Veteran Dies

1. Final VA Funding Passed:

Congress passed an historic funding bill that gives VA the largest increase in its history and fully meets the needs laid out by the VFW and the Independent Budget. The bill provides a total of $43.1 billion in discretionary funding for VA, which is $6.6 billion above the 2007 funding amount, and nearly $4 billion above the president's budget request. The funding includes: . $37.2 billion for the Veterans Health Administration . $3.5 billion more than last year for medical services, which includes $2.9 billion for mental healthcare, $130 million for homeless veteran programs, and money to treat more than 260,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. . $1.1 billion for hospital construction and $4.1 billion for medical facilities, which includes a $530 million increase for maintenance and minor repairs. . Funding to hire an additional 1,800 disability claims raters to help reduce the intolerable backlog of claims. . $2 billion, a $752 million increase, to help VA Information Technology improve the medical records system to better interface with DOD systems as we work towards a seamless transition. The bill now moves to the president's desk, where it is expected to be signed. For VA to receive the full amount in the bill, however, the president would have declare $3.7 billion of it as "emergency" funding by Jan. 18. VA does not receive this additional funding - which is the amount above what he had requested in his budget blueprint - until he declares the emergency. We would hope that the president quickly signs the bill into law and release these necessary funds. VA clearly needs the funding. The VFW thanks the congressional leadership and Congress for their bipartisan efforts to ensure this nation properly cares for her veterans.

2. NDAA Sent to President's Desk:

A final defense bill authorizing $696.4 billion dollars was sent to the president's desk this week. HR 1585 contains many VFW-supported provisions. Chief among them is a provision that would allow Guard and Reserve members to take their GI Bill educational benefits with them when they separate from service. Currently, these brave men and women forfeit all educational benefits when they separate, despite months of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The defense bill also incorporates provisions from the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act and recommendations from the Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission and the Dole-Shalala Report. These provisions are intended to speed up VA/DOD joint efforts in processing medical and disability evaluations for those leaving service, as well as requiring DOD to use VA presumptions in establishing eligibility of servicemembers for disability retirement, and for improving the disability evaluation system. It also requires a comprehensive policy by both agencies to address Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Other VFW-supported provisions include: . Concurrent Receipt for disabled retirees with 20 years and deemed unemployable by VA. Retroactive payments to January 2005 would begin October 2008. . Eligibility of Combat-Related Special Compensation to all military disabled (Chapter 61) retirees with less than 20 years of service. . A national combat veteran reintegration program to provide families information, services, referrals, and proactive outreach throughout the entire deployment process. . A special payment of $50 per month to survivors of members entitled to retired pay (or of Guard/Reserve retirees who died before age 60) whose SBP annuities are reduced by VA survivor benefits, effective Oct. 1, 2008. That amount will increase by $10 each year for 5 years.

For a complete listing of provisions, go to: http://armed-services.senate.gov/press/Conference%2008%20Press%20Release.pdf

3. Senate to Stay in Pro Forma Session Over Break:

The Senate will hold a series of pro forma, or nonvoting, sessions about every third day over the holiday break until the chamber returns on Jan. 22. The move keeps the Senate technically operating and thus prevents the president from making any controversial recess appointments while senators are out of town.

4. New VA Secretary Sworn In:

Dr. James B. Peake, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and former Army Surgeon General, was sworn in by President Bush yesterday as the nation's sixth Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Peake, who retired in 2004 as a three-star general, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon who began his Army career as an infantry officer in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with "V" device for heroism under fire, and two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat. The new VA secretary stressed his commitment to easing the transition of the current generation of combat experienced men and women. He assumes leadership of the second largest cabinet department, with about 250,000 employees and a budget last year exceeding $82 billion. More than 5.5 million veterans are expected to receive care this year in VA's 153 hospitals and 900 clinics. VA also provides disability compensation and pensions to 3.5 million veterans and family members, and operates 125 national cemeteries.

5. Task Force Wants TRICARE Fees Increased:

The congressionally-chartered Task Force on the Future of Military Healthcare released its final report yesterday in the Pentagon, and among its many recommendations is one that would phase-in military TRICARE enrollment fee and deductible increases for retirees under 65. The rational given for the recommendation was that usage fees have not risen in 10 years, whereas DOD healthcare costs have risen substantially, from $19 billion in 2001 to $39 billion this year. The recommended increases would be based on the retiree's retirement pay and phased in over the next four years. The Task Force said the increases, which would be indexed, would help stabilize the healthcare system for current and future users. Congress has purged TRICARE increase language from the past two defense budgets, but if somehow this latest proposal should go through, those in the highest retiree income bracket ($40,000 or more a year in retirement pay) could see annual TRICARE Prime enrollment fees rise by approximately $300 annually for four consecutive years, while those in the lowest bracket ($19,999 or less) would experience $100 annual increases. TRICARE for Life participants and those Medicare-eligible would also be subjected to a $10 monthly enrollment fee. Similar increases were recommended for generic and brand name prescription copayments, as well.

To read the full report, go to: http://www.dodfuturehealthcare.net/images/103-06-2-Home-Task_Force_FINAL_REPORT_122007.pdf

6. World War I Veteran Dies:

One of only three remaining U.S. veterans from World War I has died. J. Russell Coffey died Thursday at the age of 109 in North Baltimore, Ohio, about 35 miles south of Toledo. Born Sept. 1, 1898, Coffey did not see action overseas. He enlisted in the Army in October 1918 while a student at Ohio State University, a month before Germany signed the cease-fire agreement. According to press reports, he played semipro baseball, earned a doctorate in education from New York University, taught high school and college, raised a family, and drove his car until age 104. According to the VA, the other two known surviving American soldiers from the Great War are Frank Buckles, of Charles Town, WV, and Harry Landis, of Sun City Center, FL.