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TREA WASHINGTON UPDATE February 15, 2008
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TREA Washington Update for February 15, 2008
HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY It was a wild week in
Washington-but there is not a great deal of news on our issues. For the first
time in living memory the Presidential primaries in Washington DC, the State of
Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia were going to have an affect on who is
nominated in both parties, so the focus was on the elections. Then we had a
terrible ice storm on election night leading to traffic jams that lasted 9 hours
and people missing voting. And then yesterday, for all you Romantic types, there
was St. Valentine’s Day -- so it has been a confused but exciting week
1) A Snapshot Of A Day On The Hill
2) Hearings Held On Proposed
VA Budget
3) The VA Is Asking For Volunteers
4) Economic
Stimulus Package Includes Veterans’ Benefits
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Printable Version of this Update
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1) A Snapshot Of A Day On The Hill-While
the focus yesterday on the Hill was a Congressional Resolution to find White
House Chief of Staff John Bolton and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers in
contempt of Congress for refusing to testify on the dismissal of several U.S
Attorneys and the walk out by the House Republicans in protest of the House’s
failure to take up the foreign Surveillance Bill other things were happening as
well. 165 resolutions, bills and amendments were introduced in the House of
Representatives and the Senate in one day! Many of them are of direct interest
to Military retirees and their families and survivors. These included:
H.Con.Res 297
recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the racial integration of the United States
Armed Forces ; Bills of Interest:
HR4169 to authorize a Braille
tactile flag in Arlington National Cemetery,
HR5441 : To
amend title 10, United States Code,to extend the special survivor indemnity
allowance to survivors of certain members of the Armed Forces who die on active
duty. To improve VA health care:
HR5448: To
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation
evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with
post-traumatic stress disorder, to improve the diagnosis and treatment of
post-traumatic stress disorder by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
HR5454: To
amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service
connection of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for purposes of the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In reaction to the
behavior of the City of Berkeley California’s City Counsel towards the Marine
Corps’ Recruiting Office:
HR5462: To
amend title 10, United States Code, to deny Federal funds for any State or city,
county, or other political subdivision of a State that prohibits or unduly
restricts the establishment or operation of a military recruiting office and
SAMDT.4067 to
S1200: To
rescind funds appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, for the
City of Berkeley, California, and any entities located in such city, and to
provide that such funds shall be transferred to the Operation and Maintenance,
Marine Corps account of the Department of Defense for the purposes of
recruiting.
HR5460: To
amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to
include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture, and for other
purposes;
HR5465: To
require the Department of Defense to implement a pain care initiative, and for
other purposes.
HR5438 To name
the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Tafuna, American Samoa,
as the "Fuga Tolani Teleso Satele Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Facility";
S2639: A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an assured adequate level
of funding for veterans health care;
S2640: A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance and improve insurance,
housing, labor and education, and other benefits for veterans, and for other
purposes;
S2644: A bill
to clarify and improve information for members and former members of the Armed
Forces on upgrades of discharge, to prohibit personality disorder discharges in
cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and for
other purposes; S2654: A bill to provide for enhanced reimbursement of
servicemembers and veterans for certain travel expenses.
S2645 : A bill
to require the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to conduct an evaluation and
review of certain vessel discharges. .S2633:
A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq.
S2634: A bill
to require a report setting forth the global strategy of the United States to
combat and defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates;
S2652 : A bill
to authorize the Secretary of Defense to make a grant to the National World War
II Museum Foundation for facilities and programs of America's National World War
II Museum. Resolutions
supporting and/or praising veterans and for other purposes:
SRES439: A
resolution expressing the strong support of the Senate for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization to enter into a Membership Action Plan with Georgia and
Ukraine.
SRES444 : A
resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strong alliance that
has been forged between the United States and the Republic of Korea and
congratulating Myung-Bak Lee on his election to the presidency of the Republic
of Korea. H Res 963 supporting goals of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
Passed 384-0; Resolution commending the people of Washington state for
supporting the needs of their veterans Passed 383-0; H. Res. 986 recognizing the
courage of the Vietnam War POWs and calling for a full accounting of the 1,729
members of the Armed Forces still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War; H.Res.
991 recognizing the sacrifice of the 69th Infantry Regiment in support of the
War on Terror; H.Res 992 Honoring the sacrifices of all mothers in the Armed
Forces who have deployed to theaters of combat And all of this happened
in a not very busy day on the Hill.
2) Hearings Held On Proposed VA
Budget-This week both the
House and the Senate held hearings on the Administration’s proposed VA Budget.
In the Senate, Chairman Akaka (D-HI) stated that he was happy with VA Secretary
Dr. James Peake’s statement that he was willing to look into raising the income
level threshold to allow veterans to enroll in Category 7. Chairman Akaka was,
however, displeased with proposed cuts in medical research, construction, grants
for state homes and cemeteries and more. The present cut off point is a yearly
income of $28,429 for a single veteran. Meanwhile on the House side the House VA
Committee’s subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations had an oversight
hearing on whether the VA’s Inspector General Office is sufficiently funded. The
Subcommittee’s ranking member Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) took the position
that it is not. “America’s heroes need to know that the health care they receive
at VA facilities remains top-notch and that it protects their health and
welfare,” Brown-Waite said. “This does not mean cutting employees from the full
time inspection staff. It means giving OIG the level of resources it needs to
fulfill its mission. Fewer staff and fewer resources for the OIG fails our
veterans and their families.” This reaction was in response to the FY 2009
budget request that would eliminate several positions in the IG office. Last
year Congress added additional funds to an already increased Presidential
budgetary request. Hopefully, we are looking for a similar move this year.
3) The VA Is Asking For Volunteers-The
VA is hoping that more of us will be VA volunteers. Below please find the
description of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service. If you are
interested please go to
www.va.gov and check it out.
The Department of Veterans
Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS)
Community Assistance
Contributions
How do I sign up to be a
VAVS Volunteer? You have two convenient ways:
1) Contact the Department
of Veterans Affairs facility nearest you. Ask for Voluntary Service. Tell their
staff of your interest in becoming a VAVS Volunteer. The staff will take care of
everything else including your
interview, orientation, and assignment!
Locate the VA facility is nearest you.
2) Or
Volunteer NOW! Ffill out and submit the form. Someone from your local VAVS
office will contact you with additional information.
4) Economic
Stimulus Package Includes Veterans’ Benefits-This
week President Bush signed an economic stimulus package that will make payments
to most Americans. The payments will range from $300 to $600 for and individual
and $600-$1200 for a couple. However to qualify for these payments one needs to
have earned $3,000 last year in qualifying income. Usually such income would not
include some VA payments. However a provision in this year’s bill will count the
veterans payments toward qualification. Below please find an explanation and
guidance issued by the IRS
Stimulus Payments: Instructions for Low-Income Workers and Recipients of Social
Security and Certain Veterans’ Benefits
FS-2008-16, February 2008 Some low-income workers
and recipients of Social Security, certain veterans’ benefits and certain
Railroad Retirement benefits may qualify for economic stimulus payments this
year from the federal government. In most cases, payments
will range from $300 to $600 for individuals and $600 to $1200 for joint filers.
Taxpayers may receive $300 for each qualifying child. Most taxpayers do not
need to take any extra steps to receive the payment beginning in early May. But there are some
exceptions. Individuals who might
not otherwise be required to file a 2007 tax return will need to file a return
this year to receive the stimulus payment. The return must show at least $3,000
in qualifying income. In other words,
low-income workers who had at least $3,000 in earned income in 2007 but do not
otherwise earn enough to be required to file a federal tax return need to file a
return in order to get the stimulus payment. Likewise, Social Security
recipients, veterans and retired railroad workers who might not otherwise need
to file a tax return must do so to receive the economic stimulus payment. Certain Benefits
Count toward Qualifying Income Normally, certain Social
Security, Railroad Retirement benefits and certain veterans’ payments are not
subject to income tax. However, the economic stimulus law passed in February
contains a special provision allowing Social Security recipients and recipients
of certain veterans’ benefits and certain Railroad Retirement benefits to count
those benefits toward the qualifying income requirement of $3,000 and thereby
qualify for the stimulus payment. This means a taxpayer
who had, for example, $500 in earned income and $2,500 in any combination of the
benefits described above can count those benefit payments toward his or her
qualifying income to reach the $3,000 earned income requirement, even though the
individual would not otherwise owe taxes on such income. For purposes of meeting
the qualifying income requirement, the following benefits need to be reported in
any combination on Line 20a of Form 1040 or Line 14a of the Form 1040A. Social
Security benefits reported on the 2007 Form 1099-SSA, which people would have
received in January 2008. People who do not have a Form 1099 may estimate their
annual Social Security benefit by taking their monthly benefit, multiplying it
by the number of months during the year they received the benefits, and entering
the number on Line 20a of Form 1040 or Line 14a of the Form 1040A. Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus
payment. Railroad
Retirement benefits reported on the 2007 Form 1099-RRB, which recipients would
have received in January 2008. The sum of
veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits received from
the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007. People are allowed to estimate their
annual benefit by taking their monthly annual veterans’ benefit, multiplying it
by the number of months during the year they received benefits, and entering the
number on Line 20a of Form 1040 or Line 14a of the Form 1040A. People should note that
Line 20a of Form 1040 and Line 14a of the Form 1040A are designated for Social
Security. To qualify for the economic stimulus payments, these lines should also
be used to include any qualifying Railroad Retirement or veterans’ benefits. For Those Who
Have Already Filed Some recipients of the
benefits described above may have filed a 2007 tax return reporting at least
$3,000 in qualifying income. They do not need to do anything else. They will
begin receiving their stimulus payments in early May. Others may need to amend
a previously filed tax return to include benefits to reach the $3,000 qualifying
income level. Adding these benefits on an amended tax return will not increase
an individual’s tax liability but will establish eligibility for the stimulus
payment. Taxpayers can use IRS Form 1040X to amend a tax return in order to Free Tax Help
Available Individuals who need to
file a return this year to receive a stimulus payment may be able to take
advantage of thousands of free tax preparation sites nationwide for low-income
and elderly taxpayers. The Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) program provides help to low-and moderate-income taxpayers.
Call 1-800-906-9887 to locate the nearest VITA site. The Tax Counseling for
the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax help to people age 60 and older. As
part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling
program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. To find an
AARP Tax Aide site call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP Web site.
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qualify for the stimulus payment.
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