TREA WASHINGTON UPDATE FOR AUGUST 7, 2009

The House of Representatives went on their August break last week; the Senate will leave today. As you all know the Senate passed a $2 billion continuation of the “Cash for Clunkers Program” that the House passed last week (so drag that car to a car dealership as soon as possible) and Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate 68-31 as the newest Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. But things are happening with our issues as well.

1) President Obama Makes Public Statement on Health Care Reform and TRICARE/VA Healthcare

2) Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF) Broadens Operation Rebound

3) Rumors Concerning the VA Appropriations

4) President Obama Says He Supports Extending Post 9/11 GI Benefits

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1. President Obama Makes Public Statement on Health Care Reform and TRICARE/VA Healthcare-This week President Obama discussed TRICARE and VA healthcare and how his push for civilian health care reform might affect them. At a Tuesday press conference he said that eligibility for health care under VA or TRICARE “will not be affected by our efforts at broader health care reform. … I want to make sure that message gets out to veterans. I think it’s very important to get the message out: If you are in the VA system and are happy with your care, great. We have no intention of changing your eligibility.” (emphasis added)

He did not directly discuss other matters concerning the programs (examples: possible TRICARE fee increases, Medicare funding etc) but he did note that health care delivery costs at the VA were high and that TRICARE consumes a big piece of the Defense Departments budget. So we will, of course, need to continue to watch and monitor this.

2. Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF) Broadens Operation Rebound-Challenged Athletes Foundation is a private charity founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Diego that provides help for disabled Americans to have active sports filled lives. In 2004 it established Operation Rebound to help service members and veterans who suffered permanent physical disabilities in the Global War on Terror line of duty. They provide grants for special sports equipment, training programs sports clinics and more. Last year they broadened the program to cover veterans who were permanently physically injured in the line of duty at any time (as well as to some first responders.) If you are interested in this very fine program go to their web site for information and to download their application. You can also call their Program Manager, Nico Marcolongo at 858-525-6564 or e-mail him at nico@challengedathletes.org to ask questions or receive more information.

3. Rumors Concerning the VA Appropriations-We have heard second-hand that House Appropriations staffers are saying that they are not in a hurry to pass the VA appropriations bill because it includes the advanced funding for FY2011. If true, that is completely against the intention of the advanced funding (that is to allow the VA to plan ahead in their health care plans because they know what their budget is going to be.) If you see your Congressional members this month, remind them of how important this advanced funding is to the quality of VA health care.

4. President Obama Says He Supports Extending Post 9/11 GI Benefits-This week President Obama said he would be in favor of extending the Post 9/11 GI Benefits to those members of the National Guard who were called up after 9/11 under state governors (Title 32 authority) rather than federal Title 10 call ups (who are now eligible for the benefits).

He said: “My general philosophy is that somebody who served in uniform on behalf of our safety and security, they should be eligible. We want to be inclusive rather than exclusive. We want to encourage more people to use the program rather than less.” He said that his staff was working with the appropriate Congressional Committees to see how the law could be changed.

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