TREA WASHINGTON UPDATE FOR JANUARY 22, 2010
AND THE WORLD IS MADE NEW AGAIN! Tuesday the voters of Massachusetts dramatically changed Washington and the health care debate. If it was hard to predict what was going to happen with health care reform bills- and it certainly was- now it is even harder. Yesterday, the new Senator-elect from Massachusetts, Scott Brown (R-MA- who ever thought I would be writing that) came to DC to make courtesy calls to his state delegation and speak to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-NC) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Also, on Thursday Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that she did not have the votes in the House to pass the Senate bill without changes and that there was no need to rush – “Pause and reflect” she said. If this remains her position we should have more time to urge Congress and the Administration to protect Medicare, TRICARE and VA Healthcare!
1) The New Senator from Massachusetts
2) And the Fight Begins Again (Maybe)
3) TREA Participates In Congressional Veterans Roundtable
4) OPM Rolls Out Its New Veterans Website
5) 2 Congressional Friends Announce Their Retirements
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1) The New Senator from Massachusetts-Senator-elect Scott Brown (R-MA) has been in the Massachusetts National Guard for the last 30 years. He is presently a JAG Lieutenant Colonel serving as the Army Guard’s top defense attorney in New England. He has also been helping soon to be deployed members with wills and real estate advise (his civilian legal specialty). So fortunately he is well aware of many of our issues. Even more importantly he is focused on them. Throughout his campaign he attacked the proposed health care bills. Repeatedly during the campaign and during his first interview the morning after he was elected on the Today show he repeated his statement that the proposals: “Would cut Medicare and harm TRICARE.”
It is terrific that we have another member of Congress who is knowledgeable and concerned about our issues. While serving in the Massachusetts legislature he has become an expert on veteran issues. Even the Boston Globe (not a political friend) said he was a leading advocate for veterans in the legislature. He has served on the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee, the Hidden Wounds of War Commission, and the Governor’s Task Force on Returning Veterans. In 2007 he sponsored a law providing a check off box in the state income tax form to indicate whether the payer had served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The state then used that information to inform the veteran of available benefits and services including the Massachusetts Welcome Home Bonus of $1,000 for those returning from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. However we should not take him for granted. I have written to thank him for his focus on protecting TRICARE, Medicare and VA healthcare. Please, if you are from Massachusetts do the same thing. Contact him, congratulate him and emphasis how important TRICARE, Medicare, the VA is to you and your family.
2) And the Fight Begins Again (Maybe)-On January 27, President Obama will give his State of the Union Address (please notice it is a Wednesday not the usual Tuesday). The following Monday (2/1) the President is going to present his proposed budget to Congress. So in less than two weeks we should know if the Administration is going to be proposing increases in TRICARE and/or VA enrollment fees, co-pays or deductibles. Congress will be taking up the proposal almost immediately.
On Thursday February 4, the House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on “VA’s Budget Request” Cannon Room 334 at 10:00 a.m.
On Wednesday February 10, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold its hearing on “VA’s Budget Request.”
3) TREA Participates in Congressional Veterans Roundtable-On Wednesday TREA’s Washington Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman was part of a Veterans Roundtable hosted by the Chairman of the House of Representative’s Committee on Veterans Affairs, Representative Bob Filner (D-CA). Representative Filner called the meeting to discuss our legislative goals for veterans in this legislative year. Along with Representative Filner, Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-IN), Representative Walz (D-MN) and Representative John Boozman (R-AR) stayed for the full 2+ hour meeting; while other Committee members attended part of the meeting. We repeatedly emphasized several themes and proposals: getting control of the huge and growing backlog of VA cases, improvement in VA healthcare and other services, proper oversight of how the VA is spending its large and growing budget that have been given them in the last few years to make sure it is not wasted. We also repeatedly urged improving DIC and ending the SBP/DIC offset and ending the retired pay/service connected disability pay for longevity retirees with less than a 50% disability rating and for Chapter 61 Medical Retirees. We supported granting veterans status for certain members of the Guard and Reserve, helping the caretakers of our wounded warriors, improving the functioning of the Post 9/11 GI Bill and much, much more. It was a very good meeting and we are pleased that the Committee members were clearly supportive our goals and concerns.
4) OPM Rolls Out its New Veterans Website-Yesterday the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rolled out a new website: www.fedshirevets.gov. (OPM’s full press release is below.) This is part of The Administration’s Veterans Employment Initiative to focus employing vets throughout the executive branch of the Federal Government. The web site is meant to provide a one stop “gateway” for both veterans who wish to apply for federal jobs and the executives in the federal government who are looking to hire. It also provides news on vets and hiring in the executive branch. Presently there are almost half a million veterans working in the Executive Branch.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2010
Contact: Edmund
Byrnes
202-606-2402 or
edmund.byrnes@opm.gov
OPM Launches
FedsHireVets.Gov
New Website
Makes it Easier to Find Federal Employment Resources
Washington, DC – Today, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the official launch of FedsHireVets.gov, a critical component of President Obama’s Veterans Employment Initiative. This website will help ensure Veterans, transitioning military service members, their families, HR professionals, and hiring managers receive accurate and consistent information regarding Veterans employment in the Executive Branch.
John Berry, Director of OPM, stated “FedsHireVets.gov will be a one-stop gateway to Veterans employment resources throughout the government. Our goal is to honor Veterans service by helping them find good Federal jobs when they lay the uniform down.”
On November 09, 2009, OPM Director John Berry joined President Obama as he signed the Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which established the Veterans Employment Initiative for the executive branch and the Council on Veterans Employment. The Executive Order underscores to Federal agencies the importance of recruiting and employing Veterans, and assisting transitioning service members seeking employment with the Federal Civil Service.
The Council on Veterans Employment, consists of 24 Executive Branch agencies and is chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki; OPM Director Berry serves as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.
At the end of Fiscal Year 2008, there were approximately 480,000 Veterans working within the Federal Executive Branch.
For more information, visit: www.FedsHireVets.gov
5) 2 Congressional Friends Announce Their Retirements-Representative Henry Brown (R-SC) and Vic Snyder (D-AR) have both announced that they will not seek re-election after the end of their present terms. TREA’s Washington office has worked on numerous issues with both men. Representative Brown has been a strong supporter of military survivor issues since he was first elected to Congress in 2000. While in the majority he was the original sponsor of bills to end the SBP/DIC offset. When in the minority he was an original co-sponsor to HR775. Representative Vic Snyder, a doctor and Marine Corps Veteran has been a member of Congress since 1996. He serves on both the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. We have worked with him on numerous healthcare and other benefit programs with him. We wish them luck in their future endeavors.
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