Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees Snow Job

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
August 5, 2014

The longer problems for veterans goes on, the more it seems as if the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees are pulling a snow job on veterans.

A new poll from NBC says voters are not happy with congress. Majority disapprove of their own House member but the other part of this is, "Americans’ frustration with Congress is reflected in other polls, too: just 3% said they thought Congress had been “very productive” this year in a recent NBC News/Marist poll."

Well, my fellow Americans, welcome to the world veterans have lived in for decades. They haven't been happy in, well, forever.

As much as I frankly do not like the national news stations, especially cable news, CNN did do a pretty good job of trying to explain how long veterans have suffered while members of congress just promised them everything, usually around election time and they needed the votes. Here are some highlights.

The VA's troubled history

CNN) -- Scandal, controversy and veterans care in the United States have gone hand-in-hand for virtually as long as there's been a republic.

After the Revolutionary War, for instance, payments promised by Congress to disabled veterans were left up to the states, and only a few thousand of those who served ever received anything, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1932 -- Thousands of World War I veterans and their families march on Washington to demand payment of promised war bonuses. In an embarrassing spectacle, federal troops forcibly remove veterans who refuse to end their protest.

1984 -- Congressional investigators find evidence that VA officials had diverted or refused to spend more than $40 million that Congress approved to help Vietnam veterans with readjustment problems, the Washington Post reports at the time.

2003 -- A commission appointed by President George W. Bush reports that as of January 2003, some 236,000 veterans had been waiting six months or more for initial or follow-up visits, "a clear indication," the commission said, "of lack of sufficient capacity or, at a minimum, a lack of adequate resources to provide the required care."

2009 -- The VA discloses that than 10,000 veterans who underwent colonoscopies in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida were exposed to potential viral infections due to poorly disinfected equipment. Thirty-seven tested positive for two forms of hepatitis and six tested positive for HIV. VA Director Eric Shinseki initiates disciplinary actions and requires hospital directors to provide written verification of compliance with VA operating procedures. The head of the Miami VA hospital is removed as a result, the Miami Herald reports.

We can also rely on CSPAN and their video coverage. While listening to members of congress talk can be less attractive than going to the dentist, these videos are vital to anyone wanting to know how we got where we are. Think of them as a GPS to let you know how to get away from the big rig on bald tires. JULY 10, 1989

Agent Orange Studies The subcommittee held a hearing on Agent Orange studies. Witnesses from the Office of Technology Assessment, the VA and the Air Force testified that numerous Agent Orange studies

JUNE 9, 1994

Gulf War Veteran Benefits Secretary Brown spoke about the administration’s decision to afford Gulf War veterans benefits for the "Gulf War Syndrome"

MARCH 6, 2001

Veterans Affairs Budget Witnesses testified about veterans issues and funding needs for the department. Among the issues they addressed were benefits claims procedures and delays,

JUNE 10, 2003

Veterans Affairs Operations Officials testified about recent reports of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the Veterans Administration. Among the topics they addressed were absentee doctors

SEPTEMBER 11, 2003

Veterans' Hospitals Consolidation and Closure Witnesses testified about a proposal to scale back, consolidate or close selected Veterans' Administration health care…

Yes you read that right! By this time troops were in Afghanistan and Iraq yet these yahoos were talking about closing down VA hospitals.

FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Fiscal Year 2005 Veterans Affairs Budget Witnesses testified about the fiscal year 2005 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Among the topics they addressed were services provided, efforts to make delivery of service more efficient, and moving away from hospital based health care.

DECEMBER 12, 2007

Veterans Mental Health Care The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing to examine and identify mental health challenges within the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, including increasing numbers of cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide, substance abuse, and homelessness. Witnesses included the parents of Specialist Tim Bowman (U.S. Army, Illinois National Guard, Bravo Troop, 106th Calvary), who committed suicide, authors with personal connections to the problem, and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Due to the length of testimony some other witness were deferred to a later hearing.

Penny Coleman is the author of Flashback: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, And the Lessons of War, published by Beacon Press, Ilona Meagher is the author of Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America’s Returning Troops, published by Ig Publishing.

MAY 6, 2008

Suicides of Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs officials testified about charges the department had misled the public about the numbers of suicides committed by active duty personnel and veterans. Committee chairman Bob Filner accused the agency of criminal negligence in the handling of data about the number of veterans who have committed suicide of being more concerned about how data was interpreted than the health of veterans. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told panel members the agency is actively reaching out to veterans to encourage them to get help if they are at risk for suicide.

JULY 31, 2008

Veterans Administration Spending Practices The Veterans Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on the issue of overspending at Department of Veterans' Affairs. Witnesses testified about lapses in competitive bidding, poor auditing programs, and lack of financial mechanisms to control spending.

There are a lot more of these videos but as with everything else, it all boils down to what they really intended to achieve. Was it to take care of veterans or was it to pretend they were doing enough to get their votes again?

This video is from a hearing on disabled veterans. It is from February of 2014 months before the "crisis" House members decided they would scream about. FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Disabled Veterans Officials from the Disabled American Veterans organization outlined their 2014 legislative priorities at a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. In opening remarks, the organization’s national commander Joseph Johnston said the highest priority was to make advanced appropriations for all Veterans Affairs Department funding accounts, including mandatory disability payments. Topics during questioning included the backlog of veterans benefit claims, veterans' homelessness, and VA infrastructure funding.

Summing this up think of it this way. There are some folks doing whatever they can to avoid going to the dentist. Lose a filling, they take Super Glue and stick it back in the hole. While this may look ok on the outside, it erodes the rest of the tooth and by the time they are forced to do the right thing, so much damage is done, the tooth gets pulled leaving a hole. That is what congress has been doing. Filling the whole long enough to get past the next election hoping what they "did" will hold long enough so one on notices they didn't do the right thing in the first place. In the long run, more pain is caused and it costs a lot more money to fix the problem. All too often, it is beyond repair. Are we really going to let them do this to the VA and our veterans?

When do we hold them accountable?

'Compassion in Action' White House Faith Base Round Table

I can't take credit for finding this. It came in an alert from here.
Faith-Based Meeting Announced
By Night Watch Ministries(Night Watch Ministries)

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to Host 'Compassion in Action' Roundtable on Addressing Needs of America's Veterans
Contact: Rebecca Neale, The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, 202-456-7348



WASHINGTON, July 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, July 22, 2008, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI), joined by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake, will convene a Compassion in Action roundtable titled, "Serving Those Who Have Served: The Vital Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations." Hosted by OFBCI Director Jay Hein, the Roundtable will focus on innovative and effective policies, programs and partnerships that address the needs of America's veterans, highlighting the vital role of faith-based and community organizations in these efforts.

A complete Compassion in Action Roundtable agenda is attached.

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

WHO: Jay Hein, Director, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

The Honorable James B. Peake, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

WHAT: White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Compassion in Action roundtable

WHERE: The White House

Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)

Room 450

WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

10:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. EDT

Members of the press should arrive at the Northwest Appointment Gate by 10 a.m. EDT to ensure entry.

NOTE: Members of the press who do not have a White House press credential must fax his or her name (as it appears on his or her driver's license), Social Security number and date of birth on company letterhead to (202) 456-7019 no later than 6 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2008. For additional credentialing or logistical questions, please call (202) 456-7348.

Serving Those Who Have Served: The Vital Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations

10:30 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Jay Hein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

10:40 a.m. Keynote Remarks

James B. Peake, M.D.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

10:55 a.m. Veterans’ Needs and Solutions

Moderator: Chaplain A. Keith Ethridge, Acting Director, National Chaplain Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Laura Balun, Director, Voluntary Service Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Craig Dykstra, Senior Vice President of Religion, Lilly Endowment

Panelist: Katherine Dunlap, Coordinator, McGuire Outreach Ministry

11:35 a.m. Snapshot of Success

Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

John McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, U.S. Department of Labor

Milton Brown, Service Recipient, Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training

11:50 a.m. Services and Partnership Successes

Moderator: Pete Dougherty, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Reverend Michael M. Boland, Administrator, President and CEO,

Catholic Charities, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Panelist: Anne Rea, Chief of Operations for Adult Services, Way Station

Panelist: Ruth Fanning, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Jim Gibbons, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International

12:40 p.m. Call to Action

Mike Vogel, Chairman, 2008 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
http://christiannewswire.com/news/656667232.html

Which is a great idea considering there has not been very much going on to meet the needs as great as they are. You would think this part would have been updated, but it is the Bush White House after all.

Jim Nicholson
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs
November 10, 2006November 10, 2005May 31, 2005May 5, 2005

Anthony Principi
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2001-2005
November 9, 2004November 10, 2003
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/veterans/

Clicking around on the links, this is what I found.
Faith Base grants section. This is what is there for veterans.

VETERANS
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 73
New Grantee Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program 73
Non-Urban and Urban Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program 73
Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) 74
US Department of Veterans Affairs 81

I know some of my friends are still reluctant to find the need for something like this but consider when you address the connection between mind, body and spirit, there is great healing. The problem is the clergy from all denominations are very reluctant to step up. This could be a very interesting meeting. I hope there are some members of the media there to give a full report on this. It should provide a greater understanding of how far the White House has come in addressing, with all seriousness, the needs of our veterans, or the lack of it.

Clay Hunt Deserved Better Than This Suicide Prevention Bill

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 9, 2014

Some people are cheering this news, but I'm not.

John Boehner Will Take Up Tim Walz's and Jeff Miller's Veteran Suicide Bill
Sunshine State News
By: KEVIN DERBY
December 9, 2014

As the end of the current congressional session nears, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, signaled on Monday that he is going to push a bill from a Florida Republican and two Northern Democrats increasing access to mental health services for veterans.

With reports showing more than 20 veterans a day committing suicide, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Democrats U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota introduced the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act” over the summer. The bill increases mental health-care access for veterans through launching a peer support and community outreach pilot program, creating a one-stop website for veterans needing health care and mandating annual evaluations and assessments of VA suicide programs. The legislation has the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America (IAVA).

“The key to curbing the epidemic of veteran suicides is improving the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health-care available to our returning heroes,” Miller said back in July when the bill was introduced. “Over the past seven years, VA's mental health-care staff and budget have grown by nearly 40 percent, but the fact remains, veterans are still committing suicide at a frightening pace. This slow-motion national tragedy is likely to continue as long as the Department of Veterans Affairs sticks to its normal, business-as-usual approach of treating veterans where and how VA wants as opposed to where and how veterans want.
read more here

I can't cheer for yet one more copy and paste bill with another name attached to it of a too short lived life. Clay Hunt deserved better than this. They all did.

Talking to family members I used to be able to tell them that things are changing and people will act. Now I can't tell them they will take action the right way. There have been far too many years of things like H.R.5059 - Clay Hunt SAV Act

Official Title as Introduced:
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to review the terms or characterization of the discharge or separation of certain individuals from the Armed Forces, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

It all sounds good but it all sounds so familiar.

Joshua Omvig's parents thought the bill congress passed in their son's name would make a difference too.

Text of the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act
This bill was introduced on June 27, 2007, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted. The text of the bill below is as of Jul 23, 2007 (Reported by Senate Committee).

Source: GPO
II
Calendar No. 279
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 479
Report No. 110–132
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2007
Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rockefeller, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Thune, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Reid, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Obama, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Dorgan, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Enzi) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

July 23, 2007
Reported by Mr. Akaka, without amendment

A BILL
To reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
1.Short title
This Act may be cited as the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act.
2.Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem; and
(2)the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take into consideration the special needs of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in developing and implementing the comprehensive program required by section 3(a).
3.Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans
(a)Program required
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a comprehensive program for reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans.
(b)Program elements
(1)De-stigmatizing mental health
The program required by subsection (a) shall include a national mental health campaign to increase awareness in the veteran community that mental health is essential to overall health and that very effective modern treatments can promote recovery from mental illness. The campaign may include the following:
(A)Activities targeted at veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the families of such veterans.
(B)Monthly messages on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs that express the theme that mental health is essential to overall health.
(C)Inclusion of the theme described in subparagraph (B) in public addresses, speeches, and veterans service organization convention addresses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and other senior officials of the Department.
(2)Training of employees and other personnel
The program shall provide for mandatory training on suicide and suicide prevention for appropriate employees and contractor personnel (including all medical personnel) of the Department of Veterans Affairs who interact with veterans. Such training shall include information pertinent to the job of such employees and personnel, including information on the following:

(A)Recognition of risk factors for suicide.
(B)Protocols for responding to crisis situations involving veterans who may be at high risk for suicide.
(C)Best practices for suicide prevention.
(3)Family education and outreach
The program shall include programs of outreach to, and education for, veterans and families of veterans (including, in particular, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the families of such veterans) in order to assist the family members of veterans in—
(A)eliminating or overcoming stigmas associated with mental illness;
(B)understanding issues that arise in the readjustment of veterans to civilian life;
(C)identifying signs and symptoms of mental health problems; and
(D)encouraging veterans to seek assistance for such problems.
(4)Peer support program
(A)In general
The program shall provide support for the development of a program to enable veterans to serve as peer counselors to—
(i)assist other veterans with mental health issues; and
(ii)conduct outreach to veterans and families of veterans on mental health matters.
(B)Training
The program supported by subparagraph (A) shall include appropriate training for peer counselors under the program, including training in the identification of risk factors for suicide.
(C)Peer support counseling as supplemental service
The program supported by subparagraph (A) shall be offered in addition to other mental health services already offered by the Department and services created pursuant to this Act.
(5)Health assessments of veterans
The program shall encourage all veterans, when they apply for benefits provided by the Department, to undergo a mental health assessment at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility (including a center established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code).
(6)Counseling and treatment of veterans
The program shall provide for referrals to appropriate counseling and treatment programs for veterans who show signs or symptoms of mental health problems.
(7)Suicide prevention counselors
The program shall provide for the designation of a suicide prevention counselor at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility other than centers established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code. Each counselor shall work with local emergency rooms, law enforcement agencies, local mental health organizations, and veterans service organizations to engage in outreach to veterans to inform them of mental health services that are available to them and to improve the coordination of mental health care to veterans at the local level.
(8)Research on best practices
(A)In general
The program shall provide for research on best practices for suicide prevention among veterans.
(B)Steering committee
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a steering committee to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the research described in subparagraph (A). Such steering committee shall be comprised of representatives from the following:
(i)National Institute of Mental Health.
(ii)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(iii)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(9)Substance abuse treatment
The program shall provide for referrals to appropriate counseling and treatment programs of veterans who show signs or symptoms of substance abuse.
(10)24-hour mental health care
The program shall include mechanisms to ensure the availability of services for mental health care for veterans on a 24-hour basis.
(11)Telephone hotline
The program may include a toll-free telephone number (commonly referred to as an 800 number) through which veterans may obtain information on and referrals to appropriate mental health services. The telephone number shall be serviced by personnel with appropriate mental health training, and shall be operational at all times.
(12)Other elements
The program may provide for such other activities and programs to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.
4.Report to Congress on suicide prevention programs and activities
(a)Report required
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the programs and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
(b)Elements
The report shall include the following:
(1)A description of the status of the implementation of the program required by section 3(a). (2)A description of the scheduled implementation of the program during the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the costs of implementation of the program over that period.
(3)A plan for additional programs and activities to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. (4)Such recommendations for additional legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve and enhance the suicide prevention programs and activities of the Department. (c)Consultation
In developing the plan required by subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall consult with the following:
(1)The National Institute of Mental Health.
(2)The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(3)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 23, 2007
Reported without amendment

President Bush signed this bill because it was supposed to work. What it produced was more suicides among servicemembers and veterans. It didn't work yet it was followed by more and more bills the American public were told would work, followed by more and more money and more and more lives lost while everyone was patting themselves on the back for getting the bills passed and charities raking in millions a year while grieving families were wondering why their warrior had to die away from combat when they were supposed to be safe.

What the fuck are we doing? What kind of a game is being played? Is anyone paying attention?

Has anyone taken the time to find out why they are committing suicide? Anyone bother to take a serious look at what has been failing and who is responsible for all of it? Anyone interested in asking the right question so the next time they can actually get their heads out of their asses and do something that will actually help?

As of right now there are over 1,800 post on military suicide on Wounded Times. On August 14, 2007 the first post on military suicides was asking why the press wasn't on suicide watch. There are hundreds of their stories on the post. The next day the post about Army suicides being at a 26 year high went up.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its scheduled release Thursday, found there were 99 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers during 2006, up from 88 the previous year and the highest since the 102 suicides in 1991 at the time of the Persian Gulf War.

The suicide rate for the Army has fluctuated over the past 26 years, from last year's high of 17.3 per 100,000 to a low of 9.1 per 100,000 in 2001.

Last year, "Iraq was the most common deployment location for both (suicides) and attempts," the report said.

The 99 suicides included 28 soldiers deployed to the two wars and 71 who weren't. About twice as many women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide as did women not sent to war, the report said

The support this bill got was about the same as the Clay Hunt Bill but as you can see, had this bill worked the way we were all told it would, then would we need another bill all these years later? Would we need so many graves filled? Oh, let's not forget to wonder why the real news about older veterans being the majority of the suicides and attempted suicides seems to keep escaping the press mentioning it because if they remind folks then it would only go to show how much the people in charge suck at what they do.

If this helps them sleep at night, I don't give a shit. I haven't had a good nights sleep in years.


Here are a few more

Schumer backs Hall's bill for PTSD Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2009
SCHUMER INTRODUCES GROUNDBREAKING VETERAN'S HEALTH BILL; WILL AFFECT OVER 150,000 IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS WHO HAVE YET TO BE TREATED FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Study Finds One In Five Of Our Nation's Veterans Suffer From PTSD And Over Half Of Current Iraq And Afghanistan Soldiers Afflicted Have Gone Without Treatment

Stringent VA Policies Require Vets to Tie Post Traumatic Stress Disorder To Specific Incident Before Receiving Treatment

Schumer Introduces Legislation That Will Free Vets From Onerous "Burden Of Proof" Regulations, Help Treat the 1.8 Million Service Members Deployed Since 2001

Congressman Paul Hodes Introduces Suicide Prevention Legislation for Reservists and National Guard
June 11, 2009
Washington, DC--- Congressman Paul Hodes introduced legislation that would implement the Connect/Frameworks Suicide Post-vention Program which trains key service providers and community members to provide an integrated community response to reduce risk and promote healing in the aftermath of a suicide.

Effective post-vention is an essential component of suicide prevention, and the legislation recognizes that post-vention training should be incorporated into any comprehensive suicide prevention effort.

"It is tragic that our service members who sacrifice for our country don’t have all the necessary resources to deal with post traumatic stress and confront suicide prevention," Congressman Paul Hodes. "This program has proven successful for the New Hampshire National Guard and I believe it can be successful to prevent suicides for National Guard members and Reservists across the country."

The focus of the training is to create an integrated, coordinated community response that
(1) enhances collaboration and coordination to provide the most effective intervention
(2) assures outreach and prevention through rapid and comprehensive communication, including best
practices, safe messaging, appropriate memorial services, and media guidelines; and,
(3) engages resources to help survivors and the community with grieving and healing.

Soldier Suicides, An Epidemic We Must Defeat
By CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT
August 1, 2012
Every day an active-duty member of our Armed Forces commits suicide.
To emphasize the silent, tragic epidemic that is sweeping across the U.S. military, consider this one statistic, which was brought to light in a recent TIME magazine article: “More U.S. military personnel have died by suicide since the war in Afghanistan began than have died fighting there.”
Let me rephrase that, just to make sure you understood the above statistic: Since the start of the Afghanistan war in 2001, there have been more soldier suicides than soldier combat deaths.
It’s not as though the Pentagon has been doing nothing on this issue. They have been working to address the epidemic of soldier suicides through research, by setting up hotlines, expanding outreach programs, and increasing access to mental health services.
Yet, we are still seeing a suicide per day.
Clearly, these efforts aren’t hitting their mark. Suicide is an extremely complex problem and we do not have all the answers, but one thing we do know is that the Pentagon must do better.
On July 19, with bipartisan support, I helped to increase the Pentagon’s suicide prevention budget by $10 million in the defense annual budget that passed the U.S. House. It is my hope that in moving forward, the Pentagon will consider two important changes when spending this part of their budget to ensure that the most effective suicide prevention strategies are carried out.

It Doesn't Matter Unless Veterans Really Matter

Why It Matters written by Matthew Daily of Associated Press had this part that is very important.

THE ISSUE: There are an estimated 21.6 million veterans in the United States. Among them, nearly 9 million are enrolled in health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. About 4.3 million veterans get disability compensation from the VA and nearly 900,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

A 2014 law signed by President Barack Obama aimed to alleviate delays many veterans faced in getting treatment at VA hospitals and clinics and end the widespread practice of fake wait lists that covered up long waits for veterans seeking health care. Two years later, many of the problems remain.

But the problem is, none of this is new and since we live with it every day, every year, we know the struggles do not belong to who sits in the Oval Office. Every issue veterans and families face belong to Congress. The President sets, or is supposed to set, the direction the country needs to go in. The Congress has the obligation to fulfill their end of the deal, but they don't.

Congress has had since 1946 to find a way to take care of veterans. Think about that for a second. Then add in the simple fact that no wound is new. They declared two wars when there was already a line of older veterans waiting to be cared for in return for what their service did to them. Congress did not come close to honoring those they sent.

Want proof? Ok, here is what the House Veterans Affairs Committee had been in charge of since 1946.

House Veterans Affairs Committee
History And Jurisdiction
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." Section 121(a) of this Act provides: "there shall be elected by the House at the commencement of each Congress the following standing committees": Nineteen Committees are listed and No. 18 quotes: "Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to consist of 27 Members." This Act has since been amended so that there are now 22 Standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The number of Members (Representatives) authorized to serve on each Committee has been changed from time to time. There are currently 29 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility, which means monitoring and evaluating the operations of the VA. If the Committee finds the that VA is not administering laws as Congress intended, then it is "corrected" through the hearing process and legislation. We are the voice of Congress for veterans in dealings with the VA.

Legislation Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans' measures generally.
Pensions of all the wars of the U.S., general and special.
Life insurance issued by the government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief.
Readjustment of servicemen to civilian life.
National Cemeteries
Complete Jurisdiction of the Committee

The Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established March 15, 1989, with Cabinet rank, succeeding the Veterans Administration and assuming responsibility for providing federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. Led by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA is the second largest of the 14 Cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs of health care assistance services and national cemeteries.

Care for veterans and dependents spans centuries. The last dependent of a Revolutionary War veteran died in 1911, the War of 1812's last dependent died 44 years ago, the Spanish American War's, in 1962. There are widows and children of Civil War and Indian War veterans who still draw VA benefits. Some 2,190 children and widows of Spanish-American War veterans are receiving VA compensation or pension benefits. The last American Doughboy, Corporal Frank Buckles, passed away on February 27, 2011. His passing signified the passing of the last of the World War I veterans.

As long as we are avoiding the fact that members of Congress have ditched their duty, it really doesn't matter who ends up in the chair. Veterans will continue to be failed by the same people who created their wounds in the first place. It has been going on for decades. Look up the voting record of the people you sent to do their jobs in Washington and then ask them why they didn't take care of those who went to war to do their jobs.

When you're done with that, ask them how much more money they plan on spending while veterans keep committing suicide after they survived those wars and came home to the mess Congress created. The reported number is the same as it was back in 1999 but there are about 5 million less veterans now.

Florida veterans beware of being used by McCain he votes against you

Florida veterans beware of being used by McCain because he keeps voting against you while expecting you will continue to support him. He hopes you will not see what he votes like as long as he can talk like he cares.

I have spent too many years paying attention to what politicians say and what they end up doing to have not noticed McCain. While far too many veterans and families want to just assume McCain is one of us and therefore will be a friend to veterans, his record has been one of being an advisory instead of advocate.

The Arizona senator detailed some of his plans for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, including quicker service, expanded benefits and
reforms.

"I will lead from the front (of veterans affairs)," said McCain.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/NEWS05/80818002/1007

The truth McCain cannot get away from is his voting record. It's been against Veterans. The assumption that because McCain is a veteran and will take care of veterans has not been supported by facts. It's almost as if McCain doesn't have to prove anything he says because he's a veteran. Of all the people in office today, McCain should have been a champion of veterans, especially considering he is one, he's a disabled veteran on top of that and also had every need as a veteran taken care of by the nation. When it came to the VA being under-funded and unable to take care of the wounded veterans, McCain voted against the funding increase.

PRINCETON, NJ -- With both presidential candidates addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention this week (John McCain on Monday and Barack Obama on Tuesday), Gallup finds that registered voters who have served in the U.S. military solidly back McCain over Obama, 56% to 34%.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109654/Veterans-Solidly-Back-McCain.aspx

Backlog of veterans’ benefits appeals growing bigger

McCain claims to not match voting record
McCain claims do not match voting recordby Kathie Costos

The biggest problem McCain has, is McCain. He can say whatever he wants and hope all he wants the American people have not been paying attention to what is real and what is manufactured, scripted to portray him as supporting the troops and veterans, but the record is clear. It shows in his votes and his speeches. Here are just some of those votes with links for more eye openers.McCain was against the GI bill because he said it was "too generous" and then we have this

Referring to Iraq in his closing comments Monday, McCain said he recognized Americans have grown tired of the war and the mistakes made, "but we cannot react to those mistakes by embracing a course of action that will be an even greater mistake, a mistake of colossal historical proportions."
click link for the rest of this with McCain's voting record.

But this is what he claims on his website:

John McCain Believes We Must Provide Our Veterans With World-Class Health Care. We must fully fund the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care budget in a timely and predictable manner. Those who have risked their lives in service to their fellow citizens deserve nothing less than the best medical care in the world.

Modern Warfare Injuries: John McCain co-authored the Wounded Warrior Act, which, among other things, was the first major legislative initiative to address injuries specific to the War on Terror. As President, he will build on this legislation and work to provide greatly enhanced screening and treatment and to foster greater cooperation between the Department of Defense and the VA.

So why is it that it took a Democrat to being this when McCain was part of the problem that allowed all these problems to happen and voted against doing anything about it before the Democrats took control of the House and Senate?

Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV]: Mr. President, I yesterday asked by unanimous consent that we adopt the Wounded Warrior legislation that was brought to the Senate during the Defense authorization bill in a form of a bipartisan amendment. A number of Senators worked very hard. Senator Murray is on the floor. She worked very hard, and a number of Senators have worked very hard on this legislation. It came about as a result of what we learned at Walter Reed about how our returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan were being basically neglected. They had been wounded, and they were receiving unacceptable and poor treatment when they came home. That failure was learned about--not only about the veterans care system, which had many bureaucratic failures, but also the physical facilities that were there failed to meet a minimum level of acceptability. The American people were outraged by the facts that came to light, and the Senate took prompt action.
The Wounded Warrior amendment, now in legislation that is before the Senate, would address the substandard facilities we have talked about and we have seen. It would address the lack of seamless transition and develop one when medical care for troops is transferred from the Department of Defense to the Veterans' Administration, which oftentimes in the past has led to diminished care. It addresses the inadequacy of severance pay. It addresses the need for improved sharing of medical records between the Department of Defense and the Veterans' Administration. We are told now that there are as many as 600,000 pending claims of returning veterans. It addresses the inadequate care and treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a number of other very important items.
So I again renew my request. Yesterday we were told that the Republicans were looking at this. Mr. President, I am going to renew this request. There are all kinds of reasons, I guess, for objecting to something such as this. Now I am told the reason for objecting is the pay raise isn't included. The Wounded Warrior legislation becomes effective upon passage and approval. The pay raise for the troops doesn't become effective until October 1 or January 1--I don't know how the legislation reads, but it is not now. So that would not be a good reason in my estimation, and I think in the estimation of these wounded warriors, for objecting.
The pay raise does not become effective until the beginning of the fiscal year. In fact, I think it is January 1 of next year. It is different than a number of things we pass. But it does not become effective now. So if that is a reason for objecting, it is a poor reason, because they are two different issues. One is the pay raise does not become effective now; this does become effective.
Quick Info
H.R. 1538: Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act
Last Action: Senate ordered measure printed as passed.
Status: Passed House, Passed Senate
Quick Info
H.R. 1585: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Last Action: On motion to refer the bill and the accompanying veto message to the Committee on Armed Services. Agreed to by voice vote.
Status: Vetoed by President
So I ask unanimous consent that the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1538, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the substitute amendment at the desk, which is the text of the Wounded Warriors provision in H.R. 1585, be considered and agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record, with no intervening action or debate.

Sponsor:
Rep. Ike Skelton [D-MO]show cosponsors (28)
Cosponsors [as of 2008-09-15]
Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D-HI]
Rep. Todd Akin [R-MO]
Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV]
Rep. Brian Bilbray [R-CA]
Rep. Nancy Boyda [D-KS]
Rep. Jo Ann Davis [R-VA]
Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]
Rep. William Delahunt [D-MA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]
Rep. John Gingrey [R-GA]
Rep. Samuel Graves [R-MO]
Rep. Jane Harman [D-CA]
Rep. Robin Hayes [R-NC]
Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-CA]
Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]
Rep. John McHugh [R-NY]
Rep. Mike McIntyre [D-NC]
Rep. Jeff Miller [R-FL]
Rep. Jon Porter [R-NV]
Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D-TX]
Rep. Michael Rogers [R-AL]
Rep. James Saxton [R-NJ]
Rep. William Shuster [R-PA]
Rep. Victor Snyder [D-AR]
Rep. Mark Souder [R-IN]
Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D-CA]
Rep. Mark Udall [D-CO]
Rep. Timothy Walberg [R-MI]
Cosponsorship information sometimes is out of date. Why?
Bill Text:
Summary Full Text
Status:
Introduced
Mar 15, 2007
Scheduled for Debate
Mar 20, 2007
Amendments (13 proposed) [details]
Passed House [details]
Mar 28, 2007
Passed Senate
Jul 25, 2007

Women Veterans: The VA must respond to the specialized health care needs of women veterans, including victims of sexual assault.

Outreach: Every veteran should receive easy-to-understand, comprehensive information about the rights and benefits he or she has earned. As President, John McCain will ensure that the promises of the Wounded Warrior Act are fulfilled -- including the establishment of a Wounded Warrior Resource Center, accessible information and clear pathways to rehabilitation, and documentation of the long-term needs of the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Family Caregivers: Care provided by a parent, spouse, or child can be instrumental in the recovery of a wounded or ill service member. The VA and the Department of Defense must expand educational programs for family members to teach them how to properly care for their injured or ill loved ones.

http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/news/PressReleases
/675b00d4-a791-414c-9534-7ca7283d16a2.htm

While we had two occupations going on in Afghanistan and Iraq, McCain did not take a stand to increase funding for the VA to match the need. When others did, he fought against them. What all this lead to is what we see today.

We see veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds and being trapped in a backlog of claims that increased over the years, being turned away from VA hospitals and finding financial devastation. McCain's answer was to vote against increased spending for the VA and to push to have it privatized by treating non-combat veterans as a sub-class of veterans thinking he can hand them a card to take their healthcare issues elsewhere. This was his answer instead of keeping promises to veterans to take care of their health needs for having been willing to lay down their lives for the sake of this nation.

McCain voted against time between deployments for the sake of the troops when all experts said it was needed to take care of the active military.

09/19/2007
Time Between Troop Deployments
S Amdt 2909
N
Amendment Rejected - Senate(56 - 44

McCain voted against Veterans or did not bother to vote at all.

05/22/2008
GI Bill and Other Domestic ProvisionsS Amdt 4803
NV
Amendment Adopted - Senate(75 - 22)

01/22/2008
Defense Authorizations BillHR 4986
NV
Bill Passed - Senate(91 - 3)

10/01/2007
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008HR 1585
NV
Bill Passed - Senate(92 - 3)

02/02/2006
Tax Rate Extension AmendmentHR 4297
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(44 - 53)

11/17/2005
Additional Funding For Veterans AmendmentS 2020
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(43 - 55)

10/05/2005
Health Care for Veterans AmendmentHR 2863
N
Motion Failed - Senate(48 - 51)

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 2nd Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (Akaka Amdt. No. 3007 )
Vote Number:
41
Vote Date:
March 14, 2006, 04:22 PM
Required For Majority:
1/2
Vote Result:
Amendment Rejected
Amendment Number:
S.Amdt. 3007 to S.Con.Res. 83
Statement of Purpose:
To increase Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00041

McCain has a history of not supporting veterans. The following is a long list from the AFLCIO

AND HE REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST FUNDING FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

1994: McCain Voted Against Funding the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of nine senators to vote against appropriating $90 billion in budget authority for the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments. (H.R. 4624, Vote 306, 9/27/94)

1995: McCain Voted Against Closing Tax Loopholes to Increase Veterans Funding by $74 Million. McCain voted against eliminating tax breaks and closing tax loopholes to provide revenue to restore some of the proposed cuts in Veterans Affairs spending. (S.C.R. 13, Vote 226, 5/25/95)

1995: McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)

1996: McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)

1999: McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)

2000: McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)

2001: McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)

2003: McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)

VOTED AGAINST VETERANS 4/26/06

Vote 98: H R 4939: Akaka Amdt. No. 3642 as Amended; To provide an additional $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.McCain voted No GOP voted Yes Democrats voted Yes

McCAIN ALSO VOTED TO OUTSOURCE JOBS AT MILITARY FACILITIES

McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)

He Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)


McCAIN HAS NOT DELIVERED ON HIS PROMISES TO VETERANS

Union members respect Sen. John McCain’s service to our country. When will he start respecting ours? Although McCain talks about his support for veterans, he repeatedly votes against increased funding for veterans’ health care—and more. We call on John McCain to join us in supporting our veterans and working to turn around America.

McCAIN REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST VETERANS’ HEALTH BENEFITS

McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08)

McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)

Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)

McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)

Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)

McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)

McCain Voted in Support of Disabled Veterans Only 25 Percent of the Time from 2004-2005. While McCain claims he “has been a leading advocate” for veterans with disabilities, statistics show he supported the Disabled American Veterans’ interests only 25 percent of the time in 2004-2005. In 2006, that figure slipped to 20 percent of the time. (Project Vote Smart)

McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)

INCLUDING BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR GUARD AND RESERVISTS

McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_vets.cfm

If you do not spend the time to look up his record, you will keep voting against your best interest. If you assume someone is your friend and do not notice what he does behind your back, you are embracing your enemy. It is very hard to think that a veteran would turn his back on veterans but that is exactly what McCain's history has proven. It is also the reason why every major service organization has come out against McCain. He earned their anger. Why aren't you angry yet?

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

More "CYA" from Congress on VA scandal

The headline over on Politico reads "House creates VA conference committee" but we're laughing at this one. Why? Because it was the JOB OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO STAY ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS ALL THESE YEARS!

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ historic legacy is captured in the Committee’s hearing rooms in the Cannon House Office Building, Rooms 334 and 340. The Committee has been formerly known by many names including the Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on World War Veterans’ Affairs. After the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Committee became formally known as the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Even though the Committee’s name has changed over the years, its mission has remained constant – to represent America’s veterans, their families, and survivors.

History and Jurisdiction
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." Section 121(a) of this Act provides: "there shall be elected by the House at the commencement of each Congress the following standing committees": Nineteen Committees are listed and No. 18 quotes: "Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to consist of 27 Members." This Act has since been amended so that there are now 22 Standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The number of Members (Representatives) authorized to serve on each Committee has been changed from time to time. There are currently 29 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility, which means monitoring and evaluating the operations of the VA. If the Committee finds the that VA is not administering laws as Congress intended, then it is "corrected" through the hearing process and legislation. We are the voice of Congress for veterans in dealings with the VA.

Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Clause 1 and clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives establishes the jurisdiction and related functions for each standing committee. Precedent is also used to determine committee jurisdiction.

Clause 1 of Rule X states "all bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of any standing committee as listed in this clause shall (in accordance with and subject to clause 5) be referred to such committees, as follows":

(r) Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States, general and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemembers to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.

For more information, please consult the Committee's Rules of Procedure for the 111th Congress.

The Committee has oversight responsibility for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. On a regular basis, the Committee with subcommittees, convenes hearings which examine issues such as: VA compliance with statutory provisions; VA's effectiveness in providing timely benefits and quality heath care; Management practices and efficient expenditure of resources. The Committee's legislative responsibilities cover a wide range of veterans issues. However, veterans and other interested people may be surprised to learn that the Veterans' Affairs Committee does not have legislative jurisdiction over the following issues:

Tax status of veterans benefits and contributions to Veterans Service Organizations (Committee on Ways and Means);
Military retiree issues, including COLA’s and disability pay (Committee on Armed Services);
CHAMPUS and Tri-Care (Committee on Armed Services);
Survivor Benefit Program (Committee on Armed Services);
Veterans Preference in Federal civil service hiring practice (Committee on Government Reform and Oversight);
Congressional charters for veterans service organizations (Committee on Judiciary);
Immigration issues relating to veterans (Committee on Judiciary); and
Issues dealing with Prisoners of War (POWs) and service members missing in action (MIAs) (Committee on Armed Services)

House creates VA conference committee
Politico
By LAUREN FRENCH
6/18/14

House and Senate lawmakers moved closer on Wednesday to new reforms to help fix problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities.

The House approved legislation to convene a conference committee on the two VA-focused bills that would allow veterans to seek private care if they waited longer than a “standard” period of time for treatment. The bill would also give VA leadership the ability to fire department officials found to be involved with misconduct or who are under-performing.
read more here

So exactly how did they expect to get away with all that has happened all these years without fixing any of it?

They don't get to use the excuse they didn't know. It was their jobs to know. They don't get to use the excuse no one told them since veterans told them over and over again when they called their offices looking for justice from the guys they elected.

They say people at the VA need to be fired but never seem to mention the fact they were supposed to be on top of all of it!

Barbara West Orlando TV Anchor asked Biden if Obama is a Marxist. Shame on her!

So much for everyone working together. Barbara West did the opening remarks at the Orlando VA ground breaking ceremony I attended. I posted about how wonderful it was that people from all sides came together for the sake of the veterans. It really was great that everyone there was there for the greater good. Now, after this question from West, whatever she had to say for veterans, now seems like empty words.

West quoted Karl Marx

"You may recognize this famous quote," West said. "'From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs.' That's from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?"

This quote came after even Greenspan admitted that this is what has to be done to fix the economy of this nation. While McCain fails to understand that greed is not good and fails to understand what any economist is talking about, people like West use great words from a polarizing figure instead of a beloved figure like Christ who said basically the same thing. Gee, wonder why she did that?

This whole interview was not an interview a journalist would do but one a political attack queen would do. If she really cared about the veterans as she claimed the other day when she was standing in front of all gathered for the ceremony to begin construction on the VA hospital, she would have mentioned the fact that McCain has been voting against the veterans all these years. His record speaks for itself.

This is from the AFLCIO

McCAIN HAS NOT DELIVERED ON HIS PROMISES TO VETERANS

Union members respect Sen. John McCain’s service to our country. When will he start respecting ours? Although McCain talks about his support for veterans, he repeatedly votes against increased funding for veterans’ health care—and more. We call on John McCain to join us in supporting our veterans and working to turn around America.

McCAIN REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST VETERANS’ HEALTH BENEFITS

McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08)

McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)

Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)

McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)

Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)

McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)

McCain Voted in Support of Disabled Veterans Only 25 Percent of the Time from 2004-2005. While McCain claims he “has been a leading advocate” for veterans with disabilities, statistics show he supported the Disabled American Veterans’ interests only 25 percent of the time in 2004-2005. In 2006, that figure slipped to 20 percent of the time. (Project Vote Smart)

McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)

INCLUDING BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR GUARD AND RESERVISTS

McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03)

McCAIN ALSO VOTED TO OUTSOURCE JOBS AT MILITARY FACILITIES

McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)

He Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)

AND HE REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST FUNDING FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

2003: McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)

2001: McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)

2000: McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)

1999: McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)

1996: McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)

1995: McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)

1995: McCain Voted Against Closing Tax Loopholes to Increase Veterans Funding by $74 Million. McCain voted against eliminating tax breaks and closing tax loopholes to provide revenue to restore some of the proposed cuts in Veterans Affairs spending. (S.C.R. 13, Vote 226, 5/25/95)

1994: McCain Voted Against Funding the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of nine senators to vote against appropriating $90 billion in budget authority for the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments. (H.R. 4624, Vote 306, 9/27/94)


http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_vets.cfm

Central Florida veterans have been waiting too many years to have a hospital built here. Did West ever wonder how much faster they would have had one if McCain had really supported the veterans she claims to love? Did West ever ask McCain why he voted against all these bills for veterans or why he has received such low rankings from all the major service organizations? Has West even attempted to be a real journalist on McCain's record or on Obama's record, what he's done since he's been in the Senate or the fact that while McCain did not see fit to serve on the Veterans Affairs committee, Obama has?

West has just turned a wonderful day of unity for the sake of the veterans into something I will now remember as a bunch of empty words when it comes to the veterans who have been suffering. The same veterans I've been fighting for 26 years for. The same veterans who are turned away from VA hospitals, have had their claims denied yet served this nation and did all we asked of them. Too many have taken there own lives because people in the media failed them. They failed to report on the miserable records of politicians who voted against taking care of them. Now I put West into that category. Shame on her!!!

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos

Namguardianangel@aol.com

http://www.namguardianangel.org/

http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

Orlando TV Anchor conducts 'unprofessional interview' of Biden
David Edwards and Andrew McLemore
Published: Saturday October 25, 2008


"Are you joking?"

That was one of Sen. Joe Biden's responses during an interview with a Florida news station that the Obama campaign said was so "unprofessional" it canceled another planned interview with his wife, Jill Biden.

Barbara West conducted the interview for WFTV-Channel 9 and asked the Democratic vice presidential candidate if Sen. Barack Obama was a "Marxist," referenced a recent statement Obama made in Ohio to Joe the lumber about "spreading the wealth around," and was Biden "embarassed" about Obama's alleged ties to ACORN.

"You may recognize this famous quote," West said. "'From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs.' That's from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?"

Biden did not immediately take the question seriously.

"Are you joking? Is this a joke or is that a real question?" Biden said. "It's a ridiculous comparison with all due respect."

For her final question, West asked Biden what he would say to the people "who are concerned that Barack Obama will want to turn American into a socialist country, much like Sweden?"

WFTV news director Bob Jordan defended the interview as hard-hitting journalism and rebuked criticisms of West as mere complaints that she didn't ask "softball questions," The Orlando Sentinel reported.

"When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it," Jordan said. "They usually give you five minutes."

But the Obama campaign lambasted the station for its "100 percent false" statements that Obama worked for ACORN and for the "combative" nature of the interview.
click post title for the rest of this

By the way ACORN did what they were supposed to do when idiots decided to sign up fake applicants. They flagged the applications because they had to turn in all of them under the law. They also had to pay for them. ACORN was supported by McCain as well for the work they do, which for the most part has been fantastic for Democrats and Republicans and our Democracy. Does West know what a small percentage the fake applications are? Does she know this is not vote fraud because none of these fake names will show up to vote? Give me a break!!!

Congress holds no one accountable for veteran suicides

Gee if you read this then it seems as if the House has only been looking at veterans committing suicide for two years. They "held hearings" but didn't do anything about them.

Chairman Miller's Response to New VA Suicide Report
House Committee on Veterans Affairs
FEB 1, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement in response to the new Department of Veterans Affairs report on veteran suicides:

“The VA’s report reveals that, despite a dramatic increase in the number of VA resources and programs devoted to suicide prevention, the number of veterans committing suicide has remained relatively stable for the last 12 years. This is beyond unacceptable. It is not enough that suicide numbers aren’t getting worse. They aren’t getting better, and that means the VA has much more work to do.”

“Perhaps more troubling is the report’s finding that demographic characteristics of veterans who die by suicide are similar among those who access VA care and those who don’t – raising serious questions about the efficacy of the VA’s mental health care and suicide prevention services. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Over the past two years, the committee has held a number of hearings on VA’s mental health care, revealing a complex bureaucratic system fraught with lengthy delays and unconnected care.”

“The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a full committee hearing Feb. 13 entitled, ‘Honoring the Commitment: Overcoming Barriers to Quality Mental Health Care for Veterans.’ The hearing will continue to explore systemic issues with the delivery of mental health care through the VA. We expect the department to come ready and willing to get to the bottom of perhaps the most important question this report raises: Is the VA’s complex system of mental health and suicide prevention services improving the health and wellness of our heroes in need?”
read more here

112th Congress House Bills House-Passed Bills

Servicemember Family Protection Act (H.R. 4201)
Introduced by Rep. Mike Turner
The Servicemember Family Protection Act would amend SCRA to prohibit the deployment of a servicemember for being grounds for determining child custody.
Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: May 20, 2012)

Honoring as Veterans Certain Persons Who Preformed Service in the Reserve Components (H.R. 1025, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Timothy J. Walz
The Honoring as Veterans Certain Persons Who Preformed Service in the Reserve Components would recognize the service of the Reserves by honoring them with status as veterans.

Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: October 11, 2011)

Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 (H.R. 4057)
Introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis
The Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 would direct VA to improve outreach and transparency to student veterans by providing more information on institutions of higher learning via VA.gov.
Additional Provisions:

H.R. 4115 (Introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers): Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Return to Employment at Home Act would direct the Secretary of VA, as a condition of a grant or contract to a state for certain veterans’ employment and training programs, to require the state to demonstrate consideration of military training received by a veteran when approving or denying a commercial drivers license or a certification to be a nursing assistant or certified nursing assistant, a registered nurse (RN), or an emergency medical technician (EMT).
H.R. 4079, as amended (Introduced by Rep. David McKinely): The Safe Housing for Homeless Veterans Act would require recipients of grants and other assistance from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of housing and other services for homeless veterans to comply with codes relevant to operations and level of care provided.
H.R. 3337, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Todd Akin): The Open Burn Pit Registry Act would establish an open burn pit registry to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits while deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq receive information regarding such exposure from VA as more data becomes available.

The Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 5948, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson
The Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 mandates that all VA fiduciaries submit to a background and credit check, as well as institute an appeals process to ensure that veterans and their families have recourse should they lose confidence in a VA-appointed fiduciary in order to cut down on fraud within VA’s Fiduciary Program. Furthermore, this bill will add a layer of protection to a veteran’s savings, and decrease the amount of money a fiduciary may receive as a commission. H.R. 5948 also includes provisions to establish a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery, ensures that religious and other expressions of mourning are allowed at National Cemeteries, and prohibits VA employees who violate civil law from receiving incentives and awards.

Additional Provisions:

H.R. 5735, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers): Would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery for the remains of servicemembers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any subsequent war if the remains are unidentifiable or unclaimed.
H.R. 2355 (Introduced by Rep. Vicki Hartzler): The Hallowed Grounds Act would prohibit persons convicted of certain sex offenses to be interred at national cemeteries or Arlington National Cemetery.
H.R. 2720 (Introduced by Rep. John Culberson): Would prohibit VA from interfering with the content of a funeral on VA property, so long as it is in line with the last will and testament of the individual being interred.
H.R. 5881, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan): The Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act would provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain employees of local governmental agencies with access to VA case-tracking information.
H.R. 3730, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Joe Donnelly): The Veterans Data Breach Timely Notification Act would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice to individuals whose sensitive personal information is involved in a data breach. H.R. 4481, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe): The Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that no employee of VA, who knowingly violates any civil law, receives any retention incentive, payment, or award for or during the year of such violation.
Establishes a ceiling on VA bonus and incentive payments.
Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: September 19, 2012)

111th Congress Legislation Enacted
Veterans’ Legislation Enacted (15 Public Laws)
Public Law 111-37 (S. 407, amended) (Sen. Daniel K. Akaka D-HI) Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, was signed into law on June 30, 2009.

Public Law 111-81 (H.R. 1016, amended) (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA) Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, was signed into law on October 22, 2009.

Public Law 111-82 (S. 1717, amended) (Sen. Daniel K. Akaka D-HI) to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes, was signed into law on October 26, 2009.

Public Law 111-97 (S. 475) (Sen. Richard Burr R-NC) Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, was signed into law on November 11, 2009.

Public Law 111-98 (S. 509) (Sen. Patty Murray D-WA) to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes, was signed into law on November 11, 2009.

Public Law 111-137 (H.R. 1377, amended) (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA), to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes, was signed into law on February 1, 2010.

Public Law 111-156 (H. J. Res. 80) – (Rep. Deborah L. Halvorson D-IL), Recognizing and honoring the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded veterans and their families, was signed into law on April 7, 2010.

Public Law 111-163 (S. 1963, amended) – (Sen. Daniel Akaka D-HI) Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, was signed into law on May 5, 2010.

Public Law 111-164 (H.R. 4360) – (Rep. John Campbell R-CA), To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the "Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center" was signed into law on May 7, 2010.

Public Law 111-246 (H.R. 4505)– (Rep. Mac Thornberry R-TX), to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Services, was signed into law on September 30, 2010.

Public Law 111-247 (H.R. 4667) – (Rep. Thomas S.P. Perriello D-VA), Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010, was signed into law on September 30, 2010.

Public Law 111-275 (H.R. 3219, amended) – (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA), Veterans’ Insurance and Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, was signed into law on October 13, 2010.

Public Law 111-339 (S. 3860) – (Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO), A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery, was signed into law on December 22, 2010.

Public Law 111-346 (S. 4058) – (Sen. John F. Kerry D-MA), Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010, was signed into law on December 29, 2010.

Public Law 111-346 (S. 3447) – (Sen. Daniel Akaka D-HI), Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, was signed into law on January 4, 2011.

That's the problem. When they don't do anything to address suicides or hold anyone accountable, no one is held accountable. Not even them.