DENNIS CULLINAN

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA); S. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.