Legislative update.Legislation to provide full concurrent receipt of military longevity retired pay and VA disability compensation has been introduced in the 108th Congress. S.392 introduced by Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has 38 cosponsors. The House version, H.R. 3113, sponsored by Representative Michael Bilirakis Michael Bilirakis (born July 16 1930), American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1983 until 2007, representing the 9th District of Florida. (R-Fla.), has 120 cosponsors. Similar measures died in the last Congress in the face of threats of a presidential veto. Although legislation establishing special compensation to military longevity retirees who have combat-related disabilities was passed by the 107th Congress, most disabled retirees must forfeit one dollar of retired pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive. "The DAV See WebDAV. will continue to fight for the removal of the prohibition on concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and military longevity retired pay," said National Legislative Director Joseph A. Violante. "DAV members are asked to contact their Senators and Representatives and urge them to support this important legislation to end a grave injustice to many of our nation's disabled veterans." A number of other measures that address some of the DAV's legislative goals have been introduced in the 108th Congress. Following= are some of those bills DAV members are encouraged to urge their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support. Benefits H.R. 843--Would provide full service-connected disability benefits for persons disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation Noun 1. vocational rehabilitation - providing training in a specific trade with the aim of gaining employment rehabilitation - the restoration of someone to a useful place in society provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. and for survivors of persons dying from such treatment. H.R. 241--Veterans Beneficiary Fairness Act of 2003--Would repeal the 2-year limit on payment of accrued benefits Accrued benefits The pension benefits earned by an employee according to the years of the employee's service. . H.R. 36--Would provide that remarriage Re`mar´riage n. 1. A second or repeated marriage. Noun 1. remarriage - the act of marrying again of the surviving spouse after age 55 of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse. S. 249--Would provide that remarriage of the surviving, spouse after age 55 of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse. Health Care S. 50--Veterans Health Care Funding Guarantee Act of 2003--Would guarantee adequate resources for veterans health care using a formula based on the number of enrolled veterans multiplied by the cost per patient, with an annual adjustment for medical inflation. (See the March/April DAV Magazine.) H.R. 627--Would suspend for five years the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Noun 1. Secretary of Veterans Affairs - the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Veterans Affairs; "Bush appointed Edward J. Derwinski as the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs" to increase the co-payment amount in effect for medication furnished by the VA on an outpatient basis for the treatment of nonservice-connected disabilities and provide an increase in the maximum annual rates of pension payable to surviving spouses of veterans of a period of war. H.R. 65--Would amend the Internal Revenue Code The Internal Revenue Code is the body of law that codifies all federal tax laws, including income, estate, gift, excise, alcohol, tobacco, and employment taxes. These laws constitute title 26 of the U.S. Code (26 U.S.C.A. § 1 et seq. of 1986 to allow a refundable credit Refundable Credit A tax credit that is not limited by the amount of an individual's tax liability. Typically a tax credit only reduces an individual's tax liability to zero. Refundable credits go beyond this and so really can be considered the same as a payment. to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare part B. H.R. 58--Would authorize enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired alter a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member. Miscellaneous S. 69--Would require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. during World War II. S. 60--Would authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war prisoners of war, in international law, persons captured by a belligerent while fighting in the military. International law includes rules on the treatment of prisoners of war but extends protection only to combatants. to use Department of Defense commissary COMMISSARY. An officer whose principal duties are to supply the army with provisions. 2. The Act of April 14, 1818, s. 6, requires that the president, by and with the consent of the senate, shall appoint a commissary general with the rank, pay, and emoluments and exchange stores. S. 59--Would permit veterans with a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the armed forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. S. 19--Veterans and Military Personnel Fairness Act of 2003--Would allow concurrent receipt of military longevity retired pay and VA disability compensation and guarantee adequate funding for veterans medical care. H.R. 1048--Would increase the amount of assistance for certain disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobile and adaptive equipment. H.R. 761--Would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide adapted housing assistance to disabled members of the armed forces who remain on active duly pending medical separation. H.R. 631--Would provide a presumption of service connection for cold weather injuries which occur in veterans while engaged in military operations. H.R. 533--Would provide health care and certain other benefits furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs to any individual who has spina bifida and is the natural child of a veteran who was exposed to a herbicide herbicide (hr`bəsīd'), chemical compound that kills plants or inhibits their normal growth. A herbicide in a particular formulation and application can be described as selective or nonselective. agent while in military service. H.R. 476--Would extend to members of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps The Cadet Nurse Program was supervised by the United States Public Health Service (PHS) After entering World War II, it became clear that America would soon face a critical shortage of nurses nationwide. As the war progressed, the demand for nurses increased dramatically. during World War II constituted active military service status for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 169--Would allow the sworn affidavit of a veteran who served in combat during the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. or an earlier conflict to be accepted as proof of service-connection of a disease or injury alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by such service. POW/MIA POW/MIA Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action S. 517--Would provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war. H.R. 886--Would provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before Sept. 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date. H.R. 595--Would provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March Bataan Death March (April 1942) Forced march of 70,000 U.S. and Filipino prisoners of war (World War II) captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. From the southern end of the Bataan Peninsula, the starving and ill-treated prisoners were force-marched 63 mi (101 km) to a and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R. 348--Would provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war. RELATED ARTICLE: Veterans committees. * Following are lawmakers assigned to the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees, which have oversight responsibilities for the various benefits and services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Republican Arlen Specter, Pa., Chairman Ben Nighthorse Campbell Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born April 13, 1933) is an American politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005 and was for some time the only Native American serving in the U.S. Congress. Campbell was a U.S. , Colo. Larry E. Craig, Idaho Kay Bailey Hutchison Kathyrn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22 1943), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. , Tex. Jim Bunning, Ky. John Ensign, Nev. Lindsey Graham, S.C. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska House Veterans' Affairs Committee Republican Christopher Smith, N.J., Chairman Michael Bilirakis, Fla., Vice Chairman Terry Everett, Ala. Steve Buyer, Ind. Jack Quinn, N.Y. Cliff Stearns, Fla. Jerry Moran, Kan. Richard Baker, La. Rob Simmons, Conn. Henry Brown, S.C. Jeff Miller, Fla. John Boozman, Ark. Jeb Bradley, N.H. Bob Beauprez, Colo. Ginny Brown-Waite, Fla. Rick Renzi, Ariz. Tim Murphy, Pa. Democrat/Independent Bob Graham, Fla., Ranking Member John D. Rockefeller IV, W.Va. Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Patty Murray, Wash. Zell Miller, Ga. E. Benjamin Nelson, Neb. James M. Jeffords, Vt. (Independent) Democrat Lane Evans, Ill., Ranking Member Bob Filner, Calif. Luis V. Gutierrez, Ill. Corrine Brown, Fla. Vic Snyder, Ark. Ciro Rodriguez, Tex. Michael Michaud, Maine Darlene Hooley, Ore. Silvestre Reyes, Tex. Ted Strickland, Ohio Shelley Berkley, Nev. Tom Udall, N.M. Susan Davis, Calif. Tim Ryan, Ohio |
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