2.      VA Using New Contract Strategy, PTSD Rule. In continuing coverage, the lead "Veterans Journal" story for the Providence (RI) Journal (8/2, Reilly) notes that Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has "announced a new contracting strategy" for information technology (IT) "projects that will give veteran-owned small businesses more opportunities to work for...VA." After noting that the strategy is called the "Transformation Twenty-one Total Technology �� or T4 �� program," the Journal says Shinseki "estimated...the T4 strategy will enable veteran-owned small businesses to receive $800 million to $1 billion in contracts." The column, which in its second story took note of VA's new post-traumatic stress disorder rule, went on to report that Shinseki "also said...VA is cracking down on contractors who represent themselves fraudulently as veteran-owned small businesses."

     Vet Concerned That New Rule Allows VA To Retain Sole PTSD Diagnosis Authority. Veteran Neal Powers also wrote about the new PTSD rule, warning in an op-ed for the Cape Girardeau, Missouri-based Southeast Missourian (8/1) that VA "still retains the sole authority to diagnose PTSD" and that VA staff is "not even required to entertain the opinions of their civilian counterparts. Because of this, the credibility of...VA is at risk."

 

3.      Halvorson, Schumer Hope To Tighten Rules On Soldiers' Death Benefits. According to continuing coverage from Bloomberg News (8/2, O'Connor, Evans), US Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-IL) "wants Congress to set new rules for life insurance companies that profit from accounts" holding death benefits of fallen US soldiers and veterans. Bloomberg, which says the US Department of Veterans Affairs has begun a probe of the accounts, reports Halvorson has "introduced legislation...that would require companies such as Prudential Financial Inc. to tell beneficiaries how their money will be invested and how much" profit the insurer "stands to make." After noting that VA would be required to enforce Halvorson's bill, Bloomberg adds, "Senator Charles Schumer...is drafting legislation to require the VA and the federal personnel office to contract with insurers that would pay lump sums to beneficiaries unless they want to use a different method, the Associated Press reported."

4.      House Gives "Overwhelming Support" To Bill With Money For Agent Orange-Exposed Vets. In continuing coverage, CQ Weekly (8/2, Mulero) reports, "The House gave overwhelming support last week to the first of the fiscal 2011 spending bills to reach the floor - a $141.1 billion measure to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Pentagon military construction projects." The legislation, which includes money for claims by Vietnam "veterans exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange," would "appropriate $6.5 billion, or 5 percent, more than fiscal 2010 funding and matches President Obama's request."

 

5.      Senate Committee To Mark Up Vets-Related Education Bill. In the middle of "Week At A Glance," CQ (8/2) notes that on Thursday, at 9:30 a.m. in 418 Russell, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is scheduled to mark "up legislation on post-Sept. 11 veterans' educational assistance improvements (S 3447)."

 

6.      Tuscaloosa VAMC Hosts Picnic For Veterans. The Tuscaloosa (AL) News (8/1, Grayson) noted that on Saturday, the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center "reached out to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom during its Picnic in the Park event. 'We did this two years ago and had a pretty good turnout of about 500 people or so,'" said Damon Stevenson, a hospital spokesman, who added, "Since then, we've enrolled many more veterans to the services we offer."

 

7.      Coatesville VAMC Criticized By Judge For Pursuing Charges Against Medicated Vet. The Chester County (PA) Daily Local News (8/1, Rellahan) said Judge William P. Mahon, "who oversees Chester County's treatment" courts, "sharply criticized the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center's treatment of an Iraqi War veteran and other patients dealing with mental illness." On Friday, "before accepting Dixon's guilty plea to simple assault," Mahon "questioned why...VA would pursue criminal charges against veteran Grady Lee Dixon Jr. for punching and shoving hospital staff when Dixon's anti-depression medication was apparently affecting his mood." Mahon's "comments come as the state has begun an effort to set up a series of Veterans Courts to handle the increasing number of criminal cases involving former service men and women."

 

8.      Local Officials Create Committee To Work On Behalf Of Returning Vets. The Sherwood (AR) Voice (7/30, Knable) reported, "At its Monday meeting, in addition to property maintenance issues, the Sherwood City Council dealt with a sewer problem" and "voted unanimously in favor of creating a military liaison committee." After noting that the council "appointed Ward 2 Alderman Butch Davis chairman of that committee," the Voice added, "Davis said the purpose of the committee will be to work on behalf of veterans returning from war who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and other issues." According to the Voice, Davis "will be meeting with representatives" of several veterans organizations, the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, and a Veterans Affairs hospital, "and will serve as a liaison between the organizations, the city and...veterans."

 

9.      Woman Hopes Book Will Help Other Daughters Of War Vets. The Ontario, California-based Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (7/31, Leung) reported, "Juju Sands' father died at the young age of 42 in 1989. Although the coroner's report states he had cirrhosis of the liver, she knows the real cause of his death -- the Vietnam War." After noting that the 41-year-old Sands "recently published a book about her father and how the post-traumatic stress disorder he experienced ravaged not just his life but her childhood," the Daily Bulletin said Sands' "hope is that 'War Dad' will help all the daughters who have fathers returning from war."

 

10.    Advocate For Homeless Vets Passes Away. In an obituary, the Los Angeles Times (8/2, Rivera) notes that on Saturday, 55-year-old Dwight Radcliff, an "Air Force veteran who overcame homelessness to lead" the United States Veterans Initiative, a national, nonprofit "organization providing services for former soldiers facing similar obstacles," died after suffering a heart attack. Peter Dougherty, "national director of homeless veterans programs" at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, "who had known Radcliff for 20 years," commented on his death, calling it a "huge loss." The Chicago Tribune (8/2) and the Kansas City (MO) Star (8/2) run the same story.

 

 

11.    Memorial Service Commemorates Sinking Of US Naval Cruiser. The Indianapolis Star (8/2, Wang) notes that on Sunday morning, about "500 people attended a memorial service...to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis," a World War II "heavy cruiser...sunk by Japanese torpedoes on July 30, 1945. It was the greatest naval disaster" in US "history: Due to communication mix-ups, the crew floated in the Leyte Gulf for nearly five days before being rescued. Of the 1,196 men aboard the ship, only 317 survived their wounds, dehydration, hunger and shark attacks."

 

12.    Stimulus Funds To Pay For New Energy System At Canandaigua VAMC. The Greece (NY) Messenger Post (8/1, Daniels) reported, "More than $15 million of federal stimulus money will be used" by the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center to "construct a brand-new, energy-efficient heating and power system. Called the Combined Heating and Power Renewable Energy Project, the project will install two biomass-fueled steam boilers," which will "run on wood chips."

 

13.    VA Hospital Involved With Mental Health Courts Initiative. The Newport News (VA) Daily Press (8/2, Macauley) reports, "For almost a decade, drug abusers charged with minor offenses have benefitted from a drug court system that has steered them away from jail onto a judge-enforced system of treatment." Now, Hampton, Virginia, "wants to pioneer the idea for offenders with mental health problems," in an initiative that Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Curtis "said...started almost a year ago." Curtis "said there would also be a component for veterans and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Hampton is involved in the program."

 

14.    Vets And Their Families Treated To Free Baseball Game In Ohio. The Chillicothe (OH) Gazette (8/1) said a collegiate summer baseball team called the Chillicothe Paints and a Veterans Affairs hospital "teamed up to give veterans and their families a free evening of fun Saturday night" at a Paints game. Over "800 veterans and their families enjoyed the game, which included free food and activities in the pre-game hours, during the third annual event. 'The Paints are very helpful every year in working with us on this,' said Stacia Ruby, Public Affairs officer" for the VA hospital.

 

15.    Veterans' Courts Must Deal With Real Issues, Solutions. An op-ed in the Duluth (MN) News Tribune (87/2) by Durbin M. Keeney, "regional director of MACV-Duluth."

 

16.    Korea Vet's Remains To Be Interred Wednesday. John Friedlein's "Heartland" column in the Hardin County (KY) News-Enterprise (8/2).

 

17.    Trammell Crow Joins McMillan Reservoir Redevelopment Team. The Washington Post (8/2, O'Connell) reports, "Trammell Crow, the Dallas-based developer, has joined the real estate team planning a redevelopment of McMillan Reservoir, a 25-acre city-owned former sand filtration facility in Northwest Washington, to accommodate potential expansion of Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center," and the Veterans Affairs hospital in Washington, DC.

 

18.    Sinton Veteran Wins Gold In Wheelchair Games. The Corpus Christi (TX) Caller Times (8/2, Williams).

 

19.    A Special Picnic For Cedar Grove Elks. The Cedar Grove (NJ) Observer (6/30) said the North Central District Elks "annual veterans' picnic was held on Saturday July 17" at the Veterans Affairs hospital "in Lyons."

 

20.    Legion All-Star Game Scheduled For Tuesday. The Bristol (CT) Press (8/2, Angilly) reports, "The annual American Legion baseball All-Star benefit game between Zone 1 and Zone 8 will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Tunxis Mead Park in Farmington, beginning at 7 p.m." After noting that admission to the game is $3, the Press adds, "All proceeds will be donated to the Rocky Hill Veterans' Hospital Cheer Fund."

 

21.    A Good Time Brewing Every Night. The Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times-Leader (8/2, Morgan-Besecker) says Joe Marcellini, Sandy Marcella, Ellie Garavaglia, Bernie Gibson, and Carl Swentner, who all work for a Veterans Affairs hospital, "manned the beer stand together" at a local, annual church bazaar, as they have done "together for each of the past four years."

 

22.    Aundré Niles, Buried With Military Honors, Dreamed Of Building Home For His 2-Year-Old Son. The Springfield (MA) Republican (8/1, Graham).

 

23.    Local Korean War Vets Remember 'Forgotten War.' The YNN-TV Rochester, NY (8/1, Clarke) website.

 

24.    In WWII, A Black Medic's Help Wasn't Always Wanted. The Newport News Daily Press (8/1, Lessig) published a story that appeared under the same headline on the WTKR-TV Norfolk, VA (8/1) website.

 

25.    Aging, Forgotten But Still Loyal To Britain, WWII Has Never Ended For Fabled Burma Fighters. The AP (8/2, Gray).

 

26.    VA Hearings as of August 2, 2010:

Markup on August 5.  SVAC, Markup � COLA; Murray Vets employment; Claims bill (to be introduced); Akaka GI bill; Health package (including Begich bill waiving Telehealth/telemedicine co-pay. 

 

Hearing on September 16.  The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a hearing to receive an update on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. 

 

Hearing on September 22.  The American Legion will give its annual briefing on its legislative agenda before a joint hearing of SVAC and HVAC.

 

Hearing on September 23.  SVAC Oversight Hearing:  “VA Disability Compensation:  Presumptive Disability Decision-Making.”