1.      Senate Panel Approves VA Tech Budget Below President's Request.  NextGov (12/16, Brewin) points out that on Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee "approved a $3.16 billion information technology budget for the Veterans Affairs Department in its 1,924-page omnibus spending bill -- $144.5 million less than" President Obama's request. Last week, the House "approved the same amount in its 2011 continuing resolution." Among other things, language in the "Senate bill bars VA from spending $742.8 million of its 2011 IT budget until" the agency's secretary, Eric Shinseki, or its chief information officer, Roger Baker, "certifies and details the costs, including salaries, for VA technology development projects to both the Senate and House Appropriations committees."

2.      Wreaths Honor The Fallen.  The Killeen (TX) Daily News (12/12, Jankowski, 20K) reported, "About 100 veterans and their families observed a moment of silence Saturday morning at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for their fallen comrades during" a Wreaths Across America ceremony. The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery "was one of more than 550 veterans cemeteries to participate in the event, which began" as an "informal gathering sponsored by a wreath company at Arlington National Cemetery to display a wreath at the tombstones of veterans."
     In a front page story, the Morrison County (MN) Record (12/15, A1) said "1,765 wreaths" were recently "laid on veterans' markers" at the "Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls in honor of deceased veterans." The Coon Rapids (MN) Herald (12/16, 4K) took similar note of this story.
     The Grand Island (NE) Independent (12/15, Pore, 19K) noted that on Saturday, the "All Faiths Chapel at the Grand Island Veterans Home" observed a "moment of silence where those in attendance reflected on the sacrifice veterans have made over years in service to their country. And at the same precise time, that moment of silence in memory of America's veterans was happening across the country as part of the Wreaths Across America program." The Independent pointed out that while the Grand Island "Wreaths Across America program normally takes place at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, cold temperatures and fierce winds drove the ceremony inside to the chapel."

3.      Marine Who's Served As Toys-For-Tots Chair Is Named Ill. Veteran Of The Month.  In a story run by at least 35 publications, the AP (12/15) said John Meschi, a "suburban Chicago Marine who delivers food baskets to the elderly," is the "Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran of the Month." Meschi, who is "also with the Marine Corps League and has been chairman of the Toys-for-Tots committee for 12 years," will be "presented with the award at a ceremony Thursday."

4.      Brandon Hoping To Land State's Second Home For Veterans.  According to the Sioux Falls (SD) Argus Leader (12/15, Meier) a "task force of about two dozen local leaders -- organized by the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with administrators" from Bethany Meadows/Bethany Lutheran Home – is "working to develop a proposal that could bring South Dakota's next Department of Veterans Affairs nursing home to Brandon. The proposal is due by Friday to the South Dakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs."

5.      With Alzheimer's Patients Growing in Number, Congress Endorses A National Plan.  The New York Times (12/16, A26, Belluck, 1.01M) reports, "Congress has voted unanimously to create, for the first time, a national plan to combat Alzheimer's disease with the same intensity as the attacks on AIDS and cancer." The legislation, which is "expected to be signed by President Obama, would establish a National Alzheimer's Project within the Department of Health and Human Services, to coordinate the country's approach to research, treatment and caregiving." The project would "include an advisory council of representatives from...the Department of Veterans Affairs" and several other agencies, as well as "scientific experts, health care providers, and people caring for relatives with Alzheimer's."

6.      VA To Establish Patient Secure Messaging By March.  Government Health IT (12/8, Mosquera) noted that there is a plan to "establish at all" Veterans Affairs "medical facilities by March 2011 the capability for veterans to securely communicate online with their physicians through their My HealtheVet (https://www.myhealth.va.gov) patient portal. VA has to date tested secure email at 40 of its facilities so that veterans can inquire about their prescription refills, test results and appointments, said Dr. David Douglas, who is leading VA's effort to deploy secure messaging." Government Health IT added, "In the future, VA plans to use secure messaging in place of some face-to-face appointments to 'get rid of the need to drive to a VA medical center or clinic,' he said."
     Well-Known Companies Express Interest In VA Internet Access Program. In his "What's Brewin'" blog for NextGov (12/15), Bob Brewin noted, "Some 57 companies," including "name-brand" ones like "AT&T, Sprint and Motorola," have "expressed interest" in VA's request for information (RFI) for a "patient and guest wireless Internet access program." Brewin added, "Based on questions submitted to VA, respondents to the RFI are considering both Wi-Fi and high speed cellular service, which is in line with the thinking of VA CIO Roger Baker when he talked to me about the project in June."

7.      Wednesday Morning Federal Newscast.  In continuing coverage, the last "Wednesday Morning Federal Newscast" item on the Federal News Radio (12/15) website reported, "The Veterans Affairs Department has launched a project to help patients with traumatic brain injury live independently. NextGov reports, the program uses sensors and wireless broadband to let doctors monitor patients remotely" and send text or video alerts if the patients have trouble completing routine tasks. According to Federal news Radio, the "three million dollar project originates at the Tampa, Florida VA hospital."

8.      American Legion Joins Fight Over Medals Law.  In a story run by at least 64 publications, the AP (12/16) reports, "The American Legion has joined federal prosecutors in arguing that a federal court in Denver should uphold" the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it "illegal to lie about being a military hero." After noting that the "veterans group filed a friend-of-the-court brief this week" with the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals, the AP adds, "Prosecutors are asking the appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that the Stolen Valor Act violates free speech."

9.      Group Sues Over Personality Disorder Discharges.  According to the Army Times (12/16, Kennedy, 104K), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) "filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday demanding records for 26,000 veterans who it says were 'wrongfully discharged' for personality disorders" by the Defense Department. Such veterans "have no opportunity to get disability compensation or medical benefits." The International Business Times (12/16, Picard) also takes note of the lawsuit.
     Advocates Hope To Persuade Congress To Impose Stricter Discharge Guidelines. The Hartford (CT) Courant (12/16, Spencer) says VVA "and its local chapter in Hartford," which "filed a federal Freedom of Information lawsuit Wednesday," are "concerned that many of those discharged" with personality disorder diagnoses may actually "have post-traumatic stress disorder and therefore be eligible for benefits." If the "lawsuit is successful, advocates hope they will get the kind of information that will help them persuade Congress to impose stricter guidelines on the military and review previous discharges." The Hartford-based FOX CT-TV (12/15) published the same story.

10.    Wounded Vets: Effort In Afghanistan Worth The Cost. After noting that "President Obama's long-awaited strategy review of the war in Afghanistan is coming out" on Thursday, the CBS Evening News (12/15, story 6, 4:45, Couric, 6.1M) broadcast portions of interviews it conducted with Timothy Cooper and three other US veterans who were injured in the war. According to CBS, the vets' "only doubt about the price they paid and continue to pay each day is this..." CBS then showed Cooper asking, "Are we going to let it be in vain, just pick up and leave, let the country go back to where it was before or worse or are we going to stick it out?"

11.    Seeking To Heal, Wounded Warriors Return To Iraq.  According to NPR (12/16, Amos), seven injured vets are "revisiting the battlefield in an unprecedented experimental program called Operation Proper Exit," which is "designed to heal the deepest wounds by providing veterans with a week in Iraq." The trip "includes a visit to the place where" the veterans "sustained...injuries that dramatically changed their lives."

12.    With Congressional Bill Just For Them, Widow And Son Can Apply To Live With Fallen Marine's Family In US.  The Washington Post (12/16, Pershing, 605K) says that since the 2008 death in Iraq of Marine Sgt. Michael H. Ferschke Jr., his widow, a native of Japan, "has been trying to immigrate to the United States to join her husband's family in Tennessee." Now, her "saga is nearing a happy conclusion, as the House passed a bill Wednesday...that would permit" Hotaru Nakama Ferschke to "apply for permanent resident status and allow her and her son, Michael 'Mikey' Ferschke III, to move to the United States. The Senate passed the same measure last week, meaning that it is cleared for President Obama's signature."

13.    "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Foe Dan Choi Involuntarily Committed.  AOL News (12/16, Friess) says it has confirmed that 29-year-old Iraq veteran Dan Choi, a "leading activist fighting to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly" in the US military, was "involuntarily committed" to the psychological ward of a Veterans Affairs hospital this past "weekend after a nervous breakdown." According to AOL, Choi wrote in an email to "close friends" that he wanted people to know he was in the hospital so they would be aware that the "failures of government" can "ruin lives," including the lives of veterans, "gay or straight," who "carry human burdens." The website for MSNBC (12/15, Eng) also took note of this story.

14.    Honolulu Will Host Vets' Athletic Event.  The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (12/15) reports, "Honolulu is expected to draw a record number of participants...next spring," when the National Veterans Golden Age Games celebrates "its 25th anniversary in Honolulu." The Star-Advertiser added, "About 1,000 contestants are expected to face off in competitive events for veterans 55 or older, surpassing the current record of 780 competitors set this year in Des Moines, Iowa, event director Dewayne Vaughan said" this week. Rick Velasquez, "Hawaii coordinator for the games," also spoke this week about the event, saying its "goal is to get people actively involved in healthy lifestyles."

15.    VA: Now Serving Veterans In McComb.  In continuing coverage, the McComb (MS) Enterprise-Journal (12/16) reports, "Edward Stewart and Elmer White were among the first patients to check in" at a new "Veterans Administration clinic that opened" Wednesday in McComb. While patients "can receive flu shots, lab work, annual checkups and some mental health care, among other services at the clinic," specialty "care will be referred to the G.V. 'Sonny' Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson."

16.    VA Medical Center Needs Volunteers To Transport Veterans. The Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times-Leader (12/15).

17.    Japan PM Vows To Find WWII Dead On Iwo Jima. The AP (12/15).