Make Congress do their work

[SuperScout]

WASHINGTON — President Bush pushed Congress on Tuesday to help modernize the government's inefficient system that cares for wounded veterans of war. The president said his administration had implemented most recommendations made in July by the bipartisan Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, and now it was Congress' turn to finish the job.

Bush sent legislation to Capitol Hill for implementing those recommendations that require legislative action. "Medical advances have enabled battlefield medics and hospitals to provide our wounded warriors with care that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago," Bush said, standing in the Rose Garden with wounded troops, including two that rode in on Segways. Yet our system for managing this care has fallen behind. It's an old system. It's an antiquated system. It's an outdated system that needs to be changed."

Bush set up the commission after shoddy outpatient treatment was uncovered in February at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington that prompted public outcry for improvements. Bush said the legislation will streamline the way disabilities are evaluated and compensation is awarded to injured service members.

"Right now the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs both have their own systems for making these determinations," Bush said. "The commission found that this process is difficult to navigate and confusing for service members and their families."

He said the legislation also proposes to emphasize rehabilitation and retraining; improve treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder; provide new support and financial incentives for therapy and education; and strengthen support for families during the recovery process.

Former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and Donna Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration, jointly led the nine-member presidential commission. In an op-ed published Tuesday in The Washington Post, they expressed concern that their commission's recommendations were being swept up "into a decades-long battle" to reform the entire disability system for all service members.

At the White House, Dole acknowledged that some people claim the commission should have worked to reform the whole system. But he said the commission's charge from the president was to limit its review to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is time to decide — do we reform the current military and veterans' disability evaluation and compensation systems or limp along, playing Band-Aids over existing flaws?" the op-ed asked. Shalala placed the issue squarely in lawmakers' hands. "The message has to get out," Shalala said. "Everyone that's frustrated, tell your member of Congress to get this legislation passed."

Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said he was pleased that the recommendations were being implemented, but said two urgent issues still need to be addressed. He said the VA appropriations budget has not yet been approved by Congress and the president needs to pick a successor for former VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, who stepped down Oct. 1.

[bob]

Bet he will pick another Yes man. Typical American politics as usual. Reps/Senators only interested in their own polictacl agendas. Won't change never will.

[Boats]

We need Leadership not the Bullsh_t that's been handed out. The special interest groups in Washington have always been there but they are new breed of graf grapping self interest personnel. The real help never gets to those in need. This country had it all and is giving it away for very little return.

I've been hardpressed to find something positive come out of Washington in the last 20 years. Our older generation are forgotten souls, our sick and our dispossed are forgotten souls, our fighting men and women are forgotten souls, - where are the benefits - the gains and the general welfare of our people going?

3% of the population is happy and living off of our sweat given by the many who've poured their hearts and souls into making a living and providing for their familes. No longer is a single income good enough to raise a family. No longer is two incomes with their children running the street enough to raise a family, what has to be done to bring this back into perspective?

Why has our dollar degenerated into worthless cash? When was last time someone took a vacation and could really afford it? Why does it take so long to save any money for retirement? Oh by the way who can retire?

Food cost have risen, milk for kids is going up, transportation is depreciating rapidly, autos cost as much as it used to for a house. Cost efficient cars are so expensive that only those with mega bucks can buy.

The picture is not good and getting worse each day. Depression? You bet and the head hurts all the time.

[SuperScout]

While I'll admit that there is a paucity of leadership in this country, at all levels, the thrust of the lead article was to point out that Congress hasn't done its job of enacting legislation that will enable the various agencies to operate. They are so busy trying to pass a bill that will be vetoed, that hasn't a prayer in hell's chance of being overridden, and yet they still play stupid games. They tried to pass a resolution that probably would hvae cost us a NATO partner, hampered the delivery of vital war materiel to our warriors, and stoked the flames of instabililty in the Mideast. All for the simple reason of trying to embarrass our President. What a bunch of gutless wonders.

And speaking of leadership, what ever happened to the pompous boasts of da dims after they took control of Congress? What have they done besides raise the minimum wage by $.75? BFD.

[Gimpy]

There you go again.

Why don't you tell the WHOLE STORY rather than just "cut and paste" some crap from the Whitehouse Press reports???

And, while condemning the 'Dims" as you call them, where the hell were YOU (and the Pres) when the REPUBLICAN CONGRESS came up "short" these past six or seven years with their "budgets" and at fixing the "probelms" Bush said he would when he was elected back in 2000?? Remember the "backlog of cases" and "waiting times" for appointments he was gonna fix??


THE DOLE-SHALALA COMMISSION GETS IT WRONG -- Quick-fix recommendations will radically change VA disability benefits system and create different levels of veterans.

My feelings were that the Commission was given such a short time to complete their work that it couldn't be done properly. So, what would they do? Forward a set of pre-written recommendations.

And, it appears that's just what they did.

Since the Commission's report was released, there had been an abundance of inaction. That changed yesterday when President Bush met with Commission members.

Many thought the recommendations would sit on the shelf...but now the White House is forwarding legislation to Congress to implement the Commission's recommendations.

If passed, these recommendations will radically change the VA disability benefits system. And, while quietly pondering their strategy, the best-known veterans' service organizations have expressed major reservations about these recommendations.

What the White House wants to do is listed in a fact sheet printed below.

Wrapped in a cloak of many good recommendations are concepts that will change the system and establish a different classes of veterans and a two-tier disability compensation system.

Remember...this refers to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans only...but, a case can be made that some of these recommendation could end up changing the system for all veterans.

Only a few of the problems are listed...



Change DoD Disability Entitlement for those deemed unfit for duty for combat-related reasons by providing an annuity based solely on rank and service, rather than percent disability.

This would make a sergeant's disability worth more than a private's disability. Is this the right message to send to the troops? Also, this sets up a two-tier disability system because it only covers "combat-related" injuries, not other injuries in the line-of-duty.----Gimp

VA would reassess disability status every three years and adjust compensation accordingly.


This is a means test and should not be done.----Gimp

All Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans should be allowed to receive PTSD care from the VA without first showing service connection.


So, why not allow all veterans to receive treatment for any condition without first showing service-connection. This is plainly discriminatory.

These recommendations and others listed below will create two different systems ... "new vet/old vet" ... "us/them" ... "haves/have nots" ... and that is plainly wrong!----Gimp

Listed below is the supposed Whitehouse Fact sheet:

Be careful of what you ask for, you just may get it!

I'm certainly not saying ALL the Commissions recommendations are wrong, but MANY of the are!

---START---

From the Whitehouse:

Fact Sheet: Ensuring Our Wounded Warriors Get the Best Possible Care
Administration Moves Forward To Implement Recommendations Of The President's Commission On Care For America's Returning Wounded Warriors


Today, President Bush discussed legislation Congress should pass and actions the Administration is taking to implement recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. In March, President Bush signed an Executive Order creating this bipartisan commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the services America is providing our returning wounded warriors. The Commission released its findings on July 25, 2007, and the President immediately instructed the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to implement its recommendations.

* The Administration is working with Congress and taking action to implement the Commission's six recommendations to improve care for America's returning wounded warriors. Today, the President discussed progress on these goals in a meeting with Commission co-chairs Bob Dole and Donna Shalala, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon Mansfield, and wounded service members and their families:

1. Modernizing and improving the disability and compensation systems.
2. Aggressively preventing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
3. Significantly strengthening support for families.
4. Immediately creating comprehensive recovery plans to provide the right care and support at the right time in the right place.
5. Rapidly transferring patient information between the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA).
6. Strongly supporting Walter Reed by recruiting and retaining first-rate professionals through 2011.


Congress Should Pass The Legislation Necessary To Ensure The Commission's Recommendations Are Fully Implemented


To the extent that the Administration can move forward without legislative action, we are working to implement the Commission's recommendations; however, some reforms require Congressional action:

Modernizing And Improving The Disability And Compensation Systems

Commission Recommendations

1. Change DoD Disability Entitlement for those deemed unfit for duty for combat-related reasons by providing an annuity based solely on rank and service, rather than percent disability.

2. Expand TRICARE Coverage to those unfit for duty for combat-related reasons, not just those who are at least 30 percent disabled or who have 20 years of service, as in the current system.

3. Restructure VA disability entitlement such that, for new entrants retired from service for fitness, VA benefits would include transition payments to cover living expenses equal to either three months of base pay (if no rehabilitation is needed) or family living expenses for longer-term rehab patients. The new VA disability benefits would also include "earnings-loss payments" and "quality-of-life payments."

4. Reassess all disability rating schedules to ensure they reflect modern medicine and modern concepts of the impact of disability. VA would reassess disability status every three years and adjust compensation accordingly.

5. Increase vocational rehabilitation benefits such that VA would pay a bonus equal to 10 percent of transition pay after year one, 5 percent after year two, and 10 percent after year three of training completion.

Legislation

* DoD disability payments should be replaced by DoD annuity payment for all eligible service members separated or retired after the implementation date of this provision. Those separated or retired since the beginning of the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom will be able to choose between the existing system and the new system.

* TRICARE benefits should be extended for those seriously injured in combat or combat-related activities.

* The VA disability system should be strengthened and improved to provide for an immediate transition payment, loss of earnings, and quality of life payment.

* Individuals and their conditions will be reassessed every three years.

* The disability rating schedule should be updated to reflect modern concepts of medicine and disability.

* The disability system restructure will take effect upon conclusion of the seven-month disability compensation study, legislation implementing VA disability payment rates, and regulations updating VA's disability rating schedules.

Administrative Actions

* Beginning in November 2007, DoD and VA will pilot a replacement to the cumbersome previous system of two entirely separate disability determinations by each Department with a single, comprehensive medical exam to be administered by DoD.

* Rulemaking is underway to update the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to include Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and severe burns.

Aggressively Preventing And Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Traumatic Brain Injury

Commission Recommendations

1. Expand VA health coverage to ensure that all veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) receive care related to this condition.

2. Address DoD shortage of mental health clinicians.

3. Conduct awareness training and provide clinical guidelines for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Legislation

* All Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans should be allowed to receive PTSD care from the VA without first showing service connection.

Administrative Actions

* Secretaries of the military departments have begun using existing authorities such as incentive pay and bonuses to recruit and retain sufficient experts in mental health fields.

* DoD and HHS are working on an MOU to provide additional mental health professionals to meet short term needs.

* By November 30, 2007, DoD and VA will establish a National Center of Excellence to conduct training and research, deliver care, and disseminate clinical best practices with regard to TBI, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.

* DoD has expanded mental health and TBI training programs for deploying service members.

* VA is working to screen all patients for PTSD as part of their initial treatment.

Significantly Strengthening Support For Families

Commission Recommendations

1. Expand TRICARE respite care and aide and personal attendant benefits to service members seriously injured in combat.

2. Provide training and counseling to family members to support them as caregivers. DoD and VA should standardize and assure universal access to family services early in the treatment process. This package should include education about the service member's injuries and expected progress, caregiver training and counseling, and psychological services.

3. Amend the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow up to six months of unpaid leave for family members of combat-injured service members, and allow combinations of unpaid and paid leave, when available.

Legislation

* TRICARE respite care and aide and personal attendant benefits should be provided to service members seriously wounded in combat under Extended Care Health Option (ECHO).

* Many family members of service members with combat-related serious injuries should be eligible to receive 26 weeks of unpaid leave within the first 24 months following the injury or diagnosis of the injury.

Administrative Actions

* DoD and VA have implemented family caregiver training.

* DoD and VA are developing a package of employment options and health care options for caregivers of seriously injured service members.

The Administration Is Acting Now To Implement Recommendations That Do Not Require Legislative Action

Immediately Creating Comprehensive Recovery Plans To Provide The Right Care And Support At The Right Time In The Right Place

Commission Recommendations

1. Those seriously injured in combat will receive an individual Recovery Plan that leads them back to duty or public life seamlessly guiding and supporting them through medical, rehabilitation, and disability programs.

2. A Recovery Coordinator will be assigned to service members seriously injured in combat to serve as their ultimate resource in the recovery process. The Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps will help develop this cadre of well-trained and highly skilled advocates.

Administrative Actions

* On September 19, 2007, DoD, VA, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a joint Recovery Coordinator Program for service members seriously injured in combat or combat-related activity.

* By December 1, 2007, DoD and VA will develop the Recovery "Life" Plan to be used by the Federal Recovery Coordinators for seriously injured service members with combat-related injuries.

* VA will take the lead on creating the organizational structure for the Federal Recovery Coordinators. The PHS Commissioned Corps will serve as consultants for program development and care management.

Rapidly Transferring Patient Information Between The Departments Of Defense And Veterans Affairs

Commission Recommendations

1. DoD and VA must continue the work under way towards a fully interoperable IT system that will meet long-term administrative and clinical needs.

2. DoD and VA must, within the next 12 months, have all patient information viewable by any clinician, health professional, or administrator who needs it within either department.

3. DoD and VA must develop a plan for a user-friendly health and benefits portal for service members, veterans, and family members.

Administration Actions

* No later than October 31, 2008, DoD and VA will make available and viewable all essential health and administrative data.

* By March 31, 2008, DoD and VA will have the ability to share all essential health images.

* DoD and VA are creating a single Web portal to provide for the care and support needs of veterans and their families.

Strongly Supporting Walter Reed By Recruiting And Retaining First-Rate Professionals Through Closure In 2011

Commission Recommendations

1. DoD must ensure that Walter Reed (WRAMC) has the resources it needs in outpatient and inpatient care.

2. DoD must implement tailored incentive packages to encourage civilian personnel to continue working at Walter Reed, and enable recruitment of new professionals as needed.

Administrative Actions

* The Secretary of the Army will ensure that WRAMC has a sufficient budget to fund recruitment and retention bonuses.

* The Secretary of the Army is pursuing additional recruitment authorities to hire and assign health care practitioners and support personnel.

* DoD sent a request to the Office of Personnel Management to authorize DoD's use of retention bonuses to retain high-quality personnel.

* DoD is creating a "guaranteed placement program" to ensure that critical employees at Walter Reed will have placement at the new National Military Medical Center if they stay in place until WRAMC closure.


---END---

But, like I said before, where the hell was the Pres when the Republican Congress came up SHORT all those times these past 6 years????

And WHY hasn't he made a public announcement regarding the recent Veterans Disability Benefits Commissions recommendations the HE and the REPUBLICAN CONGRESS insisted upon nearly 3 years ago???

Do you suppose because THEY came back with the recommendation of an IMMEDIATE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) INCREASE in ALL VETERANS DISABILITY COMPENSATION???

Just asking.

Gimp

[SuperScout]

Speaking of remembering, I remember all your blather and ballyhoo about how the new Democrat-controlled congress was going to fix every problem for every veteran that has existed since the Revolutionary War. They have done nothing. And that's the subject of this thread, irrespective of how you're attempting to hijack it. Congress hasn't done their work, and since they work for us, allegedly, we need to tellthem to get off their dead asses, onto their dyingfeet, and get to work. Hopefully you don't have a problem with that.

[Gimpy]

Like I said..............be careful what you ask for!

Evidently you aren't keeping up with the "facts" of what has transpired these past months with Congress.

Here's what the Democrats have done since they took over in Congress!

The 110th Congress has voted for historic increases in veterans' health care and benefits programs, totaling nearly $12 billion (the largest increase in veterans' health care in the 77-year history of the VA!)... , to meet the needs of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, make up for the Bush Administration's past shortchanging of veterans, and keep the President's proposed fee increases from hitting veterans.

KEY BILLS THE 110th CONGRESS HAS PASSED INTO LAW:

FY 2007 Funding (H.J.Res. 20; P.L. 110-5) -- The $3.4 billion increase over fiscal year 2006 in VA funding will provide services to meet rising health care costs and account for the influx of an estimated 219,000 new veterans entering the VA system in 2007.

FY 2007 Supplemental (H.R. 2206; P.L. 110-28) -- Provides about $2 billion more than the President requested for military health care at Walter Reed and other hospitals, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling and Traumatic Brain Injury care and research. -- Provides $1.8 billion more for veterans' health care to address the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (including mental health care and benefit claims) and the backlog in maintaining VA health facilities; the Administration requested no money for VA health care.

FY 2008 Budget Resolution/Veterans Funding (S.Con.Res. 21) -- The largest veterans' budget increase in American history -- $6.7 billion more than last year. -- Invests $32 billion over five years above the President's budget. -- Rejects Administration plan to impose new enrollment fees for veterans' health care and nearly double drug co-payments for one million veterans. -- Commended by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, MOAA, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

KEY BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE: Military Construction/VA Spending Bill for FY 2008 (H.R. 2642) -- Increases the VA budget by $6.7 billion above the FY07 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration and $3.8 billion above the President's request for FY08. --

For the first time, the budget for VA medical accounts exceeds the Independent Budget prepared by veterans' service organizations by $294 million -- for the largest increase in VA health care in American history --

Significantly reduces the 400,000 claims backlog by adding more than 1,100 new claims processors. --

Provide much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities to prevent a Walter Reed-type scandal from occurring in the VA system (funding is $500 million above the President's request). --

Provides $600 million more for mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury than the President and makes five polytrauma centers and three Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) fully operational. One-third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face mental health challenges, and up to 300,000 returning troops are expected to suffer from TBI. --

All of the major veterans' groups strongly endorsed the bill -- including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Association for Uniformed Services, and AMVETS -- calling it a "major victory" and an "impressive commitment" to our veterans.

Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538): -- Takes the first step to address the problems brought to light by the inadequate living conditions and the administrative challenges experienced by some patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. --
Improves outpatient medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities; -- Begins restoring integrity and efficiency to disability evaluations and cutting bureaucratic red-tape; and --

Improves the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the VA system. DOD Upgrade Military Health Care for our Troops & Military Retirees (H.R. 1585) -- Prohibits fee increases in TRICARE and TRICARE pharmacy program for service members and retirees. --

Restores 2,300 medical personnel and fully funds military health facility maintenance. --
Launches a Military Mental Health Initiative and Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative. Improve VA Health Insurance for Returning Service Members (H.R. 612) --

Makes those who have served in combat in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities eligible for health care for five years after discharge, instead of two years, to help veterans who might have post-traumatic stress disorder, which may not be immediately evident. Traumatic Brain Injury/Rural Veterans Outreach (H.R. 2199) --

Ensures that our veterans are properly screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) and, if diagnosed, receive the appropriate treatment. --

Provide rural communities with "mobile vet centers" for mental health services and benefits outreach. Veterans Outreach Improvement Act (H.R. 67) -- Allows the VA to partner with state and local governments to reach out to veterans and their families to ensure they receive their veterans' benefits.


And that's just for starters!

There's MORE on the way to help Veterans from the Democratic Congress!...........More than was EVER proposed OR passed by the Bush Whitehouse and the Republican controlled Congress!

These are the FACTS-----------and they cannot be denied!

Gimp