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RAO Bulletin Update 15 May 2006 THIS BULLETIN UPDATE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES: == NDAA 2007 [01] ---------------------------- (Out of committee) == NDAA 2007 [02] ---------------------------- (Impact on employers) == AFRH Gulfport [02-------------------------- ($76 million requested) == VA Adaptive Housing [01] ---------------- (Compromise bill) == Military Funeral Conduct [05]------------- (Bill passed in house) == VA Cemetery Texas ------------------------ (Killian now open) == VDBC [04] ---------------------------------- (SSDI study approved) == Gasoline Savings --------------------------- (Where to find) == VA Comp Payment Disparity [06]-------- (Outreach program) == Florida Veterans Homes [01] ------------- ($650K VA grant) == VA Budget 2007 [03] ---------------- ($25.4 billion for medical) == CNGR Commission [01] ------------------ (2nd meeting summary) == Army Retiree Council ---------------------- (Report to the chief) == USERRA Update 01 ----------------------- (Vet employment rights) == ThanksUSA Scholarships ----------------- (1000 available ) == Mobilized Reserve 10 May 06 ----------- (10,251 decrease) == Diet Pills Catch -------------------------- (Read the small print ) == VA Obesity Initiative ---------------------- (Help is available) == Medicare Part D [06] ----------------------- (Deadline 15 May) == Space A ------------------------------------- (More efficient) == Tricare Funding Change ------------------- (DOD’s viewpoint) == Purple Heart Postage Stamp -------------- (Available 27 May) == NGB DOD Representation [01] --------- (Delayed till May 07) == Heart Attack in Women ------------------- (Different than men) == Illinois Scholarships for Vets ------------- (110 available) == Georgia Vet Cemetery [01] --------------- (Opened in April) == Arizona Tuition for Military ------------- (Bill in progress) == Telephone Dialing Tip --------------------- (Save time & money) == Military Legislation Status ---------------- (Update) NDAA 2007 UPDATE 01: The House Armed Services Committee (HRSC) on 3 May finished its work on their FY 2007 National Defense Authorization Bill HR 5122. It included more funding for military personnel who have been stretched thin by repeated deployments in the ongoing war on terror. Subsequently, the full House passed the bill on May 11. Of interest to the retired and reserve community the $512.9 billion dollar House bill would authorize: - A 2.7% increase in basic pay and blocks any increase in Tricare fees and deductibles. That would be the eighth-straight military raise set a half percentage point above national wage growth. This raise would continue to narrow a perceived pay gap with civilian peers. - Discounted Tricare benefits to almost all reservists. - Reducing beneficiary copays for generic and brand-name drugs to zero in the TRICARE mail-order pharmacy formulary - Raising copays in the Tricare retail system to $6 for generics and $16 for brand name (copays are currently $3 for generics and $9 for brand name in both systems; copays cover a 1-month supply in the retail system; 3-month supply by mail-order). - Tricare coverage (effective 1 OCT 08) for all drilling Guard and Reserve members at the same premium rates now available only to members mobilized since 9/11. - A Pentagon study of the feasibility of allowing mobilized members of the Reserve Component (RC) the option of continuing a private employer's coverage for their families, subsidized by the Defense Department. - Baring any RC Tricare premium increases before Dec. 31, 2007. - Reforming PEB process (which awards military disability ratings) to ensure consistency and timeliness of decisions for RC and active duty members and ensure members are provided information about PEB procedures and board decision rationale. - Tricare coverage for forensic examinations following sexual assaults and domestic violence. - Tricare coverage for anesthesia and hospital costs for dental care provided to young children and mentally or physically challenged beneficiaries. - A demonstration project to evaluate the benefits of including over-the-counter drugs as an option under TRICARE. - A Defense Department review of alternatives to printing Social Security numbers on military ID cards. - Authorizes compensation to any veteran who was captured on the peninsula of Bataan or the island of Corregidor and survived the Bataan Death March. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SRSC) on 4 May approved a $517.7 billion fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill (S.2507), a 4% increase over the amount authorized by Congress last year. The panel overturned unpopular Pentagon plans to increase TRICARE healthcare enrollment fees for many military retirees. But unlike their House colleagues, who recommend a 2.7% increase to troop pay, the Senate panel authorized the Pentagon request of a 2.2% raise. Senators opted for the smaller increase in part to avoid having to boost federal civilian pay. The Senate version of the bill would authorize: - Repealing a provision of the SBP that requires offset of military retirement annuity payments by amounts received for DIC. - Acceleration of the effective date of the paid up provision from 1 OCT 08 to 1 OCT 06 for retirees who reach age 70 and have paid premiums for 30 years. - Reducing generic and brand-name copays to zero in the mail-order system if a physician said they were medically necessary and requires use of the mail-order system for refills of most maintenance medications. - Allowing the Pentagon to implement copay increases for the retail system (DoD has proposed increasing retail copays to $5 generic and $15 brand-name as of 1 OCT 06). - Implementation of an enrollment system for Tricare Standard beneficiaries to establish specific population of eligible users. Beneficiaries could enroll at any time for a one-time $25 fee ($40 for families). Only enrolled beneficiaries' claims would be processed. - Prohibiting the payment by employers of financial incentives to encourage Tricare eligible retirees to use Tricare instead of the health insurance offered to other employees. - Incentive payments for providers in medically underserved areas. - Capping any FY 07 Tricare Reserve Select premium increases at 2.2%. Both the Senate and House versions call for a GAO review of DoD health care costs and alternative cost-savings options for the future. Both bills also authorized payment of additional housing allowance for mobilized Guard/Reserve members who are not provided housing at a duty location distant from their home. In a blow to the pharmacy industry, both bills would require federal pricing rebates on medicines dispensed through the Tricare retail network. The Committees had hoped to have their respective bills passed by the full House and Senate before Memorial Day. But that may be a stretch in the Senate, where last year's defense bill got bogged down in a battle over amendments that dragged into November. When approved each chamber’s version must be reconciled with the other’s and then returned to each floor for a final approval vote before it is sent to the president to sign into law. [Source: VFW Washington weekly & MOAA Update 8/12 May 06 ++] NDAA 2007 UPDATE 02: DoD Proposals to add Tricare user fees were shot down in both the House Armed Service Committee (HASC) and Senate Armed Service committee (HASC). However, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA-52) was able to insert language into the House’s NDAA version H.R. 5122 available at which would prohibit military retirees from voluntarily utilizing civilian employer health care options to supplement their Tricare coverage. The House bill can be viewed at www.rules.house.gov. Section 710 on page 250 contains this language. This section essentially proposes the prohibition of incentives by any civilian employer, whether it is a state agency or a private or public company. It is unclear as of this writing if this would be applicable to retirees who have a federal employee health insurance policy for which Tricare is the second payer. Inquires made to a HASC professional staffer, disclosed that the term incentive, is DOD’s interpretation of ANYTHING an employer may offer an employee who, by virtue of his or her retired military status, is entitled Tricare coverage. Many state agencies and businesses presently provide employees varied voluntary health care options. In some instances, that option is a supplemental plan that assists the employee in paying the differences between billed amounts and amounts actually paid by Tricare for the employee (not necessarily the family). If this can no longer be offered retirees desiring supplemental coverage they will need to obtain it from other sources which most likely will not be as reasonably priced as under their employer’s option. Without supplemental insurance retirees are subject to the first $3000 of 25% copay before the catastrophic cap is reached at which point Tricare will pay 100% of the cost. The decision on obtaining supplemental coverage and which plan to select has always at the discretion of the military retiree. Since cost is a primary factor and health insurance premiums rise with age potentially some working retirees will no longer be able to find it cost effective to carry this insurance thus ultimately undermining their existing available health care coverage. [Source: Vet Advocate Ed Lawton elawton@cox.net 13 May 06 ++] AFRH GULFPORT UPDATE 02: On 4 MAY the Senate passed its version of the FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery (HR 4939). The bill includes funding for the war effort, hurricane recovery in the Gulf Coast, pandemic flu preparation, border security, and levee repair and flood control projects. Included in the bill was: - $76 million to rebuild the Armed Forces Retirement Home, which was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina - $561 million to rebuild the New Orleans Medical Center. - An amendment introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), which would pay the difference between a Federal employee’s civilian and military pay when that employee is mobilized onto active service. - An amendment introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) to provide an additional $430 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient and inpatient care and treatment for veterans. At http://appropriations.senate.gov/hearmarkups/05-03-06FY06Hurricane&WarSuppFloor2.mht) is a complete listing of all items contained within the bill. The Senate Conferees will begin negotiation with the House of Representatives immediately so that a Conference agreement can be passed by both Houses and sent to the President by Memorial Day. [Source: NMFA e-News 9 May 06] VA ADAPTIVE HOUSING UPDATE 01: Congressional negotiators have completed work on the Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 (S.1947). This veterans’ benefits bill was supposed to pass last year. However, Work on the bill ground to a halt last year when the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees were unable to reach a compromise on unrelated legislation related to information technology at the DVA. An agreement still has not been reached on the information technology bill, which was a priority for Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman. Two key benefits changes are included in the compromise bill, which is expected to come to a final vote next week. S.1947 expands the range of grants to modify homes for severely disabled veterans: - It allows more than one payment in a lifetime and allows payments if the veteran lives in a home owned by a family member, but not by the veteran. - A new lifetime cap of three grants is allowed under the compromise, with a total value up to $50,000 for a severely disabled veteran and $10,000 for those less severely disabled. Grants for adaptive housing apply to veterans with locomotion impairment, blindness or the loss of the function of both arms. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage would be extended for two years after separation from the service rather than the current one year for those totally disabled. The extension would apply to totally disabled veterans released from active duty one year before the bill is signed into law. However, the two-year extension runs only through 30 SEP 11. Beginning on 1 OCT 2011 post-separation coverage would be reduced to 18 months. To help pay for the increases, negotiators from the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees approved a modest, limited and temporary increase for the repeated use of the VA home loan program. For those who have already had a home loan and are getting subsequent loans without making a down payment, the loan fee would be 3.35% of the loan value from 1 OCT 06 through 30 SEP 07, a .05% percentage point increase. The benefits bill also slightly expands the list of diseases presumed under law to be related to a veteran’s experience as a prisoner of war for those who were interned a minimum of 30 days. Added are atherosclerotic heart disease & hypertensive vascular disease plus complications from those two diseases and stroke and complications from stroke. Negotiators did not include: - A Senate-passed plan requiring standardized assessments for post-traumatic stress disorder claims. - A Senate provision allowing a stillborn child to be covered as an insurable dependent under the military life insurance program. - A House-passed provision permanently authorizing six Parkinson’s disease research centers. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 9 May 06] MILITARY FUNERAL DISORDERLY CONDUCT UPDATE 05: The Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) to halt antigay protests at military funerals passed the U.S. House of Representatives on 9 May with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 408-3. The measure prohibits the controversial demonstrations at national cemeteries, mostly held by the Rev. Fred Phelps, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Phelps brings protesters to military funerals in Michigan and across the country. His church members yell that the soldier's death is a judgment from God for the country's promiscuity and support of homosexuality while holding signs reading "God Hates Fags." In the interim a volunteer group of motorcyclists called The Patriot Guard Riders have stepped forward to guard funerals and drown out Phelps and the protesters. The federal legislation "creates a bubble" of protection around military families, said Rogers, who said he has received 30,000 e-mails in support of the bill. The measure was tightly crafted to avoid First Amendment challenges. It prohibits demonstrators within 500 feet of a military funeral 60 minutes before or after the funeral unless approved by the cemetery superintendent or director.. Under the measure, fines include $100,000 and or up to 1 year in jail. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced the Senate companion bill, S. 2779 on May 10. House members are hoping for quick approval from the Senate to have the bill to the president by Memorial Day [Source: Free Press Washington writer Ruby L. Bailey 10 May 06] VA CEMETERY TEXAS: In the NOV 01 statewide elections, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 7, a constitutional amendment that authorized the creation of up to seven state cemeteries for veterans and their eligible dependents. These will augment the existing National Cemeteries at Ft. Bliss, Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and San Antonio Texas. Approximately 600,000 of Texas’ 1.7 million veterans are 65 or older. The cemeteries are being built and operated as a partnership between the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through a grant, the VA is funding up to 100% of the construction and equipment costs. The state will own and operate the cemeteries and fund most of the cost of operations. The below four sites have been identified for development: The VLB is looking for three additional cemetery sites in areas with large veterans' populations that are not served by other National or TSVC. Eligibility and burial benefits are the same as for National Cemeteries as indicated on the VA website www.cem.va.gov/eligible.htm. Additional information can be found by calling the Texas VLB at 1-(800) 252-8387 or at www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/cemetery/index.html. - Killeen: The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen opened in JAN 06. It is 174 acres and will ultimately be capable of providing approximately 50,000 burial places. Construction is in two phases. Phase I covered approximately 62 acres, including an information center, administration building, committal shelter, columbarium for approximately 1,100 cremated remains, and an assembly area for ceremonies, as well as approximately 6,500 in-ground burial places. Phase II will be implemented when there is a need for additional burial sites. Refer to www.glo.state.tx.us/KilleenCemeteryWeb/Home.htm. - Mission: The Mission site is 75 acres and will provide approximately 26,000 burial places. The initial phase of construction in Mission will cover 32 acres and involve approximately 5,000 total interment sites. The Mission site is currently under construction and completion is expected in late 2006 or early 2007. Refer to www.glo.state.tx.us/Mission.htm. - Abilene: On 26 AUG 04 the Texas State Veterans Cemetery Committee selected Abilene to be the third location for development of a TSVC. The initial application for construction grant funding has been approved by the VA. Design of this site began in FEB 06. If the construction grant is approved as expected, construction could begin by the fall of 2007 and be completed in 2009. Refer to www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/docs/Abilene-PR-9-23-04.pdf. - Corpus Christi: On 25 OCT 05, the Texas State Veterans Cemetery Committee selected Corpus Christi to be the fourth location for development of a Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Refer to www.glo.state.tx.us/news/docs/10-27-05-TSVC-award.pdf. [Source: www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/cemetery/index.html May 06 ++] VDBC UPDATE 04: General Terry Scott, Chairman of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) asked Congress for written clarification of the intent of Congress in the Charter that was given to the VDBC. He wants to study if vets should get VA compensation and Social Security disability at the same time. In response he received the following two letters: 1. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs responded with: "It is our opinion that you are not limited to evaluating only those benefits created for veterans, and a review of the mandate does not restrict your examination to title 10 or title 38...we would find helpful a thorough review of benefits provided in their totality. To look at the benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to the exclusion of others will not provide Congress with a complete understanding of the benefits that are provided to veterans and their survivors." 2. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), Ranking Member of the same Committee responded with: "It is our view that a comprehensive review under the laws of the United States would inescapably include an examination of the Social Security Disability Insurance program and that the Commission would be remiss in its responsibilities if it were to choose to ignore any form of Federal compensation provided to such veterans." With the go ahead it is anticipated General Scott will put the issue to a vote of the panel during their next scheduled meeting 19 MAY 06. As of this writing it appears the 13 member panel is evenly split on the proposal. Veterans desiring to communicate with the VDBC on his issue can email veterans@vetscommission.intranets.com which will reach all members of the panel or call (202) 756-7729. [Source: Larry Scott VA News Flash 1 May 06 www.vawatchdog.org] GASOLINE SAVINGS: Following is a collection of sites that offer tips for getting the best prices and for conserving gas: - If you’re planning a trip, say to visit family for Easter, visit AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator at www.fuelcostcalculator.com. It will help you figure the total cost of your trip. Just enter your car make, model and year. Then select your starting city and destination. It also features a map that shows the average fuel prices by region. - A comprehensive site on gas prices is www.fueleconomy.gov. It will help you find the cheapest local gas prices and lists the stations to avoid - the ones with the highest rates. You can also read tips for getting more miles per gallon or link to the AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report which displays the average price by state and metro area. - GasBuddy http://gasbuddy.com and GasPriceWatch www.gaspricewatch.com are two other sites that will help you locate good prices on gas. You can search by area, so you won’t waste gas hunting cheap gas. - If gas prices are too high, you can always share a ride! AlterNetRides http://alternetrides.com will hook you up with fellow commuters. - Alternative fuel like propane or biodiesel locations can be found by entering your ZIP and the type of fuel you need at http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/FindPane.asp [Source: Don Harribine’s Tips & Topics 2 May 06] VA COMP PAYMENT DISPARITY UPDATE 06: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 5 May a special outreach campaign to inform veterans about VA’s disability compensation program.During the month of May, VA will be conducting outreach efforts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and Connecticut to reach those veterans who may have a disability related to their military service, but are not currently receiving VA benefits for their disabilities. Under the VA compensation program, monthly tax-free payments are made to veterans who have medical conditions that are determined to be the result of their military service. VA was recently directed by Congress to undertake this special outreach in response to concerns that the average amount of VA disability compensation received by veterans in the six states is lower than in other states. VA emphasized that all veterans with the same degree of disability should receive the same amount of VA compensation, regardless of where they live. However, historical differences in the average amount of VA disability compensation received by veterans from one state to another have existed for decades and appear to relate to such factors as the wartime period served, the branch of a veteran’s service, the number of officer and enlisted personnel in a state, as well as the number of veterans who apply for benefits and the number of disabilities claimed by veterans in certain areas. To help get the word out, VA is distributing informational brochures and enlisting the support of veterans service organizations, state and county veterans offices, and congressional offices throughout their state. Veterans already receiving VA disability compensation benefits, and for whom VA therefore has a current address, will receive a letter from VA advising them of the steps to follow if they want to reopen their disability claim. About 326,000 veterans in the six states are included in the letter-mailing effort. These letters will be mailed over the next two weeks and will include a special flyer advising veterans how to submit a claim for increased benefits if they believe their service-connected conditions have worsened or they have an additional disability not previously claimed. Information will also be provided on what is required if a veteran believes an error was made in an earlier decision and wants VA to review the claim. VA has established a special Internet site to provide information for veterans interested in applying for VA disability compensation benefits or for an increased disability rating: www.vba.va.gov/SpecialOutreach Veterans may also visit their local VA Regional Office or call toll-free 1(800) 827-1000 for assistance. A representative will provide additional information and help them file a claim. Assistance is also available from the many veterans’ organizations that are formally recognized to represent claimants. Information about representatives in the six states is available at the VA toll-free number or at www.va.gov/vso/ . [Source: VIVN 7 May 06] FLORIDA VETERANS HOMES UPDATE 01: Making sure the Florida State Veterans Home in Daytona Beach remains a comfortable residence for veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a grant of about $650,000 to renovate the Emory L. Bennett State Veterans Home. The grant will pay up to 65% of the cost for renovations at the state facility. The overall cost of the project is about $1 million. Last year the VA provided a grant of more than $713,000 to renovate the Robert H. Jenkins Veteran's Domiciliary. In fiscal year 2005, VA spent over $5.2 billion in Florida to serve nearly 1.8 million veterans who live in the state. VA operates six medical centers in Florida, along with more than 40 outpatient clinics and 10 Vet Centers. Information about Florida’s six veterans homes can be obtained by calling (850) 487-1533 or at www.floridavets.org/nursing/nursing.asp or. Florida State veteran homes are located at: • Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans' Domiciliary Home of Florida, 751 SE Sycamore Terrace, Lake City, Florida 32025 Tel: (386)758-0600 • Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans' Nursing Home, 21281 Grayton Terrace, Port Charlotte, FL 33954 Tel: (941) 613-0919 or FAX: (941) 613-0935 • Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans' Nursing Home, 4419 Tram Rd, Springfield, FL 32404 Tel: (850) 785-1678 or Fax: (850) 785-2237 • Emory L. Bennett Memorial State Veterans' Nursing Home, 1920 Mason Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32117 Tel: (386)274-3460/61 or FAX: (386) 274-3487 • Baldomero Lopez State Veterans' Nursing Home, 6919 Parkway Blvd, Land-o-Lakes, FL 34639 Tel: (813) 558-5000 or FAX (813) 558-5021 • Alexander “Sandy” Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home, 8401 West Cypress Drive, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025 Tel: (954) 985-4824 or FAX (954) 985-4866 Any person interested in residency can be referred through a VA Medical Center. Candidates must be veterans with qualifying war or peacetime service, be a resident of Florida for one year immediately prior to applying for admission and must require long-term care in a skilled nursing facility. For admission information contact the nearest Florida County Veterans Service Office which can be located at www.floridavets.org/organization/cvso.asp or Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Office www.floridavets.org/organization/where.asp#medical. Veterans with service-connected disabilities or veterans unable to afford nursing home care will be considered first for residency. [Source: FDVA e-florida Newsletter 17 JUN 05 ++] VA BUDGET 2007 UPDATE 03: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life/VA approved by voice vote funding for VA medical care in FY 2007. The Committee did not include proposed enrollment fees or higher prescription co-pays. According to Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA), the Committee used the Independent Budget (IB) as their baseline for determining FY 2007 funding levels. The IB, coauthored by the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, recommended that Congress appropriate $26 billion for veterans’ medical services in fiscal year (FY) 2007 just to maintain current service levels. However, the forwarded bill calls for $25.4 billion for medical services vice the $26 billion recommended in the IB. The $600 million dollar difference could impact on the resources needed for VA to provide timely quality health care for all veterans. With passage of the FY2007 Military Quality of Life Appropriations bill, the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) dug a $735 million hole for the Defense Health Program (DHP) by rejecting Rep. Chet Edwards' (D-TX) Amendment to overcome lost revenue from proposed TRICARE fee increases. The issue could be resolved in conference if the Senate takes up the DHP funding gap. But the HAC did vote to restore $800 million for the VA health care account to make up for cancelled VA health system enrollment fees for lowest priority veterans. Highlights of the HAC’s recommendations include: - Funding VA Medical Services at $25,412,000,000, $2.6 billion above last year's level, but $100 million below the President's request. - Rejecting for the fourth year in a row VA enrollment fees for certain non-disabled veterans. - Funding total military construction at $6.6 billion which covers $5.6 billion for active duty construction, $1.0 billion for reserve components, and $4.0 billion for family housing construction. - Increases the defense health program by $1 billion over last year to $21 billion and directs DoD to initiate mandatory programs on mental health screening and counseling into daily activities of service members. - Funds base realignment and closure activities at $5.5 billion and urges DoD to actively assist local schools and communities impacted by BRAC and global rebasing. - Directs DoD to report on the feasibility of creating a unified medical command structure for the Department's three health systems. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 8 May & MOAA Leg Up 12 May 06 ++] CNGR COMMISSION UPDATE 01: At its first hearing in March, the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves the panel addressed the transformation of the reserve from a "strategic" to an "operational" force. Panel Chairman Arnold Punaro noted that a White House report on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina recommended that the Guard should be prepared to deploy and support homeland security as a "priority mission." In its second public hearing the panel took testimony from senior DoD civilian and military leaders on the role of the National Guard, primarily in carrying out homeland security operations. At this meeting the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense said the goal is "unity of effort" as opposed to "unity of command" in planning and coordinating a federal/state response to a disaster or attack. Asked whether a Guard officer should be assigned as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, ADM Timothy Keating, USN said that the best qualified officer should be assigned the job. The panel featured testimony from LTG Blum, USA, Chief of the National Guard Bureau; MG Lempke, ANG, representing the Adjutants General Association of the United States, and RADM Venuto, USCG speaking on the role of the Coast Guard in homeland defense. The panelists addressed issues that affect recruitment, retention, and morale of Guard and Reserve service men and women and their families, including: • The average Guard call-up is 18 months long, and a lot of pre-deployment training is redundant and unnecessary according to LTG Blum. He said only Army Guard and Reserve troops are subjected to outmoded "World War II mobilization" practices. He noted some progress has been made to fix problems, but said the process is fundamentally broken and is hurting Guard members. • Guard and Reserve pay and duty statuses are overly complex and burdensome. Blum said that there are fifty ways that reservists could perform duty, and the system must be simplified. • Senior Reserve NCOs facing a second or third call-up are taking a "second look" at continuing service past 20 years. MG Lempke said enactment of earlier retirement based on an extended-service/years-of-age formula is needed for career force retention. • The National Guard has only 37% of its needed equipment on hand and 10% of that is more than 30 years old. Blum pointedly said that Guard troops won't continue to serve if they have nothing to train on. He said the active Army was also short equipment, but the National Guard started "deeper in the hole." • The Guard should not be limited to homeland defense missions and has demonstrated its value in deployments as well as at home. Blum and Lempke asserted that the Guard is "stressed but not over-stressed." However, Lempke also said that families and employers "must all be confident that the National Guard will not be overused and be assured that duty models exist that strike a balance between service and life at home." These paralleled issues addressed by the MOAA in a letter requested by the Commission and provided on 17 APR. Reserve contingent personnel can keep track of the commission’s activities by monitoring their website at www.cngr.gov. [Source: MOAA Update 8 May 06 ++] ARMY RETIREE COUNCIL: The Army Chief of Staff’s (CSA) Retiree Council reported to the Chief after their recent annual meeting that health care remains the single greatest issue for military beneficiaries, affecting the well-being of the more than 900,000 retired Soldiers, wounded warriors and surviving spouses worldwide. The group also cited communications and education as primary areas of concern. The Council is made up of 14 retired officers and NCOs who are nominated by their installation retiree councils and approved by the CSA. At its annual meeting, the Council reviews retiree issues forwarded by installation councils worldwide and determines which should be reported to the CSA and which can be addressed at the installation level. For example, at last year’s meeting, the Council asked for the Chief’s support for direct deposit of retired and annuitant pay for retirees and surviving spouses living overseas. That suggestion was approved and is being implemented. This year, the Council reviewed 46 issues. In the report to the Chief, the Council cited health care successes such as Tricare for Life, but suggested that DoD and Tricare: - Sustain the viability of the military health care program by continuing to support the resourcing of high quality health care. - Tie any increase in TRICARE fees (if DoD must implement them) to the annual consumer price index and limit any future increases to the rate of growth in military pay. - Increase outreach efforts to beneficiaries encouraging the use of cost-saving, mail-order pharmacy. - Provide the ability to buy higher levels of service during the upcoming re-compete cycle of the Tricare Retiree Dental Program and expand that program to countries where there is a sufficient population to make it commercially viable such as Germany and Korea. The council also stated that communications with and the education of retiring and retired Soldiers, their family members, and their surviving spouses continue to be critical to their well-being and the overall support of the Army. Members urged the CSA to continue funding for three issues a year of Army Echoes, the principal Army retiree publication, and to provide sufficient resources to support the educational efforts necessary to address retirement and retiree programs, such as, Retirement Appreciation Days; Retirement Services Officer (RSO) training; and full access to Army Knowledge Online (AKO) by retired Soldiers, their surviving spouses and family members. In addition, the Council asked the Chief to support efforts to take care of surviving spouses by eliminating the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity and accelerating the effective date of the paid-up provision for retirees who have paid into the plan for 30 or more years, from 1 OCT 08 to 1 OCT 06. The Council also urged the CSA to continue to support ongoing programs leading to full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation for all eligible military retirees and further equity for retired Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers by supporting the transformation of the Reserve Component retiree system to permit receipt of retired pay earlier than age 60 based on additional years of service beyond 20. The Co-Chairmen will meet with the CSA in October to be updated on the Army’s progress with these issues and to offer their further support. For more information on the Army’s retirement programs and the Retiree Council, go to www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/mission.asp. [Source: NMFA e-News 9 May 06] USERRA UPDATE 01: The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service. USERRA also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and applicants to the uniformed services. Under the provisions of this act former service personnel are guaranteed: Reemployment Rights: You have the right to be reemployed in your civilian job if you leave that job to perform service in the uniformed service and: - You ensure that your employer receives advance written or verbal notice of your service; - You have five years or less of cumulative service in the uniformed services while with that particular employer; - You return to work or apply for reemployment in a timely manner after conclusion of service; and - You have not been separated from service with a disqualifying discharge or under other than honorable conditions. If you are eligible to be reemployed, you must be restored to the job and benefits you would have attained if you had not been absent due to military service or, in some cases, a comparable job. Right To Be Free From Discrimination And Retaliation: If you are a past or present member of the uniformed service; have applied for membership in the uniformed service; or are obligated to serve in the uniformed service; then an employer may not deny you any of the following because of this status: - Initial employment; - Reemployment; - Retention in employment; - Promotion; or - Any benefit of employment. In addition, an employer may not retaliate against anyone assisting in the enforcement of USERRA rights, including testifying or making a statement in connection with a proceeding under USERRA, even if that person has no service connection. Health Insurance Protection: If you leave your job to perform military service, you have the right to elect to continue your existing employer-based health plan coverage for you and your dependents for up to 24 months while in the military. Even if you don't elect to continue coverage during your military service, you have the right to be reinstated in your employer's health plan when you are reemployed, generally without any waiting periods or exclusions (e.g., pre-existing condition exclusions) except for service-connected illnesses or injuries. Enforcement: The U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) is authorized to investigate and resolve complaints of USERRA violations. For assistance in filing a complaint, or for any other information on USERRA, contact VETS at 1(866) 487-2365 or visit its website www.dol.gov/vets. At www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm an interactive online USERRA Advisor can be viewed at. If you file a complaint with VETS and VETS is unable to resolve it, you may request that your case be referred to the Department of Justice or the Office of Special Counsel, depending on the employer, for representation. You may also bypass the VETS process and bring a civil action against an employer for violations of USERRA. Refer to www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/poster.pdf for additional information. Federal law requires employers to notify employees of their rights under USERRA. [Source: About U.S. Military 9 May 06] THANKSUSA SCHOLARSHIPS: The nonprofit organization ThanksUSA (i.e. Treasure Hunt Aiding Needs of Kids & Spouses of those serving the United States of America) invites all children up to age 24 and spouses of military personnel to apply for one of nearly 1,000 scholarships of up to $5,000 each for college, vocational and technical schools. ThanksUSA defines Active-duty U.S. military personnel as those who have served in active duty for at least 180 days since 9/11/01, including all those who have been killed or wounded in action. U.S. military personnel are defined as members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Members of the military reserves who have been activated to full-time duty and members of the National Guard who have been federalized and who otherwise meet the requirements are both eligible. Dependent children are defined as natural and legally adopted children or stepchildren living in the military service member's household and/or primarily supported financially by the service member. Applicants must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, vocational school or technical school. They must also have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on their relevant academic record (e.g., high-school record for incoming freshmen or post-secondary school record for those already enrolled in a college, university or vocational/technical school). Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, academic record and demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities. Preference will be given to students who have studied a foreign language. Applications must be submitted by May 30th to qualify. To learn more about the scholarship and/or to download the application, go to www.thanksusa.org or call 1(877) 849-8727 or send an e-mail to: shintz@scholarshipamerica.org for more information. ThanksUSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to mobilize Americans of all ages to thank the men and women of the United States armed forces with the gift of education. Congress appropriated $4 million as seed money for ThanksUSA in 2006. ThanksUSA is funded by federal, cash and in-kind corporate donations and private contributions. [Source: NMFA e-News 9 May 06 ++] MOBILIZED RESERVE 10 MAY 06: Army National Guard and Army Reserve on active duty in support of the present partial mobilization is now 81,025. In addition the other services have mobilized 4,832 Navy Reserve; 7,742 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve; 6,401 Marine Corps Reserve; and 344 Coast Guard Reserve. As of 10 MAY this brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized to 100,344, including both units and individual augmentees. This is a decrease of 10,251 from last month’s 5 APR total mobilization announcement. At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. A cumulative roster of all Reserve contingent personnel can be found at www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/d20060510ngr.pdf for those now mobilized. [Source: DoD News Release No. 198-06 10 May 06] DIET PILLS CATCH: The Better Business Bureau of Utah has issued a nationwide warning to consumers about Ultralife Fitness, which sells diet products via its Web sites www.trugenixhoodia.com and www.trugenixfitness.com. During the past year, the BBB has received 538 complaints on this company and given it an unsatisfactory rating. The sites offered a bottle of diet pills without charge other than a small shipping fee, but when additional bottles were sent, customers were surprised to learn that they had signed up for recurring charges of up to $99.90. The charge was mentioned beneath an inconspicuous “Click Here to Complete Your Order” button that many buyers overlooked. The company has responded to most complaints (although many remain unanswered or unresolved) by stating: “[Customers] should have read the terms and conditions that states they have 30 days to try out the product and if they do not cancel with in the 30 days they would be auto-shipped an additional bottle and charged for the bottle. In there it also tells them they are receiving a free 30 day membership to our fitness program and if they want to cancel to go online and cancel or call our toll free number that is on the bottle or website. It also states that once the bottle has been shipped, no refund would be given.” In a prepared statement, BBB president Jane Driggs said: “This company preyed on individuals who did not read the small print. While it is true that it is the customer’s responsibility to read all information, the company should make this information conspicuous. It is obvious that customers are not aware they are agreeing to more charges.” For amplifying information refer to www.saltlakecity.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=22007127. [Source: Utah BBB alert 2 May & Consumer Health Digest 9 May 06] Editor’s Note: This is a variation of a number of schemes developed in the last few years to commit consumers to long term agreements to buy goods or services. The most surprising I have found since arriving in the states is an offer on TV to provide consumers with a free credit report by going to the web site given to place your request. Not mentioned in the TV solicitation is that the service is provided by Equifax, one of the three national credit rating companies who are required by law to provide one free credit report upon request annually. To receive the credit report you must enter your credit card number in filling out the online application. Subsequently, at the end of the application process you ar directed to “Click Here to Complete Your Order” where you are informed in very vague language that you are signing up for free services for 60 days after which you will be billed monthly on your credit card for a service which will provide immediate credit information upon request. If you do not cancel the service during this period you are stuck. VA OBESITY INITIATIVE: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced 12 May 06 the launch of a national registration campaign to let veterans and their families tailor their diets and exercise programs into a healthful lifestyle. Good nutrition and physical activity can help millions preserve the independence that would be otherwise threatened by diabetes and being overweight. The VA wants veterans to know that they can act now, before it is too late, and VA has the tools to help. The new health care assessment is part of a campaign called MOVE (i.e. Managing Obesity/Overweight for Veterans Everywhere). This will be part of the HealthierUS Veterans program sponsored by the DVA and Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce obesity and diabetes, a disease often associated with being overweight. Patients enrolled in VA's health care program can complete an interactive on-line questionnaire about their health status, nutrition and exercise. Based on their information, veterans and family members receive a custom report with health information and instructions for follow up with the staff of a VA medical center. People not enrolled in VA's health care program can log into www.move.va.gov/move23.asp and answer 23 questions. They will receive an individualized report giving them suggestions about making changes in their eating and physical activity and referring them to materials on the Web site. VA medical centers nationwide are starting an aggressive effort to counsel and follow up with patients who express interest in managing their weight. VA latest figures indicate that 70% of its veteran patients are overweight compared to 64% of the population. Diabetes also affects a greater percentage of veterans in VA’s health care than the general U.S. population. [Source: VA News Release 12 May 06] MEDICARE PART D UPDATE 06: The deadline for Medicare Part D enrollment is 15 MAY 06. This insurance plan is designed to help people pay for prescription drugs and, according to the TRICARE website (www.tricare.osd.mil/medicarepartd), there is no added value in purchasing Medicare prescription drug coverage for most TRICARE-Medicare beneficiaries (TRICARE for Life beneficiaries). The exception to this general rule may be those with limited incomes and assets who qualify for Medicare’s extra help with prescription drug plan costs. For more information on Medicare Part D, visit the Medicare Web sites at www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships or www.medicare.gov or call its 24-hour toll-free number at 1(888) 633-4227). For general TRICARE questions, call 1(888) 363-5433. [Source: FRA NewsBytes 12 May 06] SPACE A: Not always the most convenient way to travel, but the price is right. Not only does traveling space-A offer incredible discounts for retirees, but it seems more efficient today than traveling by commercial airliner, where your knees are in your chest and everyone is trying to cram a 3-foot-long piece of luggage into a 2-foot-long overhead space. For those who have never flown space-A, here is some basic information on how it works and eligibility rules. Eligible passengers can fill unused seats on aircraft owned or controlled by the Defense Department once all the space-required (duty) passengers have been accommodated. In stark contrast to civilian air travel, there is no centralized process for booking seats on space-A flights. It is a fragmented system that requires extra diligence on the part of space-A travelers, along with patience and flexibility. You are placed in one of six categories based on a combination of two criteria: your status (for example, active-duty member, retiree, Department of Defense Dependents Schools teacher), and your situation (emergency leave, ordinary leave). The categories that determine your order of selection for space-A flights, from highest to lowest priority, are: Category 1: Emergency leave. Category 2: Environmental morale leave (EML). Category 3: Ordinary leave. Category 4: Unaccompanied dependents on EML. Category 5: Permissive temporary duty and students. Category 6: Retirees (retired military members who are issued DD Form 2 and are eligible to receive retired or retainer pay). A retiree’s family members (with a valid ID card) also are eligible when accompanied by a sponsor. Space-A passengers must register by fax or e-mail at all passenger terminals where they want to catch a flight. Because space-A passengers travel only after all duty cargo and duty passengers have been accommodated, there is no guarantee that a flight will have enough seats for every potential passenger. When you register, you are assigned your category of travel. You will be selected based on your category and the date and time of your registration. This date and time of sign-up determines your selection on all flights to your final destination; you get a new date and time when you register for your return travel. You have the option to stand by for any flight you think you have a reasonable opportunity on which to travel. Travelers remain on the register for 60 days or the duration of their leave orders or authorization, whichever happens first. Space-A travel has undergone a great deal of change in the past few years. For the latest details, visit Air Force Air Mobility Command’s Web site at http://public.amc.af.mil/Library/SPACEA/24_203.htm. A list of passenger terminals and phone numbers is there. For retirees, especially older retirees who have no fixed schedule and have the flexibility to deal with the sometimes unpredictable nature of space-A flight, this can be a great way to travel at a fraction of the cost of commercial air. Some terminals must collect a head tax or a federal inspection fee from space-A passengers on commercial contract missions, but it’s a nominal fee. Meals also can be purchased at a nominal amount out of most air terminals. Military exchange bookstores sell space-A guidebooks that more fully explain the ins and outs of how the program works, with helpful advice for how to get the most out of it. [Source: NavyTimes Alex Keenan article 15 May 06 retired@atpco.com] TRICARE FUNDING CHANGE: Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, in an interview on 12 MAY commented on his and the Defense Department’s position on needed Tricare change. Following is a summary of that interview: The Defense Department has been working with Congress for the past several months and has reached some conclusions about how the fee system for military health care should be changed. It’s universally agreed that there is a serious issue, a serious problem, with the growing health care costs within the Department of Defense, and the potential adverse impact that that might have to sustain the health benefit. DoD has had a lot of good, transparent dialogue with members and committees of Congress, along with beneficiary organizations. There has been emerging agreement in some areas, specifically in the area of pharmacy costs. All parties agree that changes need to be made in the pharmacy co-payment system, and DoD has received some good feedback to modify its proposal. Congress is debating DoD’s proposed Tricare fee adjustments as part of the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. A persistent rumor that the increase in Tricare fees for military retirees will eat up 50% of their cost-of-living allowance is not true. He asserted that the increases in Tricare fees will be dramatically less than the increases in retiree pay. All the senior DoD and military leadership support the Tricare fee increase as a necessary means to sustain the military health care system. The chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all the chiefs of staff, vice chiefs of staff, and surgeons general wrote a letter to Congress supporting DoD’s efforts and asking Congress to work with the department. Within the department, there’s almost universal agreement about the problem and the proposal. But, having said that, it’s important that members of Congress and others get a comfort level or some level of agreement about what DoD is doing, so both can move forward together. Changes to the Tricare fee system are essential if the military is going to sustain its health benefit at the current level. Unless financing continues to flow into the system now and in the future, it will be impossible to keep up the quality of care the military has grown accustomed to. Something’s gotta give; so, unless the financing issue is solved, there is concern that the system will really run into trouble. That’s why taking action now or in the very near future is important and waiting two years or beyond would not be a good idea, because it just makes the problem harder to solve. DoD officials have said that if the fee system is not changed, the health system will take up 12% of the DoD budget, at $64 billion, by 2015. The discussion so far about the Tricare fee increases has been spirited and heartfelt. A lot of good ideas have been exchanged. Winkenwerder and DOD are optimistic about being able to make changes over the next months and into next year that would be the right and important thing to do. [Source: American Forces Press Service Sgt. Sara Wood article 12 May 06] PURPLE HEART POSTAGE STAMP: The original 37-cent Purple Heart stamp was issued in 2003 after New York State Sen. Larkin and other officials got behind the lobbying effort for it. When first-class postage was raised to 39 cents this year, another lobbying effort was initiated to retain the stamp. For all those who wrote letters, made phone calls or signed petitions, your efforts have paid off. The U.S. Postal Service will issue a 39-cent version of the Purple Heart stamp to meet the new first-class postage rate on 27 May 2006. Sen. Larkin, whose letter-writing campaign put the drive for the original stamp into high gear five years ago, called the decision “fantastic news for our veterans, their families and the everyday American citizen.” U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who put a petition for the 39-cent stamp on her Web site, also praised the Postal Service. The stamp honors the medal issued to military personnel wounded in combat. George Washington designed the original version of the medal, called the Badge of Military Merit, at his Newburgh headquarters in 1782. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is now being built at the New Windsor Cantonment state historic site above West Point, where Washington's army made its last camp and where the first modern-day Purple Heart medals were awarded in 1932. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 APR 17 has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded. [Source: Times-Herald Record Online 13 May 06 ++] NGB DOD REPRESENTATION UPDATE 01: The plan to introduce the language of H.R. 5200 as an amendment of the NDAA in the House Armed services Committee fell by the wayside. Instead, the committee referred H.R. 5200 to the Commission on Guard and Reserve. Their initial assessment would be due back to the Congress in MAR 07. The events of the last 18 months demonstrate that the Guard, despite its unparalleled performance is being short changed and systematically ignored in the conduct of business in the Pentagon. H.R. 5200 provides positive solutions to these continuing problems. This bill goes to the heart of properly supporting the National Guard and insuring its vital role at home and abroad in the years ahead. H.R. 5200 sponsors, Rep Tom Davis (VA) and Gene Taylor (MS) plan to introduce the language as an amendment to the NDAA on the House floor next week. [Source: NGAUS Leg alert 4 May 06] HEART ATTACK IN WOMEN: According to the National Institutes of Health heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both women and men. The classic sign of a heart attack is a searing pain in the chest, usually lasting several minutes. But that's not necessarily the symptom felt by women, who make up 50% of heart attack victims. They are more likely to experience: - An indigestion type feeling in the upper abdomen; - Shoulder or neck discomfort, or tightness throughout this area; - Tightness or heaviness in the right or left arm and shoulder area (often mistaken as a joint problem); - Nausea; - Profound fatigue and decreasing exercise tolerance. Elderly women and diabetics, both men and women, need to pay particular attention to this symptom. In fact, many aspects of heart disease are different for women than men -- its onset, its progression, and its symptoms. Women are less likely than men to believe they're having a heart attack and more likely to delay seeking emergency treatment. One big reason may be because most don't experience that classic chest pain. Researchers polled 515 women who'd recently had a heart attack regarding their symptoms, and found that fewer than 30% complained of chest discomfort. The most frequent acute symptoms were shortness of breath 58%, weakness 55%, and fatigue 43%t. Women also complained of sleep disturbances, back pain, indigestion and anxiety. Women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. The typical male profile involves a 50-year-old man with devastating chest pain. But for women, menopause is the time when they enter their danger zone. That is when they have a much greater risk of high blood pressure and a much greater risk of high bad cholesterol. Doctors believe this could be due to the falling estrogen and progesterone levels that women experience during menopause. Studies have shown that hormone-replacement therapy actually increases heart attack risk for women rather than lowering it. Women tend to exhibit more of the risk factors for heart disease than men. These factors include diabetes, smoking, lack of exercise, and obesity. Two-thirds of women who have their first heart attack die suddenly. They have complications because they come into the health-care system late. Women as a whole tend to take care of everyone but themselves. To head off heart disease, post-menopausal women should undergo regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks with greater frequency than men do. For example, a man at risk of a heart attack should have his blood pressure checked once a year. But because women's heart attack risk increases so dramatically following menopause, it is recommended they have their blood pressure tested at least twice a year and their cholesterol tested at least once a year. Women also should pay attention to how they feel when exerting themselves. When their situation gets more serious, they will get symptoms with less and less exertion, or even at rest. Six weeks before they have an actual heart attack, they will have exertion symptoms. Woman can reduce the likelihood of a heart attack by cutting back on smoking and drinking and by watching their diet. Regular aerobic exercise and a high-fiber, low-fat diet can be the two best ways for them to head off an attack. Women can't start taking care of themselves soon enough. The earliest buildup of plaque can be seen in a woman's late teens and 20s. It's important they adapt to a healthy lifestyle when they are young but it is never too late to start. To learn more about women and heart health, visit www.irmc.org/body.cfm?id=412. [Source: Express Scripts e-Bulletin 6 Apr 06 ++] ILLINOIS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VETS: Illinois-based veterans and active-duty service members may qualify for scholarships valued at $74,000 that allow them to earn a masters degree in business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Up to 110 new academic scholarships will be awarded to veterans or active-duty personnel whose legal residence is Illinois. The program is funded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and provides full-ride scholarships that pay for tuition, a trip to China as part of a study program, mandatory fees, books, meals, hotels and student health insurance costs (based on dependency status). The 20-month Executive MBA program consists primarily of classes that meet every other weekend in Chicago, and is designed for mid- to senior-level managers and professionals. The university wants to help soldiers and veterans put their careers on a fast track without the burden of student loans, according to a statement by Robert van der Hooning, assistant dean and director of the Executive MBA program. [Source: VetJobs Veteran Eagle Newsletter 1 Apr 06 www.vetjobs.com] TELEPHONE DIALING TIP: Tired of spending an inordinate amount of time having to listen to a machine that tells you how to reach a human to answer or deal with your problem or question. A shortcut to this can be found at the Gethuman Database. Before calling those large companies check out www.gethuman.com/us. Here you will find either the telephone number, the button number to punch, or the word to say to reach a human. The companies are listed by genre. A purely alphabetical list is also available. Be sure to leave feedback so Gethuman can continue to improve this time and money saving service. [Source: Don Harribine’s Tips & Topics 1 Apr 06] GEORGIA VET CEMETERY UPDATE 01: Georgia National Cemetery became the nation’s newest veterans cemetery when the facility had its first burials in late April. Administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the 775-acre site is located in Cherokee County, approximately 40 miles north of Atlanta, along state Route 20, west of Canton. Nearly 400,000 veterans and their families live within the service radius of the national cemetery. The land for the cemetery was donated to VA by Scott Hudgens, the late Atlanta World War II veteran, land developer and philanthropist. To build the cemetery, VA awarded a $31 million contract to J. M. Wilkerson Construction Company, Inc., of Marietta, Ga., in DEC 04. Burials have begun in areas turned over to VA by Wilkerson as part of VA’s plan to provide burial service as soon as possible. The early turnover areas comprise approximately 50 acres that include one committal shelter and four burial sections. The burial sections have capacity for 8,119 full-casket gravesites, consisting of 5,923 pre-placed crypts and 2,196 standard gravesites, and 3,129 in-ground cremation gravesites. In addition to four burial sections, the contractor turned over the administration building and the maintenance building ahead of schedule. The complete 110-acre initial construction project calls for 17,200 full-casket gravesites, 12,000 pre-placed crypts, a 3,000-unit columbarium, 765 sites for in-ground cremated remains and a scattering garden for cremated remains. The plan also includes the construction of two more committal shelters, a public information center with electronic gravesite locator and public restrooms, a cemetery entrance area, flag assembly area, a memorial walkway, a donations area and infrastructure elements including roadways, landscaping, utilities and irrigation. Phase-one construction is scheduled for completion in July 2007. R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs believe this cemetery will meet the memorial needs of Atlanta-area veterans and their families for the next 50 years. Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery. Other burial benefits include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker – even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. In the midst of the largest cemetery expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 123 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than three million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict — from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror — are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on more than 16,000 acres of land. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1(800) 827-1000. For information on the Georgia National Cemetery, call the cemetery office at (866) 236-8159. [Source: VA Press Release 25 Apr 06] ARIZONA TUITION FOR MILITARY: Legislation that could improve educational opportunities for military members and their families moved one step closer to becoming law in Arizona. House bill 2764 was passed with unanimous support from all 60 representatives on 8 MAR. On 22 MAR the Senate K-12 Education and Senate Higher Education Committees approved bill, which will move to the Senate Rules Committee and the full consideration of the Senate. The bill would require the Arizona Board of Regents and the state Board of Education to form agreements with other states on several educational issues that affect military personnel and their families. The bill would also give permanent in-state tuition to military staff and their families, as well as make it easier to transfer credits and student records from state to state. Arizona is home to Luke Air Force Base, one of the largest military bases in the country. A big problem arises when a military family moves to or from Arizona and they may not qualify for in-state tuition. Another problem emerges for students with parents in the military who are completing a tour of duty and are transferred out of state. The bill would help students keep their in-state tuition rates after their parents are transferred, as long as they qualify for Arizona residency at the time of admission. Arizona is following in the footsteps of several other states that have pursued similar reciprocity agreements. Texas has a reciprocity agreement, and other states such as Maryland, Louisiana, Virginia and Florida are working on similar legislation. At present Arizona does not offer any tuition assistance to vets or their families. It does however, offer tuition and fees deferred payment program. Under this program a veteran or eligible dependent who has applied for educational benefits under the G.I. Bill at state-supported community colleges, colleges and universities may defer payment of tuition, fees and required books for a period of 120 days with no interest charges. If, at the end of such period, the person has not received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs the initial benefit monies for tuition and fees, an extension may be granted until such time benefits are received. A listing of SAA approved educational institutions in Arizona for use with the G.I. Bill can be found at www.azdvs.gov. [Source: NMFA E-News 22 Mar 06 & A.R.S. § 41-611] MILITARY LEGISLATION STATUS UPDATE: Following is current status on some Congressional bills of interest to the military community. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote. The key to obtaining cosponsorship is letting your representative know of your feelings on these issues. Following each bill listed is a web link that can be used to do that: H.R.303: To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 227 cosponosors: Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY). Send a message to your Representative at --http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7693831 H.R.808: To amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as dependency and indemnity compensation. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 202 cosponosors: Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY-2). Send a message to your Representative at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7683586 H.R.1366: To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand eligibility for Combat-Related Special Compensation paid by the uniformed services in order to permit certain additional retired members who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for that disability and Combat-Related Special Compensation by reason of that disability. The following sponsors were added to this bill giving it a total of 41 cosponosors: Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR-4) & Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV-1). Send a message to your Representative at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7718711 H.R.2076: To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 27 cosponosors:: Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV-3). Send a message to your Representative at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7728776 H.R.2962: To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 48 cosponosors: Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ-12). Send a message to your Representative at --http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7784066 H.R.4949: To amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit increases in fees for military health care. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 154 cosponosors. Send a message to your Representative at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=8591231 H.R.4992: To provide for Medicare reimbursement for health care services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans in facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 8 cosponosors: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4). Send a message to your Representative at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=8670886 S.185: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for the reduction of certain Survivor Benefit Plan annuities by the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation and to modify the effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 32 cosponosors: Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH). Send a message to your Senator at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7709421 S.484: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. The following sponsor was added to this bill giving it a total of 61 cosponsors: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Send a message to your Senator at -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7787396 Note: 176 days until Election Day. Make your vote count. Be sure you are registered to vote. [Source: USDR Action Alerts 1-15 May 06] Lt. James “EMO” Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & VITA Baguio City RP PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (760) 839-9003 or FAX 1(801) 760-2430; When in RP: (74) 442-7135 or FAX 1(801) 760-2430 Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net. 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