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On Thursday, May 21 the Committee held a hearing to consider and pass pending legislation. I am pleased to report that a number of bills important to veterans have been approved by the Committee.
Specifically, one of the bills we voted to send to the full Senate would provide advance appropriations for VA. Basi cally, this commonsense bill would provide funding for veterans health care one year in advance. This will help make sure that the health care that veterans deserve and expect will be there for them. I hope this bill will pass the full Senate soon.
Another bill approved by the Committee is one that I introduced that is very important to active-duty families. In recent decades, there has been a growing recognition that military spouses play a very important role in the success of our Armed Forces. But, even though they frequently move in sup port of servicemembers and the military, they are not provided with the same residency benefits afforded to servicemembers. Currently, servicemembers have the ability to claim and main tain one state of residence, regardless of where military orders may send them, but spouses do not. That’s why I introduced the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which would extend similar rights to military spouses, easing some of the burden and headaches they now face.
Also, a bill I introduced with Chairman Akaka, the Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009, would strengthen sup port for caregivers and attendants of veterans, as well as ensure veterans in need of care have the choice of receiving that care from a family member in the comfort of their home. Family caregivers play an important and unique role in helping to meet veterans’ personal care needs, both physically and emotionally. This bill would establish new assistance for caregivers who meet certain requirements. It is my hope that this legislation will alleviate the challenges family caregivers face in caring for veterans in North Carolina and across our nation.
The Committee also voted on the Veterans' Second Amendment Protection Act. This bill would end the arbitrary process through which government employees strip veterans of their right to own a firearm. Under current law, veterans who have come to VA for help but who need help in managing their own financial affairs are labeled as mentally defective and, on that basis alone, are denied their Second Amendment rights. Taking away a Constitutional right is a serious action and veterans should be afforded the same due process offered to every other citizen. Our veterans took an oath to uphold the Constitution and they deserve to enjoy the rights they fought so hard to protect.
A provision that would eliminate restrictions on and expand eligibility for the highest levels of “aid and attendance” benefits also passed the Committee. These benefits – which are provided to certain veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who need the assistance of others – would be made available to veterans with traumatic brain injury. Another important provision would eliminate the delay in disability payments for veterans who are medically retired from military service.
In future meetings, the Committee will hold oversight hearings.
More Details
New GI Bill Family Transfer Rules
The Department of Defense has announced new GI Bill Family Transfer proposed rules on when a servicemember can transfer education benefits to a dependent, effective August 1, 2009.
For most to take advantage of the new program, a servicemember must be on active duty on August 1, have com pleted six years of service and have made a commitment to serve four more years. For those who have completed 10 years of ser vice, have an approved retirement date of August 1, 2012, or sooner, or are prevented by other personnel rules from commit ting to additional years of service, special rules may apply.
DoD expects to begin processing application requests in June, although payments will not be available until August 1.
Education benefit transfers may cover the cost of a four-year, in-state education at public colleges or universities for undergraduate classes.
For more information, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/
Continued Vigilance and Demand for
Answers on VA Endoscopy Issue
Over the past six months, multiple VA facilities have reported problems with the procedures surrounding endoscopies performed at their facilities. I am deeply troubled by VA’s inability to follow proper cleaning and operational procedures for endoscopies, which may have exposed our veterans to deadly diseases. These types of mistakes can have life and death consequences and must be investigated fully. Since news of these problems broke, I have had a team of investigators on my staff dedicated to finding answers.
In March, I called on the VA’s Inspector General to launch a full and complete investigation into how something like this could have happened and to determine what steps are being taken to fix the problems. In recent weeks, additional details about this situation have come to my attention that continue to trouble me. The latest numbers released by VA on May 11 show that thirty-nine veterans have now recorded positive tests for in fectious diseases at the three sites where testing is occurring, in cluding five positive cases of HIV. On May 7, I demanded that Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka hold an oversight hearing on this issue to ensure that those who are at fault in putting our na tion’s veterans at risk are held accountable and additional an swers can be found. A hearing has been scheduled for June 24.
VA has maintained that none of these problems were found at any North Carolina VA facilities.
Safeguarding the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans should be our top priority, and I will not rest until the safety of our veterans receiving these procedures is guaranteed. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and fam ily who might be interested. Also, you can sign up for my general newsletter by clicking here.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kevin Kane
or Mary-Sarah Kinner
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As we get ready to cele brate Memorial Day on Monday, May 25th, we should take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of veterans who selflessly gave of themselves and paid the ultimate price for our coun try. Their sacrifices con tributed to the foundations of our nation.
On Memorial Day, we honor the service and sacri fice of our nation’s veter ans, without whom our country would not be able to celebrate the freedoms we have today.
Senator Burr at a recent hearing on the Legislative Presentation of VSOs
Senator Richard Burr will be sponsoring a veterans’ fair at the Senior Center in Rae ford, NC on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 from 9 am until 12 noon.
Veterans are encouraged to come and meet with representatives from the VA and others who will be available to answer questions and assist veterans.
Veterans may register by e-mailing their name, email and address to VeteransFair@burr.senate.gov
Senator Burr is pleased to announce that Western Carolina University has been chosen to participate in the VA Nursing Academy Program. This is an impor tant program that helps VA maintain a world-class health care work force.
The partnership of WCU and VA will ensure that the highest quality nurses will be caring for the needs of our nation’s veterans in North Carolina.
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