28-06 November 1, 2006 REPORT OF NATIONAL VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION COMMISSION TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OCTOBER 16-17, 2006 The National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission met on October 16-17, 2006, at the Radisson Hotel City Centre for the purpose of considering those matters that had previously been referred for study and to discuss other current matters. Presiding: K Robert Lewis (CT), Chairman Present at the meeting were: Michael E. Cassidy (MA) Teddy L. Duckworth (WI) Randall Fisher (KY) T. Les Galloway (OR) Robert E. Gosa (MS) Helen G. Jacob (NY) K. Robert Lewis (CT) John J. Lynch (MI) Don E. Mathis (TN) Eddie D. Mohler (OH) Harold E. Plants (WV) Walter P. Pytka (RI) Wendall J. Sandell (PA) Lee R. Stolfus (KS) Also in attendance were Thomas Henderson, NECman (IN), Member of the VA&R Commission Liaison Committee; Charles Smith, NECman (OR); Richard Coccimiglio, Alternate NECman (PA); Keith R. Hassey (WY); Jack Ford (NV); and Joe Gladden (MD), National VA&R Chairman of the Sons of The American Legion. Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division staff members present were: Peter S. Gaytan (MD), Director, Mark D. Regan (DE), Assistant Director for Program Management, Alec
Petkoff (DC), Assistant Director for Policy and Research, and Scott Sundsvold (DC), Assistant Director for DoD Outreach. MATTERS RECEIVED, CONSIDERED AND ACTED UPON BY THE COMMISSION: RESOLUTIONS Your Subcommittee considered 22 resolutions. Six (7) originated in the VA&R Commission. Another (3) were referred by the National Adjutant. Nine (9) resolutions were referred for consideration by the 2006 National Convention. Three (3) were referred by the 2005 National Convention. One of the resolutions was sent to the Finance Commission for their submission to the National Executive Committee: Agreement with the National Veterans Legal Services Program 2007 Eight of the others were forwarded to the National Executive Committee for adoption: (Origin: Res. 271 (NY) (2006 National Convention)) Include Pension and Death Pension as Exclusions to the Minimum Active Duty Statute Support for the Commission on the Future of America s Veterans Scheduling of the National Commander s Annual Congressional Testimony Revised Rules Governing the Award of William F. Lenker National Service Trophy Support Legislation to Grant Filipino World War II Veterans Equal VA Benefits The American Legion Policy on VA Information Technology Management 2
The American Legion Position on Attorney Representation before the Department of Veterans Affairs (Origin: Registered 2571 (PA)) The American Legion Policy on Non-Surgeons Performing Invasive Eye Surgery Within The Department of Veterans Affairs The Commission then discussed the following issues: VA BUDGET FOR FY 2007 In the wake of Congress not being able to pass the federal budget before the start of FY 2007, on September 29, the President signed a continuing resolution that serves to keep the Federal Government in operation. This translates into the immediate underfunding of VA as it is now being funded at FY 2006 levels instead of the increased levels proposed in the FY 2007 budget. The continuing resolution is set to expire on November 17. The House is currently on break as members go back to their districts to campaign for the upcoming elections, after which, they will reconvene on November 13 for a lame duck session. National Commander Morin presented The American Legion s FY 2008 budget recommendations for VA health care to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on September 20, 2006. Commander Morin called for 36 billion to be spent on VA health care. The amount did not include monies from medical care collections. The Commander also testified at the House Committee on Veterans Affairs later that same day. VA CONSTRUCTION FUNDING The Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) decision was released in May 2004 and at that very moment the struggle to fund that decision began. In the initial CARES process, then-secretary Principi called for a billion dollars a year for the next seven years to implement CARES. On September 27, the Senate passed construction legislation authorizing some of the funds necessary to move forward on different CARES projects. Some of those projects include: $307 million for new construction of a VA medical center in Orlando, Florida $98 million for the replacement of the VA medical center in Denver, Colorado $85.2 million for renovation of VA facilities in Gainesville, Florida $53.9 million for construction of a spinal cord injury center at the VA medical center in Syracuse, New York VA health care is an on-going cost of war. These promised VA medical facilities are much needed to fulfill the nation s obligation to veterans of all generations, to include 3
Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The replacement facility in Denver is slated to also have a much-needed spinal chord injury treatment center. Although both the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees have supported the construction of these facilities in legislation, Congress has not acted on a final version of the bill. While Congress is in recess only to return to a lame duck session, The American Legion is advocating that the new facilities in Denver and Orlando be funded through the emergency supplemental appropriations. The current War on Terrorism is also funded through emergency appropriations. These dollars are used, in part, to rebuild the infrastructure of both the Afghan and Iraqi communities, to include medical facilities. The care of veterans is part of the cost of war and if we are using these funds to build hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan then we should certainly be able to build some for our servicemembers here at home. THE AMERICAN LEGION INVOLVEMENT IN VA VOLUNTARY SERVICE (VAVS) While The American Legion s participation in the VA Voluntary Service remains substantial, for the second straight year the total number of Legion hours contributed has declined. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, The American Legion had 6,720 RS volunteers, reflecting a slight increase, and contributed a total of 947,464 hours, which was down from the 960,828 hours contributed the year before. Commander Morin has directed the VA&R Commission to adopt two of the priorities of the VAVS program: Support for Echo Taps Worldwide and Increase the Number of VAVS Volunteers by 5%. Echo Taps Worldwide is an initiative to provide simultaneous or cascading taps at cemeteries for veterans around the world. The goal is to create awareness about the many great VA programs including the Burial Detail and LIVE TAPS. The target date is Armed Forces Day (May 19 th ) 2007. A practice run is scheduled for Veterans Day, 2006. Information is available at www.echotaps.org. Additional information to promote this event will be provided. There are numerous opportunities to increase Legion participation in the VAVS program. A vital component of this effort is to ensure that VAVS Representatives and Deputy Representative positions are filled. These individuals are responsible for representing The American Legion on the local VAVS advisory committees, and communicating VAVS needs and opportunities to the local Posts in their area. Since medical care has been dispersed to the community and home, there are many diverse opportunities for volunteers. The Commission will be distributing information about these opportunities as well as various ways that Legion VAVS participation can be enhanced. 4
THE AMERICAN LEGION HEROES TO HOMETOWNS PROGRAM (H2H) The American Legion is working with the Military Severely Injured Center to establish a Heroes to Hometowns committee within each state to locally address the needs of severely injured service members and their families. The objective is to have an American Legion Representative on the Heroes to Hometowns committee in every state. Through this Legionnaire, The American Legion will take an active role in tracking the care for our severely wounded servicemembers as they transition home. Honoring our heroes is a long-term commitment that cannot be carried by any one person, but a shared duty that requires an established organizational structure to ensure that these servicemembers are not forgotten. K. Robert Lewis, Chairman National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission 5
ADDENDUM A REPORT TO SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON ALL RESOLUTIONS NOT BEING REPORTED FOR APPROVAL October 18-19, 2006 The VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION COMMISSION recommends the indicated action on the listed resolutions, which are presently before this body for disposition. RESOLUTION NUMBER SOURCE TITLE RECOMMENDED ACTION Res. 129 (NY) 2005 NC Provide Reservist or National Receive and Record Guard Members Continuous Active Duty Status for Entitlement To Veterans Benefits Res.148 (IL) 2005 NC Require the Department of Reject Veterans Affairs to Employ Full- Time Veteran Benefits Counselors at Certain VA Medical Centers Res.162 (MX) 2005 NC Rescind Weight Restrictions on Reject Certain Packages sent to Disabled Veterans Through APO and FPO Mail Systems Res. 8 (LA) 2006 NC Support Authorization and Full Funding for the Construction of a New VA Medical Center in New Orleans Res. 53 (CO) 2006 NC Support for a National Veterans Cemetery in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado Res. 137 (WA) 2006 NC Licensing and Credentialing of VA-Employed and Contracted Medical Practitioners Res. 144 (CT) 2006 NC Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center West Haven, CT Parking Garage Res. 154 (NJ) 2006 NC Increase the Maximum Department of Veterans Affairs Pension Benefits Res. 227 (SD) 2006 NC Reinstate Overnight Travel for the Vet Center Counselors Hold for Study Reject 6
Res. 237 (IL) 2006 NC Sensitizing VA Records to Prevent Identity Theft Res. 263 (NY) 2006 NC Exclude Blind Annuity Payments as Income in the Calculation of Veterans Benefits Reg. Res. 2572 DEC (Aug. Oppose United States Army (CA) 06) Reserve Selling Land Plot in Los Reg. Res. 2575 (NC) DEC (Feb. 06) Angeles Consolidation of Processing Sites of Veterans Benefits Administration Reject Hold for Further Study Hold for Study (Signature) K. Robert Lewis (CT), Chairman National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Wording to Use in Column: Recommended action: Reject Hold For Further Study Disposed of Received and Recorded (Submit in triplicate) 7