We have a responsibility to uphold our commitment to the veterans who have sacrificed to preserve our freedom. As a former enlisted soldier and officer in the Army, I understand how important it is that we continue to provide quality medical care and other benefits to all veterans; both to those who served their country a generation ago and to those just returning from fighting in the war against radical Islam.
Congress Modernizes the GI Bill
In the summer of 2008, Congress passed the emergency supplemental funding bill for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That legislation ensures that American men and women serving our nation abroad have the equipment they need to safely succeed in their mission.
In addition, the bill modernizes an antiquated GI bill and will ensure our veterans have access to quality education. Whereas current law grants veterans the opportunity to receive up to $1,100 a month in tuition benefits, this bill will pay tuition equal to in-State fees charged at the most expensive public institution in the State where the veteran is enrolled. It will also provide monthly stipends to cover living expenses. This new bill also allows service members who complete several reenlistments to transfer these benefits to spouses and children. I was proud to vote for these additional benefits for our nation’s heroes. You can learn more about the updated GI bill HERE.
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
As you may know, our nation’s national defense policy is outlined in yearly legislation known as the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA. Among other provisions, this legislation outlines the priorities for defense policy and military personnel. The NDAA (S. 3001) passed the House of Representatives on September 24, 2008, by a vote of 392-39 (Roll Call Vote 631). The legislation passed in the Senate on September 27, 2008. I was very pleased to support this legislation which is a significant achievement in support of American service members around the world.
The NDAA for FY2009 contains the following important provisions:
· A one year extension of the prohibitions on increases to TRICARE enrollment fees, deductibles, co-payments and retail pharmacy cost shares.
· A basic pay raise of 3.9 %, which is a full 0.5% above the President’s request and continues efforts to reduce the military-civilian pay gap that now stands at 3.4%.
· Increases the size of the Army by 7,000 to an authorized end strength of 532,400 and the Marine Corps by 5,000 to an authorized end strength of 194,000. I have long contended that the inadequate size of our armed forces contributes to unnecessarily long and frequent deployments, which places increased and unnecessary stress on our service members and their families.
· Tuition assistance and training opportunities to support spouses seeking degrees and careers in high-need fields such as mental health providers. Military spouses often do not have the opportunities to develop a career as they move from one military base to another. This assistance will help spouses develop skills for careers that are portable, ameliorating the stress of relocation.
· A pilot program to allow a service member to be released from active duty for up to three years to focus on professional goals.
· A permanent prohibition on service members being charged for meals at military treatment facilities while undergoing medical recuperation or therapy.
Disability Retirement Pay
The House-passed NDAA for FY 2009 (H.R. 5658) included an important provision that I offered. This provision would have increased disability retirement pay for some reservists/veterans who are severely and permanently disabled from being wounded in action.
Under current law, a reservist only gets credit for the time he actually spends in uniform. For instance, a soldier who has spent thirteen years in the Kentucky Army National Guard may have only four years of service when his duty days are calculated. As a result, the reservist/veteran may receive less disability retirement pay than his active counterpart. Even if two personnel receive identical wounds from the same firefight in Iraq or Afghanistan, the reservist may still receive less disability retirement pay.
My provision would have eliminated this inequity between active and reserve personnel. Any reservist/veteran who earned the Purple Heart for wounds incurred in battle and was medically retired as a result of that action would have had his or her disability pay calculated based on the total number of years served in the reserves or National Guard. Unfortunately, this provision was not included in the final version of the NDAA because of opposition by the Department of Defense and lack of support in the Senate. However, I will continue to fight for the inclusion of this provision in future versions of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Hardship Duty Pay
As a result of an amendment I offered for the NDAA of Fiscal Year 2008, Hardship Duty Pay (HDP) for our service men and women was increased to a maximum of $1500 per month, a substantial increase over the previous maximum of $750 per month. The new maximum will hopefully enable the Army to implement its “Warrior Pay” concept in FY2009, which would allow soldiers, for the first time, to receive HDP for cumulative time spent in combat zones as the result of multiple deployments. It is high time that we provide additional compensation to the increasing number of our troops who are being required to make multiple combat deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. The Army is working with senior defense officials to implement Warrior Pay in Fiscal Year 2009.
Wounded Warrior Legislation
Last year’s NDAA included “Wounded Warrior” assistance legislation to address specific challenges faced by our recovering service members, veterans and their families. As you may know, the Wounded Warrior legislation resulted from the discovery of grossly inadequate care for recovering service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While disciplinary action was taken against the command at Walter Reed, this legislation was primarily designed to prevent situations like this from arising in the future. The law mandated a telephone hotline that service members and their families can use to report deficiencies in medical care.
The Army’s Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline can be accessed at (800) 984-8523. The number for the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Call Center is (877) 487-6299. The number for the Navy’s Safe Harbor Hotline is (877) 746-8563. The number to call for Air Force wounded warrior issues is (800) 581-9437. Anyone can call (800) 488-8244 to report suspected waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement at VA facilities. Additionally, separating members will now receive a written plan to ensure a smoother transition to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs from the Department of Defense. These and other provisions of last year’s defense authorization act have led to recognizable improvements in veterans’ care. Nonetheless, this is a new program that will require close scrutiny.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I will continue to monitor the implementation of the “Wounded Warrior” provisions included in the NDAA and the efforts to provide the best possible care for our wounded heroes.
Recent Legislation
A number of other bills have recently passed the House of Representatives that may be of interest to you. H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2008, requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain veterans without a service-connected disability for the cost of emergency treatment received in a non-VA facility until the veteran is transferred to a VA facility. Under current law, the Secretary is authorized to do this type of reimbursement, but not required. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008, by a vote of 412-0. H.R. 3819 awaits action by the Senate.
H.R. 5826, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008, directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation and compensation for dependents. It also increases the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. This bill passed the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008, by a vote of 417-0. It became law on September 24, 2008.
New Kentucky Veterans Programs
Locally, there several advantageous programs have been developed for veterans. In March 2008, the Veterans Health Administration announced the opening of a new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Carrollton. These outpatient clinics work with the VA Medical Centers to provide primary health care and specialized services closer to the homes of veterans. It makes preventative care easier for patients, improves access to care, stimulates doctor-patient relationships and permits easier follow-ups for people with chronic problems. This facility will be serving patients in a rural area that is medically underserved and has a primary care health professional shortage. The VA is estimating that, within the first year of operation, the Carrollton CBOC will treat over 2,000 existing patients and 250 new patients.
In addition, the Fourth District of Kentucky was honored to open its first Veterans Cemetery during the summer of 2008. The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) opened a cemetery for veterans and their spouses in Williamstown on August 22, 2008. The cemeteries are designed to provide dignified interment for veterans as a tribute to their service to the Commonwealth and the nation. KDVA is also in the planning stages for a fourth cemetery in Greenup County. The KDVA recently acquired land near I-64 and is looking to break ground next year. These cemeteries are funded through a combination of State and federal funds.
Additional Legislation for the Benefit of Veterans and Service Members:
- H.R. 3480, the Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act, would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend its sentencing guidelines for offenses that involve desecration or theft of a veteran’s grave marker. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008 and passed the Senate on October 2, 2008. H.R. 3480 awaits action by the Senate.
- H.R. 5554, the Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act, requires each substance abuse disorder treatment plan developed by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center to ensure that such center provides access to a full continuum of care for substance abuse disorders for veterans in need of such care. This bill passed the House of Representatives on May 20, 2008. H.R. 5554 awaits action by the Senate.
- H.R. 3681, the Veterans Benefits Awareness Act, would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to purchase advertising in national media outlets to promote awareness of veterans' benefits. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 20, 2008. H.R. 3681 awaits action by the Senate.
- H.R. 4253, the Military Reservist and Veterans Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008, increases funding for the Office of Veterans Business Development of the Small Business Administration. When a small business has suffered substantial economic injury as the result of an essential employee being called to active duty, they may apply to the SBA for a disaster loan. H.R. 4253 extends the date by which a small business may apply to one year after the essential employee is discharged or released from active duty. The bill was signed into law on February 14, 2008.
How Can We Help You?
My offices are available to help you with any problems you may encounter with the federal government. Our constituent liaisons are trained to assist residents of Kentucky’s Fourth District who need help resolving issues with a variety of organizations, including the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security, the Military, Veterans Affairs, and the FBI, among others. To learn more about our constituent liaison services, contact my Fort Mitchell office at (859) 426-0080. Additional information is available HERE.