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Rep. Allen is committed to making sure that we never forget the sacrifices America’s veterans have made in defense of our nation and our freedoms.
Recently, Rep. Allen introduced the Full Faith in Veterans Act to improve care and compensation for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The new majority in the 110th Congress has made benefits for veterans the priority that they should be. The Consolidated Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 provides $108.4 billion for veterans programs and military construction. It contains $3.7 billion in emergency funding for veterans.
The increased funding will help cover the rising costs of health care, the growing patient load, and the cost of making improvements to military and veterans’ health care facilities. Increased funding will also help provide for research and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Finally, the funding will help the VA reduce its backlog of pending claims and allow the VA to hire additional personnel.
Legislation
H.R. 5448, The Full Faith in Veterans Act
Rep. Allen recently introduced H.R. 5448, the Full Faith in Veterans Act, as a common sense approach for veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). H.R. 5548 would change the way the VA decides cases brought by veterans suffering from PTSD. Currently, when seeking treatment and compensation for PTSD, veterans must bear the burden of proof in showing both a professional diagnosis of PTSD and that the event that caused the PTSD occurred during the veteran’s service. The second factor must be demonstrated with military documentation or “buddy statements” from colleagues who were present at the incident. This requirement has led to situations when it is clear to mental health providers that a veteran’s PTSD was caused by an event during the individual’s service, but the veteran is denied disability compensation because the veteran’s military records are incomplete—often, because the contemporaneous records were never created, or because buddies cannot be located.
Forcing veterans to jump through these hoops to receive compensation they have earned while serving their country is simply unacceptable. Under Rep. Allen’s bill, if a certified mental health provider can make a professional judgment that the diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran’s military service are connected, then service-connection disability must be granted.
The bill also directs the VA to improve their procedures for evaluating and treating PTSD. VA employees and contractors responsible for rating PTSD disability compensation claims would be required to successfully complete a certification program that incorporates best practices for rating PTSD.
The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act
The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act, which passed the House on March 28, 2007, will improve access to quality medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities. It requires the assignment of a medical care case manager to each wounded service member; establishes a toll-free hotline to report deficiencies at military health facilities; and requires that complaints be addressed within 96 hours. These provisions were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which became law on January 28, 2008.
The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act
Rep. Allen is a cosponsor of the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act, which would make funding for veterans’ health care mandatory, and therefore not subject to Congress’ yearly discretionary funding decisions.
The Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act
Rep. Allen is a cosponsor of the Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act, which would lift the freeze, placed by the Bush Administration, on Priority 8 Veterans being allowed into the VA health care system.
The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act
The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act and the Retired Pay Restoration Act would fully eliminate the concurrent receipt offset, also known as the “Disabled Veterans Tax.” Both bills would eliminate the 10 year phase-in period for retirees with a disability rating of 50 to 90 percent and would extend concurrent retirement and disability payment (CRDP) eligibility to retirees rated less than 50 percent. The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act would also open CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act
Rep. Allen is an original cosponsor of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, a bill recently introduced in the Senate by Sen. James Webb (D-VA). This bill will provide expanded educational assistance to members of the armed services who have served at least three months of active duty since September 11, 2001. This will include activated reservists and members of the National Guard.
The educational assistance available includes tuition assistance up to the level of the most expensive public school in the state as well as additional funding for books, tutors, licensing or certification costs, and a monthly stipend to cover housing costs. Tuition assistance will be available for 36 months, equivalent to four school years. The amount of tuition assistance available will be proportionate to the amount of time served in the military. Veterans would have up to 15 years to use their educational assistance; the current Montgomery G.I. Bill gives veterans only ten years to use their benefit.
Press Releases
Articles
Documents and Links
Sign up to receive email updates on Veterans issues
Click here for information on how Congressman Allen’s office can help Maine veterans with their benefits.
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| Rep. Allen met with members of the Ameican Legion in his Washington D.C. office. |
Recently, Rep. Allen introduced the Full Faith in Veterans Act to improve care and compensation for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The new majority in the 110th Congress has made benefits for veterans the priority that they should be. The Consolidated Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 provides $108.4 billion for veterans programs and military construction. It contains $3.7 billion in emergency funding for veterans.
The increased funding will help cover the rising costs of health care, the growing patient load, and the cost of making improvements to military and veterans’ health care facilities. Increased funding will also help provide for research and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Finally, the funding will help the VA reduce its backlog of pending claims and allow the VA to hire additional personnel.
Legislation
H.R. 5448, The Full Faith in Veterans Act
Rep. Allen recently introduced H.R. 5448, the Full Faith in Veterans Act, as a common sense approach for veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). H.R. 5548 would change the way the VA decides cases brought by veterans suffering from PTSD. Currently, when seeking treatment and compensation for PTSD, veterans must bear the burden of proof in showing both a professional diagnosis of PTSD and that the event that caused the PTSD occurred during the veteran’s service. The second factor must be demonstrated with military documentation or “buddy statements” from colleagues who were present at the incident. This requirement has led to situations when it is clear to mental health providers that a veteran’s PTSD was caused by an event during the individual’s service, but the veteran is denied disability compensation because the veteran’s military records are incomplete—often, because the contemporaneous records were never created, or because buddies cannot be located.
Forcing veterans to jump through these hoops to receive compensation they have earned while serving their country is simply unacceptable. Under Rep. Allen’s bill, if a certified mental health provider can make a professional judgment that the diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran’s military service are connected, then service-connection disability must be granted.
The bill also directs the VA to improve their procedures for evaluating and treating PTSD. VA employees and contractors responsible for rating PTSD disability compensation claims would be required to successfully complete a certification program that incorporates best practices for rating PTSD.
What others are saying about the Full Faith in Veterans Act
- John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America
“Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) supports H.R. 5448. VVA believes that many who legitimately do suffer from PTSD have their claims denied because there are no immediate documents that the individual veteran can access to prove his or her case. This legislation is long overdue, and is much needed.”
- John A. Scocos President National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs and Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
“We support the implementation of new criteria for the service-connection of PTSD that reduces the burden of proof on the veteran.”
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
“Paralyzed Veterans of America supports H.R. 5448, the ‘Full Faith in Veterans Act of 2008.’ This legislation will help address the high number of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases from Operation Iraq Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) as well as veterans from previous conflicts."
The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act
The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act, which passed the House on March 28, 2007, will improve access to quality medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities. It requires the assignment of a medical care case manager to each wounded service member; establishes a toll-free hotline to report deficiencies at military health facilities; and requires that complaints be addressed within 96 hours. These provisions were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which became law on January 28, 2008.
The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act
Rep. Allen is a cosponsor of the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act, which would make funding for veterans’ health care mandatory, and therefore not subject to Congress’ yearly discretionary funding decisions.
The Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act
Rep. Allen is a cosponsor of the Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act, which would lift the freeze, placed by the Bush Administration, on Priority 8 Veterans being allowed into the VA health care system.
The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act
The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act and the Retired Pay Restoration Act would fully eliminate the concurrent receipt offset, also known as the “Disabled Veterans Tax.” Both bills would eliminate the 10 year phase-in period for retirees with a disability rating of 50 to 90 percent and would extend concurrent retirement and disability payment (CRDP) eligibility to retirees rated less than 50 percent. The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act would also open CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act
Rep. Allen is an original cosponsor of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, a bill recently introduced in the Senate by Sen. James Webb (D-VA). This bill will provide expanded educational assistance to members of the armed services who have served at least three months of active duty since September 11, 2001. This will include activated reservists and members of the National Guard.
The educational assistance available includes tuition assistance up to the level of the most expensive public school in the state as well as additional funding for books, tutors, licensing or certification costs, and a monthly stipend to cover housing costs. Tuition assistance will be available for 36 months, equivalent to four school years. The amount of tuition assistance available will be proportionate to the amount of time served in the military. Veterans would have up to 15 years to use their educational assistance; the current Montgomery G.I. Bill gives veterans only ten years to use their benefit.
Press Releases
Articles
- Message to Maine: Passport Backlog, How My Office Can Help with This and Other Problems (05/31/2007)
Documents and Links
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