Veterans News – January 15, 2016

Good Friday one and all. Wishing you and yours a peaceful, gentle, reflective, and enjoyable Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/Weekend.

For Today: Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' - Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Veterans News

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American Legion’s Priorities from Congress – A Message from American Legion National Commander, Dale Barnett.

http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=080b5edb-af59-46c6-bb00-403036f0c28d&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2b-c1a65794d1dd&MailID=31300745&listid=84772

Folks, please note the items the Legion shall pursue into the New Year in our behalf. Thank you American Legion! And thanks also VFW, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraqi and Afghanistan Vets, PVA, and all of the other legitimate VSOs that work like crazy in our behalf. Folks, please take particular note of the goals of the Legion - nowhere do we see the support of and campaigning for the election of any candidates from any party for any political office; nor do we see partisan political messages; rather, it's all about us...you and me, we Veterans and our welfare.

With the foregoing said, let us be aware of those that attempt to manipulate us through partisan political narrative simply to sway us in one direction or the other. Moreover, let us be particularly aware of so-called "Veteran organizations" that are nothing more than mouthpieces for political entities....shame on them! Again, we are in the year of a National Election.....let us

not be used, let us not be fooled...we shall not allow ourselves to become Pawns! God Bless you Veterans and Troops, and thanks again to the American Legion and all of the other legitimate and great VSOs that have supported their fellow Veterans over so many years!

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A Message from VA Secretary on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Please see attached pdf.

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DOD Contracts Awarded for Friday, January 15, 2016.

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/643381/source/GovDelivery

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DOD Contracts Awarded for Thursday, January 14, 2016.

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/643143/source/GovDelivery

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Piliero/Mazza, PLLC, Attorneys At Law, Bi-Monthly Blog Summary – PM Legal Minute.

Good information for we Veterans doing business with the U.S. Federal Government.

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3137381f0d20c6d9665e6633f&id=49afd04ca9&e=2437c2a935

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This Week At VA.

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/1302e78

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Defense News Early Bird Brief for Friday, January 15, 2016.

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5311797d620d7f7511&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2511727c61007a771577&r=0

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Defense News Early Bird Brief for Thursday, January 14, 2016.

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe4d11797d600c797013&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe3411727c67047b751472&r=0

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Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs - Jobs for Maryland Veterans for January 15, 2016.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=f8aed07d-55d1-4ace-84a2-4a6e31567736&c=8dbaae20-aaae-11e3-9e26-d4ae52844390&ch=8e909bc0-aaae-11e3-9e79-d4ae52844390

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TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin #335 for January 15, 2016

http://www.tricare.mil/podcast

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National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) Weekly Newsletter.

http://naus.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9NTI4NTc2MiZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTAwODM4ODY4MA==

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VA Media Summary and News Clips for Friday, January 15, 2016. Please see attached pdf.

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Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, January 15, 2016.

http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=5AA22341-0EDD-4AA1-B761-971C61422949&sid=22cbe9eb-3ef0-4eca-8105-ef9f466dc32d

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The American Legion On Line Update for Thursday, January 14, 2016.

http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=27a5a923-f5bc-43f2-9e2f-97c16cffed2e&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2b-c1a65794d1dd&MailID=31298571&listid=84772

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POLITICO Morning Defense for Friday, January 15, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus.

http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/republicans-paint-bleak-picture-on-defense-ten-guantanamo-detainees-transferred-army-releasing-anthrax-shipments-investigation-212185

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Executive Mosaic GovConWire–The Week’s Top News Stories–January 11 -15, 2016.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=114bfdd192&e=a823c4dfb6

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From: Tim Mantegna, House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HCVA)

Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 4:20 PM

Subj: ADVISORY: HVAC Hearing Schedule January 18-22, 2016

Media Advisory For Immediate Release, Media Contact: Curt Cashour (202) 225-3527

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) today released the hearing schedule for January 18 – 22. The following event is open to the press:

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Field Hearing: “Finding Solutions for Veteran Homelessness in Southern California”

Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

(2:30 p.m. PST – Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92506)

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Your 5:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=737004587e&e=a823c4dfb6

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Your 12:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=2369daaebf&e=a823c4dfb6

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Your 6:00 am GovConWire - Top News from Executive Mosaic.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=31096ba774&e=a823c4dfb6

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Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) WEB Weekly Newsletter for Thursday, January 14, 2016.

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fc1957b75b642e06570817b9d&id=3811a5a3f4&e=b4237e9c56

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Reserve Officers of America (ROA) - Reserve Voice Legislative Update for January 14, 2016.

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0715db98ee6b11c1903a18744&id=612afbf3c1&e=0eb3190c97

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U.S. Department of Labor News & Events Newsletter for January 14, 2016.

http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/newsletter

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Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, please consider sponsoring.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt

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A Variety of Veterans Related News from a Variety of Sources.

USA Today Amid migration crisis, Obama approves largest-ever expansion of refugee aid. President Obama approved an unprecedented increase of refugee aid Wednesday, authorizing $70 million from a special fund set up by Congress to resettle refugees in the United States.

Agence France-Presse Official: Philippines to Offer the Use of Eight Bases to US Forces. The Philippines is set to offer the US military use of eight bases, a military spokesman said Wednesday, after the country's supreme court upheld a security agreement with Washington forged in the face of rising tensions with China.

Military.com Military Bases No Longer Accepting IDs from Five States. U.S. military installations are no longer allowing visitors to gain base access using official ID cards from five states -- and other installations may soon follow.

Military Times HASC chair: The military needs more money, not less. The head of the House Armed Services Committee doesn't think the military has enough money.

Military Times Advocates: Tread carefully in changing the commissary benefit. Before making changes to commissary benefits, lawmakers should consider the effects on military families, advocates told a panel of lawmakers Jan. 13.

Military.com Army Probe of Anthrax Scandal Raises More Red Flags. The Army was wrapping up an investigation into the anthrax scandal focusing on the Dugway Proving Grounds site in Utah even as new questions emerged on the extent of live shipments of the deadly toxin nationwide and around the world.

Marine Corps Times All combat jobs now open to qualified female Marines. Hundreds of female Marines who successfully completed training for ground combat arms will officially be able to move into those jobs, the Marine Corps announced on Wednesday.

National Defense CNO Richardson Addresses Criticism that Navy Is 'Unbalanced'. The Navy should not have to choose between more presence and more lethality, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson told reporters Jan. 12.

Air Force Times Report: A-10 retirement indefinitely delayed. As predicted by Air Combat Command commander Gen. Hawk Carlisle in November, the Air Force is indefinitely freezing all plans to retire the A-10 Warthog, a warplane many officials, airmen and congressional members have rallied behind since the announcement of its withdrawal from the battlefield.

Stars and Stripes Carter nominates Votel to lead US Central Command

. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is announcing that the general who heads his special operations forces will be nominated as the next commander for the Middle East.

Government Executive: Demoted VA Senior Executives Appeal Their Punishment. The two former senior executives at the center of the relocation benefits controversy at Veterans Affairs are appealing the department’s decision to demote them. The Merit Systems Protection Board

has received appeals from both Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves, and will render a decision in the next few weeks on whether the agency’s punishment stands, or whether the two should be reinstated as members of the Senior Executive Service.

Umass Med Now: U. S. Veterans Affairs Secretary visits UMass Medical School. Chancellor Michael F. Collins welcomed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald to the UMass Medical School campus in Worcester on Thursday, Jan. 14, as UMMS and the VA work together to expand health care services to veterans. In addition to touring UMMS and presenting a lecture to faculty and staff on the state of the VA, Secretary McDonald was also scheduled to cut the ribbon on a newly finished veterans’ specialty clinic…

Telegram & Gazette: Ribbon cut for future VA annex at UMass Medical School. Calling it a “major improvement” in veteran’s health care in Massachusetts, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald cut the ribbon Thursday on a new 13,000-square-foot specialty care annex at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – the start, many hope, of a partnership that could lead to a larger facility on school grounds. “If I close my eyes, I can even see a building (on this campus),” U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern…

Telegram & Gazette: VA chief brushes aside criticism he hasn’t done enough to clean up agency. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald on Thursday dismissed criticism that he hasn’t done enough to clean house at his agency since the 2014 scandal over long waiting times for veterans to get health care services, coloring such attacks as noise from the political machine. “That’s a red herring,” Mr. McDonald said of a letter criticizing his leadership penned Wednesday by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

WBEZ-FM (NPR-91.5, Audio): Researchers Say DNA From Veterans Could Revolutionize Medicine. The nation's veterans are being asked to contribute DNA for the largest genetic research project in history. What could be the biggest genetic research project in history is underway in a surprising place: the roughly 1,700 medical facilities run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Million Veterans Program, which recently logged its 400,000th participant, aims to collect blood samples from a million veterans in the next couple of years.

Examiner.com (Video): Dept. of Veteran Affairs owes Florida hospitals $134M for unpaid bills. $134.4 million in outstanding claims for medical services they provided to veterans who faced long wait times or far distances for care at a VA healthcare facility. The Florida Hospital Association announced on Thursday that 95% of all FHA member hospitals have unpaid claims with the VA, some outstanding for more than two years.

New Hampshire Union Leader: Deal in works to keep PainCare in Veterans Choice program. Veterans Administration officials are working on a deal to keep the PainCare medical practice in the Veterans Choice program, officials from both organizations said Thursday. Efforts by the organizations started Thursday, the day the New Hampshire Union Leader wrote that PainCare, which operates 11 clinics in New Hampshire, would stop seeing Veterans Choice patients as of Feb. 1.

Financial Buzz: Saving the Healthcare Choice Program for Alaska’s Veterans. TriWest Healthcare Alliance, a company based in Arizona that manages the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits, announced on Tuesday that it is bringing 6 new workers to Alaska, for the purpose of assisting the veteran's, to schedule medical appointments, and get their medical bills paid. The company's deputy program manager Hal Blair, at an Anchorage news conference, said that, having this new team based in Alaska will show the company's commitment to Alaskan providers…

WVEC-TV (ABC-13, Video): Senators push VA to expand Agent Orange coverage. Two Virginia senators are teaming up to help vets who did their duty decades ago and who are now paying the price. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are pushing the V.A. to expand its list of which Vietnam veterans who receive treatment and benefits related to exposure to Agent Orange. During the war, the United States sprayed an estimated 20 million gallons of chemical herbicides and defoliants collectively known as Agent Orange on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

FierceHealthIT: Online program helps female Vets manage postpartum depression. A University of Iowa researcher is reporting positive results from an online program to help female veterans cope with postpartum depression. The online intervention, called MomMoodBooster, is funded by the Veterans Affairs Department's Office of Rural Health and the VA Office of Women's Health Services, according to an announcement. The program requires women to participate in six weekly sessions that target managing mood…

Washington Technology: Man Tech wins $25.6M contract to provide VA with web-based tooling suite. ManTech International has won a $25.6 million contract with the Veterans Affairs Department to design, develop, deploy and provide operational maintenance support or a web-based Enterprise Terminology Tooling Suite. The company will also provide a compatible stand-alone PC-based Terminology Integrated Development Environment, the company said.

The Washington Post: Arlington reaches a milestone in housing homeless military Veterans. After almost a decade of effort, Arlington County has effectively ended homelessness for military veterans, officials said Thursday, part of a national effort to house those who have no place to live. Arlington is the second jurisdiction in the country to show it has no more homeless veterans than it can house in any given month, said Adam Gibbs, spokesman for Community Solutions.

KAKE-TV (ABC-10, Video): Homeless Veterans get military funerals. A homeless Wichita man by the name of Dennis M. Hopkins died December 13th. The 62 year old Hopkins was a U.S. Army veteran. But Hopkins died with no relatives, at least none whom the Veteran's Administration could reach. Once the VA determined Hopkins was honorably discharged from the Army, was not receiving benefits and had no source of income then he qualified for a program that buries such veterans with a military service and honors.

The News-Herald: Wyandotte Third-Grader Raises $700 for VA Hospital’s Homeless Veterans Program. Briar Cook comes from a family with strong connections to causes near and dear to those who served in the military. That could have played a role in an idea the Wyandotte girl came up with to help veterans, a fundraiser considered to be an ambitious project for a child her age. The Garfield Elementary School third-grader approached Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1136 last year with an idea readily accepted by its members.

Task & Purpose: What’s Next for Student Veterans of America? The National Conference Offered a Glimpse. With new leadership, a new headquarters and its biggest national conference to date, SVA embarks on an important journey and a bold vision for change. Last weekend, more than 1,100 student veterans and nearly 600 administrators, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, and advocates came together to celebrate student veterans and more importantly, channel their collective strengths toward future opportunities.

Yahoo News: The amazing and inspiring career of Molly McLaughlin, VA hospital nurse, Some of her first patients fought in the Spanish-America War, An unsung hero retires. Molly McLaughlin, 87, started nursing school on the day World War II ended, in 1945, at the dawn of the age of antibiotics, and is ending her career treating victims of a disease that didn’t even exist then. In her 67 years as a registered nurse, she’s cared for veterans of the Spanish-American War, vaccinated thousands of children with the then new Salk polio vaccine, and was among the first to report the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

Army Times Vet Googles his own name: Discovers he's owed Army award for heroism. While teaching an impromptu class at Army Garrison Ansbach, Germany, on the proper use of social media, retired Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Hamilton offered some unexpected proof to his students that the Internet never forgets.

Military Time Obama extols military might and restraint in final State of the Union. President Obama isn't running for office again this fall. But his final State of the Union address outlined his vision for national security for years to come and took shots at the military promises of his would-be Republican successors.

The Hill Chuck Hagel to the next president: 'Listen'

. The advice from President Obama's third Defense secretary came as he and three other former Pentagon chiefs spoke on a panel Monday evening and were asked for recommendations for the next president on the U.S.-China relationship.

Stars & Stripes US turns to UN to screen refugees from Central America. The Obama administration is planning to expand a program to let would-be migrants from Central America apply for refugee status before they attempt to come to the U.S., Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.

Task & Purpose: Here’s Where the 2016 Presidential Candidates Stand on Veterans Issues. While the candidates boost their platforms, their stances on veterans become a key focus.

As the 2016 presidential candidates ramp up their campaigns, there are a number of hot-button topics being debated. Among them are veterans’ issues. Using the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization’s annual 11-point policy agenda, Task & Purpose rated the 2016 candidates’ platforms and comments about the most pressing issues facing veterans and their plans to address them.

Military Times 2016 basic housing allowance rates. Here are the Defense Department's basic allowance for housing rates for 2016.

Military.com Food Stamp Formula Shouldn't Factor in Housing Allowances: Advocates. Many struggling military families can't access federal food assistance due to the

way their income is calculated on the assistance application, anti-hunger advocates testified Tuesday at a hearing on Capitol Hill.

Military Times Lawmaker: Improving commissaries, not slashing budget, is goal. The chairman of the House panel that oversees the commissary benefit said his message to the military community is that his panel's goal is to improve the commissary system, not slash the benefit.

Stars & Stripes Will 2016 be the year of commissary reform? Last year was mostly a bust for lawmakers on Capitol Hill hoping to overhaul military commissaries, one of servicemembers’ oldest and most cherished benefits, though 2016 kicks off with new momentum and proposals.

NextGov Pentagon Will Investigate NSA Crackdown on Would-Be Snowdens. The Defense Department inspector general has Congress' attention with a new probe into rogue IT employees.

Army Times Army colonel under fire for faith-based fitness message. An Army colonel's to-do list for better fitness in 2016, presented as one of his weekly "motivational messages" on a Defense Department-run health website, has outraged an advocate for religious freedom in the military.

Marine Corps Times Marine Corps to officially open combat jobs to qualified women. The Marine Corps plans to announce that roughly 240 enlisted female Marines have qualified for combat arms military occupational specialties, including rifleman, amphibious assault vehicle crewmembers and tank crew members, a Marine Corps official said.

USNI News Navy Weighing Options for a Family of Future Surface Ships. The Navy is currently charting its new roadmap for a family of future surface ships it hopes to enter the fleet sometime in the 2030s.

Air Force Times Maj. Gen. Westergren tapped to run NSA codebreaker unit. Maj. Gen. Mark Westergren will be the next deputy chief of the National Security Agency's Central Security Service, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.

Federal Times: SES bill would make execs ‘guilty until proven innocent’. A bill purporting to reform the Senior Executive Service cleared a House Oversight Committee markup session on Jan. 12, and was quickly met with disdain from a federal executive association. H.R. 4358, the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, includes extensive reforms for both accountability and new procedures for the removal of senior executives. The bill was roundly lambasted by the Senior Executive Association, who took issue with the legislation’s efforts to expedite the removal SES members for misconduct.

Stars & Stripes House lawmakers press VA on $624-million scheduling system. Two House lawmakers say the Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to overspend by unnecessarily creating its own $624-million scheduling system to ease persistent delays in veteran health care.

NPR (Audio): Service Members, Not Citizens: Meet the Veterans Who Have Been Deported. During World War II, thousands of Americans lied about their age to enlist in the military. During the Iraq war, Daniel Torres lied about something else. "I didn't want to be just another Mexican living in the U.S. I wanted to say I'd done something for the country," said Torres. Torres' parents came to the U.S. legally, but overstayed their visas — leaving him without a green card. But in 2007, with the death toll in Iraq and Afghanistan peaking…

Military Times: VA chips away at health care applications – eligibility backlog still above 500K. Veterans Affairs officials say they are chipping away at a backlog of applications for health care, following an inspector general's report in September that found 300,000 veterans on the eligibility waiting list were dead. VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson said Wednesday that VA has implemented a plan to improve its health care application system, starting with a review of more than 560,000 pending requests — from the living…

The Seattle Times: New study shows how explosions damage Vets’ brains. Brain scans from combat veterans show that the more blasts they’re exposed to, the more damage is caused in the cerebellum, a region crucial to movement and cognitive ability, according to a study from the University of Washington and the Puget Sound VA. Blasts from explosives have long been known to cause mild traumatic brain injury in combat veterans, but a new study by Seattle experts sheds light on how — and where — lasting harm may occur.

Stars & Stripes Study tracks which part of brain is particularly vulnerable to injury. Blasts from explosives have long been known to cause mild traumatic brain injury in combat veterans, but a new study by Seattle experts sheds light on how — and where — lasting harm may occur.

Forbes: Long-Term Opioid Use Linked to Increased Risk of Depression. Long-term opioid use may increase the risk of depression, a study reveals. Published in the Annals of Family Medicine, the new report reviews the association between long-term opioid use and the increased risk of depression. The longer a patient is on an opioid, the likelihood of that patient becoming depressed increases, the study’s findings revealed.

NextGov: Lawmakers Blast $1.3 Billion Price Tag for VA’s ‘Agile’ Paperless Claims System. The Department of Veterans Affairs may finally have good news to share, but lawmakers are balking at the price tag. Total costs for a digital system used to process veterans’ disability claims that officials say has been key to slashing a massive VA backlog are nearly double the initial estimates. And VA, which has continued to make upgrades to the system under an “agile” software development methodology…

FierceHealthIT: GAO: Holding VA to time frame on benefits management system will be difficult, Agency has not yet produced a plan showing when system will be finished. The Department of Veterans Affairs has made progress in implementing its electronic benefits management system, but delays continue to plague the rollout, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. This is not the GAO's first report on the system; last year the office criticized defects and a lack of response-time goals for the project.

Lexington Herald-Leader: New organization setting up long-term house for female Veterans in Lexington. Before she left Lexington in 2006 to help run a restaurant owned by her sister, Phyllis Abbott was known to many people for her work with ministry efforts including Church Under the Bridge and Kindness in Action. Ten years later, and with two master’s degrees under her belt, Abbott is back in Lexington with a new mission: helping homeless female veterans.

San Antonio Express-News: Veterans have opportunities in federal workforce. Each year, about 25,000 military service members take off their uniforms and settle in the San Antonio/Fort Hood area to make the transition to civilian life. It is up to each of us to honor the men and women who have served this great nation by helping make that transition as successful as possible.

Stars & Stripes After military service, veterans find openings in Nebraska. Success at meeting veterans' employment needs in Nebraska has prompted the state's Chamber of Commerce to initiate a recruitment campaign called “The Good Life for Veterans" aimed at selling the state to people retiring or separating from the military.

The Times-Picayune: VA employee pleads guilty to demanding Ph.D. for helping LSU with grant application. A Veterans Administration employee on Wednesday (Jan. 13) pleaded guilty to demanding personal gratuities in exchange for assisting the LSU School of Nursing with a federal grant application in her official capacity, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite's office announced. Pamela Parker's supervisor in 2014 directed her to explore a VA-LSU partnership in the school's application to the Veterans' Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program, which aims to increase enrollment in nursing programs, according to court filings.

KREX-TV (CBS-5, Video): 19th Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival Ongoing at V.A. Medical Center. The 19th Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival kicked off this week at the V.A. Medical Center in Grand Junction, and it's very evident that many local veterans are not only talented but are truly expressive with their art. The festival has grown tremendously over the past 19 years. Once just a collection of craft kits, the festival now features artists in 141 different categories including performing and visual arts - from photography to wood carving and paintings.

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From: Ann Markel, VFW Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 3:15 PM

Subj: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 15, 2016

1. House Holds Hearing on VA Claims Backlog: On Tuesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss the effectiveness of the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) in improving the VA claims process and reducing the backlog. Initially deployed in 2013, VBMS is a paperless system that was designed to streamline the claims process and create greater efficiency. Although VA has made significant progress in reducing the backlog of initial claims since the introduction of VBMS, the system still suffers from several problems. Referencing its recent report on VBMS, the Government Accountability Office stated that the system contains significant software defects, and VA continues to lack performance goals and reliable cost estimates for correcting them. The VA Office of the Inspector General testified that the backlog reduction was more easily attributed to mandatory overtime and workforce reallocation than the success of VBMS. The VFW strongly believes that VA must be

able to field a reliable paperless claims system without significant cost overruns. To watch a webcast of the hearing and read the full testimony, visit: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/vbms.

2. Hearing on Commissary Reform: On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing to hear views on proposed reforms to DOD commissaries. The subcommittee members discussed how DOD can reduce the cost of operating commissaries by establishing region-based pricing and Defense Commissary Agency labeled products. To read testimony or view a video of the hearing, visit: http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/hearings.

3. New Stolen Valor Case Isn’t: The Associated Press released an article this week about the Ninth Circuit Court overturning a Stolen Valor conviction against Elvin Joe Swisher of Idaho. What AP failed to do was add context, because this story’s only “news value” is the Ninth Circuit Court released a ruling, but on an old case using an old law. This issue began in 2004 when Swisher wore a Purple Heart while appearing as a witness in an unrelated court case. In 2007, he was indicted on four counts: wearing unauthorized medals (he also wore others, to include the Silver Star); making false statements to obtain VA benefits; altering his DD-214 to obtain the benefits; and theft of government funds for receiving the benefits. Swisher was convicted and served time. He later challenged the Stolen Valor conviction for the same reason the same circuit court in “U.S. v. Alvarez” found the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 to be a violation of free speech, and therefore, unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling and in 2012 overturned the 2005 law, but in their writings cleared a path for a new Stolen Valor Act that would be signed into law in 2013. The new law focuses on the intent to profit from the lie—to obtain money, property or something of a tangible benefit or value. The Ninth Circuit Court ruled this week that they were not barred from considering Swisher’s claim, even though his challenge was based on a Supreme Court decision that was decided five years after his conviction.

4. HASC Chairman Update: The VFW joined House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) at the National Press Club on Wednesday to hear his views going into the second half of the 114th Congress. He called the world more dangerous than it was in 2009, and said that America’s military superiority and technological edge was eroding. Among his top concerns are Iran, Russia, North Korea, China, cyber warfare, and ISIS. He stated the defense budget is not enough—not with the continuing need to modernize America’s nuclear forces as well as conventional forces, which will still require quality and quantity. His committee overhauled the military retirement system in 2015 and will use the new year to reexamine the military health care system, which could prove a tough fight, especially during a federal election year. Read more at: https://www.press.org/news-multimedia/news/world-more-dangerous-2009-armed-services-committee-chairman-thornberry.

5. CNO Update: The VFW joined Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson at the National Press Club on Monday to hear his views on the concerns and challenges facing the United States Navy. His presentation focused on maritime issues, global information, technology and budget, as well as the threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and international terrorism. Read more at: https://www.press.org/news-multimedia/news/navy-chief-outlines-growing-challenges-technological-change.

6. POW/MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identification and burial updates for two Army soldiers who had been missing in action since the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

-- Army Pfc. David S. Burke, 18, of Akron, Ohio, is being buried today with full military honors in Rittman, Ohio. On Nov. 25, 1950, Burke was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces near the border between China and North Korea. Under heavy pressure, outnumbered and surrounded with no avenue of escape, the unit surrendered. It would be later learned that Burke died of malnutrition between March and May 1951. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/642074/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-burke.aspx.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham, 21, of Ellery, Ill., will be buried Jan. 21 with full military honors in Albion, Ill. As previously announced, then Private 1st Class Cunningham on Oct. 3, 1969, was an observer in an OV-1C Mohawk aircraft on a surveillance mission over the tri-border area of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam. Contact was lost and the aircraft was found two days later atop a 7,000-foot peak in a mountain range north of Kontum. Cunningham’s remains were not recovered. He was assigned to the 225th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.

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VETERANS EVENTS

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Federal Business Council (FBC) 2016 List of Conferences and Events: Lot of events going on and set-up and managed by FBC. Here is the list that takes us through to October 2016.

https://www.fbcconferences.com/search.aspx

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Job ZONE Listing of Job Fairs for 2015 through 2016.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0990c1fbb840ccb617b5992e6&id=383110f983&e=4c98ba860d

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Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Virginia Values Veterans V3 Program, Training Schedule for January 12 – 31, 2016.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=9cf88308-4cba-4f11-99bb-19263b9e9666&c=f0bce490-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6&ch=f0f7a3a0-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6

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Disabled Veteran Business Alliance (DVBA) Combined Southern California Chapter Meeting. January 19, 2016, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. For more details and to register:

https://www.trailblz.info/disabledvetba/eviewer.aspx?vid=47D076111FEEF105257A25CD3E9F8DCD630033E53EBC4F70ECC45E05E059B5EE

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Engineer Job Fair. Sponsor: Corporate Gray / Washington Post. January 27, 2016, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Location: Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. If you have an engineering background, you are invited to meet face-to-face with Northrop Grumman, Amtrak, Federal Aviation Administration, ACT-I, Pepco, and other top companies seeking engineering talent at the Corporate Gray / Washington Post Engineer Job Fair on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. All engineering disciplines are welcome, including but not limited to software engineers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, chemical engineers, computer engineers, electrical engineers, nuclear engineers, aerospace engineers, RF engineers, systems engineers, and more! Go here for detailed information and to register. http://www.corporategray.com/jobfairs/372

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January 2016 Objective Rally Point (ORP) Breakfast - Veterans Business Networking Event. Thursday, January 28, 2016, 7:15 AM to 9:15 AM, Army-Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. Don’t pass up this opportunity to network with other Veterans focused on success in business. If you are a company looking for a VOSB or SDVOSB to team with there is no better place to find qualified Veteran owned businesses than at ORP. Although the focus of the ORP is on the connections made between and with Veterans, we do have a speaker each month. The speaker for January is Harrison Smith, Department of Homeland Security, Industry Liaison. Mr. Smith has a long distinguished career in government acquisition. He joined DHS in 2005 as a contracting officer. He later supported the Office of the Chief Information Officer as an Associate Director in the Information Technology Acquisition Center before transitioning full-time to the award and administration of enterprise-wide contracts. In this role, he acted as the Contracting Officer for several multi-billion dollar procurements in the services and IT arenas, most notably the PACTS, FirstSource II, and Enterprise Software Solutions procurements. In 2011, Harrison joined the newly-formed Enterprise Acquisitions Division (EAD) as an Associate Director, ultimately becoming the Division Director in 2013. During his tenure there, EAD’s portfolio of enterprise-wide contracts included more than 25 procurement vehicles with a combined ceiling of $68 billion. Hope to see you at ORP! For more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/objective-rally-point-january-2016-tickets-20592257998

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Don't Miss the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Government Contracting Forum. Thursday, January 28, 2016, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Bethesda Pooks Hill Marriott. Cost is $60.00. Go here for more detailed information and to register:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Don-t-Miss-the-MCCC-Government-Contracting-Forum.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=z6UtFBDgJ8o

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Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, consider sponsoring.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt

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SBA Workshop – Pricing for Government Contractors. Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), 4224 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. This event is at NO Cost. Go here to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pricing-for-government-contractors-tickets-20481441543?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

--------------------------------- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce – National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement once again announces VIP. March 1 – 3, 2016, and June 21 – 23, 2016. VIP Grow is a 3-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program designed for veteran businesses to increase their ability to win government contracts by establishing best business practices. Classes are instructed by industry experts, government officials, and agency representatives. To date, 546 Veteran-owned businesses nationwide have graduated from the program. VIP is offered at no cost to participants. Enrollment is open to Veteran-owned businesses nationwide and limited to one executive from each business. Class size is limited to 50 individuals per session. As I understand from a number of Veterans that have attended VIP, this is an OUTSTANDING program. Two sessions are now available but better sign up quick! Go here for more detailed information. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/VIP-Grow---Spread-the-Word-to-Arm-Vets-to-Win.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=D95rd9q3xcc

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VA OSDBU Announces the NASA/JPL and the City of Pasadena Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Industry Day. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 7:00 AM, Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Registration is Free. Go here for details and to register:

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12b94ae

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Save the Date: VA OSDBU Announces the 2016 National Veterans Small Business Engagement. November 1 – 3, 2016, Minneapolis, MN.

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12dadbb

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Folks! If you want to be REMOVED from the Vets News Distribution List, just send me an e-mail with the subject line "REMOVE!"

Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our amazing Troops and their loved ones everywhere.

Godspeed all....Wayne

Wayne M. Gatewood, Jr., USMC (Ret)

Founder, President, CEO

Quality Support, Inc.

Established 1989, VA CVE-Verified SDVOSB

AIMS Consolidated Schedule GS-00F-0068M

MOBIS - Schedule 874

8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 220

Landover, MD 20785

301-459-3777 - Fax 301-459-6961

http://www.qualitysupport.com/