Veterans News – December 18, 2015

For Today: Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they're making to win. Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that's the difference. - Lou Holtz

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. - Lou Holtz

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Veterans News

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Collateral Damage. An article written by Kristy Kaufmann for the Huffington Post earlier this month - about the mental health impact of war on veteran's children. Kristy is an amazing advocate for we Veterans and our families. Thank you Kristy! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristina-kaufmann/collateral-damage_b_8701522.html --------------------------------

SECOND POSTING - Sandia National Laboratories Opportunity. NAICS - 561612: Security Guards and Patrol Services. Bus. Size Standard $20.5M. Est. Period of Performance 5 years, Competition Type Competitive. I know there are some SDVOSBs in the Security Industry that qualify to submit a Proposal for this work; teaming and subcontracting are allowed folks. Better yet, given the Size Standard and the estimated value of the contract, you are highly encouraged to alert Sandia of your capabilities and see if you can get this requirement set-aside for SDVOSB Prime competition. It’s like the Nike commercial folks…”Just Do It!” Go here for details: https://supplierportal.sandia.gov/OA_HTML/OA.jsp?page=/snl/oracle/apps/snlpon/sourcing/snlabstract/webui/PgAbstractQueryPG&OAHP=POS_GUEST_REG_HP&OASF=SNL_PON_ABSTRACT_QUERY&OAPB=POS_ISP_BRAND&_ti=2108430295&oapc=6&oas=H9TemrHLkqlxTzFWDqKlMw..

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VA Plans to Propose Expanded Disability Benefits Eligibility for Veterans Exposed to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune. http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2743

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DOD Contracts Awarded for Friday, December 18, 2015

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/637451/source/GovDelivery ------------------------------

DOD Contracts Awarded for Thursday, December 17, 2015

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/637245/source/GovDelivery

------------------------------ VA OSDBU Announces the NASA/JPL and the City of Pasadena Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Industry Day. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 7 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 ------------------------------ Defense News Early Bird Brief for Friday, December 18, 2015

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe4e117976620d797d11&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe1c117271610074731c78&r=0

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Defense News Early Bird Brief for Thursday, December 17, 2015

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5f11797660027f7416&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe24117271660d7e761378&r=0 -----------------------------

VA Media Summary and News Clips for Friday, December 18, 2015. Please see attached pdf.

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Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) WEB Weekly for Friday, December 18, 2015.

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fc1957b75b642e06570817b9d&id=9176f08240&e=b4237e9c56

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Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Listing of Jobs for Maryland Veterans. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=5fd1bbb6-4e37-4a93-98ef-6f00ea7de7b0&c=8dbaae20-aaae-11e3-9e26-d4ae52844390&ch=8e909bc0-aaae-11e3-9e79-d4ae52844390 -----------------------------

American Legion On-Line Update for Thursday, December 17, 2015.

http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=8e4ee340-bdeb-41d2-a04f-9243f441e292&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2b-c1a65794d1dd&MailID=31194110&listid=84772

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Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, December 18, 2015.

http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=1185C375-1113-4B5F-92B0-EBFDBBC5BD28&sid=22cbe9eb-3ef0-4eca-8105-ef9f466dc32d

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Bunker Labs, Washington DC – Updates from the Bunker. http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d907c28bbc61151e5a473deee&id=e08317a41d&e=662f547d21 ------------------------------

POLITICO Morning Defense for Friday, December 18, 2015. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus.

http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2015/12/crunch-time-for-omnibus-cruz-rubio-miss-chance-to-fight-bill-mccain-to-review-carters-personal-email-use-211827

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POLITICO Morning Defense for Thursday, December 17, 2015. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus.

http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2015/12/congressional-prepares-to-vote-on-omnibus-mccain-furious-at-russian-rocket-engine-changes-administration-approves-arms-sale-to-taiwan-211806

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Your 5:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=262e2151c1&e=a823c4dfb6

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Your 12:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=142607bb4c&e=a823c4dfb6

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

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=5bf17b86d3&e=a823c4dfb6

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Executive Mosaic – GOVCON Wire’s Roundup of 2015. A Year Defined by Deals Ends w/ One in Congress & more.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=45f817d437&e=a823c4dfb6

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National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) Weekly Newsletter for Fri, Dec 18, 2015. http://naus.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9NTI0MDE5OSZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTAwODM4ODY4MA==

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U. S. Department of Labor News & Events Newsletter for Thursday, December 17, 2015.

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

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SECOND POSTING - An Outstanding Tool - BestSchools.com Recently Published 2016 Guide to Veteran Education Benefits. From Clair Claire Castillo, BestSchools: In the course of our research we found that most veterans were not aware of all the grants, scholarships and education resources that are available to them. So we decided to create a user-friendly guide that includes features like our GI Bill calculator, grants and scholarship directories, and interviews with the top universities that have programs designed specifically to support veteran higher education. We hope our guide will not only answer common questions, but make it easier for veterans to leverage the educational benefits they have earned. You can see the entire guide along with some of its features here: http://www.bestschools.com/veterans-resource/ There is no cost involved folks. Let us share this with our fellow Veterans…widest dissemination please. Thanks to Clair at BestSchools.

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Code of Support Foundation (COSF) - Please read the Code! http://www.codeofsupport.org/read-the-code/ Please sign the Code...Please Donate Now….get involved with Code of Support Foundation (COSF). No big salaries here, no big overhead costs, just big hearts and a mission of looking after our fellow Veterans and their loved ones….people who need assistance the most! It’s all about the Vets folks! More on Code of Support Foundation: http://www.codeofsupport.org/ Please support COSF! Thank you folks for allowing me as a Member of the COSF Board of Trustees to believe I can come to you to seek your support of this great organization.

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

The Hill Pentagon chief leaves door open for more US boots on the ground. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter left the door open to more U.S. boots on the ground in Iraq during a recent press briefing.

Defense News Pentagon Cuts LCS to 40 Ships, 1 Shipbuilder. The US Navy's fight to buy 52 variants of its littoral combat ship (LCS) from two shipbuilders may have taken a fatal blow this week after the secretary of defense directed the service to cap its buy at 40 ships and pick only one supplier. The directive also orders the Navy to buy only one ship annually over the next four years, down from three per year. Military.com Spending Deal Includes Funding for 1.3% Troop Pay Raise, More Weapons. U.S. lawmakers early Wednesday agreed to a $1.1 trillion spending deal for the fiscal year that includes funding for a 1.3-percent troop pay raise and more weapons from fighter jets to helicopters. Army Times Army releases new Civil War battle briefs. The Army's Center of Military History has added three new publications to its growing series of monographs on U.S. Army Campaigns of the Civil War. Marine Corps Times Marines introduce deadly new mortar round. The Expeditionary Fire Support System just got a whole lot badder, and better. Stars and Stripes Navy names new commander for Europe bases. The Navy has assigned Rear Adm. Rick Williamson to lead its shore command overseeing bases between Rota, Spain, and Bahrain. Associated Press Captain lost track of ship that hit Arizona Memorial dock. A hospital ship struck the dock of the USS Arizona Memorial in May after the pilot and ship's captain lost track of where the ship was going as it was leaving Pearl Harbor, an investigation into the incident released Wednesday said. Bloomberg Air Force's Budget Shortfall to Confront Next U.S. President. The U.S. Air Force's nine major aviation programs -- from the costly F-35 to a new long-range strike bomber -- will present the next president with a budget dilemma that will only worsen as spending accelerates, according to a new analysis. Stars and Stripes Breast-feeding soldiers no longer have to use restrooms for nursing in updated policy. Breast-feeding soldiers will no longer have to use restrooms as milk expressing stations under an updated Army policy that also ensures their commanders provide mothers adequate lactation breaks. Military.com: House Strips Medical Marijuana Provision from VA Legislation. A Senate-backed provision in a Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill failed to make the cut when the House passed the final version of the legislation on Wednesday. Stripped from the bill was language that would have allowed VA doctors to recommend

medical marijuana as a treatment in states where it is legal. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon who offered similar legislation in the House in February only to see it stalled in committee… FierceContentManagement: DoD and VA say HER interoperability flap is much ado about nothing. The Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration have been getting their hats handed to them by various governmental oversight committees for some time now over their collective lack of interoperability. Both federal agencies came forward last week in a meeting with Congress and said the criticism is largely unwarranted because the departments have in fact made substantial progress toward increasing file-sharing capabilities. FedScoop: Veterans Affairs names no.2 in IT Office. Ron Thompson, executive director of IT infrastructure and operations for the Department of Health and Human Services, will become the leading adviser to Chief Information Officer LaVerne Council at the Department of Veterans Affairs in January. Thompson will join VA's Office of Information and Technology as its new principal deputy assistant secretary, Council announced Thursday in an email to staff obtained by FedScoop… KSNW-TV (NBC-3, Video): Investigation into Wichita VA surgical residency program. The KU School of Medicine-Wichita has moved some of their surgical residents out of the Wichita VA program. “We can confirm our only part in this story is that we have removed surgical residents from one physician at the VA,” says KU School of Medicine-Wichita spokeswoman Denise Bruce. “It’s important to mention that the rest of the residency programs are functioning normally.” Military Times: VA to change disability claims rules for Camp Lejeune Veterans. The Veterans Affairs Department has determined that eight medical conditions are linked to service at Camp Lejeune, N.C. from 1953 to 1987, and veterans with these diseases who were stationed at the sprawling Marine Corps base are eligible for disability compensation. VA Secretary Robert McDonald said research by health experts at the Veterans Health Administration and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry… ABC News (AP): VA Proposes Expanded Eligibility in Marine Toxic Water Case. More veterans would be eligible for disability benefits if they were exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina under a proposal announced Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs. A statement from the department said VA Secretary Robert McDonald decided on the proposal after talks with environmental health experts at the Veterans Health Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Military.com: VA to Expand Coverage for Vets Exposed to Polluted Water at Lejeune. The Veterans Affairs Department on Thursday announced plans to expand disability coverage for veterans exposed to contaminated water at Marine Corps Camp

Lejeune in North Carolina. For more than three decades, from 1953 to 1987, groundwater sources at the base were contaminated with industrial solvents leaking from underground storage tanks, according to the VA. The pollutants included the dry-cleaning solvent perchloroethylene, degreaser trichloroethylene , petrochemical benzene… Washington Examiner: Veterans win victory over VA in toxic water case. Veterans who contracted crippling diseases after drinking, cooking with and bathing in the tainted water at a North Carolina Marine Corps base were finally granted disability status from the Department of Veterans Affairs Thursday, despite the fact that the government has known about contaminants there for decades. The VA's decision to offer disability benefits to veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987… Bloomberg: ReWalk Soars on Coverage to Let Paralyzed U.S. Veterans Walk. The VA issued a national policy to cover the evaluation of users, their training and the potential purchase of the ReWalk Personal exoskeleton system for veterans across the U.S. who have suffered from spinal cord injuries, the company said in a statement. There are 42,000 U.S. veterans who have lost the use of their legs, and ReWalk has estimated about half would be eligible for the system, creating a $1.9 billion market, said Raj Denhoy, an analyst at Jefferies LLC in New York. NPR (the two-way, Video): Department of Veterans Affairs to Pay For Robotic Legs. Eligible veterans with spinal cord injuries may soon be able to walk again. The Department of Veterans Affairs will now pay for robotic leg devices for eligible paralyzed veterans, VA officials tell The Associated Press. Dr. Ann Spungen, who led VA research on the device, told AP that the announcement represents a major shift in policy: ABC News (AP): VA Sets National Policy for Robotic Legs for Paralyzed Vets. Paralyzed Army veteran Gene Laureano cried when he first walked again with robotic legs at a New York clinic as part of research sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. But when the study ended, so did his ability to walk. Now he may get the chance to walk everyday: The VA has agreed to pay for the powered exoskeleton for eligible paralyzed veterans with spinal cord injuries… Philadelphia Inquirer: Homelessness ‘effectively ended’ for Philly Vets, Officials Declare. City and federal officials announced Thursday that Philadelphia has "effectively ended" homelessness among military veterans, meaning every veteran in the city who wants housing has it. Since August 2013, officials said, 1,390 Philadelphia veterans have been connected to permanent housing. Mayor Nutter said 15 remain on the streets, because they don't want to be housed. The Morning Call (AP): Philadelphia becomes latest city to end Veteran homelessness. Philadelphia has effectively ended homelessness for the city's military veterans, answering a challenge issued last year by First Lady Michelle Obama. Mayor Michael Nutter announced the milestone on Thursday with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro. A letter to the city sent earlier this

week from a federal homeless agency confirmed Philadelphia has "ended veteran homelessness" by "ensuring veterans have access to housing and services…" WFTS-TV (ABC-28, Video): Veteran says squatters moved into his VA apartment, sheriff’s office says they can’t help, He says he can’t use his own bed or bathroom. A program aimed at helping homeless veterans get off the streets is falling short, as unwelcome guests are now calling one local veteran's apartment home. Veteran Ron Burden says the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program got him off the street and into his own place. But when he ended up in the VA hospital for an extended stay, he says squatters moved in and are refusing to leave.

Stars and Stripes Purple Hearts to go to victims of Chattanooga terror attack. The Navy said Wednesday that four Marines and one sailor murdered in Chattanooga

will receive Purple Hearts after the FBI announced earlier in the day that the July attacks were an

act of terrorism.

USA Today Congress reaches deal on 2016 spending bill to fund federal government. Congressional leaders reached a tentative deal Tuesday night on a $1.1 trillion spending bill that would end the threat of a year-end government shutdown and fund federal agencies through most of 2016. The Hill Speaker Ryan expresses support for ISIS war authorization. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday expressed support for considering an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), even though he said President Obama can wage his military campaign without it. Army Times U.S. soldiers in Egypt face jihadist threats, deserve combat tax break. The State Department describes it as a "particularly restive area" where known jihadists operate. It's been the site of multiple terrorist attacks in recent months, some targeting service members. Fayetteville Observer Patrick J. Murphy, nominee for undersecretary of the Army, gets positive reviews in Senate hearing. President Obama's nominee to become the next under secretary of the Army received largely glowing reviews during a Senate hearing charged with vetting him. USNI News Navy Under Secretary Nominee Davidson Fields Ford Carrier Concerns During Confirmation Hearing. The nominee for the Navy's number two civilian post told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that she shares its concerns with the cost overruns and delays in the delivery of the Ford-class nuclear aircraft carrier and was "open to all options" in considering alternatives. Associated Press Pentagon names 1st female commandant of West Point's cadets . A veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be the first female commandant of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, one of West Point's top positions.

Army Times Army cuts 2,664 active-component soldiers in October. The Regular Army’s soldier population dropped by 2,664 in October, bringing personnel strength for the first month of this fiscal year to 488,701, some 13,700 shy of the force reduction goal for 2016. Marine Corps Times Marine re-enlistment opportunities surge in 2016. 2016 will mark the end of the Marine Corps drawdown, and it will bring greater opportunities for Marines to re-enlist. USNI News Littoral Combat Ship USS Milwaukee Repairs Could Last Weeks. The Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ship - USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) - could be sidelined for weeks to repair an engine casualty that occurred last week during an Atlantic Ocean transit. Air Force Times Air Force combat jobs attract rush of women. The interest from potential female recruits in six combat jobs newly open to them is running high, the Air Force Recruiting Service said. Stars and Stripes Pentagon: Afghanistan becoming less secure. Security in Afghanistan is deteriorating, violence is increasing, and the Islamic State has become “operationally emergent” in the country’s east, though insurgents have not been able to exert lasting control over any major population centers, the Pentagon says in a new report. Stars and Stripes Why Bergdahl faces a worse charge than desertion. U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been charged with desertion, but that isn't the reason he faces life imprisonment in his court-martial. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the maximum punishment for desertion is five years. The potential life sentence comes from a now-obscure charge with origins in the articles of war enacted by the Continental Congress on Sept. 20, 1776: the charge of misbehavior before the enemy. Military Times: Budget deal mails down fiscal 2016 spending for DoD, VA. The omnibus appropriations deal reached by congressional leaders late Tuesday night will provide $573 billion for defense operations in fiscal 2016, another $163 billion for Department of Veterans Affairs programs and about nine months of budget stability for federal agencies that have faced various looming shutdown threats since September… The $163 billion appropriated for VA operations in fiscal 2016 includes $71.4 billion in discretionary funding, an almost 10 percent jump in that account from fiscal 2015 levels. The Denver Post: Congress seeks to shame former VA construction chief, Glenn Haggstrom gets a slap in massive federal spending bill. A former VA executive was singled out for humiliation this week in a way that few — if any — government workers ever have received: a public shaming penned by Congress. The official in question is Glenn Haggstrom, who once served as construction chief at the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs and who supervised a VA hospital project in Aurora that saw its price nearly triple , from $604 million in 2011 to about $1.7 billion this year. The Washington Post (Federal Eye): VA’s own internal probe finds impunity of agency leaders at scandal-ridden hospital. Investigators at the Department of Veterans Affairs found that two senior managers retaliated against whistleblowers who reported dangers to patient care and financial mismanagement at the Phoenix hospital at the center of a nationwide scandal over falsified waiting lists. But 15 months after the internal probes were finished and sent to Secretary Robert McDonald recommending that the managers be disciplined or fired, VA has done neither… The Washington Times: Phoenix Veterans Affairs whistleblower retaliators not punished, Reports: Senior manager still on jobs. The VA has yet to fire or punish the senior managers in Phoenix who retaliated against whistleblowers who revealed massive dysfunction at the department, despite an internal audit from more than a year ago that said the two executives deserved to be “appropriate administrative action” or firing. Reports obtained by The Washington Times show the Veterans Affairs Office of Accountability Review said Dr. Darren Deering, chief of staff the VA’s Phoenix facility… Washington Examiner: Documents: VA refuses to fire officials who punished whistleblowers. Officials at the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix have held onto their jobs despite an internal review that uncovered evidence they had retaliated against whistleblowers. The year-old report, which has not yet been made public by the VA, offered a detailed account of the retaliation two whistleblowers faced when they attempted to report wrongdoing at the Phoenix facility. The Arizona Republic: VA inspectors reject blame for delayed disciplining of Phoenix executives. For months, officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs have claimed they were stymied in trying to hold top Phoenix VA officials accountable because of an ongoing criminal investigation. But an email this week from the department's Inspector General's Office says that excuse is bunk: The OIG and FBI criminal investigation of Phoenix officials was completed, referred to federal prosecutors and rejected over the summer. There is no pending case. Star Tribune: Arizona rep.: Don’t move embattled St. Paul executive to Phoenix VA. Arizona Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has asked the Veterans Administration to not transfer Kim Graves, the embattled former chief of the St. Paul Regional Benefits Office, to Phoenix because the facility there has enough problems. In a letter to VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, Kirkpatrick said she was appalled by the findings of the VA Office of the Inspector General regarding Graves' behavior. Washington Examiner: Congress tries to end VA officials’ abuse of benefits program. Congress is set to pass a $1.1 trillion funding bill that would put new limits on a relocation program for VA workers that has been criticized as a way to funnel extra money and benefits to VA employees. But the language wouldn't shut down the program completely. At issue is the Home Marketing Incentive Program and the

Appraisal Value Offer Program, which many members of Congress say have been abused by top VA workers. WTVA-TV (NBC-9, Video): Congressional delegation not happy with VA choice. Mississippi's congressional delegation is not happy with the choice by Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald for a regional position with the VA. Lawmakers from both parties have sent a letter asking McDonald to rescind the appointment of Dr. Skye McDougall as network director for the South Central Veterans Affairs Health Care Network. FedScoop: VA, DoD show Congress progress in e-health records interoperability. Weeks after a tongue-lashing by a pair of House subcommittees, the officials working on electronic health record interoperability between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs say they've finally opened lawmakers' eyes to the progress they've been making. Last week, IT staff from the VA and DOD, as well from the departments' joint Interoperability Program Office, visited members of Congress to showcase the capabilities of the Joint Legacy Viewer… The New York Times (AP): VA to provide robotic legs to paralyzed Vets. The Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to pay for robotic legs that could allow scores of paralyzed veterans with spinal cord injuries to walk again. Veterans have been petitioning the VA to do this because many cannot afford the $77,000 needed to pay for the powered exoskeleton called the ReWalk. The device was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for individuals to use at home. FierceMedicalDevices: VA contracts with DARPA-backed startup for real-time behavioral analytics, mental health app. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has contracted with Boston-based startup Cogito for use of its real-time behavioral analytics mobile app that analyzes voice recordings and mobile phone usage to create clinically validated behavioral indicators of mental health. The agency said it will use the Cogito app to detect veterans in need of mental health care, including suicide prevention. Military Times Combat-related lung diseases lack diagnosis guidelines, researchers say. Evidence is mounting that veterans are suffering from pulmonary disorders related to deployment to the Middle East, but little is being done to diagnose and treat these illnesses, say researchers who are proposing new guidance for treating affected troops. Boulder City Review: Veterans cemetery receives $3.5 million grant to prevent headstones from slipping, plant new grass. Perfect military order will soon be restored to the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City. The cemetery was awarded a $3.5 million grant in October from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs through the Division of the National Cemetery Administration in an effort to restore slipping headstones of fallen veterans. The grant should allow for the veterans cemetery to correct the ground that approximately 26,000 headstones lie on.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Philia. Milestone in ending Vet homelessness. We all know that the vast majority of America’s veterans return home and go on to find good jobs, build strong families, and keep on serving our country in their workplaces, congregations, and communities. But we also know that today, in cities and towns across this nation, there are men and women who wore America’s uniform in wars as far back as Vietnam and Korea — and as recent as Iraq and Afghanistan — but don’t have a roof over their heads. Moultrie News: VA volunteer receives President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,000 hours of volunteer service. Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Volunteer Robert “Bob” Block was recently awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service in his lifetime. The President’s Volunteer Service Program is the premier national volunteer awards program and encourages U.S. citizens to live a life of service. Block is the 14th Charleston VA medical center volunteer to receive the award.

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From: Ann Markel, VFW Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 1:33 PM

Subj: VFW Action Corps Weekly, December 18, 2015 1. Senate Holds Hearing on Military Transition Programs: On Tuesday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled, “Is Transition Assistance on Track?” Representatives from VA, DOD, and the Department of Labor (DOL), were on hand to provide testimony about the various programs their departments provide to support service members as they separate from the military. Topics included the DOD Transition Assistance Program (TAP), VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, DOL Jobs for Veterans State Grants program, their strengths and weaknesses, and ways to improve them. The VFW supports all three of these initiatives and is actively engaged in the TAP process at 20 military installations through our Benefits Delivery at Discharge program. To see a webcast of the hearing, click here: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/is-transition-assistance-on-track121515. 2. Senate Holds Field Hearing in Phoenix: On Monday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a field hearing in Phoenix regarding issues related to VA’s Veterans Choice Program, accountability and management as they relate to the Phoenix VA Medical Center. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska chaired the hearing and was joined by both Arizona Senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake. Local veterans discussed continuing difficulties faced at the Phoenix VAMC and with the Choice Program. Also testifying was a VA doctor who acted as a whistleblower for issues faced by employees. Defending actions taken and corrections made were VA’s Under Secretary for Health, and the President and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance which manages

the scheduling and payment process of the Choice Program. To read the testimony, visit http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/field-hearing__phoenix-121415. 3. IB Framework Briefing: On Monday, in partnership with the Independent Budget (IB), VFW National Legislative Director, Ray Kelley, provided a briefing of the IB’s framework for veterans health care reform to the Commission on Care. The Commission on Care was mandated in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, or Choice Act, and is tasked with making recommendations to Congress on the future of VA health care. To read the IB’s framework click here: http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/IB_AFrameworkforVeteransHealthCareReform.pdf. 4. Omnibus Budget Bill Introduced: On Wednesday, Congress introduced an omnibus budget bill for Fiscal Year 2016. Totaling more than 2,000 pages, the bill includes several key provisions for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including:

$50 billion for VA medical services (a nearly 10% increase over the previous year),

including $1.5 billion for Hepatitis C treatment, $7.5 billion for mental health care, $605

million for caregiver programs and $6.7 billion for homeless veteran programs.

$2.7 billion for processing claims and reducing the backlog on initial claims and

appeals. This money allows for an additional 770 employees to handle the processing of

claims and appeals.

$1.2 billion for construction, which is more than three times the previous

year. Requirements in the bill force VA to allow another federal agency to manage

construction programs costing more than $100 million.

Advance appropriations for VA’s FY17 budget totaling more than $165 billion.

$283 million for related agencies, such as the American Battle Monuments Commission

which cares for cemeteries and monuments around the world, and Arlington National

Cemetery which will be able to complete projects deferred in previous years.

In all, the bill funds health care for 7 million veterans, compensation and pension benefits for 5.2 million veterans and their survivors, GI Bill benefits for 935,000 veterans, and vocational rehabilitation for 137,000 veterans. The bill included several veterans policy and tax changes that would curtail VA’s use of high dose opioid medications to treat chronic pain, exclude military housing allowance when determining whether a tenant is low-income, and reauthorize the Work Opportunity Tax Credit which incentivizes employers to hire unemployed and disabled veterans. The bill also marks the first time Congress made advance appropriations for both mandatory and discretionary spending which will impact the FY17 budget. The bill has cleared the House and Senate and requires approval by the president no later than December 22 to prevent a government shutdown. The VFW Action Corps will publish more updates as they become available. 5. Proposed Expansion for Camp Lejeune Eligibility: On Thursday, VA announced that it will classify eight medical afflictions as presumptive disabilities for purposes of adjudicating compensation benefits for veterans who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. Additionally, National Guard and

Reserve service members who did not serve on active duty but conducted training at the base will be considered as part of this expanded policy. This means that VA will now presume that a veteran’s exposure entitles that veteran to VA disability compensation benefits for any of the eight covered conditions. This is a major change as no condition was considered under “presumptive status” for disability benefits. Currently, VA only provides no-cost health care for 15 covered conditions. Moving forward, those who receive VA compensation benefits will also be eligible for VA health care if they were not otherwise eligible. As a result, veterans who served 30 or more days at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, breast cancer, renal toxicity, female infertility, lung cancer, bladder cancer, hepatic steatosis, miscarriage, and neurobehavioral effects are eligible for no-cost VA health care, but are not presumed to be eligible for VA disability compensation benefits. The VFW will work to ensure veterans who suffer from medical conditions that are associated with exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune receive the health care and benefits they deserve and will hold VA accountable to ensuring it’s presumptive list is accurate. Those who have filed in the past and were denied can file again, while those who are pending a decision which could be denied will not receive any decision until a final ruling is approved on the proposed expansion. Any veteran who needs help completing a VA claim for their service can contact the VFW for assistance at 1800-VFW-1899. The VFW accredits more than 1,600 service officers to assist veterans with their VA claims and benefits. To read the VA’s announcement on this issue, go to: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2743. 6. VA Expands Prosthetics Benefits: After years of successful tests, VA has agreed to begin providing exoskeletons to paralyzed veterans who meet the robotic legs’ height and weight limits. Currently, 45 veterans meet the requirements and should have the opportunity to receive the newly approved robotic legs, which will not replace wheelchairs, but can last up to four hours of continuous use. The VFW will continue to track the progress of this revolutionary rehabilitation treatment and provide updates as it becomes more widely available. 7. Bergdahl Gets General Court-Martial: The Army recommended this week that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl be tried by general court-martial under charges of desertion (Article 85) and misbehavior before the enemy (Article 99) under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Bergdahl spent almost five years as a Taliban captive before being released on May 31, 2014, in a controversial prisoner swap that freed five Taliban leaders from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. If convicted, maximum punishments could include a dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank to E-1, total forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and life in prison, as well as the death penalty. An arraignment date has not been announced, but it is expected to take place at Fort Bragg, N.C., where U.S. Army Forces Command is headquartered. 8. MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of remains of two American servicemen who have been missing-in-action

since World War II and Korea. Being returned home for burial with full military honors are: -- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Leonard R. Farron, of Pierce County, Wash., was piloting a P-39 Airacobra that failed to return to base after a strafing mission over Guadalcanal on Oct. 15, 1942. He was assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force. -- Army Pvt. James M. Smith, 19, of Wilcox County, Ga., was lost fighting in South Korea on Feb. 12, 1951. He was assigned to Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. ------------------------------------

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VETERANS EVENTS

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Capitol Post – Veterans – Business – Purpose. December 2015, Events Update.

http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d907c28bbc61151e5a473deee&id=0ef0fabe78&e=662f547d21

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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 Values Veterans V3 Program, Virginia Department of Veterans Services, V3 Training Schedule for December 1 – 18, 2015.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=9047497c-3556-4ff8-b177-2cae403ced4e&c=f0bce490-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6&ch=f0f7a3a0-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6

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Student Veterans of America 8th Annual National Conference. January 7 -10, 2016, Orlando, FL.

http://www.wewin.studentveterans.org/

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Women Veterans ROCK! Woman Warrior Weekend - Transition Retreat. January 15 – 17, 2016, Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. For more information and to register: http://www.womenvetsrock.org/events/

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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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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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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/