Do you agree - Congress is Back and Veterans’ Priorities Need Attention?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:28:22 -0400

Do you agree - Congress is Back and Veterans’ Priorities Need Attention?

http://iava.org/blogs/congress-is-back-and-veterans-priorities-need-attention/

With Congress back in Washington following its month-long August recess, it’s looking as though this fall will be a lesson in déjà vu. With much work to be done in a short time span before both the end of the fiscal year and the end of the calendar year, Congress will need to address major fiscal concerns and several lingering legislative needs of veterans and their families.

Congress is Back and Veterans’ Priorities Need Attention » Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of...

With Congress back in Washington following its month-long August recess, it’s looking as though this fall will be a lesson in déjà vu. With much work to be done in a short time span before both the end of the fiscal year and the end of the calendar year, Congress will need to address major fiscal concerns and several lingering legislative needs of veterans and their families. The first major concern Congress must address is the need to pass...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 11:29 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:29:49 -0400

Absolutely. Get to work.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 11:45 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:45:40 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Yes, the issues they need to (address) pass are the same issues some of us have been talking about here on Rally point. The large glaring one of V.A. ACCOUNTABILITY is an absolute must.

Response by PFC Joseph Levi made Sep 9 at 2015 11:55 PM

PFC Joseph Levi — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:55:10 -0400

I know my member of Congress I work for is 100% for veterans and has authored HR 969 for the Blue Water Navy to get medical coverage and able to put claims in with their health problems occurring from agent orange. Another bill he Co - authored was the bill to change "as the crow flies" to actual driving miles regarding the 40 miles needed for the choice card, which was passed a few months ago.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 11:55 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:55:42 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, After reading this, they should have started on these veterans affairs before now. There's always a deadline coming up when it applies to veterans. That tells me we are on the back burner, as usual. We are again close to being threatened about our benefits, if the government shuts down. They're priorities are screwed up as far as I'm concerned. They need to get with program and quit dragging their useless feet.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 9 at 2015 11:57 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:57:55 -0400

Indeed sir... No one is safe while Congress (or our own States Legislators) are in session.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 10 at 2015 12:02 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:02:53 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I've been saying this for ages...

Response by SSG(P) Claudett P Hillotero made Sep 10 at 2015 12:13 AM

SSG(P) Claudett P Hillotero — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:13:42 -0400

Absolutely! They need to get started time now.

Response by SGT Mark Stevens made Sep 10 at 2015 12:13 AM

SGT Mark Stevens — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:13:55 -0400

This will be just like the last 10 years. Lots of bickering and blaming will be done followed by little to no headway on any legislative need being taken care of. Then a special session will need to be called costing us taxpayers a ton of cash. But, some will make the sacrifice of "tearing up their checks" so they aren't costing their constituents money for staying late. The population will again feel like they are being held hostage by their government again for programs, military payroll, civil contracts waiting in the eleventh hour to find out if they close theirs doors or continue to do what they do.
It's all become one big, vicious cycle we are stuck on for the ride while elitest thugs control our future.

Response by SGT Mark Stevens made Sep 10 at 2015 1:16 AM

SGT Mark Stevens — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 01:16:39 -0400

I'm so glad Eric survived this but, I'm deeply disturbed over the ones who weren't so lucky. No one person or persons will ever be held accountable for this fiasco.
More needs to be done and so many are doing the best they can to help our Veterans and improve the system. Alone we can help but together we can change the system.

Response by SGT Mark Stevens made Sep 10 at 2015 1:27 AM

SGT Mark Stevens — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 01:27:39 -0400

This is all a matter of public record. The two supervisors and the recomended sanctions should have been part of the document.
My opinion is they should be fired. This will send a clear message to other supervisors to not act against whistleblowers.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 3:14 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 03:14:52 -0400

VA needs to be put back into the spotlights. There still needs to be much work done. Just what has been done to fix the leadership issues within the VA? Improved systems and accountability?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 10 at 2015 4:40 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 04:40:09 -0400

They've got much to fix with regards to veterans issues but nothing's going to change

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 10 at 2015 8:09 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:09:05 -0400

Yes I agree but I also think there are a lot of things that need to be addressed in this session. Beyond the Veterans' issues, we are still all these years later without a balanced budget. And we are seeing bigger and bigger gaps wedged between race and gender in a lot of areas. There are a lot more things but it's too early in the morning to type that much. :)

Response by PO3 Earl F. McCartney 111 made Sep 10 at 2015 8:44 AM

PO3 Earl F. McCartney 111 — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:44:15 -0400

Veterans’ Priorities Need Attention IS A MAJOR UNDERSTATEMENT!! IT'S HIGH TIME OUR GOV. OFFICIALS START LOOKING OUT FOR OUR VETERANS!! CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN TODAY AND TELL THEM OUR VETERANS COME FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!

Response by SPC Joshua H. made Sep 10 at 2015 9:07 AM

SPC Joshua H. — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:07:55 -0400

It's funny, they always talk about veterans benefits not having the money to be funded...or social security running out of money, but you never hear about welfare not having funding. Why is it that those that work for their benefits are at risk of losing them, but those getting handouts are not? I have no issue with the welfare system helping those that really need help, but there is A LOT of people that abuse it.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 10 at 2015 9:22 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:22:29 -0400

Sir, congress is "back" but the real question isn't do we need attention, but what is congress actually going to do with their time before another recess? They're not looking so good based off past history, and off current news the only thing on their plate is the Iran deal which is really a done deal and running for president. Rather than b*tch and moan over spilled milk, they could make an agenda, stick with it and make the time before the next recess count. Prove to the American people they are capable of doing their jobs. At this point I'm going to grab a bottle of Jack and realize I have a better chance of finishing it in under an hour before congress actually does their jobs in a session (I don't drink BTW) But there are no E-9's in congress to whip them in line and make them do what's right. I'm not speaking ill of either party, but of congress as a whole.

Response by MAJ Bill Maynard made Sep 10 at 2015 11:09 AM

MAJ Bill Maynard — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:09:28 -0400

Who in their right mind on Rally Point would say 'no'??

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 10 at 2015 12:31 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 12:31:46 -0400

Well since Congress is debating another shutdown COL Mikel J. Burroughs, I hope that Congress focuses on what is important for all citizens of the USA first and foremost and that proposed legislation is viewed through a Constitutional template.
That being said, I think Congress should look at DoD and Veterans issues together and work towards the best approach to improve both organizations functions and interface between the two.
It would be good if Congress looks at healthcare from HHS, VA, DOD including the Indian Healthcare System, Medicare and Medicaid process and procedures. There is almost certainly significant unnecessary overhead in the medical bureaucracies. Years ago Congress reorganized the Intel community to make it more efficient. It might be time to reorganize government provided healthcare and redress the balance between government and non-government provided healthcare.
Perhaps paperwork reduction can be achieved :-)