Veterans

Nicholson: A Call for Help Needs Immediate Response

July 2, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – To ensure veterans with mental health crises have immediate access to trained coordinators, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will establish a 24-hour, national suicide prevention hot line.

“This is another significant step to ensure that veterans, particularly the newest generation of combat vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, receive accessible and compassionate care for their mental health concerns,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.    » read more »

First in the nation program to provide TBI screening for state’s returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, mandatory screening for returning Guard members and 24-hour PTSD helpline

July 3, 2007 -- CHICAGO – On the eve of Independence Day, Illinois Governor Rod R.    » read more »

June 28, 2007 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the Department of Defense (DOD) should immediately notify the state Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) of any injured Connecticut soldiers returning home to ensure veterans' access to vital benefits.

Blumenthal said the DOD erroneously cited the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) as reason to refuse notifying state VA officials about wounded soldiers.    » read more »

VETS Bill Helps Returning Servicemembers Complete Their Educations

June 27, 2007 -- NEW YORK - After returning from Iraq in 2005, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Legislative Director Patrick Campbell drafted a bill to help veterans complete their educations. Based on Campbell's leadership and recommendations, Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) and Representative Susan Davis (CA) introduced The Veterans Education Tuition Support (VETS) Act in Congress today.

A Young Iraq Veteran Changes the Law    » read more »

Senator works to improve healthcare and benefits

June 27, 2007 --
(Washington, DC) U.S. Senator Larry Craig warned his colleagues Wednesday that new legislation could overwhelm the Department of Veterans Affairs award-winning medical system and hamper its ability to provide first class medical care to recently wounded veterans.    » read more »

June 27, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several initiatives to improve veterans’ health care proposed by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) were today included in comprehensive legislation that passed the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2007 – Problems revealed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center indicate that similar issues exist at other military care facilities and highlight a complex situation the Defense Department can’t solve alone, members of the Independent Review Group told members of a House subcommittee yesterday.    » read more »

With nation at war, Craig will seek to improve benefits

June 26, 2007 -- (Washington, DC) Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will meet on Wednesday to discuss and possibly amend five bills which could impact veterans in both the United States and the Philippines.

Immediately after the conclusion of that meeting, the Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Charles L. Hopkins, of Massachusetts, to be the Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security and Preparedness for Veterans Affairs.    » read more »

June 22, 2007 -- The men and women of our armed forces are as courageous, honorable and capable a fighting force as the world has ever known. These servicemen and women have made a commitment to protect our nation. We need to make an equally strong commitment to honor them when they make the ultimate sacrifice for our country.    » read more »

Authorizes Scholarship Program for Students Seeking Training in Blind Rehabilitation

June 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) introduced legislation today that would help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) meet the increasing demands of today’s blind veteran population.    » read more »

VFW Calls for Quick Senate Action to Improve Care for America’s Veterans

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2007 – The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is hailing last Thursday’s House of Representatives vote as a landmark decision that follows through on campaign promises to boost Department of Veterans Affairs funding. VFW Commander-in-Chief Gary Kurpius is now calling for the Senate to act quickly so that a consolidated bill can be sent to President Bush before the federal government’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.    » read more »

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Face Inadequate Mental Health Care; Department of Defense Report and Washington Post Series Reveal Scope of the Problem

June 19, 2007 -- NEW YORK - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, issued the following statement in regard to a critical new report by the Defense Department's Mental Health Task Force and a Washington Post series on mental health care:    » read more »

Nicholson: Move Bolsters Strong Mental Health Program

June 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON -- To strengthen one of the nation’s largest mental health programs and continue providing world-class health care to the nation’s veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced plans to hire suicide prevention counselors at each of its 153 medical centers.    » read more »

Nicholson: “Full Force of Law” to Protect Earned Benefits

June 12, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Continuing a long-standing campaign to identify and prosecute those who defraud veterans of their rightful benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently highlighted several successes by its Inspector General in investigating people who mishandle the finances of veterans and family members unable to manage their own affairs.    » read more »

Wide range of services are helping veterans, reservists and National Guardsmen

June 13, 2007 -- (Washington, DC) Two new efforts launched recently to help veterans get jobs and launch new businesses have earned the praise of the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.    » read more »