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264 Responses to “Budget Proposal Would Fix Concurrent Receipt”
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Gentlemen – Where is Senator Webb of Virginia in all of this? I did not view his name on the list of sponsors? And, are there actuall any known senators adverse to passage of this act? Thank you. Godspeed. RBA
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While no one will ever “lead the charge” against any veterans program, there are many senators who will argue against the larger issue of expanded entitlements and so effectively, do nothing to support this legislation.
Webb has been silent. I think since he was so instrumental in the formation and passage of the “new G.I.” bill, he’s sort of immune from criticism on veterans issues for now. I did write to him some months back and like Warner, I got a vague “I continue to support our men and women in uniform…” sort of response from him.
I think that if there is genuine support for the improvements for Ch. 61 retirees, the Senate committee will simply defer to the House version, thereby avoiding giving much credit to Sen. Reid. His support of the “gun” amendment and especially, his altering the debate schedule to highlight the hate crimes issue during the NDAA floor debate irked both McCain and Levin, so there may have been some “pay back” in not acting on his signature contribution to this years’ authorization bill. Just my 2 cents…
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DK I believe you hit it right on,so ch 61′s hang in there, I do believe they are doing a little “PAY BACK” SANDY
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ALCON,
DK is right on the ball with his informative detailing. Although stalled in the Senate, the House bill will generate debate and force the issue for review. I wish I could say more, just know discussions are continuing….
At this point, I urge those of you to take an active role. Here are some examples:
1.) Don’t just write your Sen/H.R., send them a list of “co-authors”: Have people that support the cause sign on to the letter…this gives the reader more reason for thought (it works for staffers, trust me).
2.) Consider calling your local media outlets. Give them a brief overview and directions for research. Stay away from “telling them whats going on”. Media interns, writers, etc…will do the work and report on the issue. Too much “one sided conversations” turn them off. Give them an idea for a story, and watch them run. Point to MOAA articles, cite bill numbers, etc…
3. Write the VFW, DVA, MOAA, etc…and tell them “we need their support”. Its interesting how a little pushing can re-vitalize a movement. Contact staff writers, authors of previous articles on CR, etc… Rememember, this is a hot story…
4. Look for local party meetings. Bet there is one in the next couple of weeks. They are usually free, have influential people there, and generate questions for lawmakers. Most small networking happens there and crucial points find their way to larger party members (i.e. state and federal members). It may seem trivial, but experience has shown, well, lets just say some large voices have been heard this way!!
One thing I can assuredly teach everyone that its not the CAUSE that wins, its the degree of VOICE the cause has. Simply, this is important only to the extent that it reaches attention at the appropriate level.
Keep praying, staying active, and supporting each other. Their is hope all!!
DK, thanks for all the input. Unfortunately, conflict of interest keeps be at a minimum. You are an intelligent and diligent resource for fellow veterans.
A news report was just out on British vet support (or lack thereof by the British government). It was done by the CBC…has anyone thought of contacting the British media, NPR, CBC. Do you see where I am going here. How about Lars Larson, Glen Beck, etc…
I suggest an approach as such:
CR was intended to support “disabled” veterans…period. It was initiated at an obscure direction: towards those who served 20 years, and not discharged for being “disabled”. Then it was broadened for those combat related “disabled”. Then for the IU…but what about those ACTUALLY retired for a service-connected” disability (Chp 61)?
See, the point was reached simply, in one paragraph, and asks for further thought. Bias is left out. The reader does not turn off.
If one stays away from conjecture, points to the fact, and really asks the question…there will have to be an answer. I recently asked this question. It was followed by “Sure would be an interesting story, huh? Maybe I should think of this more”. I recieved a concerned response.
There is still a movement here. Maybe not this year, but presidence has been set all!!!
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Concurrent Receipt Order of Battle:
I am one of the Chap 61 retirees w/ 14 yrs los. This affects me directly. (Full disclosure)
NDAA 2010 conferees from the senate are: Levin, Kennedy, Byrd, Lieberman, Reed, Akaka, Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Bayh, Webb, McCaskill, Udall (CO), Hagan, Begich, Burris, McCain, Inhofe, Sessions, Chambliss, Graham, Thune, Martinez, Wicker, Burr, Vitter, and Collins.
House conferees haven’t been announced yet. Conference committee not expected to convene until after August recess. Everybody has plenty of time to make their voice, their family’s voice, their friend’s voice, and their enemy’s voice heard.
Funding offset for concurrent receipt is less than ONE PERCENT of the NDAA appropriation (number I saw was .014).
Worst case scenario for pay out was less that $5 billion per anum for 10 years.
This is a cool website. Since Skelton got this thing off the ground with at least “start-up” money, we should be howling (in a tightly-reasoned, polite way) at congress and the media for the “right thing” to get accomplished here.
Happy hunting.
XSpook
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Today’s update from MOAA explains a lot. It seems that even with the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid leading the charge, and no apparent objection for inclusion of Obama’s proposal for Concurrent Receipt for Chapter 61 retirees, it only takes one senator to block a “unanimous consent” motion, which was the vehicle intended to include Reid’s amendment in the Senate’s NDAA. It turns out that Senator Tom Colburn (R-OK) was the lone voice that blocked the amendment from being included. MOAA has the full story in the link below, but here’s the “money quote”:
“Coburn Stymies Concurrent Receipt Amendment
We were surprised to learn that Sen. Harry Reid’s concurrent receipt amendment in the Senate version of the NDAA was stymied by Sen. Tom Coburn just before the final vote on the bill.
Sen. Reid’s amendment would have phased out the disability offset for all chapter 61 retirees over a five year period. But concurrent receipt progress in this year’s defense bill is still a very strong possibility, despite the failure of the Senate amendment.”The full link is here:
http://www.moaa.org/lac/lac_issues/lac_issues_major/lac_issues_major_retired/lac_issues_major_retired_coburn.htm -
Veterans organizations and every veteran in the state of Oklahoma shold rise up and demand that Coburn be thrown out of office. He has no problem sending our sons, daughters, grand children to fight a war he supported then turn his back on them when they return broken….. Members of any veterans organization should contact their National headquartes and strongly encourage them to demand a public accounting from this person, take his anti veteran position to the public…..
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What I email about oeveryother day to whitehouse and congress…
Sir/Ma’am
Imperatively needed is a Bill or AMMENDMENT to help in paving a way to helprelieve the blatant inequity towards military retirees with service connected disability. The unfair reduction of Military Earned Retirement pay [which is a Right of Earned blood, Sweat and Sacrifice for all AMERICA]and the compensation from VA for disabilities associated from Service connected injuries, should be separate in of themselves – not combined. It is unfair to reduce one’s retirement pay by the disability dollar amountearned.
Did I mention – It is unfair and has no equal in the BELTWAY. I am sure the stipends and pensions the Senate and House have for themselves – are without reductions.
Please enact legislation AND repeal immediately the 50% VA rule, in order to allow all Retirees to receive concurrent full retirement and any portioned VA disability they have earned thru Sacrifice – “Concurrent Receipt of Retirement Pay.”
The ACT should allow for retroactive payment from Sep 2001, for a
Grandfathering point. It would provide constituent vote and needed AMERICAN STIMULUS.I plan to email about every other day my senators and the whitehouse with this.
V/r Dan Anders II, MSgt, USAF (Ret.)
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I sent the following email to Senator Tom Coburn.
Sen. Coburn
I would like an explanation as to why you did not vote unanimously along with your fellow senators on the Concurrent Receipt bill? Your answer to the MOAA that there is not sufficient funding lacks argument as the other senators do not see this as an issue worth stopping the bill for even though they are aware of this concern. I am a 100% disabled Viet Nam veteran with only 12 years of naval service. Therefore, I am one of those left out of collecting, in my case, about $800.00 more a month as income. I am 71 years old and gave my health to my country. All I and the rest of us chapter 61 retirees are asking is that we be allowed to collect retirement for those years we served. That is what Concurrent Receipt is all about. It is not about you, it is not about the government nor is it about those that manage our government. It is about paying the men and woman the money they earned while defending this country. Period!
Respectfully,
Steve PO1 US Navy Retired -
alvasteve:
Great letter. Thanks for your service.
I’m trying to find news outlets in OKLA (and Ft. Sill) to pick up this story. If Colburn wants the money offset up front, FINE, but WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS WHAT HAS “HE” DONE TO FIND IT? I bet the answer is “NADA.” But the question should be asked/ANSWERED. -
Bully for all who support Veterans and their families. I am a disabled widow of a 100% disabled Veteran who died of a service-connected injury. I have been turned down once in the SS automated system and am applying yet again. There are no resources I can find in Oklahoma that I can get to as walking is a difficulty. How many other spouses in Oklahoma are finding it this hard to survive? I want to talk to them, find out if anything worked. Homeless, poor and struggling in Oklahoma. On good days I can make it to the Library. lesdamess
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Lesdames, I highly recommend you send a letter to the editor of every news paper in your area, write it to all of the spouses like yourself and ask for a reply from them via the news papers. What you sent here would probably do just fine. Keep sending in your letter until they publish it. A separate letter naming Senator Coburn as an anti-veteran politician might help to create some very good feed back. If memory serves me right, the people in Oklahoma like the Military, at least they did when I was stationed there.
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Team – I have been emailing and sending my request everywhere for the last 4 weeks – the Bastards are at recess…Hence no one is runing the daycare…What now do we do???
I will keep sending, but what else…is there any hope?
V/r Dan Anders II, MSgt, USAF (Ret)
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Dan, keep mailing, their office staff keeps up on all the incoming mail, a lot of them have town hall meetings, call their home town offices. Talk to the staff when ever you can, they do the foot work and pass on the message. Don’t give up hope, that’s when they beat us………..
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Lesdamess,
Go to the Federal Building in Oklahoma City (believe of of 4th street), first floor is the VA. Talk to Rhonda (Service Rep.) and ask what to do. Take every bit of paperwork you have! In addition, contact the DAV or VFW (located around Oklahoma and in the VA hospital in OKC). They will need all the available documents you have. If you have been turned down for benefits you are eligible for, it is because the right paperwork probably hasn’t been filled and supported by your documentation.
Remember, in most cases you only have 12 months to file an appeal, in some cases even lease. I’m not clear on what you require, so I don’t know for sure. You can also request a DRO (Decision Review Officer). This is faster and may help process your request. Muskogee is your regional office. Look them up or get there and ask questions…they are very supportive.
Flash
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i also sent a email to Senator coburn.. i am a 100% disabled and was much looking fwd to getting my retirement check back and what a slap in the face by one senator that wants to play politics with our earned money.. I am going to email bill o’reilly and glen beck of FOX news.. They seem to be able to get the msg out for Veterans. I encourage other to do the same and maybe they can put the heat on congress..
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I contacted Senator Coburn’s Office today to voice my disbelief that he was the only Senator not to support us Chapter 61 veterans with HR 2990. I ask they we stand together on this and please contact his offices in Washinton as well as Oklahoma. If he gets enough complaints for lack of support for us Vets maybe he will start to re think his views.
Washington office 202-224-5754
Oklahoma office 405-231-4941 -
I found this website that will generate letters to your senators.
All you do is put in your zip code and click go.. You can also add to the text.. -
Question to all – will we see or expect to se concurrent receipt for 20 year reitrees at 40% or lower. And would those who had to be medically reitres see concurrent receipt?
V/r Dan Anders II, MSgt, USAF (Ret)
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That is their question isn’t it? I’ve been waiting for the answer to that one sense 1998 and must say if it hasn’t happened by now chances are it more than likely won’t. Seems like everyone is on board when the pres ain’t and when the pres is they aren’t spouting spend spend spend till its for ,vets then its we can’t afford it but end the end its wait and see hope for the best expect the worst have a great day best wishes to all. SSG.(R) Rusty
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I received this email from another site. Email Coburn and tell him what we think of his anti-disabled-veteran position……..
08/10/09 14:41:25
Well, I just contacted Sen. Coburn’s office in Oklahoma and spoke to a very cordial gentleman by the name of Gregory Treat. After explaining my displeasure with the Senator’s actions to block Ch. 61′s to receive CRDP he forwarded me this response from Sen. Coburn (in RED) which am posting below, enjoy:Mr. Taylor,
Thank you for your service and sacrifice on behalf of our country. Below is the response that Dr. Coburn sent to me pertaining to the amendment that would have provided concurrent receipt benefits. If you have any feedback it would probably be easier if you sent it as an email so I could forward it to Senator Coburn.
Thank you,
Gregory Treat
Office of United States Senator Tom CoburnOffice: (405) 231-4941
Fax: (405) 231-5051
Cell: (405) 397-0920Email: greg_treat[at]coburn.senate.gov
Web: http://www.coburn.senate.govDuring debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, I opposed an amendment that would have provided concurrent receipt benefits to certain medically retired disabled veterans. This provision, submitted by Senator Harry Reid, identified no wasteful or duplicative government programs for elimination in order to pay for it. The cost as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office is an increase in federal spending of $5.1 billion over the next 10 years. The proposal, while worthy, is an example of how the United States Congress refuses to make tough choices between competing priorities. This year, the Senate Armed Services Committee earmarked 426 projects for over $9 billion to the Defense Authorization Act. These projects are not subject to competitive bidding process, are for parochial interests, and are of unknown relevance to our men and women in uniform. I would fully support rescinding these earmarks or eliminating other wasteful or duplicative spending to pay for concurrent receipt for medically retired disabled veterans.
Senator Coburn
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I think us Veterans would have been better served if Senator Coburn would have come up with ways to find the money for us Chapter 61 vets , rather than voicing against receiving our earned benefits. Just another unfriendly in the Senate.
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Rachel Maddow of MSNBC will be on Meet the Press this Sunday. One of the other guests is the disabled veterans #1 enemy Senator Tom Coburn, thought I’d give it a try……..
FW
Rachel,
Looking forward to Meet The Press this Sunday, kick ‘em where it hurts. If you get a chance please ask Senator Tom Coburn why he cast the lone no vote that killed Senator Reids amendment that would have approved the Senates Concurrent Receipt benefits for thousands of Severly Disabled Veterans of all wars past and present. Ask the Senator how he can sleep at night knowing he’s turned his back on Severly Disabled men and women who stood watch at night so he and his family could safely sleep in their safe secure home. As these wars continue there are thousands of young men and women everyday who are becoming Disabled Veterans. They’re the ones he’s harmed the most.
Regards,
FW -
Sen Coburn,
WE THE PEOPLE feel you need to fix the problem, the earmarks are one thing but Disability Veterans deserve better. Retired pay is earned – just as you assume yours is. In our case, we take the hit for you, so we get injured and disabled on top of the Sacrifice. The concurrent reciept for all retirees is a JUST and DESERVING funding. The other stuff is political horse-&^&*!
We the People, are not happy with your performance on this very Rightous issue. I hope you do not sleep well knowing many others continue to suffer becuase of your action and inaction.
Please re-initiate the concurrewnt receipt ammendment into the NDAA 2010 for all retirees effective Jan 2010.
Our Lord will be Judge of our Life – We the People are Judge of our Representives in Congress.
I pray you feel to do something RIGHT because it is RIGHT versus “beltway politics as usual.”
Please call anytime to discuss,
V/r
Danny Anders II, MSgt, USAF (Ret)
937-564-2342 -
I think President Obama’s reiteration to the VFW of his support for Concurrent Receipt — repeated yesterday — can only be a good thing as Senate and House conferees and staffers haggle over the final NDAA product. Here’s part of what President Obama said on August 17, 2009, with a link to the full speech following:
“We’re keeping our promise on concurrent receipt. My budget ensures that our severely disabled veterans will receive both their military retired pay and their VA disability benefits. And I look forward to signing legislation on advanced appropriations for the VA so that the medical care you need is never held up by budget delays.”
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/143101
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I received this from the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA).
Putting a hold on a Senate floor amendment would not be reflected in his voting record. Coburn was elected to House of Rep. in 1994. He promised to serve only 3 terms (6 years) and actually kept his word. When Senator Don Nickles announced he would not seek re-election in 2004, Coburn ran and won. He is a “budget hawk” and is famous or infamous for stopping the “bridge to no where” in Alaska in 2005. He is up for re-election in 2010.
John R. Davis
Director, Legislative Programs
Fleet Reserve Association
125 N. West Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
tel. (703) 683-1400 x-110
fax: (703) 549-6610 -
The 5 Billion Dollars that will be used for the next 10 years that Senator Coburn said is required to finance Bill H-R 2990 is a missleading statment. The July 6,2009 issue of the Air Force Times disected the percentage that would be dispursed with in the Bill. The concurrent section is only 6% of this entire amount. The amount of Veterans that it would be recipiants is 121,000. The rest of Bill HR-2990 is for goverment employees benafits and National Guard issues. I think Senator Coburn could eliminate quite a few Billion from this Bill alone. Enter it as a seperate Bill. Deal with the Gov. employees bennies. Concurrent pay is a D.O>D, Military issue. Why are Goverment workers include with the military section of the 2010. Stop using the medicaly retired as a place to crap.
I have been medicaly retired from the U.S.A.F. since 1968 at the rate of E-3. Since then I had 26 surgaries and was on dialyses for 18 months. My son, Andrew at the young age of 23, who was also in the Air Force, donated his kidney so I could live. My family has to sacrifice quite a bit for my disabilaty. The Vets. that are disabled undestand my plite. The depression is unexplainable.
I will stop the emotions are to great.
Senator Coburn do the right thing. We are Americans that have felt the patriotism flow in our vains As we all took an oath to defend this great country. -
I sent an e-mail to Senator Coburn encouraging him to look at this site to understand the magnitude of his decision on this bill. Hopefully he will look at this site and reconsider his stance.
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I’m not sure if Senator Coburn has any more to say in this matter since Senator Coburn was the loan voice to stop this before it could go to vote in the Senate.
It will be hashed out in September with committee’s on both sides The House and the Senate. I’m not sure if Senator Coburn will be on the Senate committe. ( Let’s hope not ) We already know his take on us Chapter 61 Vet’s.
I could be wrong on this . Anyone know if he will be on the Senate committee in September. If he is God help us all.
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TEAM – CALL TO ACT NOW!!! CHARGE!!! See below from MOAA and SEN BROWN. V/r Dan Anders II
Dan,
Thanks again for the advocacy. We posted the following in our legislative update on Friday to our members and others with an imbedded “alert” so they also can write their legislators.
http://www.moaa.org/lac/lac_issues/lac_issues_update/lac_issues_update_090828.htm#issue4
Please see the Coalition letter that outlined the recommendation of 5.5 million members on concurrent receipt.
As for what else you can do…I’d recommend forwarding either your letter or they can use ours to write their legislators and have their voices heard.
We’re close…hopefully a little pressure will help keep the House provision in the final bill.
Sincerely, Mike
Michael F. Hayden, Colonel, USAF (Ret.) Deputy Director, Government Relations Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
201 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314-2539
(800) 234-6622, ext 123; (703) 838-8123; fax (703) 838-8173 http://www.moaa.orgOne Powerful Voice.® For every officer at every stage of life and career.
NDAA 2010 > http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/fy2010_new_era/Department_of_Defense.pdf
Here is what I rec’d from Senator Brown (D_OH) :
Dear Mr. Anders Ii:
Thank you for sharing your views on concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation. I appreciate your advocacy on this issue.
Military retirees with disabilities incurred during their military service may receive retired pay from the Department of Defense (DOD) and may be eligible for veteran’s disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Current law requires military retirement pay be reduced by the amount of the veteran’s benefits.
The 110th Congress extended the Combat Related Special Compensation program to include those who were medically retired prior to completing 20 years of service rather than a normal longevity retirement. In addition, those with a 100% VA Unemployability rating were granted full concurrent receipt, retroactive to December 31, 2004.
I also joined Senator Harry Reid’s efforts to sign into law S.439, the Retired Pay Restoration Act. This legislation would allow concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and disability compensation for military retirees with service-connected disabilities rated less than 50 percent. It would also eliminate the phase-in of concurrent receipt benefits for retirees’ rated 90 percent or less and allow individuals who were forced into retirement under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority to apply for Combat-Related Special Compensation.
On September 27, 2007 the Senate passed this legislation as an amendment to H.R.1585, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 and the President signed this bill into law in early 2008.
As the Senate considers the National Defense Authorization Act of 2009, I will be sure to keep your views on this issue in mind. Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator -
HEY – WHERE IS EVERYONE!!!!
http://www.moaa.org/lac/lac_issues/lac_issues_update/lac_issues_update_090828.htm#issue4
Input the URL and click on take action – it send email letters to your SEN and REPS.
GO!!!
V/r DAN
Please see the Coalition letter that outlined the recommendation of 5.5 million members
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Mine has been sent and forwarded to my friends.
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I have waiting for 41 years. I am 81.(CMSgt,USAF(retired,1968,23 years,with 30 percent permanent disability) Congress doesn’t have the right to make a law without due process. The military are the only one’s who have our constitutional rights violated. The US Constitution, “Admendment 5:”–No person shall — without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,without just compensation”. Veterans’ disability compensation is an entitlement program,like medicare and social security; that creates a property interest protecdted by the Due Process Clause of the US Constitution. Once a veteran has been approved to receive disability pay, he or she is entitled to receive annual payment andcost-of-living adjustment 38 USC, Section 1104. I wonder
if Senator Corbin,(R-OK)is aware of this? I think they believe we will just fade away like those who had “Agent Orange.” Seantor Reid said: “It is simply absurd to deny disable veterans every dollar they deserve.” We are the only one’s in this nation who are considered “second class citzens”. How does make us feel? -
Mine went out last week. We all need to do this to get a shot at Justice. Let’s band together. Strength in numbers.
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found this web site when looking up info on concurrent for chapter 61 vets. also the pic of the IKE really got me my old ship i served on . emailed all my US senators Spector an casey which are both co sponpser and are really for it but my repensative glenn o thompson is not for it so any one in PA who is repensatine by thompson should write him and askk him for his support
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Just my 2 cents, but I’ve heard that an old-fashioned, hard copy letter has more impact. MOAA has templates of letters, ready to print, but a personalizing note (handwritten) doesn’t hurt either. I would encourage everyone to use three of their 42-cent stamps and, in addition to the emails, send written notes to all your senators/representatives. Some of their offices breakdown tallies by email/ phone messages/ letters.
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To all concerned sponsors,
I was medically retired in the Navy back in Sep 07 due to the massive stroke I suffered in April 07. That was 2 months happened after my deployment from Iraq. I s it too much for you fellows to realize that being in the service, our time with our family instead. We took care what we supposed to accomplished and now cannot work no more. What am I gonna tell my daughter, that even to receive our benefits that I or we need to beg? Please approve this and let us make it happen for us, because the word us is we the American people. And God bless us all. thanks Chief Quitoriano -
Response to Chief Quitoriano. Hang in there Chief. We have a good shot at this for January 2010 although there are no guarantees. As for your Daughter Tell her you served Honorably I’m sure she is very proud of you. Jerry
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United we stand, divided we fall fellow veterans, I thank each and everyone of us for coming forward and speak for the same mission. We stood the watch, and truly if they care for what we did for this beautiful nation, hand in hand, let us march together to get our voices heard. Thank you all and looking forward for the President of this beautiful nation. May our Heavenly Father bless us all. President Obama. your word is your face. v/r
ENC(SW/AW)USN Retired of San Diego California -
I sent this to all of my local media outlets.
FW“A New Bonus Army” Returns to It’s Roots
“A New Bonus Army” Returns to It’s Roots Take Action!
Please send to your local media outlets.
On September 21 – 23, 2009, members of the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees (USDR) will convene in Las Cruces, New Mexico to decide the future of their 28 year-old organization. The USDR was founded in 1981 by six disabled military retirees from the State of New Mexico, to repeal an unjust law enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1944, known as Public Law 78-314, (Title 38 USC, Sections 5304 and 5305). The law had prevented career military retirees from receiving their earned retirement annuity entitlement if they were disabled during military service and received a VA compensation for their disability.
Ironically, this unjust law was passed only twelve years after the infamous “Bonus Army March” on Washington, DC. In the summer of 1932, in the depths of the first great Depression, some 45,000 World War I veterans (Bonus Army) descended on Washington, D.C. to demand immediate payment of a cash bonus promised them eight years earlier for their war-time service. Despite their efforts, the Bonus Bill was defeated in the Senate after passage in the House. Consequently, then Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur, under orders from President Hoover, drove the Bonus Army out of Washington, D.C. on July 28, 1932. Douglas used active duty soldiers wielding bayonet-tipped rifles, tanks, Calvary with drawn sabers and tear gas. Never before or since has our government used such an array of armament against its own citizens and veterans.
In greater contrast, USDR members, disabled military retirees from subsequent wars, will return to its founding state to decide the future of the organization. After fighting a similar battle with the U.S. Congress for over twenty-eight years, they are battle weary of fighting with legislators and/or their staff, making phone calls and sending emails.
Tony Nathe, the current USDR President, will drive from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota to Las Cruces to attend the event. “Even though our entitlements were earned through a lifetime career in the U.S. military, promises made by military recruiters and career counselors are continually broken by politicians who have come and gone,” said Nathe. In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case and told the six New Mexico disabled retirees “Congress made the law, Congress can change the law”, however, the Congress continues to deny some decent, hard working, disabled military heroes their earned retirement.
There will be no “tent city” where thousands of veterans were camped out in Washington, nor millions of compassionate citizens calling upon the Congress to immediately repeal this unjust law. Just a small meeting room, in an American Legion post, the remnants of “A New Bonus Army” will decide on their best course of action. How will they continue their fight for justice began in 1981 by their New Mexico predecessors? Maybe they will plant the seeds for a new “Bonus Army March on Washington, D.C.?
For more information on joining USDR or to register for the 27th Annual Meeting of the USDR visit: usdr.org -
Please help,
I am a veteran who got out with 30% service connected dissability for my feet two years ago. I just recently got diagnose with arvd and got an ICD implanted on Mar 20. I experience symptoms in the military but I was never taken seriously and was never checked for my heart. My questions is for the gentlemen who have the same desease as me if they were diagnose while they were in or after? I have already been to my examination and I am supposed to hear back from the va in the next couple of weeks but I am curious to see if there is anyone else like me outhere who was diagnose after and still got the service connection?
I know that this is a little off topic but this is the only website that I found that talks about service connection and people with arvd!
Thanks
Lenny
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Lenny,
Try going to vets.yuku.com, click on Veterans Benefit Network. You might find some info on this site. Good luck. -
Lenny, also try watchdogdotorg This site is also very helpful for all kinds of information for veterans.Best of Luck , Jerry
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Stop sending troops in Kuwait and all part of Middle East, to live under a tent when the heat @ 130degrees farenheit is unacceptable for our crew, troops you name it. The hope is only from the grace of Heavenly Father, not man. Please President Obama, how about a few days visit in Camp Patriot, Kuwait, where young men and women, from all branches of the Armed Forces of the US. Once you see them, you exactly feel how they live their lives as soldiers, sailors, and not as Adam and Steve. Adam and Eve I should say, not to offend anyone out there sorry. thank you.
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Thanks for the information I just joined the youku website and i am in the process of submitting a tread.
Thanks
Lenny
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still everybody is sleeping safe and sound. hello America. wakeup
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I emailed this today, please feel free to send it to your representatives if you choose.
DR. Coburn,
As a U.S. Senator you have acted in a fashion that is more fitting to our enemies than our representatives. You have voted for appropriations that authorized and funded the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (at an annual rate of 200 billion +), part of this is getting our wounded warriors home and taking care of them once they return. They are not to be treated as “no deposit, no return” economic “collateral damage”. They are American soldiers, our nation’s sons and daughters and if you don’t stand with them, then you stand against them. Your quibbling over the need for “offsets” is sheer sophistry and you know it. These men and women have often fought multiple tours and now you can’t find 500 million a year to compensate them at a minimum level so they can start to rebuild their lives at home. As a vet, I brand this treason, and so do my brother and sister veterans, and by the way, 99 out of 100 Republican and Democratic senators agree with us on this one. Your lone negative vote on concurrent receipt legislation for severely disabled veterans has slowed down what should have been a unanimous vote of support for our military men and women. This is no time for you to play partisan politics against Senator Reid for your PERSONAL political agenda. If you plan to grandstand over wounded/disabled bodies, then remember that our memories are long, our allegiances across generations are unbreakable and our vote is powerful. You will pay for your perfidy and we will rally to win just support for our dead and severely injured. I am really not interested in the justifications of the flack catchers in your front office. I want commitment to economic justice for the men and women who fight when their commander and chief asks for their whole hearted allegiance (NO MATTER WHAT PARTY IS PRESIDENT). We expect nothing less than respect and fair treatment when we return home and the argument that “we can’t afford it” is not acceptable. Maybe you can cut a few presidential helicopters and congressional junkets from your budget to come up with the necessary and I stress “NECESSARY” money for this duty. I suggest you talk to your colleagues John McCain and Jim Webb (who’s sons are on the battle field), and to the thousands who have fought been wounded and had their families suffer because of their sacrifice. Please stop sending us the same glib nonsensical excuses you and your staff so disgracefully peddle to the press.
Sincerely,
Fred Parkhurst USN (ret), Everett, Washington
Chip Hollister, Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania
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Well Said.
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Lenny,
Be advised, AICD is rated under Diagnostic Code 7011. Since it is permanent, it is rated at 100%. Your service records should show complaints of heart issues, that is what you need to provide to the VA doctor. Good luck!
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Lenny, I was diagnosed with ARVD as well but I was in the Navy at the time and was medically retired due to it. If you complained about your heart and chest pain or the rapid pulse that comes with the disease then it should be in your medical record and if it is there then its considered service connected. If its not in your record then you’re going to have a rough time proving that its service connected. For example, while on the ship I was carrying something with a senior chief, he dropped his end causing me to drop mine and it landed on my foot. It completely blew out my steel toe boot. I went to the corpsman and he said I broke my big toe but there wasn’t anything he could do for me. That event never made it into my medical record. As it turns out I did more than break my toe, I also broke part of my foot, but I can’t get a rating on it because there is no record of it.
As for the ARVD, I was diagnosed and implanted in December of 08. I received my first shock this past june because I was being stupid, I forgot my meds and I went for a jog. Both are big no-no’s as it turns out. There is a great group on yahoo for ARVD, lots of info and other people with the disease. Just look up ARVD under Yahoo groups, its the one called mmetra.
Good luck and take it easy,
John Croce -
Thank you all for your responses. I did complaint of fatigue nausea, cold sweat and palpitation and there is records of me complaining for those things, I was never told what it was wrong with me. I never complaint of heart pain because at the time I did not know that those symptoms could be caused by my heart. Because I stop exercising because of my legs and my other symptoms stopped, because I was not exercising. I know that my case can go ethier way but I hope that they see the correlation and that they understand that because they never did as much as an ekg was why my condition went untreated and undetected.
Thanks,
Lenny
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Lenny, ARVD is a hard disease to diagnose. I had several EKG’s while in the Navy and I kept getting told that everything looked great. What finally caught their attention was when by heart rate jumped to 290bpm AND I was able to get to the ER. They had to use the paddles on me to get my heart back into a normal rhythem, that was when they brought in an EP instead of a cardiologist and after a week of tests I was finally diagnosed.
What branch were you in? Are you living near the East Coast? Johns Hopkins has a great ARVD group and if you can you should go there, see if you can get a referral. I’m taking 80mg of Sotalol 2X a day, what meds did they give you?
If you want to ask any questions at all you can write me at johncroce[at]yahoo.com (replace [at] with @ for correct email address)
Take it easy and good luck
John -
Thanks for your reply,
I am in the east coast in tampa to be exact, I was never diagnose in the military they just told me that my body was overworking itself and as for arvd you know that if you don’t catch the episode in the moment everything looks fine after. I had a couple of episodes back to back that reminded me of the military but they seem to get worse and worse. When I finnaly went to the doctors after having palpitations for three hours they told me that everything was ok and to resume my normal life. A week later I had another episode and I went to the hospital I had my hr at 248 and they had to shock me to get me back to norma. I started with 80 mg of sotalol but I got shocked already and was moved up to the 120 mg twice a day. This has all been withing 6 months. I hope to level off an not be shocked anymore as this is not a pleasant experience. My only hope is that the va can see the correlation of my symptoms and my desease and can award me the much needed help I need.
Thank you all for your comments.
Lenny
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First and foremost, it’s alright to miss taking your meds, but please don’t miss giving thanks and praise to the giver of life. God bless. Mel
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so how much should I be recieving soon, being medically retired @ 100% by DOD and VA rated me 100 % also permanent. time in service 20 years and 11 months. Date of retirement was 13 september 2007. please help me out. I will soon be transferred to PDRL. severely disabled. please I need brains here.
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I was medicaly retired in 1968 as an E-3 at 50% from the U.S.A.F. My time in served on active duty was 2 years and 8 months, which was State side only. My disabilaty was inflicted during my training school which was for the support of B-52 bombers S.A.C. Squadrones.
In 1998 I was rated at 100% permanent and total by the V.A. with Cronic kidney disease, service conected. I received a kidney transplant in Aug.of 2001. I have been in the V.A. hospital more times than I can count for relater problems from the disease,kidney diyolases and transplant. The amount of surgerys I have had is 26.
With this information I would like to know if I meet the requierments for concurrent retierment pay and V.A. compensation.
I ahve been following this HR-2990 debate since it was introduced to the House of Representatives. It is to confusing to comprehend. I have contacted Air Force presonel in San Antonio Tx. All it did was confues me more. They patched me over to a Gov. service that has all the info. on concurrent pay. I think it’s all a big monkey #^$#@#. Plaese help.
Ed U.S.A.F. Retired
P.S. I was shipped to Chealse Navey Hospital in Boston Mass in 1968. My stay was for 1 year 2 months. My longest time in service was spent at Chelsea N.H.. I Thank God every day for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp. They saved my life more than once. -
John in reference to your remarks of the incident of droping something on your foot. Do you have a MRI or X-ray to verify the condition of your foot. You can also get a statement from the Chief who was with you. He will be an eye witness to the accident. That is your proof that it happened. Further, get statedments from your buddies that knew the about the accident. Good luck. Lon
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Has anyone read comment CLXV111. If I could get an anewer to my question, anyone please. It would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, ED -
Ed, If I read this correctly then you would be eligible for the Concurrent Pay with the reduction applied from the lesser of the 2 following reductions:
A) the amount of the reduction under sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38; or`(B) the amount (if any) by which the amount of the member’s retired pay under such chapter exceeds the amount equal to 2 1/2 percent of the member’s years of creditable service multiplied by the member’s retired pay base under section 1406(b)(1) or 1407 of this title, whichever is applicable to the member.’.
With that said, I am not an expert on this and this is only the way that I read this.
Good luck,
Jamie -
so what i should be getting for 20 yrs and 11 months. medically retired both dod and VA@ 100% permanent. I need clarification please. please refer to question CLXVII thank you for your feedback.
Chief Q Retired -
Jamie;
Thank you for your help. I will ivestigate chapter 38 and use the sections as you sujested. I sent away for the application for concurrent pay. There is not enough questions asked to explain your disabilaty and how this was incurred. There is a phone number given if you need help.
Again thank you Jamie. Ed -
http://www.dav.org 15 Sep 09- GAry Senise (actor is leading a DAV Virtual March today.
Join now…have your voice noted…
V/r Dan Anders II
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Has anyone seen H.R.2647 I think This passed if iam redind it right
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Division D – Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009
Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 –
Title I – Compensation and Benefits for Members of the Armed Forces and Military Retirees
Subtitle A – Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays
Section 101 –
Extends through 2010 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2009 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve Armed Forces.
Subtitle B – Retired Pay Benefits
Section 111 –
Provides for the recomputation of retired pay and adjustment of the retired grade of reserve retirees recalled to an active status in the Selected Reserve for at least two years. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to reduce the two-year service requirement for a member so recalled to serve as an adjutant or assistant adjutant general in the National Guard when the member serves for at least six months but fails to serve for two years as required by the laws of the state, district, or territory in which the member is serving.
Section 112 –
Allows members who serve in an active reserve status in the Selected Reserve for at least two years after becoming eligible for active-duty (regular) retirement to elect a non-regular retirement for which they are qualified in lieu of the active-duty retirement. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to reduce the two-year service requirement for a member so recalled to serve as an adjutant or assistant adjutant general in the National Guard when the member serves for at least six months but fails to serve for two years as required by the laws of the state, district, or territory in which the member is serving.
Subtitle C – Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and Veterans’ Disability Compensation
Section 121 –
Extends through 2013 eligibility for the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation for veterans who were retired or separated due to physical disability, regardless of their disability rating or years of service.THIS IS IN H.R. 2647
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Hey guys, I need help and I didn’t know where else to post this. I was medically retired in June and decided to use the GI Bill to go back to school since the nature of my injury prevents me from working in the field that I was trained in. So, I submitted my application electronically on 28May09, the GI Bill folks lost it until 13July09, they then sent it to the wrong office, St. Louis instead of Buffalo, and filed it in the wrong category, supplemental instead of original. So, I find all this out just a few days ago and the GI Bill folks tell me they now have it in the correct office etc… The problem is that they say its still going to take the normal eight weeks to process. That means that a process that is only supposed to take 8 weeks is actually taking six months. Do any of you know of someone to call in the VA that can expedite this or at least look into it? It might sound silly or frivilous, but retirement pay isn’t enough to live off of and buy books, tuition etc…
I appreciate any suggestions you guys have,
thanks,
John -
I just want to update you guys I got a phone call from the va stating that they did give me the service connection for my arvd they gave me 70 percent. They missed the defibulator part but I will do a letter of recosideration since according to dc7011 it’s an automatic 100 percent. Thanks for all of your imput and for helping me through this.
Lenny
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John, Are you using the Post 911 GI Bill? If you just got out you should be qualified for this and this will give you living expenses in addition to your tuition. This also may be the cause of the confusion in the VA. They are so slammed right now with the Post 911 Gi Bill applications that it has really bogged them down. I am not sure how the confusion started. You can talk to the VA Rep at the school that you want to go. They will have contacts at VA that they can call or give you to call. I have used the VA website under the Gi Bill Contacts. I have asked questions through the e-mail contact and they have responded pretty quickly.
Good Luck,
JT -
Anyone have anything to add about CRDP of late? Hope you all are still fighting.
V/r Dan
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Congress may wind up the NDAA negotiations this weekend for a vote Tuesday night on the final bill that could authorize concurrent receipt for Ch. 61 retirees with less than 20 years service. MOAA has the following:
“House and Senate leaders are working NOW to finish action on the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill — and will be making final decisions soon on many issues that affect you and your family.
There are important differences between the House and Senate bills on health care, manpower levels, concurrent receipt, SBP/DIC, Guard/Reserve retirement, and many more personnel and compensation issues.
Please send the MOAA-suggested message urging your legislators to make these important fixes in the final version of the defense bill.”
You can still send your Senators and Congressman a final email encouraging support for this and other important personnel policies, here: (link no-longer valid)
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I know that I don’t know much about how the budgeting system in congress works, but I do know that today is the first of the fiscal year. Doesn’t that mean that the budget has to be done? So do we have an answer as to whether or not Concurrent Receipt for chapter 61 Vets was approved in some form or other?
Just wondering.
Thanks,
John -
John,
I have been all over the internet and calling my senators and congressmen to get an update. From what i’ve been told it is still being hashed out between the house and senate. They have to look at what is different between the 2 defense bills and vote to keep it in the defense bill or not. I dont think we will find out until they they read the final bill.. We need to keep our fingers crossed and keep on our congressman and senators to make sure they know we mean buisness..Eddie
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John,
There are two separate bills every year that deal with the defense department programs and budgets. The appropriations bill is the one that has to be passed by 1 October or the government stops. Congress did pass an extension (continuing resolution) on Weds., which funds the government as a stop gap until the appropriations bill for defense is passed. That said, the bill to watch is the NDAA (defense authorization bill), and entirely different law that “authorizes” programs and expenditures. It is this bill that will determine the CR for Ch. 61 issue. While the Appropriations bill is being debated now, the Authorization bill is in committee still. According to the newspaper, “The Hill”, the staffers working on that bill have been instructed to be prepared to work through this weekend. That’s a good sign that the compromise bill may emerge next week. Long story short, keep an eye out for the Authorization bill and ignore the Appropriations bill (the one in the general news). We should know Yea or Nay I’m guessing by the end of next week. -
Oct 5, 2009:
An update from today’s “TheHill”, the newspaper on Capital Hill. Looks like another week before we know what’s in the NDAA conference report and, hence, the status of the Ch. 61 issue:
“Defense authorizers are on the cusp of announcing a conference agreement on the 2010 defense policy bill.
The final conference report likely will be ready next week—but not before the House formally appoints its conferees on the bill. So far negotiations have taken place informally between the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committee.” Full article is here:
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/61479-defense-conferees-close-to-deal
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RE: My last note (above). The dateline on the article was last Friday, not today, so I guess this means we should “probably” know something THIS week, not next… Fingers crossed.
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excited and still waiting what’s up
hope for the best for all of us.
r/ Chief Quitoriano of San Diego -
not looking good for us 2010 ndaa
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looks like our only hope is a presidental veto and we know that isnt coing to happen..
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I was wondering where you saw this (Eddie)? We have been following this issue closely. Thanks!
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here is highlight of 2020 ndaaa http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/HASCFY10NDAA061709.pdf
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oops2010 not awake yet other release out there stating adminstration didnt consider on how to finance this samething thats said every year always next year or the president vetos it and ask for it and i do not see that happening
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Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see one word in that military plan about retirees. Is there another plan that covers retirees or did they just leave us out entirely?
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still waiting on president barack hussein obamas promise to us.
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You are looking at the H.R. write up, not the P.L. or joint resolution folks
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I hate to say this, but this time around I think its time for the fat lady to sing.
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Where is the P.L or the joint resolution?
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Here’s a part of the MOAA update on the 2010 NDAA:
Unfortunately, the new legislation also produced some significant disappointments in that it:Dropped the House plan to phase out the disability offset to retired pay for medically retired (chapter 61) members. This is a particularly devastating setback because, for the first time, the President’s budget had included this measure, and House leaders had found funding for the first year. Some in the Senate objected to the specific funding sources identified by the House, and leaders could not find other offsets to comply with Senate budget-scoring rules.
Sad day – god bless all.
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Looks like another year before CRDP changes…….Oh well :(
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See you guys next year
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Defense bill has gains, losses in benefits
By Tom Philpott, Special to Stars and Stripes
Inpatient Fee Hikes Blocked; Obama’s ‘CR’ Plan RejectedThe last decision made by House-Senate conferees negotiating final details on a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill Tuesday was to insert language that will rollback an announced Oct. 1 increase in fees charged to TRICARE Standard beneficiaries for stays in civilian hospitals.
Related Military Update: “Small” Inpatient Fee Hike Is 21%
The surprise fee increases, which were reported here last week, gave lawmakers a chance to ride to the rescue and, in effect, put a cherry atop the $680.2 billion defense policy bill, at least for working-age military retirees and their families who would have seen a $110-a-day bump in hospital bills.
That was a fortuitous opportunity for the armed services committees because other pay and benefit initiatives in the bill are relatively modest compared to past years. And the gains are dampened by some too-familiar legislative disappointments for service members, veterans and their families.
One new disappointment is that the Democratically-led Congress couldn’t find money to support President Obama’s call to phase in “concurrent receipt” for disabled retirees who are forced by ailments or injuries to leave service before completing 20 years’ service.
Learn more about TRICARE.
His plan would have boosted the pay of 103,000 “Chapter 61″ retirees at a cost of $5.4 billion over 10 years. The House alone had voted to take the first step, using dollars freed up from an energy appropriation, to expand the Concurrent Receipt and Disability Pay (CRDP) program Jan. 1, to retirees with fewer than 20 years and disability ratings of 100 percent or 90 percent.
But Senate conferees concluded it would violate Senate budget rules to take even a first-step in Obama’s phase-in plan without proper funding.
The principle behind concurrent receipt is that the Department of Defense should pay retirees an annuity for total years served and VA should fully compensate them for their disabilities. For many thousands of disabled retirees, retired pay still is reduced or “offset” by disability compensation.
Obama promised in his presidential campaign to extend concurrent receipt to all disabled military retirees. But White House budget officials were stunned to learn the cost — $45 billion over 10 years – and so lowered their first-term target to all Chapter 61 retirees, clearly an unpopular compromise.
House-Senate Conferees also rejected two familiar Senate-passed initiatives as unfunded. One would have ended a reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments to 54,000 widows who also draw Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The other provision tossed would have made 140,000 more reservists mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001, eligible for earlier reserve retirement. In 2007, Congress had lowered the age 60 start of reserve retired pay by three months for every 90 consecutive days that a Reserve or Guard members is called up for war or national emergency, if they otherwise qualify for retirement. For lack of funds, Congress made the change applicable only for deployment time after Jan. 28, 2008. That restriction will remain will remain.
Conferees did clear for final passage dozens of other initiatives: to raise or extend special pay and bonuses; to improve support for wounded warriors, reserve component personnel and their families; to protect and improve the military health program and to strengthen voting rights for service members. Here are some highlights:
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65276 -
I just found this action that looks to have happened in the house on the 7th:
H.RES.808
Title: Providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2647) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] (introduced 10/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.CON.RES.196, H.R.2647
Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 234 – 188 (Roll no. 765).
House Reports: 111-289Anybody know if this means CDRP for CH61′s still has some life this year?
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Does anyone know if 20 Year retirees with 40% or less get any concurrent out of this “Lying administration”….
V/r Dan
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20 Year retirees with 40% or less get concurrent receipt only if their injury is “combat related”. The over 400,000 retired disabled veterans who have a service connected disability that is not combat related do not receive concurrent receipt. This created the categories of worthy and unworthy for those who do or do not receive concurrent receipt.
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Hi guys, I’m retired Air Force and I found out two months after retiring that I had parathyroid disease. I eventually had the surgery and also developed osteoporosis from this. Since it’s within one year of retiring and I most likely had this for who knows how long will both diseases be service connected. I’m rated at 30% right now for shoulder and hearing. Thanks
Mike -
Mike, You just need to contact the VA and they will most likely make it service connected. I had a friend that got out of the military and a little less than a year later he collapsed from a brain tumor. It took a little while for the processing but it was found to be service connected since it was a short time after getting discharged.
Good Luck and stay on top of the VA to get your paperwork complete. -
Dan (Anders):
When you use terms like “Lying Administration” what do you mean? Obama’s promise, which he reiterated, was to include CR for Ch. 61 retirees. He included that in his budget. The president cannot “order” a new entitlement. The congress let us down big time. Let’s be sure we know who we mean. The congress is NOT part of the administration, so I think we can find various congressmen who promised to get us the bill this round who didn’t come thru. Obama is not one of those.
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Anybody think the second aircraft engine and no CRDP is enough for the President to veto the 2010 NDAA? I haven’t been able to find any reaction or expressions of outrage in the media to this other than Hill at the Legion.
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A very good question, where are the veteran organizations who spend millions of dollars on conventions every year? Why aren’t they using their media power to jam the airways with outrage? It would appear to me they’re more concerned about their public image and not the welfare of veterans they’re supposed to represent. Keep sending in your dues, someone has to attend the yearly conventions……..
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Just providing the following info to show that President Obama made his initial promise to grant concurrent receipt to “all” groups not receiving the benefit. He later changed it to Chapter 61 only as a cost saving measure. If anyone wants the source for that information would be glad to provide it. What follows is his promise to support concurrent receipt for all retired disabled veterans:
Searching the internet on the AMVETS web site the magazine can be found which has the article by Isaac D. Pacheco, titled “The Case for Hope”, in which then President Obama was interviewed on may questions facing veterans in our country.
Seven questions were asked of President Obama. The second question is as follows:
AMERICAN VETERAN: Concurrent Receipt is currently a step-in model. All VSOs have called for an immediate change to full concurrent receipt. What are your feelings on this issue?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I support immediately and completely ending the veterans disability tax and providing full concurrent receipt of retirement and disability benefits. Both forms of compensation are provided for different purposes. One is for a payment for a lifetime of service, the other is compensation for disabilities sustained in the line of duty.
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HI,
Will full concurrent receipt still be phased in by 2013 regardless
for all retirees rated at 40% and lower if not combat related? Or is
this just a possibility that may happen after everyone gets their welfare checks, free access, and other BS bail out programs. There wouldn’t be any bailout plans if not for the sacrifices of our
brothers and sisters in arms.
Mike ret. MSgt -
President Obama wanted to extend concurrent receipt to chapter 61 retirees, as far as I know there is only the regular retired and the chapter 61, I’m not aware of any other group of retirees. I also want to remind you that it was Tom Colburn(R-OK) that put the k-bosh on concurrent receipts for us. For some reason people keep looking to blame this administration and the democrats for this failure, it wasn’t them. Obama cannot just unilaterally grant concurrent receipts, the “power of the purse” lies with the legislative branch. Senator Reid was looking out for us but it was a republican senator that squashed it. There seems to be a misconception that the republican party is for the military, and its only partly true. They believe in military spending in the form of R&D, new ships, more weapons, more troops, etc… They don’t look out for the actual military member. The last republican to do that was Reagan, that was over 20 years ago. Since then our largest pay increase came from a democrat(Bill Clinton) the only reason we had a few good pay increases in the early 2000′s was because the payraises that Clinton signed were not done. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/138109/ Bush did nothing for our troops in the form of compensation, he milked congress for money to fund the war while offering the smallest pay increases for our troops since before Reagan took office. And thats not even bringing up the moral question of putting American lives in danger for whatever his cause or crusade in the middle east was. For some reason people here are trying to politicize this topic and it shouldn’t be about that, it should be about the government doing what is right, blaming one party or the other doesn’t help especially if you don’t have your facts straight.
V/R
John -
There are now 43 sponsors for S-546. Saw and October date for one senator who added their name. Least there still is new support for this legilsation. Maybe they can pass it as “stand alone” legisation and get it passed. What follows is the list of the 43 supporters.
Sen Baucus, Max [MT] – 10/15/2009 Sen Begich, Mark [AK] – 5/4/2009
Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] – 5/19/2009 Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] – 5/19/2009
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] – 3/16/2009 Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] – 3/10/2009
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] – 6/17/2009 Sen Burris, Roland [IL] – 3/23/2009
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] – 3/12/2009 Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] – 4/20/2009
Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] – 3/19/2009 Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] – 4/20/2009
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] – 4/21/2009 Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] – 3/12/2009
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 3/10/2009 Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] – 6/3/2009
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] – 4/2/2009 Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] – 5/14/2009
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] – 3/10/2009 Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] – 3/10/2009
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] – 3/10/2009 Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] – 3/16/2009
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] – 6/25/2009 Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] – 3/10/2009
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] – 3/10/2009 Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] – 4/1/2009
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] – 3/12/2009 Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] – 9/23/2009
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] – 3/11/2009 Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] – 4/20/2009
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] – 5/4/2009 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] – 3/12/2009
Sen Sessions, Jeff [AL] – 3/25/2009 Sen Shelby, Richard C. [AL] – 3/10/2009
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] – 4/20/2009 Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] – 3/17/2009
Sen Tester, Jon [MT] – 3/23/2009 Sen Udall, Mark [CO] – 6/3/2009
Sen Udall, Tom [NM] – 4/23/2009 Sen Vitter, David [LA] – 3/18/2009
Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] – 9/22/2009 Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] – 3/10/2009
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] – 3/10/2009 -
This website has had no action since the fall of HR-2990 Concurrent pay. So to get your blood boiling how about this; Nancy Pallocie is the Speacker of the House. Her husband owns 47% of Star Kiss Tuna Comp. Star Kiss owns Dole food products. Dole Food’s has plantations through the Islands of The American Samoa. Dole employs 95% of Samoas workers. The last unemployment insurance increse went fron $5 and change to $7 and change. Nancy, using her clout, did not allow the work force on the Samoan Islands to get this nation wide bennie. A plus for her hubby. Dole was exempt from paying the raise. That’s not all; in this years vote to pass the 2010 budget Nancy, some how pushed in a multi, multi, million dollar fund to be given to the work force of the People of The American Samoans.
This fund paid by the American tax payer is subsedising the unemployment insurance that Nancys husbands company, Dole was exempt from paying. That puts more profit in the pockets for Dole and Star Kiss. This should be an inpecable cause or jail time for Nancy. She has the balls to call Republicans “robbers”.
This type of tit for tat has been rampid for a long time in our state and federal capitals. So what’s new????
I would like to know why Nancy and the majority leader of the house put the kabosh on concurrent military and V.A.bill HR-2990?? We the people were told the budget cant skim any more cash off the 2010 budget for it’s Disabled Military retired veterans. i guess the media still has stars in their eyes and kisses all around for the Dems. We;again got the shaft big time. Ed -
John (Croce)
Excellent post a couple entries above. But reading further on past your FACTS, it seems that facts can be inconvenient. Now Nancy Pelosi is the one who torpedo’d CR for Ch 61? Yikes. This is why we will continue to make so little progress.Thanks also to this thread. It has been (overall) the most informative place on the web, IMHO. I hope we’ll keep up the fight — it will be harder, but that’s no reason to quit.
Don
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http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14256366
All Cut apaste this link to send more emial to your Reps in congress to initiate a seperate bill action.
V/r Dan
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I don’t have much faith in the United States anymore, Im done, not waiting anymore for anymore,
THE Goverment can keep their money -
I am a USN 20 year retired veteran with a 40% VA disability rating. I work for a VA hospital and it amazes and burns me up how many people I see every day that receive a VA disability check every month for some lame injury while serving two years in peace time. Why should I have to prove that my injuries were combat related? Are my training injuries less worthy than someone who didn’t dedicate a large chunk of their adult life to our country? I’m glad that those folks are getting something for their service, but my retirement check reflects 20 years of service and should not be diminished by my VA check!
Thanks DK:
Hope springs eternal!