Status: HR2716, 1291, 2540, 3447, 801, 811, 3423

[David]

fnaWife2AFVV

Registered to :Sep 26, 2001
Messages :198
From :
Posted 19-12-2001 at 20:06
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This just dropped in email (see also earlier discussions & info in Vets benefits forum, etc.)
Quote:
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2001

CONTACT: Peter Dickinson, (202) 225-3664
http://veterans.house.gov

House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2001 Accomplishments
Fulfilling America's Promises to Our Veterans
H.R. 2716 - Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act
Authorizes $1 Billion to Aid Homeless Veterans and Prevent Veterans From
Becoming Homeless

On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment

? Authorizes 2,000 Additional Section 8 HUD Low-Income Housing Vouchers
for Homeless Veterans

? Authorizes 10 New Domicilliaries for Homeless Veterans Programs

? Authorizes $285 Million for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program

? Authorizes $250 Million for the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

? Requires VA to Provide Technical Assistance to Nonprofit Community-Based Organizations Seeking Federal Funding for Homeless Programs

? Requires the VA to Provide Mental Health Programs Wherever Primary Care is Provided

? Earmarks $10 Million for Medical Care for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs, Including Older Veterans, Women and Substance Abusers

H.R. 1291 - Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act Authorizes More Than $3.1 Billion Over Five Years to Expand and Increase Educational, Housing, Burial and Disability Benefits.

On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment

? Boosts the MGIB College Education Benefit Amount by Record 46% over 2
Years

? Restores Lost MGIB Benefits for Reservists and National Guard Members
Called Up to Active Duty

? Increases Home Loan Guaranty Program from $50,700 to $60,000

? Increases Grants for Specially Adapted Housing for Severely Disabled
Veterans from $43,000 to $48,000

? Increases the Automobile and Adaptive Equipment Grant for Severely
Disabled Veterans

? Increases Burial and Funeral Expense Benefits by 25% and Doubles Burial Plot Allowances

? Adds Diabetes Type II to List of Service-Connected Conditions for Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Organge

? Adds Undiagnosed Conditions, Such as Fybromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Multi-Symptom Illnesses to List of Service-Connected Conditions for Gulf War Veterans

H.R. 2540 - Veterans Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001 Boosts compensation Payments for Disabled Veterans by $2.5 Billion Over the Next Five Years.

On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment

? For 100% Disabled Veterans, the Average Increase Would Be $738 Per Year

H.R. 3447 - Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act
Increases Spending on Health Programs for Veterans by $1.4 Billion

Passed the House, Senate Action Expected Any Day

? Lowers Out-Of-Pocket Hospitalization Expenses for Lower Income Veterans by 80% to Compensate for Regional Differences in the Cost-Of-Living

? Requires the VA to Establish Chiropractic Care Programs Nationwide

? Authorizes Service Dog Programs for Paralyzed and Other Severely Disabled Veterans

? Requires the VA to Maintain Specialized Medical Programs - Such as
for Mental Illness, Spinal Cord Injuries and Prosthetics - in Each of the 21 VA Regions

? Creates New Incentive and Recruitment Programs to Attract and Retain VA Nurses

H.R. 801 - Veterans Survivors' Benefits Improvements Act (P.L. 107-14)
Adds $100 Million in New Health Care Benefits for Surviving Spouses of
Veterans, and Extends Life Insurance Coverage to Spouses and Children of
Servicemembers

Signed into Law on June 5, 2001

? Expands CHAMPVA to Surviving Spouses of Veterans Who Die of A
Service-Connected Disability

? Expands Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to Include Spouses and Children of Servicemembers; $100,000 for Spouses and $10,000 for Children

? Makes Retroactive to October 1, 2000 Increases in the Maximum SGLI
Benefit for Servicemembers Killed In The Line of Duty to $250,000

H.R. 811 - Veterans Hospitals Emergency Repair Act
Authorizes $550 Million over Two Years to Repair, Renovate and Rebuild
Dilapidated VA Medical Facilities

Passed the House Only

? Provides the VA With Authority to Award Grants Up to $30 Per Selected
Medical Facility

H.R. 3423 - Reforming Burial Rules at Arlington National Cemetery
Reforms the Law on In-Ground Burials for Guardsmen and Reservists at Arlington National Cemetery

House Approval Expected Today (12/19/01)

? Removes the Age Requirement for Retired Reserve Members

? Makes Eligible All Guardsmen and Reservists Who Die in the Line of Duty.

Please visit http://veterans.house.gov, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site, named 'One of the Best Web Sites in Congress' by the Congressional Management Foundation, May 3, 1999.
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Some helpful stuff in these! Might be a good time to send emails to the Prez and to you states' Senators.
m





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arrow

Registered to :Aug 21, 2001
Messages :1033
From :OKLAHOMA
Posted 19-12-2001 at 20:57
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Thanks for the info m

((((((((M&G)))))))))


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David

Registered to :Aug 21, 2001
Messages :604
From :San Diego, CA.
Posted 20-12-2001 at 03:01
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Very good stuff and all much needed.


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Paula

Registered to ec 16, 2001
Messages :55
From :
Posted 30-12-2001 at 19:33
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Thank you. Seems to be a good idea to have a rundown like that. I learned a bit. I get it piece meal so don't always know what's what....is anyone sending this out from VETS ORGS via E-Mail? The ACLU sents out update on special legislation of interest to it's members...and does some FAX and E-Mail in bloc too...

Paula


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fnaWife2AFVV

Registered to :Sep 26, 2001
Messages :198
From :
Posted 31-12-2001 at 23:26
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Quote:
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Please visit http://veterans.house.gov>

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the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site

Paula, I think if you go to the website noted, you'll probably find the path to signing up to receive these email updates. Sometimes the notices *are* mostly eyewash, other times they are notifying of upcoming hearings on different issues, HRs, etc., and sometimes they generate a compendium like the one I posted.
m