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Old 04-28-2017, 12:20 PM
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Thumbs up VFW Action Corps Weekly April 28, 2017

VFW Action Corps Weekly
April 28, 2017
RE: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorpsweekly

1. VFW Supports VA Accountability First Act: This month marks the third anniversary of a nationwide crisis in access to care that branded the Department of Veterans Affairs as an inept and corrupt government bureaucracy that was failing in its primary mission to care for those who had borne the battle. In the aftermath, Congress quickly crafted a new law to improve the VA secretary’s authority to remove senior VA executives for performance or misconduct, but the new authority did not last long, as it would be later deemed unconstitutional — over alleged due process rights violations — and the disciplinary actions against the VA executives were reversed. In an opinion editorial, VFW National Commander Brian Duffy called the VA Accountability First Act of 2017 — sponsored by House VA Committee Chairman Dr. Phil Roe and Sen. Marco Rubio — the right vehicle to finally enable VA leadership to fire inept, irresponsible and crime-committing employees, because “maintaining the status quo doesn’t work for those who have borne the battle,” he wrote. Read the VFW Commander's editorial.



2. EO Improves VA Accountability, Whistleblower Protections: The president signed an executive order yesterday that will improve VA employee accountability and better protect whistleblowers. The EO creates a VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to identify statutory barriers that currently prevent VA from properly disciplining or terminating employees, as well as hinders the department’s ability to recruit, reward and retain high-performing employees. The new office will report directly to VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin, and work closely with existing VA offices to ensure all incidents of wrongdoing are properly investigated and corrected, as well as protect those employees who disclose the wrongdoing from retaliation. “The VA was created for one purpose: to care for our nation’s wounded, ill and injured veterans,” said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy. “The VFW applauds this action, which we hope will soon be bolstered by the passage of the VA Accountability First Act of 2017, because Secretary Shulkin must have the authority to manage his people in a manner expected of all senior executives, public or private.” Read the executive order.



3. VFW Attends Roundtable on VA Caregiver Program: On Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a roundtable to discuss VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Subcommittee members asked VA questions regarding recent reports of veterans being removed from the program. VA detailed several initiatives it is taking to standardize the program so veterans aren’t removed from the program when they move from one VA medical facility to another, including a national directive which will provide more guidance to local VA medical facilities. VFW Legislative Director Carlos Fuentes urged VA and Congress to review all recent revocations to determine whether they were accurate and to improve off-ramp processes for veterans being removed from the program to ensure they have an opportunity to adjust to losing the comprehensive support they receive. Fuentes also called on Congress to expand this important program to pre-9/11 veterans. Visit VA Caregiver's website for information on the program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers or Hidden Heroes to find resources for veteran and military caregivers.



4. Retired Soldier Council Panel: On Tuesday, the VFW participated in a panel discussion during the annual meeting of the Chief of Staff, Army Retired Soldier Council. The VFW and other VSOs answered questions on TRICARE benefits, DOD’s 180-day post-retirement hiring limitation for retirees, cost-of-living concerns, Reserve retirement age provisions and other issues of concern to retirees. Created in 1971, the Retired Soldier Council’s mission is to provide advice and recommendations to the Chief of Staff of the Army on issues and policies impacting retirees, surviving spouses and their families, and strengthen communication between the active and reserve components and the retired community. Read more about the Retired Soldier Council.



5. Defense Health Agency Working Group: The VFW participated in a veterans and military service organization working group on Wednesday with Acting Deputy Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) RADM Colin Chinn. Discussions focused on implementation of National Defense Authorization Act TRICARE changes, the May 1 transition of the TRICARE dental program from MetLife to United Concordia, upcoming changes in treatment for mental health and substance use disorder, DHA’s “Empower the Patient” cybersecurity campaign, and improvements to the TRICARE Online Patient Portal.



6. Senate Holds Veteran Suicide Prevention Hearing: On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing titled “Preventing Veteran Suicide.” The panel included the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General, and individuals from the Veterans Health Administration, Military Veteran Project and RAND Corporation. Chairman Jerry Moran and subcommittee members inquired about resources and support VA needs to lower the number of veteran suicides. Also discussed was the impact of access issues in rural areas, properly managing chronic pain and VA’s delay in addressing inspector general recommendations. Read the testimony or view the hearing.



7. VA Partners to Increase Medical Providers: On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services. This partnership will allow medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to provide care to veterans at VA medical facilities. Effective immediately, the partnership agreement allows up to 20 medical professionals from the Commissioned Corps to provide treatment in VA facilities deemed to be in the most need of staffing support. An additional 10 officers from the Commissioned Corps are able to assist in support coordination for veterans receiving VA community care.



8. New Construction Guidelines for State Veteran Nursing Homes: On Thursday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin announced new guidelines for construction of State Veteran Nursing Homes. The new regulations will streamline the construction process for State Veteran Nursing Homes by eliminating red tape. Previously, to qualify for VA State Veterans Home grants, governors and state officials had to follow federal construction design guidelines. With the new regulations, that is no longer the case. Governors are authorized to follow their own state guidelines in the construction design of these facilities, while still qualifying for the same level of federal grant funding as before. This announcement is a great improvement which enables states to expand long term care for veterans. The VFW applauds Secretary Shulkin for his forward thinking attitude with this announcement, as it will have an immediate and positive impact on veterans.
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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