Senate Hearing for Veterans on Wednesday Oct 17

UNITED STATES SENATE

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS



Hearing on

VA and DOD Collaboration: Report of the President's Commission on Care For America's Returning Wounded Warriors; Report of the Veterans Disability Benefit Commission; and other related reports



October 17, 2007

9:30 a.m., Senate Dirksen 562



WITNESS LIST



PANEL I





• Honorable Bob Dole, Co-Chair, President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors



• Honorable Donna Shalala, Co-Chair, President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors



PANEL II







• Lieutenant General James Terry Scott, USA (Ret), Chairman, Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission



• Honorable Patrick W. Dunne, Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning, representing the Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes



• Honorable Togo D. West, Jr. Co-Chair, Independent Review Group, Report on Rehabilitative Care and Administrative Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center



PANEL III



• Ms. Ariana Del Negro, wife of Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran



• Colonel Peter J. Duffy, USARNG (Ret), Deputy Director, Legislative Programs, National Guard Association of the United States



• Mr. Gerald Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars, representing supporters of The Independent Budget



• Ms. Meredith Beck, National Policy Director, Wounded Warrior Project



• Colonel Steven P. Strobridge, USAF (Ret), Director, Government Relations, Military Officers Association of America

The Senators that should be present on the Veterans Affairs Committee are:

Daniel K. Akaka, HI
CHAIRMAN
John D. Rockefeller IV,WV
Patty Murray, WA
Barack Obama, IL
Sherrod Brown, OH
Jon Tester, MT
Jim Webb, VA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent
Bernard Sanders, VT

The Others (Republicans)

Richard Burr, NC RANKING MEMBER
Arlen Specter,PA
Larry Craig, ID
Johnny Isakson, GA
Lindsey Graham,SC
Kay Bailey Hutchison,TX
John Ensign,NV

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Joe Biden on the move in Iowa?

I wanted to take a few minutes and pass along some of the great coverage that Senator Biden has received recently. Even in a race of celebrity candidates, Joe Biden is moving up. This nomination will be won by the candidate that looks voters in the eye, shares his/her story, and is straight with the American about what we have to do to restore our place in the world.

And Joe Biden is doing just that on the campaign trail at every opportunity. Dave Nagle, a former Iowa congressman and state party chairman, says Biden is emerging as an alternative to the perceived front-runners. "He is gaining traction," said the uncommitted Nagle in a Boston Globe column. Click here to read the full piece by Scot Lehigh.

Senator Biden knows that voters want a candidate with substance that is able to tackle the most serious issues with honesty and candor. Check out these latest clips of Senator Biden's work on the campaign trail. There's no doubt, there's something going on in Iowa.

Thanks for all your support,

Luis Navarro
Campaign Manager
Biden for President

Last Friday, Joe Biden was joined by Sam Brownback in Des Moines to discuss his plan for Iraq, which gained an overwhelming majority of support in the United States Senate when Senator Biden's amendment promoting federalism in Iraq passed 75-23 - including 26 Republicans. MSNBC's Carrie Dan was able to describe the scene:

"Three local camera crews, plus a three-man team and a live satellite truck sent by CNN, made the room look like Britney's booking compared to a typical event for a candidate whose name isn't Barack, Hillary, or Rudy." Click here to read the full article.

CNN and NBC's local Des Moines affiliate were also there to capture the important moment of bipartisan leadership in the history of the Iowa Caucus. Click on the images to the right to see Senators Biden and Brownback discussing a real political solution to bring this war to a responsible conclusion.

Even though he manages a demanding Senate schedule as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Biden is hitting the campaign trail as often as possible as we get closer and closer to the Iowa Caucus.

And Iowans are starting to take notice.

When asked by Chris Matthews about the election, respected columnist David Yepsen from the Des Moines Register said that Joe Biden would make a surprise showing in January:

"I think Joe Biden will do better than expected in the Iowa Caucuses...I think he'll compete for [a top 3 position]."




Iowa House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently discussed the importance of a strong ground operation in Iowa, citing a growing momentum of support for Joe Biden that is building the infrastructure that is critical to a strong showing in Iowa.


A key component of that infrastructure is the solid support that Joe Biden has received from Iowa state legislators. The Biden for President Campaign announced just last week the eleventh legislative endorsement, Iraq war veteran McKinley Bailey.

"After returning from serving in Iraq, I quickly grew frustrated by my impression that leaders in both political parties did not understand the fundamental challenges to ending the war in Iraq. When I first learned of Sen. Biden's plan, I realized that was the ticket - a political solution, not a military one. I am endorsing him because from day one, our next president must make decisions on the direction in Iraq and I am convinced Senator Biden has the knowledge and experience to bring our troops home without leaving a situation that requires another generation of Americans to return in a decade."

Visit JoeBiden.com | Make a contribution
Paid for by Biden for President, Inc.

I am impressed with his leadership on the Iraq problem we are faced with, his plan for making three "states" with a federal government seems to be gaining traction among Congress and the administration and Secretary of State, until someone can come up with a better one, I am proud of his leadership in trying to get our troops out of Iraq sooner rather than later....

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Link to my "old blog"

I have been writing blogs for over three years now one was lost when the company hosting it shut down and the one between that one and this one was called The Daily Bailey at http://notmydaddysblog.blogspot.com/ the first post is dated 21 May 2006, and has about 120 old posts on it, but due to the large focus on the human experimentation at Edgewood Arsenal I felt it was time to start a blog more about veterans issues in general and how Congress and the Veterans Administration are dealing with us and our families.It's a shame all the posts I wrote from 2004 thru 2006 are lost. I had a lot of good rants in there rofl.

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Copy of e mail to Morning Joe@ MSNBC.com

I know David Schuster cares maybe he would be interested in talking about this:

A Wife's Battle - washingtonpost.com Anne Hull and Dana Priest's article about a disabled Army soldier and his wife's battle to get him disability benefits

and in a related story from NY Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/10/14/2007-10-14_time_to_give_a_damn_about_vets_mental_he.html

WASHINGTON - They were an unlikely bunch of soldiers to be making the case for the "talking cure" before Congress last week. They once dismissed it as a copout for shirkers and wimps.

"Absolutely, we've gone through a transition" over the years, said retired Marine Maj. Gen. James Livingston, who wears the Medal of Honor from Vietnam.

"Now I'm a believer in early intervention" by therapists in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, the diagnosis for what was called battle fatigue or shell shock in wars gone by, Livingston said.

He was with 12 other decorated heroes appointed to the special Veterans Disability Benefits Commission as they presented the findings of their two-year study to the House Veterans Committee.

The commission had 113 recommendations for reforming how the military and Veterans Administration cope with disabled troops. They called for hikes of up to 25% in disability payments, and increased funding and programs for PTSD treatment.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Terry Scott, chairman of the commission, said the current system "is so complicated that it's a wonder anyone can get a claim processed."

Another problem the commission uncovered, Scott said, was that "the VA really didn't know as much as they needed to know about PTSD."

The VA system is overloaded. Waiting periods for appointments at VA regional centers now average 177 days. At Veterans Benefits Administration offices, which assign disability ratings, the waits stretch to more than two years.

But they were told that money was tight for what they proposed. "We must deal with funding issues," insisted Rep. Stephen Buyer (R-Ind.).

Livingston said the money must be found, the PTSD programs must be funded, or the nation will risk decimating the all-volunteer force.

"People have to know they're going to be taken care of," Livingston said, or "moms and pops are not going to allow their kids to join the military."

"Well, you remember what it was like" for Vietnam veterans, Livingston said to this reporter, who served with him in the 2nd Battalion, Fourth Marines, before the battle of Dai Do on May 2, 1968, where he earned the Medal of Honor.

Leading Echo Company, then-Capt. Livingston attacked the fortified village with 180 Marines. He was wounded three times and there were 35 Marines standing after Echo took the village and fought off a ferocious counterattack.

"I always thought after Dai Do it would've been good if we could've sat down and talked about it," Livingston said.

"But in those days it was all macho," he said. "You didn't want to admit anything. If you did, you were a battlefield wimp. Well, been there, done that.

"I'd like to think we're a lot more mature in our thinking. Bottom line, somebody's got to give a damn."

rsisk@nydailynews.com

My own blog about veterans and politics

http://vets4politics.blogspot.com/ title: Military & Veterans: Politics for the deserving



Hat tip for putting David Schuster on this morning Mike Bailey a disabled vet 100% P&T Army Nam and Gulf War One

I feel we have to attempt to get these morning talk shows to help us get the attention these issues deserve, I miss Imus he was all over everyone, Democratic and Republican for the Walter Reed fiasco and the VA SNAFU over compensation claims and long wait times for appointments, hopefully when and if he comes back on the radio, we veterans will get a national radio show to press our points of views, to the public and politicians....Imus is one of our greatest assets, he talks and people listen.

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Time 'to give a damn' about vets' mental health - ex-gen.

In a blistering article in the New York Daily News Marine Corp Major General (retired) James Livingston, who wears the Medal of Honor from Vietnam. He led a company of men as a Captain, in battle was wounded three times in the attack and counter attack and was one of only 38 survivors. In my opinion he earned the "Medal".

Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Terry Scott, chairman of the commission, said the current system "is so complicated that it's a wonder anyone can get a claim processed."

Another problem the commission uncovered, Scott said, was that "the VA really didn't know as much as they needed to know about PTSD."

The VA system is overloaded. Waiting periods for appointments at VA regional centers now average 177 days. At Veterans Benefits Administration offices, which assign disability ratings, the waits stretch to more than two years.

But they were told that money was tight for what they proposed. "We must deal with funding issues," insisted Rep. Stephen Buyer (R-Ind.).

Livingston said the money must be found, the PTSD programs must be funded, or the nation will risk decimating the all-volunteer force.

"People have to know they're going to be taken care of," Livingston said, or "moms and pops are not going to allow their kids to join the military."

The emphasis is mine as I whole heartedly agree with it, I have a Desert Storm son as he was born nine months after I returned from that short war. He will soon be old enough to enlist, and I will encourage him to go to college and get his degree and then if he still chooses to enlist, he can do it as an Officer, the first in a family that can trace it's Army service to Valley Forge and other Revolutionary War battles. The Civil War, and my own fathers service in D Troop the 7th Calvary from 1914-1916. It brings a great pride to me to know my families military history, it matches some of the great moments in the Army history and some if it's most storied units.

My own military career took me to the 9th Infantry Division twice, the 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ in Korea, the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany and the 24th Infantry Division in the Gulf War.

My favorite quotes from General Livingston are here:

"I always thought after Dai Do it would've been good if we could've sat down and talked about it," Livingston said.

"But in those days it was all macho," he said. "You didn't want to admit anything. If you did, you were a battlefield wimp. Well, been there, done that.

"I'd like to think we're a lot more mature in our thinking. Bottom line, somebody's got to give a damn."

This man has got it right, it is time for someone to "Give a damn"

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Seattle Times Opinion Article

In this Seattle Times article they are encouraging better support for the Iraq war veterans.

I figured that making good on this nation's commitment to support the troops, and keeping America's promise to take care of our veterans, would be sufficient closing arguments.

I was wrong. It seems that the double bottom line on most Americans' minds is economic and national security, both of which are compromised by negligent post-combat care.

According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for young Iraq war veterans is triple that of their civilian counterparts. Almost half of the 425,000 citizen soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan experience deployment-related mental-health problems, according to the Department of Defense Mental Health Task Force.

Because their post-combat mental-health care is limited or nonexistent, when citizen soldiers return to their civilian jobs, they bring their psychological problems along.

In Washington and other states with large concentrations of civilian veterans in the work force, untreated war trauma means higher turnover, increased absenteeism, elevated health-care and human-resources costs, and reductions in performance and productivity. It also means a diminished tax base, lower housing values and fewer consumers.

Those things may be the least of our worries. The No. 1 reason for military attrition is untreated mental-health problems, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. If we don't take care of the troops who have seen combat, they will, quite literally, not be available to take care of us.

The author of this article is a spouse of an Iraq War veteran she is working to establish The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families, a Kent-based nonprofit. She can be contacted at stacy@stacybannerman.com

When the government fails private citizens do seem to step up, I SALUTE this fine American.

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Anne Hull and Dana Priest hit another "sore spot"

In my daily diary at Daily Kos I posted The real "face" of Republican "Support the Troops" BS about the wife of a Iraq War veteran dealing with PTSD and the lack of aid to their family and their dealings with the Army and the VA.

Before they leave, someone from Hampshire County's Heritage Days parade calls to see if Troy wants to ride on the veterans float. Troy declines. It's not just the crowds.

"Other people got wounded, and all I got was a mental thing," he says.

Michelle raises an eyebrow. "It's still an injury."

"I think about that doctor down there," Troy says, referring to a psychologist at Fort Stewart who suggested he was faking it. "Plus, the fact that guys are missing arms and have bullet holes and everything else. Ain't a scratch on me."

To remember who Troy used to be, Michelle keeps a photo of him hidden in her camera case. In the picture he is smiling and eager, ruggedly at home in his Army fatigues. Now she looks at the man in the recliner. "It's people like you that made our country," Michelle says. She goes back to filling out forms, and Troy goes back to Nickelodeon.

No, there isn't a scratch on him that is visible, it's the unseen wound of his brain that is leaving this family devastated, something I know quite a bit about, it is the same type of injury I and hundreds of thousands of other disabled veterans deal with daily and have for decades.

Money alone can't fix the problems, but it can help the family deal with day to day life while they deal with the injury, the money will never make Troy or any other disabled veteran whole. But as I have learned without funds being disabled is worse than being disabled with funds.

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