This is from the Washington Post Contest
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
my "electoral map" for November
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
VA Hospitals Investigation
http://imagineaworldof.blogspot.com/2008/08/va-hospitals-investigation.html#links
Disability Rights Advocates has been conducting an investigation into VA hospital access.
While their investigation is being targeted on the Veterans Care issue with the below recent report we can see that the Military Care issue, i.e. Walter Reed and More, is still having the same problems that finally came forward through great investigative reporting and shouldn't have existed nor still exist as to care for the returning active duty Military Personal especially from these theaters of occupations.
Mold infests Okla. barracks for wounded
LAWTON, Okla. — Mold infests the barracks that were set up here a year ago for wounded soldiers after poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center triggered a system wide overhaul, soldiers say.
Military and Veterans Care were a major issue for us returning Vietnam Veterans, a Major Issue!
While things improved, through the fights for change that the veterans brought to the Veterans Administration they've never changed enough for those who sacrifice their years and lives for service to the country. And far to often those changes have slipped back into the problems that existed before and the need to fight for the improvements is once again waged, over and over and over................., as we Veterans are finding we are Re-Fighting the battles once again for another generation of Military Personal and Military Veteran, with the help of caring civilians, caring civilians who's numbers are way to small in a society that owes much more to those who serve it for it's National Security.
When this country supposedly switched to a Professional Military many thought every facet would be Professional, especially as to care, we're once again finding a failed system, a failed system lacking the funding and administration that still stays a political tool of party politics and apathy of the civilian population.
In these present times All of this should have been set into place, starting to upgrade the Military and Veterans hospitals and clinics, well before Any Invasion of anothers country, and we have two long running occupations, was started, by the Previous Congresses who were beating the Drums Of War, and the Civilian Population should have Sacrificed and Supported these upgrades as they were Supporting the coming Invasions and occupations.
The problems Finally coming to light in the present Congress, that are Finally conducting the Investigations and Over site, we hire our representatives to do, are once again being shown as they were before, Failed Civilian and Military Leadership playing the same Political Games with those who serve this country and the country not willing to support the military personal and demand these problems are correctly fixed. They are coming about due to the Privatizing of the 'Preventive Maintenance', once taken care of with the ranks of the military, but now farmed out to private firms for profit, many publicly owned. They are happening because of the Political Appointed leadership and hiring of political personal in the administrations under them, not being hired due to knowledge of how to administer the government programs but on political ideology.
If still active duty and under the military physical and mental care, especially from either theater of occupation, and find problems with or difficulties in yours and others care, and your chain of command doesn't seem to be taking care of these problems, you should also contact DRA to help in their investigation, the above report shows the need!
This Country Owes It's Military and Veterans of!
Now to the battle, Again, and the DRA information:
As background, DRA is one of the two law firms that challenged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) practices in failing to adequately treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and we also have a longstanding interest hospital access for individuals with disabilities. We have brought and successfully settled several lawsuits addressing hospital access, including an action against Kaiser and one against Sutter Health, which runs a large hospital chain in Northern California. We are also working on hospital access issues in other parts of the country. Now, Disability Rights Advocates is conducting an investigation of whether or not VA hospitals and clinics are accessible to patients with physical disabilities, specifically those who use a wheelchair or have other mobility limitations, and those who are blind or deaf. We would like to hear from disabled veterans who use VA hospitals and clinics about their experiences at these facilities.
We have come up with a list of the features that are part of this investigation. This list will provide veterans with more information about us and what we are looking for. We are asking for your help by posting this flier on your website and distributing it to your membership.
Please post and email as you see fit, and feel free to encourage others to forward the notice as they think appropriate.
I'm happy to discuss the investigation in greater detail with you or anyone else, both to clarify any questions and to discuss potential additional involvement. You can reach either me or Melissa at the number below. We really appreciate your help.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with our outreach.
Best,
Stephanie A. Biedermann
Arthur Liman Fellowship Attorney
Disability Rights Advocates
2001 Center Street, Third Floor
Berkeley, California 94704-1204
510.665.8644
510.665.8716 (TTY)
510.665.8511 (Fax)
Stephanie A. Biedermann
The following is the most recent file that I recieved from DRA and Stephanie and Melissa.
ATTENTION VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES
What: Disability Rights Advocates is conducting an investigation into the accessibility of VA hospitals and clinics around the country.
Who: If you have a mobility disability, a vision disability, a hearing disability, and/or a Traumatic Brain Injury, we would like to hear about your experiences.
Why: You are entitled to full access to VA hospitals and clinics and reasonable accommodations, whether or not your disability is service connected. We want to make sure that you are able to access VA medical facilities and services.
Architectural Barriers: Can you access VA hospitals and clinics? This includes all physical access to buildings, including entrances, parking lots, elevators, restrooms, waiting rooms, exam or treatment rooms, laboratories and pharmacies.
Access to Medical Equipment: Can you independently access medical equipment? This includes exam tables, exam chairs, scales, diagnostic testing equipment (such as x-ray machines, MRI machines, CT scans or Pet Scans), rehabilitation equipment, and other diagnostic treatment devices.
Experiences with the Staff: Have the people staffing VA hospitals and clinics been able to respond to your needs as a person with a disability? This includes information about whether the staff was knowledgeable and helpful in responding to any obstacles you may have faced due to your disability, whether architectural, communication related, or otherwise.
To set up at time to talk about your experiences at VA hospitals and/or clinics, please email VA Access, or call toll-free at 800/332-6177 (or TTY at 510/665-8716). None of the information you provide us will be disclosed without your permission.
DRA is one of the two law firms that is challenging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) practices in failing to adequately treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and we also have a longstanding interest in ensuring disabled individuals’ equal access to medical care. For more information about DRA, please visit DRA Legal.
I have uploaded the files I've received from DRA to an online file sharing site, you will find the links to each below. You can download these files to your computers and use them yourself or to pass along to others who might aid in DRA's research and investigation.
This link will give you the most recent file, posted above in the quote box.
This link gives you a PDFile previously received and passed along
This link gives you a RTFile also previously received and passed along
Please use the files above to help in the DRA research and investigation, not only meant for Veterans and Military personal, and their families, but also in seeking the help of the civilian population who may observe problems that Disabled Veterans and Military personal might be experiencing in their care that the country owes them.
Improving Military and Veterans care, as it should have always been, will help in the Improvements needed in the countries population as a whole and care of!
Monday, August 18, 2008
I call Cow paddies on Senator McCain on Veteran issues & Poll
Today the presumptive nominee for the Republican party addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention and expounded on his deceptive assertions against Senator Obama, then he took it a step further he lied about his committment to this nations veterans, especially the disabled in service while in uniform.
Short of giving their life, these men and women have paid as much of a price as a citizen can be asked to give to their nation. I wrote Senator McCain for help with my problems with the Veterans Administration about 3 years ago, he told me there was nothing he could do, as I was not from Arizona, excuse me I am an American veteran, I served the US Army not the Arizona National Guard, he is a US Senator, and now he wants to be the American President. He should be accountable to all of this nations citizens.
Intro
You must enter an Intro for your Diary Entry between 300 and 1150 characters long.
Today the presumptive nominee for the Republican party addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention and expounded on his deceptive assertions against Senator Obama, then he took it a step further he lied about his committment to this nations veterans, especially the disabled in service while in uniform.
Short of giving their life, these men and women have paid as much of a price as a citizen can be asked to give to their nation. I wrote Senator McCain for help with my problems with the Veterans Administration about 3 years ago, he told me there was nothing he could do, as I was not from Arizona, excuse me I am an American veteran, I served the US Army not the Arizona National Guard, he is a US Senator, and now he wants to be the American President. He should be accountable to all of this nations citizens.
In todays address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Senator McCain made several statements I took umbrage with.
here are the transcripts of his remarks
Through decades of struggle, free nations prevailed over tyranny in large measure because of the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States armed forces. And it will fall to the next commander in chief to make good on the obligation our government accepts every time any man or woman enters the military, and again when they receive their DD 214. Those we depend on as troops should know, when they become veterans, that they can depend on us. Honoring this obligation will require leadership. And I pledge to you that as president I will lead -- from the front -- to reform our VA system and make sure that veterans receive the respect and care they have earned.
The Walter Reed scandal was a disgrace unworthy of this nation -- and I intend to make sure that nothing like it is ever repeated. There are other problems as well that have not received as much media attention. And my administration will do the hard and necessary work of fixing them, even when the press and the public are not watching.
Reform begins with appointing a Secretary of Veterans Affairs who is a leader of the highest caliber, and who listens to veterans and veterans' service organizations. My VA secretary must be a forceful advocate for veterans and forthright advisor to me, so we can make the right choices about budgeting, health care, and other veterans' benefit issues. He or she will also need to be a high-energy leader, too, because we'll have a lot of work to do in improving service to veterans.
Veterans must be treated fairly and expeditiously as they seek compensation for disability or illness. We owe them compassion and hands-on care in their transition to civilian life. We owe them training, rehabilitation, and education. We owe their families, parents and caregivers our concern and support. Veterans should never be deprived of quality medical care and mental health care coverage for illness or injury incurred as a result of their service to our country.
As president, I will do all that is in my power to ensure that those who serve today, and those who have served in the past, have access to the highest quality health, mental health and rehabilitative care in the world. And I will not accept a situation in which veterans are denied access to care on account of travel distances, backlogs of appointments, and years of pending disability evaluation and claims. We should no longer tolerate requiring veterans to make an appointment to stand in one line for a ticket to stand in another.
I'm not here to tell you that there is a cost that is too high to be paid in the care of our nation's veterans. I will make sure that Congress funds the VA health care budget in a sufficient, timely, and predictable manner. But I will say that every increase in funding must be matched by increases in accountability, both at the VA and in Congress. And this requires an end to certain practices and abuses that serve neither our veterans, our country, nor the reputation of Congress itself.
Senator McCain was given the data that of the 7120 men used at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland in the Cold War human experiments using chemical weapons, biological weapons and drugs have a 40% death rate and a disability rate of 54% of the 4022 survivors which combine for a 75% death and disability rate, and was given copies of the medical studies that show that there are links to the exposures of the weapons and the veterans illnesses, the Jan 1994 NIH Report Toxicity of the Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agents GA, GB, and VX: Implications for Public Protection and the thirty year study of Wermacht soldiers used in WW2 Germanys, chemical weapons program and the health problems they incurred Delayed Toxic Effects of
known medical problems which the VA and DOD refuse to recognize for the 7120 American soldiers used in the Cold War experiments at Edgewood Arsenal from 1955 thru 1975.
To conclude this section, the closing observations from Spiegelberg’s monograph
will be cited (these remarks do not refer exclusively to organophosphorus
CW agents) [2]:
A psychiatric delayed-effect syndrome was found as a result of systematic investigations
on former members of CW production and testing stations for the Wehrmacht. In
terms of frequency, two groups of symptoms can be distinguished–each consisting of
four separate symptoms or signs.
(1) The great majority of persons examined showed:
(a) persistently lowered vitality accompanied by marked diminution in drive;
(b) defective autonomic regulation leading to cephalalgia, gastrointestinal and
cardiovascular symptoms, and premature decline in libido and potency;
(c) intolerance symptoms (alcohol, nicotine, medicines);
(d) impression of premature aging.
(2) Further, one or more symptoms of the second group were found:
(a) depressive or subdepressive disorders of vital functions;
(b) cerebral vegetative (syncopal) attacks;
(c) slight or moderate amnestic and demential defects;
(d) slight organoneurological defects (predominantly microsymptoms and singular
signs of extrapyramidal character).
Our results are a contribution to the general question of psychopathological delayed
and permanent lesions caused by industrial poisoning. On the basis of our studies of
the etiologically different manifestations of toxication, the possibility of a relatively
uniform–though equally unspecific–cerebro-organic delayed effect syndrome is conceivable.
So for Senator McCain to proclaim he supports veterans for medical problems caused by their military service is Bullshit. He has seperated himself from this problem and ignores like it doesn't exist, how does this show support for his fellow veterans?
More of Senator McCains quotes from todays speech:
I suppose from my opponent's vantage point, veterans concerns are just one more issue to be spun or worked to advantage. This would explain why he has also taken liberties with my position on the GI Bill. In its initial version, that bill failed to address the number one education request that I've heard from career service members and their families -- the freedom to transfer their benefits to a spouse or a child. The bill also did nothing to retain the young officer and enlisted leaders who form the backbone of our all-volunteer force.
As a political proposition, it would have much easier for me to have just signed on to what I considered flawed legislation. But the people of Arizona, and of all America, expect more from their representatives than that, and instead I sought a better bill. I'm proud to say that the result is a law that better serves our military, better serves military families, and better serves the interests of our country.
No one who has worn the uniform of his or her country can ever take these matters lightly. We all learned an ethic in the service of looking after one another, of leaving no one behind, and this commitment did not end when we left the service. As a matter of duty and of honor, whatever our commitments to veterans cost, if I am president those commitments will be kept.
Unlike Senator McCain, Senator Obama is not spinning veterans issues to adavance his campaign, I have spent the last few years watching Senator Obama do his work and his homework in the Veterans Affairs Committee and push for the veterans beenfits to be increased and to make the then majority party Republicans do the right thing and stop the immoral review of the PTSD claims awards that were causing disabled veteransd to committ suicide from the stress.
Senator Obama, like Senator Patty Murray and Senator Bernie Sanders actually has the veterans best interests at heart, not a political position, he has shown thru his deeds that he is for the veterans and their families, and has the voting record to match it on veterans issues, he ranks above 80% on all votes for veterans issues, where Senator McCain has a career average of less than 30% voting for veterans issues.
Yet Senator McCain dares to claim that the veterans service organizations support him for President, BS, by law they can not endorse anyone due to their Congressional charters as non-partisian veterans service organizations, and if they did take a vote among their members based on the Senators voting records for veterans and their families, I don't see how Senator McCain could win that election versus Senator Barack Obama.
By the way I saw today where military member overseas support Obama over McCain by 6-1. So much for the solid republican vote.Sphere: Related Content
VA Doctors don't like to write medical opinions but they are required to
From: Sp5kelley2nd94th@aol.com [mailto:Sp5kelley2nd94th@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 11:30 AM
To: ColonelDan
Subject: VA meeting this past Friday
VA meeting this past Friday
Hi to all, I was invited to a meeting at the Atlanta VA on some follow up care with 22 other Vietnam Veterans.
I probably said too much but I think I made my points. Probably will not be invited back again!
http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/VAmeeting.htm
Kelley
VHA HANDBOOK 1605.1 May 17, 2006
f. Providing Medical Opinions
(1) VHA health care providers are required, when requested and under certain limited circumstances, to provide descriptive statements and opinions for VA patients with respect to patients’ medical condition, employability, and degree of disability (see 38 CFR Section 17.38 and current VHA policy).
(2) Support of VA Benefits Claims
(a) Individuals may request statements from VHA health care providers regarding their medical conditions and/or opinions for submission in support of their claims for VA benefits.
(b) In response to such a request, VHA health care providers must provide a statement or opinion describing a patient’s medical condition.
(c) When the health care provider is the individual’s treating physician, and is unable, or deems it inappropriate, to provide an opinion or statement, such physician must refer the request to another health care provider for the opinion or statement.
(3) Medical Opinions for Non-VA Purposes
(a) Individuals may also ask VHA health care professionals for opinions to assist them in filing claims with other agencies.
(b) These opinions may be provided in the same manner and under the same restrictions as opinions furnished for VBA claim purposes.
(4) Exception. This does not include completion of SSA forms for examination where SSA would pay a private practitioner, but is prohibited from paying other Federal agencies such as VA (see 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xiv)).
Meeting at Atlanta VA
This past Friday I was a member of 22 Vietnam Veterans in a meeting at the Atlanta VAMC.
Two things happened which set me off and probably will not be invited back but I gave them something to think about.
One fellow was discussing some of his issues. He mentioned his sleep apnea and the equipment. The doctor then asked how many others had sleep apnea and the equipment. Folks, about half of the group raised their hands.
When he was done I asked the doctor point blank…does this not seemed extremely high in these fellows. How many other hospitals do you think in the civilian world you could at random for something else find half the group has sleep apnea and what do you think the odds of that would be in a random sample. Does this not show some kind of connection to Vietnam Service and/or the one thing that was common in Vietnam; Herbicides. Did he know that TNF alpha, IL-6, and IL-1b been found to be associated to not only insulin resistance but also sleep apnea. Did he know that TNF alpha changes had been identified with the dioxin TCDD and our own EPA had found one of the biochemical effects of dioxin is actually the induction of TNF, IL 6, and IL 1 beta? These issues have also been identified in CFS and FMS.
Of course he did not know or at least did not admit the facts. He then said he had no idea how the VA Benefits worked. I said then until you VA doctors start standing up for us then we must conclude VA medical and VA Benefits are indeed one in the same.
Another fellow stood up (25th Inf Division soldier) after I handed out the new bill for cancers out of Congressman Kagen’s Office and discussed what the VA had been doing even on the present presumptive disorders and how we hoped that the other bill for not allowing VA to stall claims until the Veteran was dead and then the Widow had to reapply and fight for another two years on a presumptive disorders. He concluded his buddy with prostate cancer, a present presumptive cancer, had died before VA had approved his simple claim and his widow now had to file for DIC from death from a presumptive disorder. Folks, the Veterans family should never have to subsidize his own government caused mortality or disability due to planned inefficient processes at VA. Yet, this common practice results in the savings of millions of dollars per year for VA and our government and its despicable processes and treatment of these men and women who are dying from government causes.
In addition two fellows had cancers that are being denied that are included in the bill that are denied by VA as not the right kind of cancer.
Several of them wanted extra copies to take their buddies who dying from Pancreatic cancer still of course denied on our infamous list of cancers approved by the VA.
As I was leaving the building I ran into one of the fellows that had been in the meeting and he was talking to a fellow that was 100% for prostate cancer. Unfortunately for the Veteran, the Atlanta VA had cut him to 40% with no C & P at all. As it turns out the fellow had the operation but there was an area of cancer they could not get to. This area was still growing and his PSA levels where on the way back up. He went to VA Benefits and they told him he could file for the 100% but it would be sometime before they got to it because of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now this is not a complex medical decision and should be taken care of on the spot as a mistake made. It sounds like an intentional doing and not a mistake and once again in cumulative effects at VA this saves millions of dollars per year, which I am sure the VA management gets compensated.
I also heard from one of our Marines that the court ordered all his documents to his lawyer and his comment was you would not believe what these folks say about you in their files. Of this I have no doubt as they are nothing but gutless wonders hiding behind undisclosed process that even congress cannot find out what it is they are doing. Of course they have no guts to say it to your face from the clerks to middle management, management, and RO’s with the IQ of turnip; and probable enjoy that fact in their protected agency.
Like the Veteran in Iowa that sent me a sworn to statement that the VA out there said he would die before they approved his claim and any benefits.
I am sure that is why my simple claim will never be resolved because I am outspoken but I refuse to bow down to a lying federal agency like this. Many have told me that and I have no doubt it is true. VA avenging angels take their toll, you can count on that. But then if we all did bow down then we would not be winning some of these battles.
Any of you listening on SVR last Wednesday remember when Linda called in and said that the VA doctor did not want to (refused) write a report on her deceased husband. Many times I get the same thing in e-mails from other Vets and widows. In fact the real rule is stated below from the VHA Handbook. In fact she recanted the VA thanked her for educating them but still the cancer was not on their list of presumptive disorders. So a list put out by the Secretary of the VA overrules real science, studies, and medical facts. Christ how despicable and fraudulent is that?
I am also quite sure that VA frowns on their doctors following their own stated philosophy and rules.
I had some questions on BVA and how that works or "does not work" and will post that later.
Kelley
West LA Veterans Land
Subject: An Open Letter To Three VSO's re: Bill # S.1043 & Bill # S.1417
Respected Veteran Representatives,
The land-use situation at the BIGGEST AND BUSIEST VA health care facility in the nation, the "HOME" at VA, WLA, is out of control. Further, the terms conditions, spirit and intent of the Grant Deed of 1888 that created that "HOME", to "permanently maintain" a health care community for returning Veterans, are under siege! This is a plea to have YOUR respective organizations address this matter, immediately!
The dangerous precedent that HAS ALREADY been set must be realized and, with YOUR HELP, the situation must be resolved, undone and reversed!
We The Veterans have put together this factual information for
your widest distribution to all Veteran lists, however, for obvious reasons described herein, it is the National offices of AMERICAN LEGION, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS (Mr. Ed Monroe accepted our paperwork at the National Las Vegas Convention) and VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS that are being asked to expedite action to resolve the huge and complex challenge described herein.
Saturday, August 16Th, Information from my AMVETS Post 2 meeting described that the VFW National officers had called to use the Wadsworth Theater at VA, WLA, a theater created specifically for Veteran use, and it was told that it could not use it.
We The Veterans, a Veteran watchdog/advocate group based in WLA, can prove that Richmark Entertainment Corporation, a non-Veteran for-profit entity has complete control of this building (plus the Grand Lawn and the only other remaining theater on the facility). This corporation's "thugs-in-suits" security even assulted a Veteran advocate who was gathering information about a private party. That matter went to court and the DA, in his summary, stated that Veterans, love them as we do, are like children and have to be disciplined sometimes.
National VSO's and the entire Veteran community need to know that this typifies the occupation of the gifted "Home" land, like the Russians in Georgia, by non-Veteran entities.
We can show that local VA bureaucrats at the "Home" have not been helpful in exposing this fact and that they act more like real estate agents than health care providers. We can also show that the wealthy, powerful, politically well-connected and NIMBY-minded Brentwood Community (the president of the home owners is the president of Veterans Park Conservancy, VPC) has, with the help of some Veteran representatives who live in this area and political staffers, held questioning VSO's and Veteran advocate groups at distance from exposing the truth about "land-grab".
Richmark Entertainment Group, Inc, was guilty of serving alcohol and sponsoring lavish private parties adjacent to long standing Veteran rehabilitation programs and did not stop until We The Veterans called this to the attention of Senator Feinstein's office. We know that this Richmark sharing agreement, like most all others on the facility, ignores the congressional mandate for a master plan, a plan that would make Veterans the main stake holders, and that it perpetuates the negative impact that has taken over the facility. While the first of three housing buildings for homeless Veteran programs are subject to over a year's wait, exotic bird sanctuaries memorandums-of-understandings are being given freely.
The delays created by this form of "land-grab" beucracy has cost immeasurable hours and effort to treat an ailing Veteran community. Older Veterans are flocking to seek the assistance of an institution that bares the name "Veterans", and, younger wounded warriors with record claims for PTSD, head trauma and gender specific issues demonstrate the real cost of war.
It was Senator Feinstein, at a press conference four months ago, held on the facility, who stated "imagine what can be done here [for Veterans]" when she was "embarrassed" to be told by We The Veterans that her name had been used to endorse a public park on the property.
It is time to stop with the politics and time to make the "HOME" what it was intended to be.
URGENT! VPC, a so-called Veteran group, boasting lobbiests, a memorandum-of-understanding, a sharing agreement and, most damaging, a letter of endorsement on the California Department of American Legion stationery, is about to execute a sharing agreement for a 16 acre public park onto this land that was specifically gifted as a place for returning Veterans to heal by Grant Deed in 1888.
When We The Veterans managed to educate certain Veteran representatives within the American Legion, Department of California, it, at its latest Bakersfield Convention, passed a resolution, submitted by District 21, that would rescind any endorsements of this park idea and prevent any other such endorsements.
The bureaucrats at VA, WLA, continue to ignore the questions of Veteran advocates because we are not VSO's. We are Veterans who are passionate about service to Veteran patients and we take our advocacy seriously. Now, however, we must rely upon YOU, the VSO's, to press the issues as described here.
American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, DAV, as stated on their respective websites, admit to have been monitoring the following legislation for over a year:
'A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress on proposed changes to the use of the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California.'
Bill # S.1043
Original Sponsor:
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Cosponsor Total: 1
(last sponsor added 03/29/2007)
1 Democrats
About This Legislation:
3/29/2007--Introduced. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the master plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) relating to the use of VA lands of the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California, as originally required under the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998. Requires an alternative report, on the development of the master plan, if the master plan does not exist as of the date of enactment of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from implementing any portion of the master plan until 120 days after its receipt by the congressional veterans' and appropriations
**************************************************************
American Legion, Website:
Congressional Legislation
West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Preservation Act of 2007
Bill # S.1417
Original Sponsor:
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Cosponsor Total: 1
(last sponsor added 05/17/2007)
1 Democrats
About This Legislation:
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress providing a master plan for the use of the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California, and for other purposes.
National Commanders and leaders, please direct your respective legislative staff officers to use the muscle that Veterans have "on the Hill"! Please call for a moratorium on all leases at VA, WLA, until the honorable Secretary Peake makes good on the existing legislation (described above). Further, We The Veterans requests that you review and endorse the attached DECLARATION OF ENFORCEMENT. We The Veterans created this no-nonsense document to perpetuate the terms, conditions, spirit and intent of the Grant Deed of 1888, a grand document that, unfortunately, has lost all respect by the VA.
If not you, whom? If not now, when?
Sempre Fi,
F Juarez
Co-Director,
We The Veterans
**************************************************************
DAV, Denvel D. Adams National Service and Legislative Headquarters
807 Maine Ave SW
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554-3501
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Obama gets support for honoring military
Obama gets support for honoring military
August 14, 2008
Why did I change my voter registration so I could vote for Barack Obama?
One of the reasons I support Obama for president is his support of our military personnel. He voted to provide counseling on post-traumatic stress syndrome and other related mental-health issues for our returning veterans. He supported the recent G.I. Bill, which provides tuition and other expenses at a four-year public college for our returning servicemen and -women.
Obama honors our military by voting to support them in the various bills that come before the Senate. The other candidate for president speaks of supporting the veterans, but his votes don't reflect his words.
All of our military personnel (returning vets and retired veterans) deserve the support of our commander in chief. That's one reason I'm voting for Barack Obama.
— Dena Wood, Salem
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I see I am NOT the only military type (disabled vet) that appreciates Senator Obama's strong support for the troops and especially disabled veterans
Theft After Death
Theft After Death
Many government benefits claimed after beneficiaries die.
Story by Ann Ali
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Ann Ali
When the Social Security Administration or the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board issues a monthly payment, some recipients' family members think the checks are supposed to keep coming forever and someone should always benefit.
When the beneficiaries of government programs die, the benefits are supposed to stop, but many times they don't.
U.S. attorney Charles Miller announced three grand jury indictments earlier this summer charging relatives of beneficiaries of government programs with fraudulently taking the benefits after the death of the beneficiary.
And the public that fills the government coffers suffers each time money is improperly awarded from those programs.
One of Many Forms of Fraud
While the death of a government beneficiary spurs action from a variety of agencies, inspectors say it's just a fraction of the fraud.
"It's difficult to quantify," said Jonathan Lasher, deputy counsel of the Inspector General in the Office of the Inspector General with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore. "When you're dealing with a series of programs that pays out billions of dollars every year, you do the best you can to protect it."
Lasher said his agency sees cases in which individuals try to receive benefits to which they're not entitled, cases in which someone claims to be another person and cases of Social Security employees committing fraud.
"There's a lot of ways to get a hold of government money you're not entitled to," Lasher said. "We investigated last year a total of about 10,000 cases, and that's all of our cases, not just the deceased payee cases."
Lasher said about 10 percent of Social Security fraud is the misuse of a number and about 2 percent is employee fraud, but most cases involve people conspiring to receive benefits from Social Security they're not entitled to.
Lasher said 13 percent of the cases for fiscal year 2007 were deceased payee cases.
Lasher said there also is a difference between Social Security paying out money to a deceased payee -- which it shouldn't -- and SSI money being stolen.
"A deceased payee case, that's money that was not rightfully paid out," he said. "But if we send you a benefit check and someone comes along and thumps you on the head and takes it, that's not a theft from the government any more.
"It's important to note that the victim in these cases is SSA, which is why we investigate; when benefits are paid to a living beneficiary and then stolen by a third party, such a theft would not generally be within our jurisdiction."
At the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, benefits fraud ranges from stolen and exaggerated disability claims to stolen identity and education benefits fraud.
"We investigate when someone makes a false claim for benefits based upon either completely fabricated or grossly exaggerated experiences," said Jim O'Neill, assistant inspector general for investigations with the VA. "We also obviously would be interested in anybody who was not a veteran but claimed to be and was getting benefits.
"Frequently, but not exclusively, it's a family member or friend -- somebody who knows enough about the person to convincingly portray the person."
He also said if a widowed spouse is due compensation and he or she remarries, it must be reported to the VA because that person no longer is eligible, and often fraud occurs if the VA isn't notified of the new marriage.
O'Neill said his office has a responsibility to investigate every felony committed against the VA and its programs, which is a tremendous responsibility, and limited resources make it hard to drop everything and go after each deceased beneficiary case.
How it Happens
While investigators can only pursue what they know is out there, death records usually are the first stop on the way to potential criminals.
"We match VA monetary benefits with Social Security's death file," O'Neill said. "We assign these out to agents, and when time permits they investigate."
Lasher said the office of vital statistics and audits from the Inspector General's Office "further tighten that net to be sure deaths don't go unreported."
"There's a number of ways we find out about a death," Lasher said. "Social Security receives death information from multiple sources -- funeral homes, state agencies, other family members -- so it's not as easy as it might sound to continue receiving the money.
"Your parent passes away and you think, 'If I don't tell Social Security, I'm going to keep getting the money,' but it's not that easy."
O'Neill said the VA also matches its records against the SSA's death index file and then checks first if payments are just piling up because the veteran had no survivors and no criminal intent is involved. In that case, he said, the VA simply recovers the money.
He said the VA has arrested 275 individuals for theft of deceased beneficiary benefits since 2000, which is a small fraction of the 800 to 1,000 people they arrest each year.
Tips and complaints are treated very seriously when going after fraud.
Lasher said the most allegations to Social Security are reported by law enforcement, followed by SSI employees, with "citizens" and "anonymous" rounding out the categories.
"I know they have, in a number of years, done projects with folks over a certain age," he said. "They go confirm the person receiving benefits, and it's hard to claim innocence once you're caught."
Lasher said cases get harder when deaths go undetected, such as a murder with a hidden body, that vital statistics or a funeral home doesn't know about.
"Most of our cases aren't about stealing someone else's benefits; it's about stealing benefits you aren't entitled to," he said. "It's hard to have someone pass away without Social Security aware of it, and when it does happen, we will act and investigate."
Lasher said there have been enough deceased payee cases that the Office of the Inspector General made a national project code years ago to detect and investigate those cases.
R. Booth Goodwin, assistant U.S. Attorney and chief of the economic crime section for West Virginia's southern district, said many people try to justify benefits fraud, saying their parents promised them or they just didn't know better, but nearly everyone should know better.
William Tebbe, assistant inspector general for investigations within the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board's Office of Inspector General, said once the Board is aware of a death, it contacts the surviving spouse to adjust the benefits, making it hard for him or her to continue collecting full benefits.
Tebbe said once the agency receives information about someone who has been paid benefits and shouldn't have, it conducts an investigation or gets it to the point where an allegation is substantiated. The agency then takes the case to the U.S. Attorney, whose office then decides whether to prosecute the person the agency has identified and the courts take over.
Who's on the Case
Benefits fraud cuts through all agencies and states, so federal investigators place all hands on deck to tackle it.
"As apparent from the indictments handed down ..., theft of government funds is not isolated to one program or agency," Miller said in a news release. "Many people rely on these benefits; each of these agencies has dedicated special agents charged with investigating theft of the funds they administer, and with my office, we are united in combating the threat to these programs and the beneficiaries they serve."
Goodwin said individuals call suspicions in to his office, and while it's not their place to investigate since they could eventually serve as the prosecutors, they're happy to field the calls.
"They should call here because it's very likely you could be dealing with a (U.S.) Railroad Retirement Board matter, and if you look in the front of the phone book, there's no number for the board, so we'll help sift through it," Goodwin said. "We are the central place where these matters are brought to a head."
He said West Virginia has a substantive federal presence, and most agencies have their "feet on the ground," but even the ones that don't can keep in touch, thanks to the age of e-mail and teleconferences.
"It is generally a cooperative effort among all federal and state agencies," Goodwin said. "Often, these sorts of cases are exclusively the jurisdiction of the Office of the Inspector General for each of the agencies, and while postal inspectors or FBI agents can investigate these sorts of crimes, they've got a lot of other crimes to investigate as well, and that's why these agencies have dedicated agents."
Tebbe said about 10 percent of his agency's cases are jointly worked with other agencies, because of overlap, and while the U.S. Postal Service follows any fraud that's done through the mail, its interest in benefits theft has decreased.
"We don't work those kinds of cases very often since most of those benefits are direct deposit," said Cathy Cantley, West Virginia's public information officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "We just don't see that much of it because usually they're defrauding specific agencies, and every agency has its own investigators."
What We're Out
Goodwin said theft of government benefits is not isolated to just one government program, but Social Security is the biggest one.
"From a taxpayer point of view, the more money that is being spent to prevent or detect or prosecute this type of crime is money that is not being spent elsewhere," Lasher said. "Not only do we, all of us, pay into the Social Security fund, but the businesses pay into it, and they match as well."
According to the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General's semi-annual report to Congress from October 2007-March 2008, the agency made more than $38 million in SSA recoveries, restitution, fines settlements and judgments and participated in multi-agency investigations that resulted in more than $18 million in savings. The report also projected more than $162 million in savings from investigations resulting in the suspension or termination of benefits.
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board's semi-annual report to Congress for the same time period said 13 civil judgments resulted in more than $2.5 million in monetary accomplishments.
Goodwin said one $20,000 fraudulent case may not seem like much, but three of them eventually will catch the public's eye.
"A lot of it relies on honest people because you just can't police everything," he said. "Our hope was to highlight the problem because it is a significant problem that directly affects the demographic profile of our state.
"As with any place, we have people who try to cheat the system, and that's no different here than it is in New York or Wyoming."
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Bottom line quit stealing government benefits you are NOT entitled to
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