Concord Monitor OPED on Veterans

In this great OPED the newspaper lays out what veterans deserve from this nation.

Throughout the history of our nation, brave men and women have answered the call to defend and protect our country. Veterans Day reminds us all of the great sacrifices made by our nation's veterans and their families. This fall, I attended welcome home ceremonies for the New Hampshire Guard's 3643rd Security Force. It was wonderful to see the reunion of the Guard members and their families. That day reminded me how much an entire family sacrifices when a soldier is deployed overseas.

In Congress, we must honor our veterans with action and not just words. How we take care of our veterans and their families is a reflection on the values of our nation. Support for our veterans is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue; it is an American issue.

In this 110th Congress, we have provided historic increases in veterans' health care and benefits to meet the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. We passed legislation to increase the VA budget with the largest single increase in the history of the Veterans Administration. This past week, we worked hard to provide the largest increase in VA health care in history, which will go to treat 5.8 million patients, including about 263,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

The author of this OPED is Paul Hodes the Congressman from New Hampshire's Second Congressional District

We need more elected representatives like Mr Hode.....

Sphere: Related Content

President Bush and Congress Spar over Veterans

In this Associated Press story it explains the problems with the FY2008 Veterans Budget and the name calling the White House and Congress are using, but when you get into the real facts, you see it is no more than politcs as usual.

President Bush said Saturday that Congress' Democratic leaders should celebrate Veterans Day by finally passing a spending bill covering programs for veterans.

"Congressional leaders let the fiscal year end without passing this bill they know our veterans need," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "The time to act is running out. ... The best way members of Congress can give thanks to our veterans is to send me a clean bill that I can sign into law."

Bush's dig at Democrats didn't tell the whole story.

Then the story goes on to tell the rest of the truth, the part the President ignored:

Congress has never delivered to Bush a veterans affairs spending bill by Veterans Day, even when Capitol Hill was run by Republicans. And even veterans' groups have been reluctant to criticize this year's Congress for the delay, because they are thankful for large budget increases already engineered by Democrats since they assumed the majority in January. They added $3.4 billion to the veterans' budget in February and $1.8 billion in May.

Congressman Joe Sestak D-Pennsylvania gave the democratic response to the Presidents radio address

The veterans bill has gotten caught up in a larger battle between the White House and Congress over Democratic efforts to add about $23 billion for domestic programs to Bush's $933 billion proposal for all agency budgets passed by Congress each year. Only late last week did Congress approve the first two of 12 spending bills for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

Democrats had sought to combine the veterans spending measure with ones for education, health and job training programs to force passage of increases for the other programs. But Bush has insisted that the veterans money come to him in a stand-alone bill, and the veterans portion was stripped from the larger legislation this week, leaving that funding in limbo.

The veterans' bill adds $3.7 billion over Bush's request for the Veterans Affairs Department's budget. The increase would ease waiting times to claim VA health benefits and add money to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

In a joint letter to Bush on Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the president that the Democratic Congress wants to work with him.

"Key to this dialogue, however, is some willingness on your part to actually find common ground," they wrote. "Thus far, we have seen only a hard line drawn and a demand that we send only legislation that reflects your cuts to critical priorities of the American people."

So, the President ignores the fact that for the past 6 years the republican controlled Congress NEVER delivered a Veterans Budget before Veterans Day, and it is only a problem NOW because we have a democratic controlled Congress.

He is also mad that the Veterans Budget is about six billion more than he wanted and he knows he can NOT veto the budget, even the republicans running for re-election next year would not dare vote against benefits for veterans right now, not after the fiasco at Walter Reed, and Bob Woodruffs interview with Secretary James Nicholson where he looked like an idiot claiming all the Iraq war veterans were coming to the VA hospitals for dental work.

Bottom line is the Veterans will get the extra funds because of the democratic controlled Congress, not because of President Bush's temper tantrums not because of the "help" of the Republicans, bottom line is that next year is a Presidential election and many Senators and all the Congressmen have to run for re-election, President Bush doesn't, so it's every politician for themselves right now. I bet Joe Wilson even votes to pass this budget.

Sphere: Related Content

National Cemetary to open next year at Fort Jackson

This article in the Charlotte Observer explains the progress and the plan for the opening of the new National Cemetary for veterans and their spouses on Fort Jackson. I for one plan on using the cemetary as my final resting place and am glad it is right here at "home".

Under the Fort Jackson plan, an initial 10-acre portion of the site "will be wrapped in, and it won't even be noticeable that one part was started earlier than the rest," Burko said.

Sweeping his arm across the horizon, Burko predicted an imposing entryway will lead to a park-like setting of wide grassy spaces, in time filled with the traditional small marble headstones.

Given the Colonial-era history of South Carolina and its conservative, red brick architecture, the formal entry buildings and other administrative buildings will probably take on a similar style, Burko said.

The other national cemeteries are planned for Sarasota and Jacksonville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Philadelphia; and Bakersfield, Calif., Burko said.

Most of Fort Jackson's sprawling 53,000 acres is used for basic training, firing ranges and military schools. The cemetery will be fenced and visitors won't be able to get onto the training areas, Burko said. A benefit for visitors is nearby Interstates 26 and 77, allowing easy access.

I applaud the rapid building of this national cemetary for this nations veterans and South Carolinians.

Sphere: Related Content

Steve Young CA48

Today, the Orange County Register [Circ 302,110 Daily, 367,627 Sunday] published an Op-Ed piece I wrote entitled: ["Before the Belin Wall Fell."] My piece commemorates the 18th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall, and talks about what I learned when I toured East Berlin in 1970.

Also this afternoon, I am appearing on television -- Channel 50 -- on the "Inside OC" television program with Rick Rieff. Adam Probosky, the Republican pollster, and an officer of Republican Centeral Committee is coming to debate the issues surounding Mike Corona's indictment.
The broadcast times will be:
Sunday, November 11, at 11:30am,
Wednesday, November 14, 7:00pm and 11:30pm
Thursday, November 15, 8:30am.

Before the Berlin Wall Fell

see Americans with the same feelings. Now, seemingly every government act exasperates the people, and every refusal to act excites their contempt. Have you ever bit your tongue while standing in an airport security line, because you felt your patriotism demeaned, your dedication to America questioned, and your personal privacy trampled? Do you express your feelings, or do you stand mute lest the TSA screeners tap you for further search, or detention, Tasering, or worse, as happened to the woman who died in TSA custody after allegedly yelling at a baggage inspector?

Our leaders should instill courage – not trepidation, empower us to greatness – not tax us into submission, envision a bright future of freedom – rather than project the darkness of governmental tyranny. America is a nation of moderate, cautious people with a reform bent and a "can-do" spirit.

To break through the darkness, America must be a country of opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and a community of all. We all want a strong, free and secure America. In this there are no parties, for all Americans understand how important are our freedom and security.

Steve Young see's the opportunity we have as a nation, the same things I see and want for my grandchildren. Steve will make California and the nation a great representative, remember all votes cast by Congressional reps affect us all, not just their district, we need to work together to make the nation better, that includes helping to elect "leaders" across the nation.

Sphere: Related Content

A California Congressman claims veterans committ FRAUD

IN my opionion it is time for Congressman Campbell R of CA-48 here is a You tube response from the democratic candidate Steve Young and comments made by veterans that are endorsing Steven's bid to unseat the veteran hating Congressman from California

I want to reach every veteran in the country to let them know how John Campbell [R, Ca-48] feels about veterans. Three veterans heard Campbell’s “macaca” statement. I made a commercial to tell the truth, and to demand that Campbell apologize to veterans.

$25 buys 30 seconds on cable to show this commercial in the District. How many times would you like to see this commercial play? Fill in the box (at the top) in $25 increments and hit the “contribute” button to tell George Bush and John Campbell, “It’s time to stop posing in front of soldiers, and start standing behind our veterans.”

Look at my website at www.SteveYoungforCongress.com.


Do you want to know why I am so committed to the veterans and their benefits? I took the time to put it on tape so you can hear it from the horse’s mouth:

Sphere: Related Content

Soldiers are cheating on TBI assessment tests why?

In a very disturbing story on the VA Watchdog.org tonight I was shocked and saddened to read about soldiers and Marines that have apparently been cheating on tests that show damage from concussions and other Traumatic brain Injuries during explosions in Iraq, the motivation? So they won't be sent home for treatment, they figure the problems will resolve themselves in Iraq, the problem is if a second explosion happens the chance of more extreme damage is increased. This appears to be on the same level of concern as admitting to having PTSD, the soldiers see it as a stigma on their careers or somehow failing their battle buddies.

Earlier in the war, Jaffee says, military physicians noticed some cheating, particularly among Marines at Camp Pendleton in California, where testing started in 2004.By cheating, he says, troops risk being "exposed to a second concussion or mild traumatic brain injury. It could have more devastating effects not only on their health, but on the mission's success, or perhaps on the safety of the people on their patrol."

About one-third of war casualties brought to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., have some form of brain injury, Army records show.
The Pentagon lists 4,471 brain-injured casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan, but the actual number is likely higher because many cases go undetected.

The most common are mild brain injuries that come from being close to an explosion from a roadside bomb, mortar round or grenade. Eighty percent of wounds in Iraq are caused by explosions, Jaffee says. Even if there are no obvious wounds, there can be a brain injury, he says.

I hope for the soldiers and Marines sake they seek treatment early for PTSD and TBI, they are risking their futures and their families.

Sphere: Related Content

Mental Health help for veterans spouses and other family members

A group of approximately 700 mental health professionals have started a group to do pro bono counseling (free) to the families who are not covered under DOD regulations, National Guard or discharged veterans Washington Post

Now a new nonprofit group called Give an Hour, launched by Washington area clinical psychologist Barbara V. Romberg, is providing free counseling for soldiers and their families, as well as their unmarried partners. More than 720 licensed psychologists, social workers and other counselors from 40 states and the District have volunteered to donate an hour a week of therapy time for a minimum of one year to those affected by the twin conflicts.

So far about 50 clients, including one soldier on active duty in Iraq, have contacted the program to find a therapist -- a trickle Romberg hopes will turn into a steady stream as word of the program spreads.

The pro bono effort is underwritten by several grants, including one from the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a nonprofit group based in Ossining, N.Y., that assists severely wounded soldiers. Romberg's group also has forged partnerships with several military family organizations, including the Silver Star Families of America and the Washington-based Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, which aids relatives of those who die while on duty.

Please spread the word thru the veteran community it may help someone you know

Sphere: Related Content