Pahrump Military Retiree and Veterans Council: February 2010

Bills Pending in Congress (The House and the Senate)

The following is an excerpt from the RAO Bulliten (firsts the House Bills then the bills pending in the Senate.

H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal
the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving
spouses to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (154)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=21785541&type=CO or TREA’s
http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113586
http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=21755506

H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60 Retired Reserves. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at
least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on
Armed Services.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113711

H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the
eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all
members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of
the members' disability rating percentage.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (21)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=21781506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or TREA’s
http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113501
http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=21651506

H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers to improve access
to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] (introduced 2/9/2011) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Health.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=32026521&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase of
premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program.
Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=32098506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=33916536

H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of a
Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits
under title II of the Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries under such title, for
an annual cost-of-living increase which is not less than 3 percent.
Sponsor: Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans'
Appeals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of
Vietnam.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (41)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=32082506

H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Small Business
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on
Small Business.

H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to
the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/21/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft
for reserve members, former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving spouses and
dependents of such members and former members.
Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: S.542
Latest Major Action: 3/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/15/2011) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/6/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via

H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who
have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their
dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 3/16/2011) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a
compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 3/17/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R. 2148
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on
Armed Services.

H.R.1263 : Surviving Spouse Mortgage Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/30/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/21/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee
to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

H.R.1285 : Military Health Care Affordability Act. A bill t o amend title 10, United States Code, to
prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care before fiscal year 2014.
Sponsor: Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

H.R.1383 : Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to temporarily preserve higher rates for tuition
and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions of higher learning pursued by individuals
enrolled in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs before the
enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, and for other
purposes
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill S.745
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

H.R.1407 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to to increase,
effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities
and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and
for other purposes by the same percentage as applies to any social Security rate increase.
Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (8) Related bill S.894
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1460 : Automatic Combat Vet Enrollment. A bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans
returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Owens, William L. [NY-23] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/29/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Health.

H.R.1484 : Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish a commission to study
judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/12/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
House Reports: 112-83
Latest Major Action: 6/6/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1775 : Stolen Valor Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal
offense relating to fraudulent claims about military service.
Sponsor: Rep Heck, Joseph J. [NV-3] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (51)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 6/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.1850 : Army Combat Action Badge Eligibility Expansion. A bill to expand retroactive eligibility of
the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which
they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941.
Sponsor: Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

h.r. 1855 Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans with
traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (9) Related Bills: S.957
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/25/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings
Held.

H.R.1863 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that
veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service Department
of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the
State, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Guinta, Frank C. [NH-1] (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: S.910
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Health.

H.R.1910 : Unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance. A bill to extend for one year the authority of certain
members of the Armed Forces and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to
family members.
Sponsor: Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity.

H.R.1911 : Protecting Veterans' Homes Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/21/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee
to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

H.R.1928 : Women's Fair and Equal Right to Military Service Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the ground combat exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

H.R.1941 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation,
vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other
purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Sanford D.[GA-2] (introduced 5/23/2011) Cosponsors (68) Related Bills: S.951
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

H.R.1968 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 5/24/2011) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

H.R.1979 : Chapter 61 CRDP + SBP/DIC Offset + Reserve Retired Pay: A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability
compensation to include additional chapter 61 disability retirees, to coordinate eligibility for combat-related
special compensation and concurrent receipt, to eliminate the reduction of SBP survivor annuities by dependency and indemnity compensation, and to enhance the ability of members of the reserve components who serve on active duty or perform active service to receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
Sponsor: Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=48860506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

H.R.2002 : Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Transfer. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
permit disabled or injured members of the Armed Forces to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance benefits
after retirement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity.

H.R.2026 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act. A bill to provide grants to establish
veteran's treatment courts.
Sponsor: Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.2048 : Vet Private Cemetery Headstones. A bill to expand the eligibility for the provision of Government headstones, markers, and medallions for veterans buried at private cemeteries.
Sponsor: Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2053 : Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2011. To amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability compensation by veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/3/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2148 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to To amend title 10,
United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a
compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (3) Related Bills: H.R.1178 2148
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Military Personnel.

H.R.2232 : AMRA Charter Amendment. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees Association, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 6/16/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Immigration Policy and Enforcement.

H.R.2318 : Medal of Honor Stipend Increase Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension
provided under that title by up to $500.
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 6/23/2011) Cosponsors (19)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/8/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2349 : Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011 . A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain employees and
managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/8/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported
(Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.2369 : American Legion Charter Amendment. A bill to o amend title 36, United States Code, to provide for an additional power for the American Legion under its Federal charter.
Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (375)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on
the Judiciary.

H.R.2383 : Modernizing Notice to Claimants Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use electronic communication to provide required notice to
claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Bill [OH-6] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee
to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

H.R.2477 : VA Distinguished Public Service Medal. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
establish a Department of Veterans Affair
s Medal for Distinguished Public Service to honor veterans who make remarkable and distinguished
contributions to their communities.
Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 7/8/2011) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2530 : State Nursing Home Reimbursement Rates. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for increased flexibility in establishing rates for reimbursement of State homes by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for nursing home care provided to veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/14/2011) Cosponsors (47)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee
to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

H.R.2550 : Spouses of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for the transfer of entitlement to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs by deceased members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] (introduced 7/15/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity.

H.R.2995 : Post 9-11 GI Jobs Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for hiring post 9-11 veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Keating, William R. [MA-10] (introduced 9/21/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 9/21/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on
Ways and Means.

Senate Bills

S.67 : Disabled Vet Space “A” Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft.
Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services.

S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 2/2/2011) Cosponsors (48)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=25851506

S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain
retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability
compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of
their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 2/14/2011) Cosponsors (27)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/14/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=31190506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for
the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold
War, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services.

S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to
collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs
for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (18) Related bill: H.R.1133
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. Hearings held.

S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance Limitations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48- month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/9/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.542 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel
Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents.
Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (9) Related bill: H.R.1003
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=37008501

S.696 : Vet Center Travel Pay. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. Hearings held.

S.894 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011, in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (14) Related bill H.R.1407
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 8/1/2011 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No.
125.

S.910 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/9/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.1863
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1017 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 5/17/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.117
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1060 : Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to improve education, employment, independent living
services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1184 : Vet Business Misrepresentation Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise
the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.1657
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1314 : Disabled Vet Outreach Program. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Labor to establish minimum funding levels for States for the support of disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 6/30/2011) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1540 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
credits for the purchase of franchises by veterans.
Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 9/12/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.2888
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 9/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Finance.

S.1631 : Establish a New Rural Area VA Center. A bill to authorize the establishment in the Department
of Veterans Affairs of a center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who furnish
care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 9/23/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/23/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The next CSA Council will meet in Apr 2012. Items for consideration by the April 2012 council were not submitted to POM because a representative of the POM Council said we cannot consider anything that is political or requires legislation. Items that our council have interest in and would like to see some changes for the Retiree's are:

1. Increased Pay for Doctors.

2. Consistant Eye Care coverage.

3. Emergency Dental Program.

4. PTSD Contract services for Rural Areas.(Bill Pending)

5. Space A Transportation for Surviving Dependents
(It is Space A). (two bills pending in the House, Senate & for Disabled Vets)

6. Indefinite ID Cards for Spouses at age 65.

We would like DOD to Support the following current Legislation.

11. SBP and DIC Offset (S. 535 and HR 775).

12. GI Bill for Dependents after 9-11 (HR 3577).

These items above were prepared and taken to POM by MSG Ahrendt and he was told that the Council would not consider any item that was political or required legislation.

Disability and Pension Claims

25 February 2010

H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

DD 214 to the VA

H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty.

Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

PX and Commissary for Disabled Veterans and Their Dependents

H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Pay Receipt for Non-regular Service Adjustment

H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.

Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Pay Increase for FY 2011-2014

H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via HYPERLINK "http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241" http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241

Bill to Repeal Increase on Social Security Benefits

H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1513 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (10) Related bill S.407

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048376&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Create a Service Corps of Veterans & Retired Members

H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military.

Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

National Service

H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (37) Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277

Committees: House Education and Labor,

House Reports: 111-37

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13

Army Combat Badge

H.R.1850 : Army Combat Badge if approved for the new date, to be issued to all personnel who served in combat on or after Dec 7, 1941. The current award is authorized to those that served after Sep 11, 2001 and received combat pay. Authorized for wear in 2005.

Pre-Tax Credit onTRICARE Supplemental Premiums

H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (204)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via HYPERLINK "http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=%5bcapwiz:queue_id"http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Gray Area Retiree's Health

H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Social Security Collection When Member Dies

H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

________________________________________

Disability Compensation

H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill S.546

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

VA- APPLICATIONS For DISABILITIES

Applications are pending for over 12 months.

Everyone is aware of this problem. The VA and certainly the Veterans.

This is an outrage! Approximately 1/3 of the applications submitted are by Retired Military Personnel and therefore a problem to the Retired Military Councils.

The other 2/3 are Veterans that have served their country and deserve a decision.

Many have conditions that are aggravated by non treatment. We can do better.

The current omnibus bill, and especially the MILCON-VA provisions, covers a number of important priorities, including: $1.7 billion to allow VA to hire 1,200 additional claims processors to address the nearly 397,000 claims backlog.

(On January 20, 2010 the Federal Times reported the backlog at 489,345.)

This will require; first approval, then hiring, followed by training, and then they can start working on the problem! Looks like about 12 months before they start processing the actual applications. Our veterans deserve better treatment than this. We need to change the way the processing is accomplished.

One possible answer may be: take 200 military personnel clerks, 20 Personnel NCO’s and 5 Warrant Officers and take 95% of the pending applications and process them.

This is not rocket science, there is an established criteria to decide which applications get what percentage and it doesn't have to be done by VA Civilians. The VA may welcome the help. We realize the Active Army is stretched thin, but these veterans need help. This is not the only answer, but it is one solution.

GI BILL POST-9/11: Dependents.

This is the House of Representatives bill to adjust Educational Assistance for Retiree's.
H.R. 3577: Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. Latest Major Action 9/24-2009 House committee subcommittee actions. Status:
Subcommittee Hearings Held.

SUICIDE

Discussion revealed a consensus of opinion that Active duty combat tours are too many. We recommend 2 tours in a combat zone in a 7 year period for combat personnel and not more than 3 tours for combat support personnel in the same 7 years.

Discussion: There are 1.1 million personnel in the Army alone. The war has lasted 8 years, Some people are on their 5th tour. This is unprecedented in our history and certainly creates stress. If nation building is the goal, use the civilian agencies to build the new country such as Dept of Agriculture to teach crops, Dept of Education to establish schools etc. and leave the soldiers to provide security for the Americans, and put down insurrections. If we stop some of the Stress we may cut down on Suicide.

About PMRAVC Administrative Board Members (click below and scroll down)

Bills Pending in Congress (The House and the Senate)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

FROM THE CHAIRMAN: Teddy V. Farson, CSM US Army (Ret)

Managing the web-site

Disability and Pension Claims

25 February 2010

DD 214 to the VA

PX and Commissary for Disabled Veterans and Their Dependents

Pay Receipt for Non-regular Service Adjustment

Pay Increase for FY 2011-2014

Bill to Repeal Increase on Social Security Benefits

Create a Service Corps of Veterans & Retired Members

National Service

Army Combat Badge

Pre-Tax Credit onTRICARE Supplemental Premiums

Gray Area Retiree's Health

Social Security Collection When Member Dies

Disability Compensation

MISSION STATEMENT

Contact Us:

Timely Information Links: (click on title)

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RECOMMENDED BY PAHRUMP AREA MILITARY RETIREE AND VETERANS COUNCIL:

VA- APPLICATIONS For DISABILITIES

GI BILL POST-9/11: Dependents.

DENTAL PROGRAM

EYE COVERAGE:

INCREASED PAY FOR DOCTORS

IDENTITY THEFT

SUICIDE

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS (PTSD)

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