Veterans Journal
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White House warns Congress against hiking VA budget figure
01:00 AM EDT on Monday, July 2, 2007
Moves in Congress to give the Department of Veterans Affairs as much as $3.8 billion more than the Bush administration proposed has drawn an indirect veto threat from the White House.
“If Congress increases VA funding above the president’s request and does not offset this increase with spending reductions in other bills, the president will veto any of the other bills that exceed his request until Congress demonstrates a path to reach the president’s top line of $933 billion,” the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.
The Veterans Affairs budget currently stands at $36.5 billion, and the administration has proposed raising it to $40.1 billion. In Congress, a conference committee is attempting to reconcile a House bill providing $3.8-billion beyond that with a Senate measure that would increase the administration’s proposal by $3.6 billion.
Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the House veterans affairs appropriations subcommittee, said, “This bill is about respect, and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation’s uniform.”
A career fair for veterans will be held Thursday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fidelity Investments Clubhouse northeast lounge, at Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro, Mass.
The RecruitMilitary Career Fair is a free hiring event for veterans, transitioning personnel, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military spouses. Produced by RecruitMilitary, a military-to-civilian recruiting firm, in cooperation with HireVetsFirst, a unit of the U.S. Department of Labor and the American Legion, the fair will have over 20 veterans-friendly organizations conducting one-on-one job interviews. Participating organizations include corporate employers, law enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies and veterans associations.
There is no need to preregister, but veterans should bring sufficient copies of their resumés, which will be needed for job interviews. For more information, visit online at www.recruitmilitary.com.
To show their pride in military service and teach younger generations about the value of serving our nation, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson is urging veterans across the country to pin on their military medals on Independence Day, July 4, to demonstrate their deep pride in their military service and to remind all American citizens, especially the young, about the sacrifices they have made for their freedom.
The VA secretary encourages veterans to display their medals no matter what they are doing on Independence Day, but especially when attending public events. About 24 million living Americans have served in the armed forces, with nearly 18 million wearing the uniforms of the U.S. military during times of war and conflict.
Nicholson said he hoped veterans would wear their medals every year on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day, and when attending any patriotic events. Major U.S. veterans organizations have endorsed the Veterans Pride Initiative. Additional information is on the VA Web site, at www.va.gov/veteranspride/, where veterans can also learn how to replace lost medals or confirm the decorations to which they are entitled.
Responding to shabby outpatient treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., a group of U.S. senators moved June 13 to boost disability pay to those hurt in combat and improve care for brain injury. The measure would also expand medical care and counseling to family members and require better cooperation to end red tape for disabled service members moving from Pentagon care to that provided by the VA.
The measure would boost military severance pay for those rated with less than 30 percent disability and eliminate the current requirement that severance pay be deducted from disability pay. It would also set up Pentagon pilot programs that would give the VA a greater role in the evaluation system, a major shift in how benefits are administered.
To learn more, read the full article online at www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,139120,00.html.
SUBVETS-Groton
SUBVETS-Groton will assemble at 6:30 p.m. today at its clubhouse, 40 School St., Groton, Conn., at 6:30 p.m., for installation of officers and a change of base commander ceremony. Nine-year veteran commander John Carcioppolo will be replaced by Michael Munhall, who joined the Navy in 1981. David Padgett will become the new vice commander. Members will march in Groton’s July 4th parade, which begins at noon, featuring John Carcioppolo as grand marshal, from Poquonnock Plains Park, followed by a members’ luncheon at the clubhouse. For more information or directions, call (860) 464-8770.
Marine Corps League
The Kent County Detachment meets at 7 tonight in VFW Post 449, Providence St., West Warwick. The Higgins Detachment meets at 7 tonight at the Best Western Mainstay Inn, 151 Admiral Kalbfus Rd., Newport.
A new detachment, named in honor of Lance Cpl. John J. Van Gyzen, who was killed in Iraq on July 5, 2004, during his second tour of duty, is forming in Somerset and is open to any active-duty Marine or Marine veteran. Call Bruce Aldrich at (508) 674-5245 or send e-mail to laaldrich@aol.com.
Navy Armed Guard
Members will meet at noon Thursday at the Bickford’s restaurant on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick.
Vietnam Veterans
Chapter 325 will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m., at 1958 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale.
VFW
State department officers elected at last week’s convention include: president, Emily Berndt; senior vice president, Rosemary Williams; junior vice president, Carol Brouillette; chaplain, Michele Silva; conductress, Karen Lavoie; guard, Nancy Robinson; treasurer, Peggy Azzinaro; and secretary, Helen DelRosso. The Ladies Auxiliary will participate in the Bristol Fourth of July parade, and any member interested in marching should meet between 9:30 and 10 a.m. at the parade start point.
George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.
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