DAV State Commander Says Governor’s Budget Proposal Good for Veterans

Restoration of Wisconsin G.I. Bill is key, but legislative proposals don’t go far enough in restoring accountability and public trust in WDVA

(Green Bay, Wis. – March 17, 2011) - “Governor Scott Walker’s proposed budget would restore a promise to Wisconsin’s veterans by fully reversing enacted cuts to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, provide for a new veterans nursing home in Chippewa Falls, and maintain funding for key state veterans programs and services,” said DAV State Commander John Hoeft, a service-disabled Vietnam War veteran from Omro, Wis. “This budget proposal is good for veterans.”

Reversing cuts made in the last biennium to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission for veterans has been a top goal of DAV and other state veterans service organizations.

“Our veterans community fought tooth and nail in the last biennium to try to prevent these cuts to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the state’s cornerstone program for the successful reintegration and retention of our newest generation of veterans,” said Hoeft. “We are pleased the Governor has heard us and has included a proposal to fully reverse those cuts.”

The Governor’s budget recommendations also includes continued full GPR funding for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill and the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit for totally and permanently disabled veterans, their surviving spouses, and the spouses of military service members killed in the line of duty – something Hoeft says if enacted, “would also be exceptional news for veterans.”

“The Governor’s proposed budget also includes a needed increase in funding and staffing for the Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemeteries, sites that honor the service and memories of thousands of our fellow veterans, including our WWII and Korean War veterans,” said Hoeft. “And, I am pleased to see the Governor’s budget also includes additional federal revenues from an increased federal burial plot allowance, a major legislative victory sought by DAV and others for many years,” he said.

However, Hoeft expressed concern about the current leadership of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. “But these legislative proposals do not go far enough in restoring veterans trust, faith, and confidence in the broken leadership at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Hoeft.

Recent legislative audits have exposed serious current mismanagement of the Wisconsin Veterans Homes at the highest levels within WDVA. And, recent news about WDVA has highlighted the agency’s flawed decision to ban all dogs from state veterans homes (later reversed under public pressure), a series of lawsuits by disabled veterans fired or passed over for less experienced non-veterans, and forcing veterans and widows out of the state’s veterans homes due to astronomical rate increases while retaining millions of dollars in unexpended surpluses.

“Just as is already being done in many other states, the Governor’s proposal to contract out the new Home at Chippewa Falls sounds like an excellent way to balance veterans’ care needs, major new job creation, and fiscal accountability – something that is sorely lacking at WDVA under its current management structure.”

And, DAV volunteer leaders have had an unusual battle with current WDVA leadership for nearly two years – over increasing the agency’s hiring of veterans of all things. Despite those efforts and in spite of a state law mandating the agency hire veterans and preferably disabled veterans, out of 136 hires last year WDVA hired just 15 veterans. Of those 15, just three were disabled veterans.

“That’s just simply unacceptable,” said Hoeft, noting that increasing WDVA’s hiring of disabled and other veterans was made a DAV top priority at its annual statewide convention last summer.

Hoeft also addressed the recent comments of WDVA Secretary Ken Black regarding the “solvency” of the Veterans Trust Fund, which has not had a steady funding source since the early 1950’s.

“How this veterans program or that veterans program gets funded has really been a red herring for far too long. What is truly important is that Wisconsin has top quality long term care, first rate programs and services to aid and honor our service-disabled and other veterans, and final resting places that remain a tribute to their service,” he said.

“As Commander of the state’s largest organization of service-disabled wartime veterans, I am generally pleased with the Governor’s budget recommendations affecting our state’s disabled, wartime, and other veterans,” said Hoeft. “While we have a little tweaking to do with a ‘bed tax’ issue, I’m confident that with this highly positive starting point, we’ll wind up with an excellent final budget for Wisconsin veterans programs and services,” he said.

Hoeft had a final message for the Governor, however. “I recognize that the budget bill is limited only to fiscal items, but we in the veterans community look forward to prompt action to ensure leadership change to restore accountability, transparency, and effective management to WDVA and return the state’s veterans agency to the veterans for whom it was created,” said Hoeft.

“…Because if we don’t fix the current mess at WDVA, all the money in the world won’t make a bit of difference,” he concluded.

DAV to Bring Defense Medical Research Program to Appleton

Aims include bringing more federal military medical research to Wisconsin

(Green Bay, Wis.) - The Disabled American Veterans Department of Wisconsin (DAV-WI) will kick off its Fall Conference in Appleton, Wis. with a bang. The first presentation, which is open to the public, will be by James Phillips, Ph.D., grant award manager for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP: cdmrp.army.mil). The CDMRP focuses on finding and funding the best medical research for program areas determined by Congress each year that include physical and mental injuries and diseases.

“We hope that bringing this key Defense medical research program to Appleton will help our veterans and our state, including bringing more federal military medical research and funding to Wisconsin,” said DAV State Commander John Hoeft of Omro, Wis.

Wisconsin has approximately 427,000 veterans, including more than 53,500 service-disabled veterans,[i] who are served by 18 community based VA outpatient clinics, four Vet Centers, and three VA medical centers and hospitals in Wisconsin[ii] and more in neighboring states. VA-Madison and VA-Milwaukee both have strong medical research partnerships with nearby research institutions. Wisconsin ranks 42^nd out of 50 states in bringing in federal dollars.[iii]

Dr. Phillips’ presentation, which is expected to be attended by a panel including the directors of all three Wisconsin VA medical centers and hospitals, will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010 in Appleton, Wis., in the Empire Room at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel on 333 W. College Ave. Dr. Phillips will give an overview and background of CDMRP, including unique features and partnerships.

As an example of one of the funded CDMRP programs, which also include psychological health (including post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, ALS, and numerous cancers, Dr. Phillips will discuss the CDMRP’s Gulf War Illness Research Program funding history, project highlights, and key strategies.

Immediately following the presentation until about noon, Dr. Phillips will be further available in a breakout room for a Q&A with scientists, clinicians, potentially interested medical researchers, and potentially interested consumer reviewers about any of the CDMRP’s programs.

Over the last 18 years, the CDMRP has managed approximately over $5.4 billion – including $626.4 million in FY09 alone – in targeted Congressional appropriations for nearly 9,000 medical research grant awards aimed to prevent, control, and cure targeted diseases.[iv]

-MORE-

CDMRP relies on scientists, clinicians, and other medical researchers from public and private institutions to submit research proposals for possible funding. Researchers also participate in the peer review process.

Scientists and Consumers are fully integrated in the CDMRP, and Consumer patients, survivors, family members and advocates play a pivotal role in all aspects of the review process. The nearly 1,200 Consumers[v] who have participated with CDMRP add perspective, passion, and a sense of urgency that ensures the human dimension is incorporated in all program aspects. Interested consumers are also invited to attend the Appleton presentation, and do not have to be current or former military service members.

Congress has not yet determined next year’s CDMRP funding. This year, CDMRP’s medical research programs include the following:

1. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
2. Autism
3. Bone Marrow Failure
4. Breast Cancer
5. Genetic Studies of Food Allergies
6. Gulf War Illness
7. Lung Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
8. Multiple Sclerosis
9. Neurofibromatosis
10. Ovarian Cancer
11. Peer Reviewed Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
12. Peer Reviewed Medical
13. Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic (Funding Opportunities currently available)
14. Prostate Cancer
15. Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury
16. Spinal Cord Injury (Funding Opportunities currently available)
17. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

WHO: DAV’s Appleton presentation is open to the public and will be valuable to medical researchers with an interest in researching – and military veterans and other potential Consumer reviewers affected by – the health conditions funded for research through the CDMRP. Current and prospective public officials may also be interested in attending to learn more about this key federal defense medical research powerhouse and how it can help current and former military servicemembers and Wisconsin-based researchers and research organizations and entities.

 

---

DATA SOURCES:

[i] State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: www.WisVets.com/data

[ii] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/fac_list_by_state.cfm?State=WI&dnum=All&isflash=0

[iii] U.S. Census Bureau, "Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2007,” published September 2008; Table 422, Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/rankings.html

[iv]^{, v} Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, U.S. Medical & Materiel Command, U.S. Department of Defense, “Annual Report: September 30, 2009.” http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/annreports/annual_reports.shtml

Commander’s Letter to Governor Doyle on Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission

TO:  Governor Jim Doyle, State Capitol 115 East, P.O. Box 7863, Madison, WI  53707

RE: Assembly Bill 781

Dear Governor Doyle,

Thank you for your previous and continued support for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission, a program that is a premier State of Wisconsin state-level economic development, educational investment, veterans readjustment and veterans benefits program worthy of emulation by all the States.

On behalf of the members of the Department of Wisconsin Disabled Veterans, I am writing you to formally request that you use your power as Governor to request a special session of the Wisconsin State Legislature to consider Assembly Bill 781, a bill introduced by Rep. Steve Hilgenberg to make full restoration to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission. You may be aware that the University of Wisconsin System has interpreted statutory language in the last state budget act, signed into law by you, to make substantial cuts to the original benefits under this veterans’ remission.

As you may know, the DAV is the authoritative voice for our nation’s service-connected disabled veterans, including the young men and women wounded or injured as a result of the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And, the spirit of our members in support of our legislative initiatives is essential to our efforts to secure and enhance the programs that benefit veterans, particularly disabled veterans.

You may also be aware the U.S. Department of Labor reported in March 2010 that one in three veterans under age 24 is unemployed; that the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has jumped to 14.7%, half again as high as the national employment rate of 9.7%; that the March unemployment rate of 30.2 percent for veterans aged 18 to 24 is a big increase from February’s figure of 21.7 percent; and, that this data shows that veterans are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn.

You may also be aware of veteran suicide rates that have now reached an average of 950 suicide attempts per month among veterans receiving some sort of treatment from the VA and an average of 18 veteran suicides per day. According to one study, “specifically, the risk for suicide appears highest among younger veterans -- the reverse of what's seen in the general population.”

We have learned that studied risk factors for suicide have been stated to include military service (double the suicide rate of those without military service), diminished social environment support, and loss of security. We have also learned that many studies have found an association between unemployment and suicide, and that a report from the CDC states that suicide rates are inversely related to the level of education, meaning higher education is associated with lower risk of suicide. Of course, there are many other risk factors for veterans’ suicide, particularly mental health and physical impairment issues, no strangers to many of our disabled veterans.

It is our position that the Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission program provides an exceptional opportunity for reintegration for veterans returning from military service before entering the full-time workforce as better prepared citizens.

As disabled veterans ourselves, we believe that the opportunity to pursue higher educational goals under the Wisconsin G.I. Bill – restored to its full benefit, which never should have been allowed to be cut in the first place – and on the socially and intellectually engaging campuses of Wisconsin’s UW and technical college campuses is good not just for veterans, particularly newly returning and reintegrating veterans, but it is good for Wisconsin, particularly Wisconsin’s economy. The program clearly leads to a better educated workforce, very likely able to take Wisconsin’s economy to new heights.

Again, thank you for your continued support for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission program, a critically important, cost-effective investment in the future of our state and our veterans.

Please let me know if you need additional information or want to discuss this request. On behalf of DAV-WI, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Holly Hoppe, Commander

DAV Department of Wisconsin