Upcoming Job Fairs Around Wisconsin

*July 15, Friday (10:00-2:00 pm): Beloit  

• Army National Guard Armory, 2700 Kennedy Drive
• Contact: Charles Jones, (608) 741-3522

*July 20, Wednesday (12:30-3:30 pm): Bristol

• Kenosha County Center – Bristol, 19600 75th Street
• Contact: Jerry Costello, (262) 697-4707 or David Schwenk, (262) 697-4713

July 20, Wednesday (9:00 – 2:00 pm): La Crosse

• American Legion Post 52, 711 6th Street  
• Contact: Rickie Larson, (608) 785-9376 or Vern Tranberg, (608) 785-9363

*August 10, Wednesday (9:00-1:00 pm): Superior

• Army National Guard Armory, 32 North 21st Street
• Contact: Tom Casey, (715) 392-7808 or Terry Erickson (715) 780-0473

**September 9, Friday (9:00-12:00 pm): Milwaukee

• Milwaukee VA Medical Center, 5000 West National Ave, Room 3435
• Contact: Greg Williams, (414) 389-6293 or Stan Kogutkiewicz, (262) 695-7790

*September 22, Thursday (10:00-2:00 pm): Platteville

• Army National Guard Armory, 475 North Water Street
• Contact: Rickie Larson, (608) 785-9376 or Charles Jones, (608) 741-3522

*October 19, Wednesday (9:00-2:00 pm): Wausau

• Army National Guard Armory, 833 South 17th Avenue
• Contact: Gary Albrecht, (715) 261-8726 or Don Masterson, (715) 261-8725

--------------

Updated July 14, 2011

*Note:  All locations, listed except LaCrosse and Milwaukee are being considered as Veteran and Community Job & Benefit Fairs.

** Update from previous listing

Soldier's OD death blamed on combat stress - and an indifferent military

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Soldier+death+blamed+combat+stress+indifferent+military/5098452/story.html

HUD, VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING AND SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS VETS

            

 

HUD: Donna White (202) 708-0685 FOR RELEASE
VA:    Josh Taylor (202) 461-7216 Thursday  
HUD No. 11-xx July 14, 2011

HUD, VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING AND SUPPORT

TO THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS VETS

Funding part of Obama Administration plan to end Veteran homelessness

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide $46.2 million to public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to supply permanent housing and case management for 6,790 homeless veterans in America.

This funding, from HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), is a coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing for homeless Veterans.  Read a complete local breakdown of the rental vouchers announced today.

“Over the past three years, HUD helped thousands of homeless Veterans find a permanent place to call home while VA provided medical treatment, case management and other services to address their specific needs,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “We have no greater mission than to prevent and end homelessness, especially for those brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our nation”  

“This initiative will strengthen our ongoing efforts to eliminate Veteran homelessness by 2015 and improve quality of life for Veterans,” said VA Secretary Shinseki. “Working with our partners at HUD and in Congress, we continue to make good progress to reduce Veteran homelessness though much work remains. VA is committed to providing Veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and medical services that will help them get back on their feet.”

“This is a great step forward in our effort to get veterans off the streets and into permanent housing,” said Senator Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Growing up during the Vietnam War, I saw a generation of soldiers left behind because they weren’t given the support they needed during their transition home, and I have worked to ensure that veterans today don’t face a similar fate. These vouchers will provide critical support to thousands of veterans whose needs went unmet for too long, so that they will finally get the services they need and a permanent place to call home. HUD-VASH vouchers are a key reason why we are making real progress toward goals to finally end veterans homelessness.”

This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.  Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local agreements to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.  

The grants announced today are part of $50 million appropriated for Fiscal Year 2011 to support the housing needs of 6,900 homeless Veterans.  VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless Veterans. This is the first of two rounds of the 2011 HUD-VASH funding.  HUD expects to announce the remaining funding by the end of this summer.

Homeless veterans are referred to the public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for and willingness to participate in case management.  

The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.  VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.

###

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews or on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD.

VA is the federal government’s second-largest cabinet office.  Secretary Shinseki has outlined three key priorities for the department: increase Veteran access to VA services and benefits, eliminate the disability claims backlog, and end Veteran homelessness.  VA provides health care to more than 6 million people each year, in 91 million outpatient visits and 960,000 hospitalizations.  VA provides more than $58 billion annually in disability pay and pensions to 4.5 million Americans, $10 billion in educational assistance, $1 billion for home loans and $2.6 billion for life insurance. More information about VA is available at www.va.gov.

DAV: Debt Limit Rhetoric Worries Disabled Veterans

WASHINGTON--As Republican and Democratic congressional leaders continue negotiations with President Obama on an agreement to increase the debt ceiling, the rhetoric has become increasingly heated and worrisome to disabled veterans and others who receive federal benefit payments. For many, disability compensation and pension payments are the major source of income.

"It is time to put aside partisan bickering and political brinksmanship when it comes to the nation's sacred obligation to disabled veterans and their families," said Disabled American Veterans National Commander Wallace E. Tyson. "The men and women who have preserved and protected our precious freedoms at great personal cost simply must be guaranteed they will continue to receive their disability compensation and other benefits without interruption."

"It is outrageous that disabled veterans have become political pawns in the fight over how to increase the government's borrowing authority," Tyson said. "Whatever the outcome of the battle over the nation's debt ceiling, compensation and pension payments to disabled veterans and their families and survivors deserve the highest priority in federal spending. Their service and sacrifice is a debt the government absolutely must pay."

Victory for Veterans: Governor Walker Signs Bill Strengthening Department, Board of Veterans Affairs

July 13, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608‐267‐7303

Victory for Veterans: Governor Walker Signs Bill Strengthening Department, Board of Veterans Affairs

Madison – Governor Scott Walker signed Act 36 into law today which relates to the composition of the
Board of Veterans Affairs and the appointment of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

“This law will hold the Department and Board of Veterans Affairs more accountable to Wisconsin’s
veterans and taxpayers and will ensure that veterans from Superior to Kenosha have their voices heard
and interests represented,” Governor Scott Walker said. “I thank Senators Leibham and Hopper and
Representatives Petersen and Spanbauer for their leadership on this issue.”

Act 36 makes several changes to the composition of the Board of Veterans Affairs:

∙        Size of the Board increases from seven to nine members, with at least one board member who is a
resident of each congressional district.

∙        Length of term for Board members is reduced from six to four years.

∙        Members must be veterans who have served on active duty, but are not required to have served in
a particular war or conflict.

∙        Any member currently serving on the Board of Veterans Affairs who has been confirmed by the
Senate will continue to hold office for the remainder of his or her unexpired six‐year term and until a
successor is appointed and qualified.
  Act 36 makes changes to the appointment and duties of the secretary of the Department of Veterans
Affairs:

∙        The secretary, who must be a veteran, will be appointed by the Governor to serve at his or her
pleasure, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

∙        Prior to the appointment of the secretary, the Governor must personally consult with the presiding
officers of at least six Wisconsin veterans organizations.

∙        Any incumbent holding the office of secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall cease to
hold that office on the effective date of the bill.

-----------------

Statement from Sen. Randy Hopper, Chair, Senate veterans affairs committee:  http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/July11/0713/0713hopper.pdf

--------------------


STATEMENT OF KEVIN “KC” JOHNSON, COMMANDER
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN

“DAV APPLAUDS GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING AB 96 INTO LAW”

DAV applauds the legislature for passing AB 96 the historic legislation
that reorganizes the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Governor for signing it into law on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.
We at DAV believe it is time to turn the page and leave the divisiveness,
caused by the ineffectual and dysfunctional leadership of past WDVA
boards and administrations, behind.  This legislation is an important first
step.

We look forward to working with the new WDVA administration,
legislators from both parties, the Governor, and other veterans groups,
both those who supported and opposed this legislation, to see that the
lives of disabled veterans and their families are made better.

WDVA: Moving Wall to be Displayed in Spooner

(MADISON) – A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or “Moving Wall,” will be on display to the public
from July 28 to August 1 at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, the Wisconsin Department
of Veterans Affairs announced.

Sponsored by Washburn County and veterans’ organizations of northern Wisconsin, the exhibit will be open for
viewing around the clock, from the Opening Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 28 until 8:00 a.m. on
Monday, August 1.  There will be a Closing Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31.

The Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at N4063 Veterans Way in Spooner, along
Hwy 53.  For more information about the cemetery location and directions, see www.WisVets.com/Cemeteries.
Read more about the Moving Wall exhibit at www.themovingwall.org.

TSA Improves Screening for Severely Injured

Military Severely Injured Program

Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

To ensure our military severely injured have a smooth and uneventful screening experience, TSA has partnered with the Department of Defense and have developed a process for our wounded warriors. TSA watch standards are in the Military Severely Injured Center (MSI Center) on a twenty four hour, seven days a week bases to coordinate and assist the military severely injured and their families traveling throughout our airport security checkpoints.

Here is how the process works:

• Once flight arrangements are made with the airline, the severely injured service member, their families, individual service severely injured programs, and/or even military treatment facilities & VA hospitals (calling on behalf of the injured service member to be discharged) can call the Operations Center’s 24/7 toll-free number (1-888-774-1361) with details of the itinerary.
• The caller will be connected to a TSA liaison team member via the Center’s care managers.
• The TSA liaison person will then notify the appropriate Federal Security Directors at the involved airports to ensure that any security screening required at those affected airports will be conducted by TSA screening experts with respect and dignity in order to make the overall experience for the service member as expeditious and pleasant, as possible.

Please refer to the links below to assist you as you make travel preparations:

• Introduction
• Before You Go
• Tips For The Screening Process
• Mobility Disabilities
• Hearing Disabilities
• Visual Disabilities
• Hidden Disabilities
  • Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Other Implanted Medical Devices, & Metal Implants
  • Medical Oxygen and Respiratory-Related Equipment
  • Diabetes
  • Medications
• Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids
  • Prosthetic Devices, Casts, and Body Braces
  • Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
  • Augmentation Devices
  • Orthopedic Shoes, Support Appliances, and Exterior Medical Devices
  • Dressings
• Service Animals
• Children with Disabilities
• Medical Conditions and Special Situations
  • Military Severely Injured Program

House Passes Defense Appropriations Bill, CDMRPs Retained

(91outcomes.com) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the FY12 Defense Appropriations Act this morning by a vote of 336-87.  

Despite many rumours of expected floor amendments to reduce or eliminate funding for the acclaimed Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRPs), none were proposed on the House floor.

"You can perhaps chalk this up to luck, but I do think our grassroots advocacy made a difference," said Mark Vieth, Senior Vice President of Washington, DC-based lobbying firm Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates. 

Vieth, whose successful advocacy work includes leading an active coalition of several dozen health advocacy groups and support of two rare diseases that are part of the CDMRP research portfolio, said, "I believe the combined actions of all the groups in this coalition allowed us to hit every member of the House."

"The House Appropriations Committee certainly received signals that amendments were in the works, so I think our efforts may have convinced those considering amendments to back down," said Vieth.

Most of the programs suffered a twenty percent cut from previous year's levels, however.  A rare amendment sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh.) and approved by a three-fifth's margin increased funding for CDMRP Gulf War Illness (GWI) treatment research by 25 percent over last year's level.  

The Senate has not yet passed an appropriations bill for Defense Department for the upcoming fiscal year, meaning this year's process is far from over.  

The highly regarded CDMRP, with a growing portfolio of important successes, supplements and complements other federal research programs like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  VA research funds only VA employees, and has primarily approved research proposed solely by individual investigators.  

CDMRP programs, by contrast, focus on funding only the very best research that falls within strategic goals and funding plans developed by integration panels for each of the researched diseases.  Many of CDMRP's programs focus on broad collaborative efforts.  

And, unlike most other federal research programs including VA and most NIH programs, CDMRP also fully integrates not only medical research peer reviewers, but also consumer reviewers -- individuals directly affected by each disease being researched -- in every aspect of its planning, review, and final research recommendations.

CDMRP funding is highly competitive for the relatively small amount of available funding.  Approval for CDMRP grant funding is a highly prestigious honor in the medical research community.   

CDMRP health research programs are directed by Congress and virtually all are military related.  The programs range from those that are most visibly related to current military service, including traumatic brain injury, psychological health, and Gulf War Illness chemical injuries, to those that have direct, but longer-term association to military service, including ALS, MS, MDS, and an array of cancers and other diseases that are more highly prevalent among military servicemembers than those without comparable military service.  

The greater prevalence of these diseases among current and former military servicemembers is thought to be due to an array of hazardous exposures during military service -- often in combination -- including chemical, radiological, explosive blasts and other war traumas, and extremes in environment, stress, duress, and other factors.   

Demonstrating the value of this Congressionally directed funding, last week, a USA Today article heralded a CDMRP-funded study had found the first successful treatment to alleviate some GWI symptoms.

This success comes on the heels of another USA Today trumpeted CDMRP success identifying a blood test that shows brain injury severity, a critical factor in determining whether troops can be sent back to duty or must continue to recover to prevent further, exponentially significant brain damage.  

Dr. James B. "J.B." Phillips, an official with the CDMRP, gave a very well received presentation on the programs at last year's DAV-Wis. Fall Conference in Appleton.  

--Anthony Hardie, Madison, Wis.

----

MORE INFORMATION:  Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, http://cdmrp.army.mil 

NWTC-Green Bay Veterans Job Fair to be Held July 18th

www.nwtc.edu 
NWTC Green Bay Campus
2740 West Mason St. Green Bay, WI 54307-9042
For more information:
call (920) 498-6908
(800) 422-NWTC ext. 6908, or
email: more.info@nwtc.edu
Veteran’s Open House
         


Veterans— Local employers want  YOU for high-growth jobs. 


Join us for:

• Panel discussion by employers about local job opportunities and their commitment to hiring veterans
• Refreshments and company informational displays
• Opportunity to ask questions and talk with employers
• Conversations with NWTC’s energy, construction and manufacturing programs, plus student services and financial aid
• Representatives from the Veteran Workforce Development Center and County Veteran Services
• Tours of NWTC


July 18, 2011, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Student Center Building — SC 128 • NWTC Green Bay Campus

WDVA: Nominations sought for Wisconsin Woman Veteran of the Year Award

(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is seeking nominations for the
fifth annual Wisconsin Woman Veteran of the Year Award. The award will be presented during the Women
Veterans Conference being held September 23-25 at Fort McCoy.

As part of WDVA’s ongoing commitment to women veterans, the award recognizes women veterans who have
compiled a record of exemplary service as a military service member, a veteran, and an outstanding member of
the community.

The 2010 award recipient was Jessica Maple of Mosinee, who has served her country for 14 years in the
Air Force and Air National Guard and still serves today. She has supported three major deployments and
several military training and professional development events in recent years. Maple served twice supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom. She took time while deployed and volunteered at several base Fallen Warrior
ceremonies. She has also been selected as the senior NCO of the Year for the Air National Guard.

Nominations will be accepted from any Wisconsin resident, veteran, County Veterans Service Officer or
veterans service organization or group. Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year for the
annual award. Completed nomination forms for the 2011 award must be received no later than August 31.

Forms must be submitted in writing, with a narrative not to exceed 500 words, explaining why the veteran is
being nominated for the award. Those nominations not selected may be retained for future award consideration.

Nomination forms are available online at www.WisVets.com/Forms under “brochures” (WDVA B0218) or can
be mailed to those who call to request it by calling toll-free at 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387) and asking for the
Women Veterans Coordinator.

To see more information about the award to include the previous recipient, visit www.WisVets.com/WomenVets.
For more information on WDVA programs and services please see www.WisVets.com.

DAV-WIS. COMMANDER: DAV APPLAUDS HISTORIC LEGISLATION THAT REORGANIZES WDVA

STATEMENT OF

KEVIN “KC” JOHNSON, COMMANDER

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN
ON
2007 ASSEMBLY BILL 96

“DAV APPLAUDS HISTORIC LEGISLATION THAT REORGANIZES WDVA”

DAV applauds the legislature for passing this historic legislation, AB 96, which reorganizes the
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and the Governor for signing it into law on
Wednesday, July 13, 2011.

We at DAV believe it is time to turn the page and leave the divisiveness, caused by
the ineffectual and dysfunctional leadership of past WDVA boards and administrations,
behind. This legislation is an important first step.

We look forward to working with the new WDVA administration, legislators from both
parties, the Governor, and other veterans groups, both those who supported and
opposed this legislation, to see that the lives of disabled veterans and their families are
made better.

VA Creates Women Veterans Call Center -- Major Outreach Effort Launched

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 07, 2011

VA Creates Women Veterans Call Center -- Major Outreach Effort Launched

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has embarked on a major initiative to reach out to women Veterans in order to solicit their input on ways to enhance the health care services VA provides to women Veterans.

“We are taking a proactive approach to enhancing VA health care for women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We are seeking the input of

women Veterans so that VA can continue to provide high quality health care to the growing numbers of women Veterans.”

Representatives at VA’s Health Resource Center (HRC) are placing calls to women Veterans nationwide, asking them to share their experiences with VA and suggest potential enhancements that will further VA’s mission to provide the best care anywhere.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population.

Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services.

VA estimates by 2020 women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population and 9.5 percent of VA patients. The HRC, which started placing calls on June 1, is contacting women Veterans who have enrolled, but have not begun using VA services.

“Through this contact center, we are placing friendly, conversational calls to women Veterans,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “We want these Veterans and their caregivers to talk candidly about why they are not using VA, whether they are aware of the gender-specific services we offer, and what additional services they would like to see VA offer.”

The HRC representatives making the calls are also informing women Veterans about the services VA offers and quickly connecting them with appropriate departments if they are interested in trying VA health care. Veterans who have complaints about VA are connected to a patient advocate who helps resolve issues.

VA has trained professionals in all aspects of women’s health, including general primary care, osteoporosis management, heart disease, mental health care, menopausal services and obesity-related issues, such as diabetes. Preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer are also areas in which VA excels. Soon, all VA facilities will offer comprehensive primary care for women from a single provider.

The Women Veterans Health Care program has made significant changes in the last few years to enhance the health care offered to eligible women Veterans. This progress includes:

• Adopting key policies to improve access and enhance services for women Veterans;
• Implementing comprehensive primary care for women Veterans;
• Conducting cutting-edge research on the effects of military service on women’s lives;
• Improving communication and outreach to women Veterans; and
• Providing mental health, homelessness and other services designed to meet the unique needs of women Veterans

For more information about VA programs and services for women Veterans, please visit: www.va.gov/womenvet and www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth.

# # #

Kucinich Amendment Increases Gulf War Illness Budget by 25 Percent

(91outcomes.com)  Through the leadership efforts of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), today's House floor votes increased the CDMRP Gulf War Illness treatment-focused research budget by 25 percent, as we were seeking. We hope that the final vote will preserve the acclaimed Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program ("CDMRP"), which primarily Tea Party members of the House want to eliminate, claiming it's duplicative of NIH funding.  While it is true that some of the CMDRP subjects are the same as those researched by NIH, such as some of the cancer programs, the funded research is primarily high-risk, high-gain and would not otherwise be funded. This is particularly true for programs like GWI, which VA also researches.    However, VA only funds VA employees, meaning the treatment-focused CDMRP studies would never be funded by VA.   Additionally, most if not all of VA's GWI research is "investigator-initiated" and to date has lacked strategic focus. The proof is in the outcomes, with the first and only successful GWI treatment so far having been funded through the CDMRP and not VA. CDMRP has had just $31 million in appropriations for GWI; VA and DoD combined have spent over $400 million without finding a single treatment to help GWI patients. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) -- VA's gold standard -- 250,000 of the 696,842 veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, or more than one in three, suffer from chronic multi-symptom illness not explained by any physical or psychiatric disorder. [Personal note: The battle for CDMRP funding continues next in the Senate, where I'll be next week hoping to help in the broader efforts to fully restore or increase all CDMRP funding and increase GWI funding to at least $25 million, the level recommended by the IOM.] --Anthony Hardie, Madison, Wis. ======== Kucinich Continues Long-Term Fight for Gulf War Illnesses Research Funding

Kucinich Amendment Increases CDMRP Gulf War Illness Treatment Research Budget by 25% Washington D.C. (July 6, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today continued his his long-term commitment to funding research into the cause and cure of Gulf War Illness by offering an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act, H.R. 2219, which will increase the amount of money available to the Gulf War Illnesses Research Program by 25% over last year’s level to $10 million. Congressman Kucinich took to the floor today to urge support for the amendment. See the video here. The amendment passed today by a vote of 253 to 167 and will be included in the underlying bill. “Today, along with the support my colleague, Representative Michaud, I am offering this amendment to help an estimated 250,000 ailing veterans of the first Gulf War-- over one-third of those who served. It will bring the modest budget for the Gulf War Illnesses Research Program within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) in line with that of its peer programs, to $10 million. “Too many veterans of the first Gulf War suffer from persistent symptoms such as chronic headache, widespread pain, cognitive difficulties, unexplained fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory symptoms, and other abnormalities that are not explained by traditional medical or psychiatric diagnoses.  Research shows that as these brave soldiers age, they are at double the risk for ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease as their non-deployed peers. There may also be connections to Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Sadly, there are no known treatments for the lifelong pain these veterans endure. “In a new landmark report, the Institute of Medicine has recognized that, and called for a major national research effort to identify treatments.  The scientific community has responded with a dramatic increase in the quality and quantity of proposals that are submitted to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, otherwise known as CDMRP.  “In the FY 12 Defense Appropriations bill, CDMRP programs with direct relevance to current forces received a 25% increase.  The research conducted by the Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Research Program is vital not only for ill Gulf War veterans, but also for other military forces.  “As summarized by the IOM committee chair on the topic, Dr. Stephen Hauser, Gulf War illnesses research is ‘vital to the health and effectiveness of current and future military forces, in addition to Gulf War veterans.’   “Most encouraging, CDMRP-funded researchers have completed the first successful pilot study of a medication to treat one of the major symptoms of Gulf War illness.  Just last month, a report was released on the first successful medication program study in the history of Gulf War illness research.  The study showed that the low-cost supplement, Coenzyme Q10, produced significant improvement in one of the most serious symptoms of Gulf War illness, fatigue with exertion, as well as improvements in nearly every other symptom.  It is not a cure, and the study needs be replicated in a larger group, but the result is extremely encouraging. The next step is for clinical trials, which will only be funded by the CDMRP. “The amendment’s offset comes from the Pentagon Channel, which is costly. It is over $29 million in the past 3 fiscal years. It is redundant; there are 8 other armed forces network television services providing news, entertainment, lifestyle, documentary and religious programming to service members and their families across the globe and it does not provide a vital service.  This research is critical to our troops in the field now as well as those that will be fighting in the future. “According to the VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, the known causes of GWI are from exposures incurred in Iraq, like certain pesticides, or are from exposures incurred before deployment, like pyridostigmine bromide, a drug taken as an antidote to the nerve gas, Sarin.  There is also some evidence for a link between GWI and exposure to low-level exposure to nerve agents, close proximity to oil well fires, receipt of multiple vaccines, and combinations of Gulf War exposures.  “Current forces in Iraq and Afghanistan can still incur each of these exposures. That is why the Chair of the IOM Committee report on Gulf War Illnesses said that ‘This IOM report makes findings and recommendations vital to the health and effectiveness of current and future U.S. military forces, in addition to Gulf War veterans.’ “This is a time for us to say thank you to those who served; to say that we understand the suffering that Gulf War veterans have had with this illness and that we are dedicated to finding higher levels of research to make sure that we can relieve their suffering.

AB 96 to be signed into law July 13th

Governor Scott Walker will sign 2011 Assembly Bill 96 into law in a public ceremony in the State Capitol on Wednesday morning, July 13th.

The bill will restore the appointment of the WDVA Secretary to an appointment by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate.  The process was changed to the current, Board-appointed process in 1977, a change that was adamantly opposed by nearly all veterans service organizations and county veterans service officers.

Earlier this year, DAV's Executive Committee considered these issues twice and agreed -- with one member opposing -- to support the AB 96 restoration.

The bill signing ceremony will be held in the Governor's Conference Room in the State Capitol, and a number of key DAV leaders plan to attend.

(Personal note:  Despite having put a lot of personal and organizational effort into getting AB 96 introduced, amended, and passed, due to prior plans, I'll be in Washington, DC on Capitol Hill working on military health research and foreign affairs funding and regrettably unable to attend the ceremony.)


--Anthony Hardie, Madison, Wis.

WDVA Legislative Update - July 7, 2011

WDVA VETERANS LEGISLATION – MONTHLY UPDATE

July 5, 2011

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) provides the Veterans Legislation Monthly Update to notify veterans advocates on relevant legislative developments relating to Wisconsin veterans.

STATE BUDGET UPDATE:

• Budget Passed and Signed – On June 16, the Legislature completed action on the 2011-2013 State Budget, and on June 26, the Governor signed the budget with partial vetoes.

• Summary of Major Budget Provisions relating to Veterans Programs:

• $5 Million GPR Provided to Trust Fund – The budget allocates $5 million in general purpose revenue to the Veterans Trust Fund.  Recent budget projections from WDVA and LFB indicated that the Veterans Trust Fund would experience a $3.7 million shortfall before the end of the 2011-13 biennium without legislative authorization.  This is the first infusion of GPR dollars into the Trust Fund since 1988.  The budget also requires that WDVA provide recommendations to the Legislature on adopting a viable long-term funding source for the Veterans Trust Fund by June 30, 2012.

• Restoration of Wisconsin GI Bill – The budget fully restores access to the Wisconsin GI Bill for Post-9/11 veterans.  Furthermore, the budget enhances access to the Wisconsin GI Bill by ensuring that schools remits the full amount of tuition and fees charged for any degree credit course, including online and distance learning courses.  For more info, see item #12 in the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s (LFB) UW System Comparative Budget Summary and item #10 in the Wisconsin Technical Colleges Comparative Budget Summary. 

• Wisconsin GI Bill at UW-Madison – The budget does not create a separate University of Wisconsin-Madison authority.  Accordingly, the provision that would have enabled the UW-Madison Board of Trustees to eliminate the Wisconsin GI Bill under an adopted resolution is null and void. 

• Increased Budget for Veterans Property Tax Credit – The budget increases the expenditure authority for the Veterans Property Tax Credit Program by $23.8 million over the biennium to support an anticipated increase in usage.  Accordingly, the budget expands the total program budget to $39 million over the biennium.  For more info, see item #5 in LFB’s General Fund Taxes Comparative Budget Summary. 

• Exemption from the Nursing Home Bed Assessment (Bed Tax) – The budget continues the exemption from payment of the bed assessment for the Wisconsin Veterans Homes.  For more info, see item #2 under “Veterans Homes” in LFB’s Veterans Affairs Comparative Budget Summary. 

• Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls – The budget approves the operating budget for the forthcoming Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls.  Also, the budget restores the requirement to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the purpose of identifying the most appropriate business model for the future operation of the Chippewa Falls Veterans Home.  Under the final version of the budget, WDVA will conduct a cost-benefit analysis prior to contracting with a private entity for the operation and staffing of Chippewa Falls and submit the analysis to the Department of Administration.  WDVA may only contract for services which can be performed more economically or efficiently by such contract.  For more info, see item D-34 in the LFB’s Summary of Partial Vetoes in the 2011-2013 State Budget.

• Funding Restored for Military Funeral Honors Stipends – The Legislature and Governor recently passed Assembly Bill 148 (“the bill to pay the bills”), which provides $68,900 GPR to ensure the availability of military funeral honor stipends for veterans service organizations for the remainder of the current fiscal year.  Because the stipends were funded in AB 148, the repetitive language in the state budget bill was not needed and therefore removed.

STATE VETERANS LEGISLATION:

• Legislature Recesses for Summer – Now that the budget has passed, the Wisconsin Legislature has adjourned the regular session.  They aren’t scheduled to convene until early fall.  While legislative committees can still hold public hearings and executive sessions, the Legislature is not scheduled to hold any regular floor sessions until September.

• Appointment of WDVA Secretary; WDVA Board Composition and Powers (AB 96 / SB 97) – On June 8, both the Assembly and Senate passed AB 96 / SB 97, which gives the Governor to appoint the WDVA Secretary and alters the composition and powers of the WDVA Board.  The bill is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.

Under this bill, the Governor would appoint the WDVA Secretary.  Before appointing the Secretary, the Governor must consult with the presiding officers of at least six Wisconsin veterans organizations.  Also, the proposal transfers the direction and supervision of the Department from the Board to the Secretary.  Relating to the composition of the Board, this proposal expands the Board to nine members, one from each of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts and one serving at large.  Finally, the proposal stipulates that all Board members must have served on active duty, but need not have served in any particular war or conflict.

• Preferential Hiring for Disabled Veterans (not introduced) – The WDVA Office of the Secretary is putting forward a proposal to create new pathways to state employment for disabled veterans.  Under current law, state agencies are allowed to expedite appointments of 30% disabled veterans through the non-competitive hiring process if the applicant meets the qualifying criteria set by the agency.  But the non-competitive hiring process is limited to entry-level and non-professional positions.  Accordingly, the Office of the Secretary is working to bring forward legislation that expands the non-competitive hiring process for disabled veterans to all state positions.  See the following link for more info:  Issue Brief: Preferential Hiring for Disabled Veterans.  The Office of the Secretary submitted the proposal to the Governor’s office and is currently awaiting their feedback.

• Track State Veterans Legislation – You can visit WDVA’s State Veterans Legislation – Key Bills webpage to track developments and gather additional information on state veterans legislation.  Also, you can sign up for the Wisconsin Legislative Notification Service toreceive automatic email alerts relating to legislative action on specific bills, committees, legislators and subject areas.

• Contact Your State Legislators – Contact your State Legislators

FEDERAL VETERANS LEGISLATION

• Senate Committee Action on “Hiring Heroes Act of 2011” (S. 951) – The Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Patty Murray, recently introduced the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951).  The bill would implement a variety of practices to increase employment opportunities for veterans, including:

1.      Requiring preseparation job counseling to members whose discharge or release is anticipated;

2.      Instructing the VA Secretary and the Secretary of Labor to follow-up on the employment status of certain veterans;

3.      The provision of additional VA rehabilitation programs for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities; and

4.      The provision of VA grants to nonprofit organizations under a collaborative veterans' training, mentoring, and placement program for eligible veterans seeking employment.

On June 8, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held hearings on the bill, and on June 29, the bill was ordered to be reported out of committee without amendments.  For more details, see the Congressional Research Service’s summary of S. 951. 

• Track Federal Veterans Legislation – You can visit WDVA’s Federal Veterans Legislation – Key Bills webpage to track developments and gather more information on federal legislation specific to Wisconsin veterans. 

• Contact Your Federal Legislators – Contact your Federal Lawmakers

For additional updates and information on the veterans budget and veterans legislation, visit www.WisVets.com/Legislation.  Otherwise please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions.

Thanks for your commitment to better serve our veterans,

Max Dulberger
Executive Assistant
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
608-267-0784
Max.Dulberger@dva.state.wi.us