washingtonscene
COLA Watch
menting reciprocal procedures to cut red eran population and the rising numbers of
tape for military children. As additional returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
! As this column went to
press, inflation stood at
states approve the compact, their repre-
a cumulative 5.7 percent
sentatives will join the commission.
for the fiscal year, with Every state should sign the compact to VA Disconnect
three months still to go.
help all relocating military kids gain im-
If that pace continues,
proved record transfers, reduce repetitive on Guard and
2009 would see the high-
est COLA in 26 years. But
courses, and provide a greater opportunity
a drop in gas prices could
for advancement, college admission ac- Reserve
change that.
ceptance, and scholarships.
Neither servicemembers nor
If your state failed to enact the legisla-
tion this year or will consider it next year,
families get word.
engage your state legislators and encour-
age its adoption.
MOAA has been a supporter of the
compact since the beginning, and MOAA A
VA inspector general report
released in July said the VA failed
to send outreach letters to more
members, chapters, and councils continue than 36,000 National Guard and Reserve
to work hard to promote its adoption in veterans. The report said this was one ex-
their states. ample of problems encountered by Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans in accessing the VA
Investing in
claims and transition-assistance programs
and highlighted shortfalls in VA staff train-
Veterans
ing to understand eligibility requirements
for Guard and Reserve veterans.
Congress adds $3 billion
At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Commit-
to VA budget.
tee hearing July 23, VA offi cials addressed
what is being done to remedy these issues.
But testimony from reserve component
T
he House Appropriations commanders and military and civilian
Committee already has beefed mental health providers got most of the
up the administration’s VA and committee’s attention.
military construction budget by almost They acknowledged several VA pro-
$3 billion. Now the Senate Appropriations grams are in place but said servicemem-
Committee is set to add even more. bers and their families still are falling
VA and Military Construction Sub- through the cracks. Their suggestions:
committee Chair Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) ! The VA and DoD don’t need to be the
chastised the administration for cutting only source of care — care can be supple-
PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and pros- mented by building a large civilian net-
thetics research funding by $38 million work that’s willing to help.
and VA construction accounts by $788 ! The VA needs larger numbers of experi-
million. He also indicated the committee enced mental health providers to provide
was considering raising income thresh- group and individual care for veterans and
olds to make more nondisabled veterans their families.
eligible for VA care. ! DoD and the VA need to educate the
MOAA supports such efforts to continue public that many servicemembers are
improving a VA health care system that experiencing normal reactions to combat
chronically was underfunded in past years, or operational stress, not all of which
given increasing demand from an aging vet- are related to PTSD or traumatic brain
3 6 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8
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