Download a PDF version of this week’s Action Corps Weekly.
1. Assessing the VA IT Landscape: On Tuesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held its first oversight hearing to discuss challenges VA faces with its IT infrastructure. VA highlighted recent changes to its process to expedite delivery of IT projects and improve the veteran’s experience, such as interoperability of electronic health records between VA and DOD through the Joint Legacy Viewer –– a new scheduling system to get veterans their appointments faster –– and improvements to the system VA uses to process disability claims to ensure veterans get faster decisions. VFW National Veterans Service Deputy Director Ryan Gallucci submitted testimony detailing steps VA must take to improve its claims processing system to ensure VFW Service Officers can track claims and better assist veterans and their families. Committee members and the VFW urged VA to purchase a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic health care record system to replace its aging electronic health care record, VistA. VA’s Acting Chief Information Officer Rob Thomas agreed purchasing a COTS health care record system is the best approach and will propose VA do so. View a video of the hearing or read the testimony.
2. House Veterans Affairs Roundtable: The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hosted a roundtable discussion with committee members and veterans service organizations to review a study conducted on student veterans using their GI Bill benefits. The study, conducted by Student Veterans of America, was a joint research project with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Student Clearinghouse. Their objective was to find a more in-depth understanding of how veterans perform in institutions of higher education while using the GI Bill in comparison to non-veteran students. The study report is set to be published next week. During the roundtable discussion, some data was presented to Subcommittee Chairman Jodey Arrington and Ranking Member Beto O’Rourke on how to preserve and enhance GI Bill benefits. Since 2009, student veterans have earned 453,000 degrees and certificates using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and an expected 1.4 million more degrees will be earned in 10 years. These degrees are primarily in business, management, marketing, health professions and STEM –– all of which are areas in high demand for employment. Learn more about the study.
3. VSOs Release Independent Budget: The VFW, along with coauthors Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, released their 30th edition of the Independent Budget, which is a recommended budget guideline prepared by veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The collaborative report was released Tuesday with the support of 27 other veteran, military, family and professional health organizations. Topping the list of six critical issues for the new 115th Congress to address is the need to strengthen, reform and sustain the VA health care system. Said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy, “Choice Act funding expires this year, so it is imperative that Congress and the administration incorporate what works into the VA’s standard operating procedures as we move forward. Through contracted care, the Choice Act enabled the VA to serve more veterans in more areas than ever before, but it also highlighted weaknesses, such as chronic employee shortages, especially in clerical staffing, which forces doctors and nurses to file paperwork instead of seeing more patients. The Choice Act also proved that contracted care can complement but never replace the continuity and continuum of care that the VA provides to America’s veterans.” Read other comments and download this year’s Independent Budget.
4. Military Struggling With Budget Instability: Ending sequestration has been a top VFW legislative priority ever since it was created by the Budget Control Act of 2011; yet six years later, America’s military is still at war in Afghanistan and Iraq, but now with the added threats posed by Russia, ISIS, China, Iran and North Korea. These points were hammered home Tuesday when the vice chiefs of the four military services testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Readiness has suffered from years of budget instability, statutory budget caps, temporary workarounds, personnel end-strength cuts and Congress passing nine consecutive continuing resolutions. Only one-third of Army brigade combat teams and one-fourth of combat aviation brigades are ready today. Eighty percent of Marine aviation units lack the minimum number of ready basic aircraft. The Navy can only satisfy 40 percent of regional combatant commander demand. Air Force pilots today are flying less than half the 15 sorties and 20 hours a month their predecessors flew in the 1970s, the decade the Air Force uses to define “hollow force.” There is hope the new administration and new Congress can begin making repairs. They have until April 28, when the current stopgap continuing resolution expires. Read testimony and watch the Senate hearing.
5. Pentagon RIF Meeting: Last week, the VFW expressed concern to the Department of Defense that its new reduction in force (RIF) policy –– which lowered veteran preference from second to fourth in importance –– demonstrated a lessening of Pentagon support to retain qualified veterans. As a result, DOD held a meeting with the VFW and other veteran organizations to discuss a potential RIF’s impact on veterans in DOD’s civilian workforce. DOD was required by the 2016 defense bill to create a new RIF policy that moved job performance to the primary retention measurement factor. The VFW awaits answers to questions on the full impact the new measure would have on veterans in the event of a RIF.
6. VA Nominee Gets Closer to Confirmation: On Tuesday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted unanimously to advance the nomination of Dr. David J. Shulkin as Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the full Senate. While other nominees have faced a grueling nomination process, Dr. Shulkin’s nomination is not expected to face opposition. The VFW sent Senate leadership a letter on Wednesday supporting Dr. Shulkin’s nomination and urging a swift confirmation process. The Senate is expected to consider Dr. Shulkin’s nomination on Monday, February 13, 2017.
7. Women’s History Month Art Exhibits: The Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Women Veterans has announced 10 VA Medical Centers that will display female veteran artists’ work throughout the month of March to celebrate Women’s History Month. The Center for Women Veterans partnered with Veteran Artist Program to select the 10 artists who will be featured. Find the location nearest to you and read more about the exhibits.
8. MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of eight Americans who had been missing in action from World War II and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:
— Navy Storekeeper 2nd Class Glenn G. Cyriack was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Cyriack was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Cyriack.
— Fireman 1st Class Michael Galajdik was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Galajdik was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Galajdik.
— Navy Seaman 2nd Class George T. George was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. George was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about George.
— Navy Fireman 1st Class William H. Kennedy was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Kennedy was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Kennedy.
— Navy Musician 1st Class Elliot D. Larsen was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Larsen was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Larsen.
— Navy Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Arthur C. Neuenschwander was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Neuenschwander was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Neuenschwander.
— Fireman 3rd Class Robert N. Walkowiak was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Walkowiak was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read more about Walkowiak.
— Army Sgt. Donald D. Noehren was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. While conducting a delaying action against Chinese forces south from the Ch’ongch’on River to Kunu-ri, North Korea, his unit encountered heavy fire and continuous enemy mortars. Noehren was captured during the withdrawal and was declared missing in action as of Nov. 30, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read more about Noehren.
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