Lawmakers conflicted on VA claims fixes

If there is any conflict it is because there are people who stood in the way of the VA being fixed all these years but are now complaining, pretending they suddenly care.

We've read all the reports about how the VA got this bad over the last eight years but now people like Burr want to act like they care? Enough is enough. I said a long time ago I don't play games when it comes to the truth and I won't play them now. The VA has serious problems that will only get worse if these games are allowed to control the debate instead of the facts.

My attitude is, if they do not support the veterans or support the men and women in the military with what they need to heal, then they don't deserve our support either. This has cost me dearly but when I think about what it has cost them, there is no contest.

If Senator Burr now wants the VA fixed, the question is, what changed his mind? This is not a game. This is life and death for our troops who end up wounded and for our veterans. Yet this is Burr's voting record.

Veterans Issues
Date
Bill Title
Vote
Outcome
09/27/2008
Continuing AppropriationsHR 2638
PN
Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate(78 - 12)
05/22/2008
GI Bill and Other Domestic ProvisionsS Amdt 4803
N
Amendment Adopted - Senate(75 - 22)
01/22/2008
Defense Authorizations BillHR 4986
Y
Bill Passed - Senate(91 - 3)
10/01/2007
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008HR 1585
Y
Bill Passed - Senate(92 - 3)
05/11/2006
Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005HR 4297
Y
Conference Report Adopted - Senate(54 - 44)
05/04/2006
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006HR 4939
N
Bill Passed - Senate(77 - 21)
02/02/2006
Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005HR 4297
N
Bill Passed - Senate(66 - 31)
02/02/2006
Tax Rate Extension AmendmentS AMDT 2735
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(44 - 53)
11/17/2005
Additional Funding For Veterans AmendmentS AMDT 2634
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(43 - 55)
10/05/2005
Health Care for Veterans AmendmentS AMDT 1937
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(48 - 51)
11/21/2003
Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003S 1156
Y
Bill Passed - House(423 - 2)
05/10/2002
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003HR 4546
Y
Bill Passed - House(359 - 58)
11/08/2001
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002HR 2620
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(401 - 18)
10/14/1999
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000HR 2684
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(406 - 18)
09/21/1999
Veterans' Millennium Health Care ActHR 2116
Y
Bill Passed - House(369 - 46)
09/09/1999
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000HR 2684
Y
Bill Passed - House(235 - 187)
09/24/1996
Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations billHR 3666
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(388 - 25)
06/26/1996
Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations billHR 3666
Y
Bill Passed - House(269 - 147)

Veterans Issues

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2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Burr a grade of C.

2006 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 60 percent in 2006.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Burr a grade of F.

2006 Senator Burr sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 33 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 17 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 38 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the American Veterans 50 percent in 2003.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2003.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the The American Legion 60 percent in 2003.

2001 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 100 percent in 2001.

2001 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 77 percent in 2001.

1999 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 1999.

1997-1998 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50 percent in 1997-1998.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=21787&type=category&category=66&go.x=16&go.y=8

Lawmakers conflicted on VA claims fixes

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 17, 2009 14:28:55 EDT

One reason that efforts to overhaul the veterans disability compensation system are taking so long could be conflicting pressures being applied by Congress.

On Thursday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman said he wants to make sure changes are done right.

“We need to be deliberate as we work to develop solutions that will result in appropriate reform,” said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

Noting that studies funded by the Veterans Affairs Department have shown that some veterans are underpaid and some are overpaid, Akaka said calculating the appropriate level of compensation for disabled veterans is “a complex matter.”

But while Akaka was talking about being “deliberate,” the committee’s ranking Republican was pushing VA to act now.

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said all he sees from VA are studies about reforming benefits that end up leading to more studies, while the window of opportunity for change rapidly closes.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/military_VA_disabilityclaims_091709w/

Burr is cold for wounded veterans

PTSD alert from email

PTSD treatment bill of the floor of the senate

A few minutes ago on the floor of the senate on CSPAN Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina described a bill he is introducing. I did not get the number.

This involves PTSD recovery in not only getting treatment but immediate financial aid to the Veteran through the use of stipends upon signing up for the program - provided he does not submit a claim for disability during the treatment and until the treatment is completed. With financial incentives for completing milestones during the intensive treatment. Does not stop the Vet from applying after the treatment.

In his words, what they are doing now is not working and backed up by Dole study as well as the Disability Commission findings.

For those already with disability the stipends would be 1/3 of those that have never sought treatment or disability provided no request for reevaluation is made during the intensive treatment.

Burr Praises New Law Improving Veterans’ Benefits
Better Education Benefits And Improved Treatment For TBI

January 29th, 2008 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today praised President Bush’s signing of H.R.4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which contains several improvements to veterans’ benefits. The legislation strengthens the relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), enhances education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members, and expands benefits and research programs for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“I applaud President Bush and my congressional colleagues for getting the job done on this important piece of legislation,” Burr said. “This law provides our troops with equipment like armored vehicles and body armor. I am particularly pleased with some of the important provisions designed to help those returning from combat, including improved education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members and improved TBI treatment programs for all of our returning heroes.”

Under the new law, National Guard and Reserves who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan can now receive full education benefits after three total years of active duty service. They can also participate in the “buy-up” program, which provides up to $5,400 in additional education benefits. With these changes, Guard and Reserve members may receive over $37,000 in education benefits. Coupled with additional amounts paid from DOD for critical or hard to fill skills, their benefits may cover over 90% of the cost of a four-year public college education, including tuition, fees, room, and board. National Guard and Reserves may also participate in the Accelerated Payment Program, which pays for up to sixty percent of the cost of short term, high cost vocational training.

The new law also enhances services and benefits provided to veterans with traumatic brain injury. It requires the VA to develop individual treatment plans for all patients with TBI and develop a long-term care program for post-acute TBI patients. It also allows recently separated combat veterans to receive priority access to VA health care for five years following separation, up from the two years they currently receive.

http://burr.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases
.Detail&PressRelease_id=372&Month=1&Year=2008

If he cared wouldn't he show up more often?

Burr has Poor Attendance at Veterans Affairs Hearings
Health Care
Richard Burr
Security & Emergency Response
Veterans & Military Families

Lisa Zagaroli, McClatchy Newspapers
When U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina assumed the GOP leadership position on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs last week, he came to it with a bit of a gap -- he had attended fewer than half its hearings in recent years.
Others on the panel have worse attendance records. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the military himself, only showed up three times at veterans committee hearings between the start of 2005 and May 16, 2007, according to a Charlotte Observer review of the published proceedings from 44 meetings.
Burr's attendance -- he has gone to 20 meetings -- is about the middle of the pack. A few senators attended most of the meetings, led by former Chairman Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who attended 43 of the 44 hearings, and some senators attended only a few, such as Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who attended two.
http://www.ncdp.org/taxonomy/term/15

But it happened while they were in charge and ignored the problem when they could have saved lives. Why all of a sudden do they forget they had all the power to act for the sake of the troops and blew it?

Welcome! As the Ranking Member on this committee, I want you to know that Republicans are working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to ensure America’s veterans are getting the care and services they deserve. We’ve made great strides recently. For example, funding of key programs serving veterans has risen dramatically in the past few years and VA health care has recently been ranked as among the best care in the nation.

There is room for improvement, of course, and I am dedicated to working with my Senate colleagues to improve the service and care our nation’s veterans receive. Please contact me at (202) 224-2074 or send me an email if you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve our service to veterans.
http://www.senate.gov/~svac/public/index.cfm?page=ranking_member

He asked to be contacted, so why not do it?