New Laws Enhance Veterans Programs
Washington wire
News from VFW's Washington Office By Tim Dyhouse
LEGISLATION
Three veterans-related bills were passed in the waning days of the 105th Congress, which adjourned Oct. 21. They were then passed on to President Clinton, who signed them into law.
The Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 comprises 11 sections covering issues ranging from health care for Gulf War vets to veterans' funerals.
The law extends VA's authority to provide medical care to Gulf vets through Dec. 31, 2001. It also directs VA to evaluate the health of Gulf vets' spouses and children through Dec. 31, 1999. VA must also assist the National Academy of Sciences or another appropriate independent organization to study war-related illnesses and post-deployment health issues.
In, addition, VA must form a committee, which will include Gulf vets, to advise the secretaries of VA, Health and Human Services and Defense on research regarding Gulf War illnesses.
On the matters of education and employment, the law:
- simplifies and improves VA's education programs;
- requires VA and the military to expand educational outreach programs; and
- Clarifies enforcement of veteran's employment and re-employment rights.
The law also:
- increases the pension for Medal of Honor recipients from $400 to $600;
- extends eligibility for burial in national cemeteries to Merchant Marine vets who served between Aug. 16, 1945, and Dec. 31, 1946;
- improves internal operations for the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals;
- authorizes VA to guarantee multi-unit home loans for homeless veterans;
- extends VA home loans for Guardsmen and Reservists to Sept. 30, 2003;
- authorizes 11 construction projects at VAMCs and three facility leases;
- establishes a scholarship program for "exceptional" VA-employees;
- authorizes VA to provide cancer treatment for atomic vets who received nasopharyngeal radium irradiation treatment in the service;
- extends VA sexual trauma counseling through 2001;
- reappoints VA Undersecretary for Health Ken Kizer until July 1, 1999;
- permits the Board of Veterans Appeals flexibility in scheduling cases to avoid delays; and
- increases the cost-of-living adjustment for vets receiving disability by 1.3%.
$42.6 Billion for VA
Another huge bill approved on the last day of the 105th Congress and sent to Clinton was H.R.4194, which became p.l.105-276. It includes $42.6 billion to fund VA during the current fiscal year.
The act sets aside $1 billion for disability payments to Gulf vets. The money is earmarked for a study of connections between certain illnesses and service in the Persian Gulf. The National Academy of Sciences will conduct the study.
"Gulf War veterans and their supporters deserve full credit for their relentless efforts demanding accountability from our government," said Chris Kornkven, president of the National Gulf War Resource Center.
Kornkven named VFW as one of the main supporters of the legislation.
Other elements of the bill include:
- $23.5 billion for the Veterans Benefits Administration;
- $17.6 billion, which includes large increases in medical care and medical and prosthetic research, for the Veterans Health Administration; and
- $1.5 billion for administrative costs.
Act fulfills VFW Resolutions
Another bill passed at the end of the last Congress was the Defense Authorization Act of 1999. Several of its elements are supported by VFW resolutions. Highlights of the act include:
- basic military pay increase of 3.6%(VFW Res. 434, 437 and 621);
- imminent danger pay policy for Reservists now mandated at $150 per month (Res. 410);
- Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) three-year test, which would allow, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, 66,000 Medicare-eligible military retirees in six to 10 areas across the country to participate in FEHBP under the same cost-sharing arrangements as all other federal employees (Res. 609);
- a new dental program will allow dependents of military retirees to enroll independently of the retiree (Res. 608 and 609);
- reform of the military pharmacy system requires the defense secretary to submit a plan to Congress by March 1, 1999, to incorporate private sector pharmacy "best practices" to provide all military beneficiaries, including those eligible for Medicare, a universal uniform pharmacy benefit (Res. 410, 608 and 609);
- survivor benefit plan will be paid up at age 70 and 30 years of payment starting Oct. 1, 2008 (Res. 410);
- furnishing flags to families of deceased vets and former Reservists who served a minimum of one enlistment and were discharged under honorable conditions (Res. 410 and 626); and
- Honor guard details - consisting of at least three members of the active duty military or vets groups - at military funerals will be provided for veterans funerals occurring after Dec. 31, 1999, contingent on approval of defense secretary's plan presented to Congress by March 15, 1999 (Res. 626).
