bulletin 160515 (html edition)

8/17/2019 Bulletin 160515 (HTML Edition)

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RAO

BULLETIN15 May 2016

HTML Edition

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES

P A!ti"#$ S%&'$"t

( )O) ( *

04 == SBP Changes after Retirement [03] ---- (Open Season Ends No !0"#$0% == N&'' !0" [0"] ------------- ()'SC *ar+,p Signifi.ant Proisions$0# == N&'' !0" [04] --------------------- (CBO Cost Estimate on )/R/40$0# == Na1 Ship2,iding Pan [0"] ----------------- (30 ear Pan !! Ships$05 == &EC' 'disor1 Co,n.i ---------------------- (So,ght 21 6et Coaition$

0 == Pentagon Pro.,rement ------------------------------ (B,1 'meri.an 7ss,e$"" == &o& 8o2a..o Poi.1 ------ (Saes Pri.e 7n.rease of !# to 3!9 Coming$"! == Commissar1 Pri.es [0%] -------------------- (Pa.ifi. :r,it;6egeta2e Bi$"3 == PO O7 )opes to Repair Offi.e?s 7mage$"# == 6ets :irst '.t [0"] ------------------------- (7nitiaties 'ddressed in Bi$" == 6' Se.retar1 [4%] --------------------- ()o,se Proposas ith PhoeniA er$" == 6' Bi2e Poi.1 -------------------- (Remoas from PO


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!5 == 6' 6et Choi.e Program [3] - (6et Organi@ations Oppose EApansion$! == 6' 8ransgender Care --- (ender 8ransition-Reated S,rger1 Petition$! == 6' *enta )eath Care [!] - (St,d1 Sa1s 6' EA.eeds Priate Se.tor$30 == 6' *edi.a 7nternet ----------------------------- ()a.+er &efense So,ght$30 == 6' :ra,dD


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# == 8r,mp *iitar1 Press Poi.1 ------------------- (Nationa Se.,rit1 7ss,e$0 == 8r,mp '.tie &,t1?s Preferen.e ------------------------- (!-to-" *argin$" == RPHChina &isp,te ["#] -------- (L/S/ Patros Prompt Port-6isit &enia$! == *iitar1 Com2at 8raining ----------------------------------- (Pit and Pond$3 == S-" Spa.e Sh,tte ---------- (Re,sa2e 6ehi.e for Pa1oad a,n.hes$4 == *eda of )onor Citations ---------------------- (BarfootH6an 8 it aii Retired 6ets ----------------- ('s of *a1 !0"#$

( GENERAL INTEREST ( *

"05 == Notes of 7nterest ---------------------------------- (" thr, "% *' !0"#$

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""0 == Citade *iitar1 Coege ---- (*,sim Lniform 'ttire Not 'o>ed$""! == ,n Contro [0"] -- (SS' to Bo.+ *enta1 7 from B,1ing ,ns$""! == *ariG,ana *ar+et ---------------------------- (Pri.ing Considerations$""3 == Pa1da1 oans ------------------------------- (ooge 'dertising Ban$""4 == Chidren of the 30s 40s ----------------------------- (8he ast Ones$""% == Smart Phone 'ddi.tion ---------------------------- ('re 1o, )oo+edQ$

""# == Brain 8easer ------------------------ (Brain 8easer oo+ Both it.h SBP .oerage to a.,rrent spo,se/ 8his open season period appies ON to mem2ers >hoI

• )ad SBP .oerage for a former spo,se 2efore No/ !%D !0"%D and• .hange affe.ts resere .omponent retirees >ho p,r.hased Resere Component SBP (RCSBP$ as >e/8he former spo,se SBP open season .oerage does not app1 if SBP .oerage >as dis.ontin,ed for an1 reason other than the death of the .oered former spo,se/ Retired mem2ers >hose SBP-.oered former spo,se has died and >ho

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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remarr1 after No/ !%D !0"% .an app1 to &:'SD proided the1 app1 >ithin one 1ear of remarriage/ o, .an read at>>>/dfas/mi;retiredmiitar1;proide;s2p;:S-SBP-open-season-"#/htm the spe.ifi. &:'S g,idan.e .on.erningeigi2iit1 and reM,ired do.,mentation/ [So,r.eI *O'' eg Lp *a1 "3D 0"# ]

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

N)AA 201 Udat$ 01 3 HASC Ma!78% 9 Sinii"ant P!o4i,ion,

8he )o,se 'rmed Seri.es Committee ()'SC$ foo>ed the ead of the Personne S,2.ommittee and reGe.tedadministration proposas to .ap the miitar1 pa1 raise and .,t for.e ees/ 'fter a marathon sessionD the .ommittee>ent on to in.,de seera other signifi.ant proisions in its ersion of the : !0" defense a,thori@ation 2i on !'PRD in.,ding the foo>ingI

S%!4i4o!,: EAtends the Spe.ia S,rior 7ndemnit1 'o>an.e 21 one 1ear ,nti O.t/ "D !0"5D and +eeps themonth1 rate at 3"0/ SS7' >as esta2ished in !005 to proide in.rementa reief to s,riors affe.ted 21 theU>ido>s taA/V !lthough "#!! is disappointed at the inabilit$ to increase the allowance% we&re relieved it won&t beallowed to e'pire. ! one($ear e'tension automaticall$ creates pressure for further action% and committee leaders

have pledged to work toward raising the ))*! and phasing out the offset. 8he 2i aso .hanges the S,rior BenefitPan (SBP$ .a.,ation for s,riors of resere personne >ho die >hie sering ,nder 7na.tie &,t1 8raining (7&8$orders to the same (more faora2e$ method ,sed for deaths on a.tie d,t1/ This is another "#!!(supported issue.

Fo!$! So%,$,: Changes the r,es ,nder the Lniformed Seri.es :ormer Spo,se Prote.tion '.t (LS:SP'$ 21 2asing the amo,nt of retired pa1 to 2e diided >ith a former spo,se on the seri.emem2ers grade and 1ears of seri.e at the time of dior.eW the .hange >o,d not 2e retroa.tieD 2,t >o,d app1 to dior.es finai@ed after this.hange 2e.omes a>/ "#!! has long supported this measure.

Wo$n and t/$ d!at: ReM,ires 2oth men and >omen rea.hing age "5 to register >ith the See.tie Seri.e/ B1a 3!-to-30 oteD the .ommittee de.ided the re.ent opening of a .om2at roes to >omen means the1 sho,d noonger 2e eAempt from draft registration/

Na4y: 7n.reases Na1 for.e ees 21 a2o,t "D00 a2oe the &o& 2,dget reM,est/ 8he 2i aso .hanges the nameof the &epartment of the Na1 to the &epartment of the Na1 and *arine Corps/

H$a#t/ Ca!$ Sy,t$:

'ppies a ne> 8R7C'RE fee str,.t,re simiar to that proposed 21 the Pentagon for f,t,re seri.e entrantsD

2eginning in !0"5/ )o>eerD the 2i >o,d grandfather .,rrent1 sering and retired mem2ers andfamiies against the arge fee hi+es proposed in the Pentagons : !0" defense 2,dget/

• 8RC'RE :ee in.reases in f,t,re 1ears >o,d 2e indeAed 21 CO' - the per.entage in.rease in miitar1

retired pa1 rather than the (higher$ heath .are infation indeA proposed 21 the &o&/ 8his is in ine >ith*O''s and 8he *iitar1 Coaitions re.ommendation/

• No .hanges for 8R7C'RE :or ife or 8R7C'RE Prime/ )o>eerD the 2i enisions .hanging the .,rrent

8R7C'RE Standard program to a preferred proider s1stem >ith fat-doar .opa1s for most do.tor isits/•

Retired mem2ers and famiies >ishing to sta1 in this ,pdated ersion of 8R7C'RE Standard (>hi.h >o,d 2e renamed 8R7C'RE Preferred$ >o,d need to enro ann,a1 (no enroment is reM,ired at present$/ 'nann,a enroment fee of "00;!00 (singe;fami1$ >i 2e reM,ired of .,rrent1 retired mem2ers on8R7C'RE PreferredD 2,t >o,dnt start ,nti !0!0 - on.e &o& demonstrates it has improed its .apa.it1 to

proide time1 a..ess to M,ait1 .are/• Pa.es a miitar1 treatment fa.iities (*8:s$ ,nder the dire.tion of the &efense )eath 'gen.1D effe.tie

O.t/ "D !0"5D for p,rposes of ,nified poi.1D administrationD and 2,dgeting/ "#!! has long supported this proposal based on the cost and inefficienc$ of building militar$ health care programs around three

separate s$stems for each of the services.

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http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/provide/sbp/FS-SBP-open-season-16.htmlhttp://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/provide/sbp/FS-SBP-open-season-16.htmlhttp://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/provide/sbp/FS-SBP-open-season-16.html


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• Esta2ishes a >ide ariet1 of reM,irements intended to enhan.e 2enefi.iar1 a..ess to .are/ 8his in.,des

eAtended ho,rs at *8:s for primar1 .areD proiding ,rgent .are ,nti "" P/*/D and a,thori@ing ,nimiteda..ess to ,rgent .are >itho,t a referra/ 8he proposa aso .reates metri.s for M,ait1 of .areD >ait timesD

proider-to-2enefi.iar1 ratiosD and proider prod,.tiit1/• ',thori@es miitar1 fa.iities to se d,ra2e medi.a eM,ipment (e/g/D hearing aids$ at .ost to fami1

mem2ers of retirees/

!ll in all% "#!! supports the +!),’s balanced approach to reforming the militar$’s health care deliver$ s$stemand especiall$ appreciates the ,ommittee’s rejection of the large fee increases proposed in the -o- budget. 8hef, )o,se of Representaties is eApe.ted to .onsider the )'SC mar+-,p of the Nationa &efense ',thori@ation '.tin *a1 !0"#/ [So,r.eI *O'' eg Lp 'pri !D !0"# ]


N)AA 201 Udat$ 0 3 CBO Co,t E,tiat$ on H*R*;0;

)/R/ 40 >o,d a,thori@e appropriations totaing an estimated #03/3 2iion for the miitar1 f,n.tions of the&epartment of &efense (&o&$D for .ertain a.tiities of the &epartment of Energ1 (&OE$D and for other p,rposes/ 7nadditionD )/R/ 40 >o,d pres.ri2e personne strengths for ea.h a.tie-d,t1 and see.ted-resere .omponent of theL/S/ armed for.es/ CBO estimates that appropriation of the a,thori@ed amo,nts >o,d res,t in o,ta1s of %5

2iion oer the !0"-!0!" period/

Of the amo,nt that >o,d 2e a,thori@ed for !0" %#/0 2iion >o,d 2e for 2ase 2,dget .osts for defense programsD 0/4 2iion >o,d 2e for nondefense programsD and 3%/ 2iion >o,d 2e to .oer a portion (seenmonths$ of .osts dire.t1 reated to >ar-reated a.tiities/ :,nds for the dire.t .ost of >ar-reated a.tiities for theremaining fie months of !0"Xro,gh1 !0 2iionX.o,d 2e proided in s,ppementa appropriationsW the 2iDho>eerD >o,d not a,thori@e additiona f,nds for that p,rpose/

7f appropriatedD %44/0 2iion of the a,thori@ed amo,nts >o,d .o,nt against the !0" defense .ap set in theB,dget Contro '.t (BC'$D as amended and 0/4 2iion >o,d .o,nt against the nondefense .ap/ 'n additiona

%5/5 2iion >o,d 2e a,thori@ed for oerseas .ontingen.1 operations (OCO$ and if appropriated >o,d not .o,ntagainst the .aps/ Of the amo,nt designated for OCOD !3/" 2iion >o,d 2e ,sed in s,pport of 2ase 2,dgetreM,irements >hie the remaining 3%/ 2iion >o,d 2e for >ar-reated a.tiities/ 8o reie> the CBO .ost estimaterefer to httpsI;;>>>/.2o/go;sites;defa,t;fies;""4th-.ongress-!0"%-!0"#;.ostestimate;hr40has./pdf / [So,r.eICBO *a1 ""D !0"# ]


Na4y S/i&%i#din P#an Udat$ 01 3 .0 -$a! P#an 9 2;2 S/i,

8he Na1?s ne> 30-1ear ship2,iding pan proGe.ts a feet of !! ships in !04# X a feet that is short of theseri.e?s 305-ship goaD is do>n from the 30% ships proGe.ted ast 1ear and raises M,estions a2o,t the O2amaadministration?s ision of a arger Na1/ 8he proGe.ted !! ships >o,d 2e a !0-ship in.rease from toda1?s 2atte-for.e feet of !!/ B,t the ship2,iding pan X o2tained 21 PO787CO ahead of its panned deier1 to Congress inthe neAt fe> da1s X a.+no>edges that getting to that n,m2er >o,d reM,ire Uf,nding that eA.eeds ees the Na1has histori.a1 .ommitted to ne> ship .onstr,.tion/V

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https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/costestimate/hr4909hasc.pdfhttps://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/costestimate/hr4909hasc.pdfhttps://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/costestimate/hr4909hasc.pdf


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8he si@e of the Na1 has 2een an iss,e on the presidentia .ampaign traiD 2oth in !0"! X >hen President Bara.+ O2ama and Rep,2i.an .haenger *itt Romne1 famo,s1 tanged oer the iss,e d,ring a de2ate X and in the.,rrent .1.eD >ith seera of the no>-anM,ished Rep,2i.an .ontenders .aing for 2ig ship2,iding 2oosts/ 8hisatest ann,a ship2,iding pan sho>s the impa.t of &efense Se.retar1 'sh Carter?s de.ision in &e.em2er to order the Na1 to .,t its tota panned p,r.hases of ittora Com2at Ships from %! to 40D sa1ing the Na1 >as too fo.,sedon ship M,antit1 and sho,d instead inest more in ship ethait1/ Carter has 2,tted heads oer the iss,e >ith Na1Se.retar1 Ra1 *a2,sD >ho has defended the seri.e?s emphasis on M,antit1 as +e1 to proiding Upresen.e/V U8hat

,nriaed adantageD that presen.e X onD a2oe and 2eneath the seas X reass,res o,r aies and deters o,r adersariesDV *a2,s said in a spee.h earier this 1earD 2asting poiti.ians >ho?e des.ri2ed the Na1 as shrin+ing/U7n the seen 1ears foo>ing !00D >e >i hae .ontra.ted 54 shipsD more than the ast three Na1 se.retaries.om2ined/V

Lnder the ne> ship2,iding panD the Na1 >o,d not shrin+ X as a n,m2er of prominent Rep,2i.ans hae.harged X 2,t it aso >o,dn?t gro> as m,.h as proGe.ted G,st a 1ear ago/ 8he pan proGe.ts the Na1 getting to 300

2atte-for.e ships in fis.a !0" and pea+ing at 3"3 ships in fis.a !0!%D a.hieing a miestone of rea.hing a 300-ship for.e/ B,t the si@e of the feet >o,d then 2egin droppingD rea.hing !! ships 21 !04#D the res,t of aging ships

2eing de.ommissioned and fe>er CSs than preio,s1 enisioned to repa.e them/ Lnder ast 1ears panD the Na1>o,d hae pea+ed at 3!" ships in fis.a !0!5 and then de.ined to 30% ships in !04%/ 8he reportD ho>eerD notes the

Na1 fa.es a n,m2er of .haenges getting to een the red,.ed totaD in.,ding ho> to pa1 for a ne> feet of Ohio-

.ass repa.ement 2aisti. missie s,2marines/ 8he seri.e?s ans>erI more mone1/ 8he Na1 U.ontends that the on1>a1 to effe.tie1 oer.ome these .haenges >hie s,pporting the defense strateg1 is >ith in.reases in [Na1]topine f,ndingDV the report sa1s/

Na1 ado.ates in Congress hae 2een pressing for a miitar1->ide f,ndD separate from the Na1?s normaship2,iding a..o,ntD to pa1 for the ne> 2aisti.-missies s,2marines X a pan opposed 21 some senior appropriators 2e.a,se it >o,d effe.tie1 for.e the 'rm1 and the 'ir :or.e to s,2sidi@e a ship2,iding program/Ltimate1D a..ording to the reportD the Na1 >i 2e a2e to .arr1 o,t a its highest-priorit1 missions een >ith thered,.ed n,m2er of ships/ 8he Na1D the report sa1sD U.an and >i a.hiee the reM,isite miA of ships proiding thisship2,iding pan .ontin,es to re.eie sta2e and s,ffi.ient f,nding oer the ong ha,/V

' Na1 offi.iaD spea+ing on the .ondition of anon1mit1D said ong-term ship2,iding proGe.tions sho,d 2e ta+en>ith a grain of sat gien a the things that .o,d .hange 2et>een no> and !04#/ Y*ost 30-1ear ship2,iding pans

are not >orth m,.h 2e1ond three to fie 1earsDY the offi.ia saidD eApaining that the Na1 >as doing a ne> for.estr,.t,re assessment this 1ear to ,pdate the preio,s one from !0"4/ 'nd that .o,d hae a 2ig impa.t on its ong-term ship2,iding goas/ 'soD the offi.ia notedD a ne> presidentia administration neAt 1ear .o,d de.ide it >ants to.hange the .,rrent ship2,iding traGe.tor1/ China has pans to gro> its na1 to 3%" ships 21 !0!0 as the Chinese.ontin,e to deeop their miitar1?s a2iit1 to stri+e go2a targetsD a..ording to a re.ent Congressiona report/[So,r.eI PO787CO ',stin


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)ECA Ad4i,o!y Co%n"i# 3 So%/t &y +$t Coa#ition

' .oaition of miitar1 and eterans ado.ates >ants the &efense &epartment to esta2ish an adisor1 .o,n.iD made,p of .,stomersD to hep prote.t the saings in miitar1 stores/ U8his .o,n.i >o,d >or+ >ith the &o& to ens,re thatthe .ommitment p,t forth 21 &o& and the Congress not to diminish patron saings >o,d 2e adhered to goingfor>ardDV >rote the Coaition to Sae o,r *iitar1 Shopping Benefits in a *a1 # etter to the Senate 'rmed Seri.esCommittee/ 8he etter >as signed 21 !% miitar1 and eterans seri.e organi@ations ranging from the 'ir :or.eSergeants 'sso.iation to 6ietnam 6eterans of 'meri.a/ Uhat .hanges >i 2e made and ho> the1 >i 2e madeDV said Fo1.e Rae@erDeAe.,tie dire.tor of the Nationa *iitar1 :ami1 'sso.iationD one of the organi@ations that signed the etter/ U&o&has 2een forth.oming a2o,t teing asso.iations >hat the1?re doing and >hat the1?re de.idingD 2,t that?s after thefa.t/

U is more transparen.1 on ho> de.isions are madeD ho> metri.s are 2eing determined andea,atedD sometimes at a higher ee than [the &efense Commissar1 'gen.1]DV Rae@er said/ ears agoD &eC' hadits o>n patron adisor1 .o,n.iD 2,t that no onger eAistsD she said/ U7t >as ,sef, in 2ringing ,p .on.erns from thefiedD 2,t met sporadi.a1/V 8he ado.ates are .aing for a .o,n.i to 2e esta2ished at a higher ee >ithin the

&efense &epartmentD >here de.isions are .,rrent1 2eing made a2o,t the .ommissar1 2enefit/ 7t?s the .oaition?shope that the patron .o,n.i >o,d adise &o& offi.ias on matters regarding a resae a.tiitiesD to in.,de.ommissariesD eA.hangesD and moraeD >efare and re.reation saes o,tetsD said Canda.e oman for the Coaition to Sae O,r *iitar1 Shopping Benefits/ She?s aso i.e president of strategi. .omm,ni.ations andmar+eting for the 'meri.an ogisti.s 'sso.iationD an organi@ation of some of those >ho do 2,siness >ith miitar1resae a.tiities/

7f the .ommissar1 agen.1 starts ,sing aria2e pri.ing X mar+ing ,p pri.es for a profit rather than seinggro.eries Uat .ostV X it >i 2e important for &o& to 2e transparent in ho> it .a.,ates saingsD Rae@er said/Benefi.iaries sho,d hae the opport,nit1 to proide feed2a.+ to refine that pro.essD she said/ 8he re.ommendationis part of a etter ,rging U.a,tion on the s.ope and pa.e of reforms 2eing .onsideredV reated to the .ommissar1

2enefitD that are no> part of dei2erations on the fis.a 1ear !0" defense a,thori@ation 2i/ 8he )o,se 'rmed

Seri.es Committee passed its ersionD )/R/ 40D in 'pri/

8he Senate 'rmed Seri.es Committee is no> in the pro.ess of .rafting its ersion of that defense poi.1 2i/8he )o,se ersion of the 2i >o,d ao> &o& to ,se aria2e pri.ing and deeop priate a2e prod,.tsD moinga>a1 from seing gro.eries at .ost/ &o& offi.ias are no> determining their o>n detaied 2aseine of saings ,nder the .,rrent s1stem X ho> m,.h .ommissar1 shoppers sae s/ shopping o,tside the gates/ '..ording to &eC'smethodoog1 for .omparing pri.esD the aerage oera saings is 30 per.ent/ 8his st,d1D .ond,.ted ann,a1D.ompares the pri.es of tho,sands of items >ith other gro.er1 stores/ 7t?s not 1et +no>n >hat the eApe.ted ee of saings >o,d 2e ,nder the reformed .ommissar1 s1stemD 2,t &o& do.,ments a1ing o,t their pan sa1 the saingsfor .,stomers >o,d 2e Ureasona21 .onsistentV >ith the ee of saings ,nder the .,rrent s1stem/ 8he draft )o,seegisation proides safeg,ards to prote.t the .ommissar1 2enefitD and a>ma+ers hae noted that an1 .hanges areUnot irreersi2eV ,nder the proposa/

&o& >o,d 2e reM,ired to s,2mit reports at east M,arter1 on the progressD and as a>ma+ers monitor the.hangesD if there are pro2emsD &o& >i hae the a,thorit1 to inf,se more taApa1er doars into the .ommissar1s1stem to ma+e s,re the 2enefit is maintained for seri.e mem2ers/ Oer the neAt fie 1earsD &o& offi.ias >ant tosae a .,m,atie " 2iionD >ith a goa of saing %"! miion taApa1er doars in fis.a !0!"D a..ording to &o&do.,ments o,tining the reform proposas/ 8his draft egisation aso gies &o& a,thorit1 to .onert the &efenseCommissar1 'gen.1 to a nonappropriated-f,nd organi@ationD ao>ing it to operate more i+e a 2,siness >ith theaim of gaining saings in its operations/ 8he .oaition?s etter to senators eApressed .on.ern that &o& >i ,se thisegisatie a,thorit1 Vto 2rea+ do>n the traditiona 2arriers to f,nding .ommissaries and eA.hangesDV potentia1

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ao>ing offi.ias to siphon off miitar1 eA.hange doars to f,nd shortfas a.ross the miitar1 resae s1stemDin.,ding .ommissaries/ [So,r.eI *iitar1 8imes Jaren Fo>ers *a1 D !0"# ]


P$ntaon P!o"%!$$nt 3 B%y A$!i"an I,,%$

Can 'meri.ans tr,st the Pentagon to pi.+ o,t a pair of snea+ersQ :ifteen 1ears in deeopment at a .ost eApe.ted torea.h "/4 triion oer its ifetimeD the &epartment of &efenses neAt generation fighter Get has 1et to get off thegro,nd in more than a test fight or to fire a singe shot in .om2at/ Ne>s>ee+ maga@ine re.ent1 mo.+ed the GetD the:-3%D as Uthe pane that ate the Pentagons 2,dget/V ears of inde.ision and fase starts aso has dea1ed a.tion on theneAt generation of handg,n to repa.e the 'rm1s m,.h maigned * pisto/ ' fe> >ee+s agoD 'rm1 Chief of Staff en/ *ar+ *ie1 2amed the Pentagons 2,rea,.rati. pro.,rement s1stem for the dea1 and so,ght permission toshop for the sidearm himsef/ 8he miitar1s Ufragmented approa.hV to 2,1ing .amo,fage ,niforms is p,tting troopsat ris+ and >asting miions of doarsD the oernment '..o,nta2iit1 Offi.e re.ent1 aeged/ 8he offi.e ,rged theseri.es .onsoidate the effort/

' this .omes on top of other pro.,rement 2oondogges 21 the miitar1 oer the ast de.ade or t>oD in.,dingthat it has paid D#00 ea.h for .offee ma+ersD 43% ea.h for hammers andD pro2a21 most famo,s1D #40 ea.h for

toiet seats/ 'dd this to the istI 8he Pentagon has 2eg,n 2,1ing ro.+et engines made in R,ssia/ No> the Pentagonhas stepped into more pro.,rement M,i.+sandD this time in a>ren.eD *ass >here it to,.hed off a >ar of >ords >iththe Ne> Baan.e foot>ear .ompan1D the a>ren.e Cit1 Co,n.i and L/S/ Rep/ Ni+i 8songas (&-o>e$ 21 aegingthe .ompan1s atheti. shoes are not fit for miitar1 d,t1/ 8he .ompan1 is not ao>ed to se shoes on miitar1 2asesD>hi.h it sa1s >i .ost it the sae of man1 as !!%D000 pairs to re.r,its and sodiers ann,a1/

7t >as a sn,2 heard ro,nd the >ordD spar+ing aegations that the &epartment of &efense prefers shoes made in6ietnam and *aa1sia rather than in 'meri.an hometo>ns i+e a>ren.eD and ampified 21 Ne> Baan.es de.isionto retaiate 21 ta+ing ,p arms against President O2amas 8rans-Pa.ifi. Partnership/ 8he trade pa.t >o,d o>er tariffs on goods imported from "" other nationsD >hi.h Ne> Baan.e sa1s >o,d food the mar+et >ith .heapforeign-made atheti. shoes/

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Ro2 &e*artiniD Ne> Baan.es president and CEOD said he agreed not to oppose the trade pa.t in eA.hange for ass,ran.es from *i.hae :romanD the O2ama administrations top trade offi.iaD that he >o,d ease the impa.t 21heping the .ompan1 get a &efense &epartment .ontra.t to prod,.e ,p to !!%D000 pairs of atheti. shoes a 1ear for miitar1 re.r,its and sodiers/ 8hat neer happenedD the .ompan1 saidD then ,neashed its atta.+s on the trade pa.tafter 1ears of re,.tant sien.e/ U7m definite1 not a defense appropriation or pro.,rement eApertD 2,t in the seen1ears 7e 2een >or+ing on thisD 7e seen nothing 2,t a 2,rea,.rati. nightmareD >here midde managers at the

Pentagon are ma+ing de.isions that affe.t rea Go2s and rea ies in 'meri.aDV said *atthe> eBrettonD a Ne>Baan.e i.e president/ U8heres something rea1 >rong >ith the s1stem/V

eBretton ref,ted &o& aegations that Ne> Baan.e shoes are too eApensieD noting that the .ompan1 offered tos,pp1 the shoes at .ost in an effort to +eep its assem21 ines h,mming and its s,pp1 ines f,/ )e aso disp,tedPentagon .aims that the test shoes it proided >ere not d,ra2eW p,2ished reports sa1 the shoes >ere gien to G,stsiA seri.e mem2ers >ho >ere as+ed to r,n 30 mies oer t>o months and then fi o,t a M,estionnaire/ Eri. BadgerDa spo+esman for the &efense &epartmentD on :rida1 too+ a ist of M,estions from 8he Eage-8ri2,ne a2o,t thoseiss,es and others reated to its deaing >ith Ne> Baan.eD 2,t did not respond to them/ Be1ond the aegations thatthe Pentagon shops oerseas to dress its seri.emen and that it ,sed a .ontra.t to 2ait a L/S/ man,fa.t,rer on a

poiti.a matterD the Pentagon aso is a..,sed of fo,ting the >i of Congress on a maGor pro.,rement iss,e/

On ! 'PRD Congress reasserted itsef >hen the )o,se 'rmed Seri.e Committee approed an amendment to adefense appropriations 2i that >o,d dire.t the &efense &epartment to foo> a ith made-in-'meri.a .othing >heneer possi2e/ 8he a> eAempted foot>ear 2e.a,seitte >as made in the Lnited States at the timeD 2,t the ind,str1 has re2o,nded and one or t>o man,fa.t,resDin.,ding Ne> Baan.eD no> prod,.e modes made entire1 in the Lnited States/ 8songas .o-sponsored theamendment/ UPro.,rement and a.M,isition for the &epartment of &efense is a .haenging pro.ess/ Some of that is

21 designDV 8songas said >hen as+ed >hether the a1ers of apparent missteps 21 the Pentagon in its deaings >ith Ne> Baan.e >o,d merit adding the iss,e to the ist of its pro.,rement 2oondogges oer the de.ades/

*and1 Smith2ergerD >ho monitors &efense &epartment spending for the nonprofit ProGe.t on oernmentOersightD >ent a itte f,rther/ U8he1 stem from different pro2emsD 2,t oera the1 refe.t a 2ro+en pro.,rements1stemDV Smith2erger said a2o,t >hether there is a in+ 2et>een the >ide1 infated pri.es the Pentagon sometimes

pa1s .ontra.torsD the oeraden 2,rea,.ra.1 that een generas and admiras hae itte patien.e for and the .ontra.tO2ama trade offi.ias danged 2efore Ne> Baan.e to get it to sh,t ,p a2o,t the Pa.ifi. trade pa.t/ U7f the &efense&epartment >ants to ma+e an arg,ment that the1 >ant to 2,1 non-'meri.an goodsD thats one thingDV Smith2erger said/ UB,t >hat a .ompan1s poiti.a position is sho,d hae no 2earing on >hether the1 >o,d get a .ontra.t or geta fair hearing and an a2iit1 to .ompete/ 7ts definite1 improper/V

Chares 8ieferD a professor of goernment .ontra.ting at the Lniersit1 of Batimore a> s.hoo and the a,thor of the teAt Uoernment Contra.t a> in the !"st Cent,r1DV said the Uario,s ta.ti.s the Pentagon has ,sed against

Ne> Baan.e are a too famiiar/V U7t a ma+es senseDV 8iefer said/ U8he Pentagon has a>a1s >ieded its giant p,r.hasing po>er to disfaor sma 2,t high-M,ait1 'meri.an prod,.ers/ 7n hat 7 seeD the ta.ti.sfor the goernment departments that >ant the 8rans Pa.ifi. Partnership (trade agreement$ are to assem2e as ong aist as possi2e of ind,stria s,pporters of the agreementD in.,ding those >ho 2e.ome s,pporters 21 arm-t>isting/V

8he a>ren.e Cit1 Co,n.i entered the .rossfire 2et>een the feds and a maGor hometo>n empo1er earier thismonthD >hen a nine mem2ers signed a etter to the .it1s .ongressiona deegation eApressing s,pport for Ne>Baan.e/ Uren.e fa.iit1DV Co,n.ior *ar. apante said :rida1D s,mmari@ing ineight >ords >hats at sta+e for the poorest .it1 in *assa.h,setts/ U8heres ong 2een pro2ems in the (miitar1

pro.,rement s1stem$ >ith oersightD a..o,nta2iit1D transparen.1D mismanagementD ma12e .orr,ption oer the 1ears Z definite1 fra,dD >aste and a2,seDV said Nei ordonD an inestigator >ith the ProGe.t on oernment Oersight/U's far as the Ne> Baan.e sit,ationD thats ,nheard of/V [So,r.eI 8he Eage-8ri2,neD North 'ndoerD *ass/ JeithEddings *a1 "D !0"# ]

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)o) To&a""o Po#i"y 3 Sa#$, P!i"$ In"!$a,$ o 26 to .2= Coin

8o2a..o ,sers >i see sharp pri.e in.reases in miitar1 stores in some states ,nder a ne> &efense &epartment poi.1 2eing impemented in a f,rther effort to .r,sh to2a..o ,se/ 'n initia ana1sis 21 *iitar1 8imes sho>s thene> poi.1 .o,d mean an aerage pri.e in.rease of a2o,t !# to 3! per.ent/ Lnder the ne> poi.1D to2a..o pri.es ateA.hanges and .ommissaries >i hae to mat.h >hats paid in .iiian stores >hen taAes are in.,ded/ 8he timing of the in.rease is ,n+no>n/ ' defense offi.ia said detais are sti 2eing >or+ed o,t on ho> and >hen the ne> poi.1>i 2e impemented/ '..ording to the Centers for &isease ControD raising the pri.e of to2a..o is the singe mosteffe.tie >a1 to red,.e to2a..o .ons,mption/

C,rrent a> reM,ires that miitar1 eA.hangesD .ommissaries and other resae o,tets on instaations se to2a..o at pri.es set no o>er than the o>est pri.e in the .iiian .omm,nit1/ B,t the .iiian to2a..o pri.e ,sed for .omparison doesn?t .,rrent1 in.,de state and o.a taAes/ 8he federa .igarette taA of "/0" is in.,ded in theman,fa.t,rers pri.eD so it is paid 21 miitar1 .,stomers/ U8hat?s one of the 2enefits for o,r .,stomers/ 8he1 don?t

pa1 taA/ to2a..o an1 different1 than other prod,.tsV in terms of pri.ingD a miitar1 eA.hange so,r.e

said/ 8he 'pri 5 memo from &efense Se.retar1 'sh Carter stated that pri.es of to2a..o prod,.ts on miitar1 2ases inthe L/S/ Usha mat.h the preaiing o.a pri.e in the .omm,nit1D in.,ding the effe.t of a appi.a2e taAes thato.a .ons,mers pa1 >hen p,r.hasing to2a..o/V O,tside the L/S/D pri.es >i 2e set U>ithin the range of preaiing

pri.es for that same prod,.tV esta2ished in o,tets of the defense retai s1stems in the L/S/ 7nformation >as notaaia2e at press time a2o,t ho> offi.ias define the >ord Upreaiing/V C,rrent1D the eA.hanges .ond,.t pri.e.omparisons for to2a..o >ithin the o.a .omm,nit1 and set pri.es 2ased on the aerage 2efore-taA pri.e of the

prod,.tsD a so,r.e said/

' to2a..o pri.es are affe.ted/ Carter?s memo defines to2a..o prod,.ts as Uan1 prod,.t made or deried fromto2a..o that is intended for h,man .ons,mptionD in.,ding .igarettesD .igarsD pipe to2a..oD ro-1o,r-o>n to2a..oDsmo+eess and dissoa2e to2a..oD and prod,.ts intended for ,se in hoo+ahs;>ater pipes/V Ee.troni. ni.otine

s1stemsD s,.h as e-.igarettes and ape pensD >i aso 2e treated as to2a..o prod,.ts/ 8he amo,nt of in.rease >idepend on the o.ation/ B,t in !0"4D the atest nation>ide statisti.sD state .igarette taAes added an aerage of "/!5

per pa.+ of .igarettesD a..ording to the most re.ent U8he 8aA B,rden on 8o2a..oV report .ompied 21 e.onomi..ons,ting firm [email protected]>s+i and hi.h is .ited 21 the Centers for &isease Contro in its resear.h/

7n !0"4D state .igarette taAes ranged from " .ents per pa.+ in *isso,ri to a high of 4/3% per pa.+ in Ne> or+/8he same 1earD the nationa aerage .ost per pa.+ of name-2rand .igarettes in the .iiian .omm,nit1 >as #/!5Din.,ding that aerage of "/!5 in state taAes/ Based on those nation>ide n,m2ersD the aerage in.rease >o,d 2e !#

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per.ent in miitar1 retai stores 21 raising the pri.es to in.,de the taA .a.,ation/ 7f a states genera state saes taA isaddedD that >o,d 2e an aerage of 3" .ents more per pa.+D and the aerage in.rease >o,d 2e a2o,t 3! per.ent/

8he U8aA B,rdenV report fo,nd that in !0"4D state and federa taAes a..o,nted forD on aerageD 44 per.ent of theretai pri.e of .igarettes in .iiian stores/ (8hat doesn?t in.,de additiona .igarette taAes that are eied 21 #0!.itiesD to>ns and .o,nties in seen statesD ranging from " .ent to 3 per pa.+/$ 8hose in.reased pri.es don?t mean

the eA.hanges >i 2e pa1ing taAes to state and federa goernments/ 7t >i 2e part of the eA.hanges? profitsD >hi.hare po>ed 2a.+ into the seri.es? moraeD >efare and re.reation programs and store improements/ B,t saes areeApe.ted to de.ineD and the reason for in.reasing the pri.es is to .,r2 to2a..o ,se/ ' "0 per.ent in.rease in pri.ered,.es oera .igarette ,se 21 an estimated 3 to % per.entD a..ording to the Centers for &isease Contro/ 8he .enter notes resear.h indi.ating that 1o,th and 1o,ng ad,ts are t>o to three times more i+e1 to respond to pri.e in.reasesthan ad,ts/

8he heath and prod,.tiit1 impa.t of to2a..o ,se in the miitar1 pop,ation .osts the &o& more than "/# 2iion ea.h 1earD Carter stated/ 'nd >hie the preaen.e of to2a..o ,se among ne> re.r,its is a2o,t the same as thenationa aerageD the preaen.e in.reases after entr1-ee training and first ,nits of assignment/ On aerageD 35

per.ent of .,rrent miitar1 smo+ers initiated to2a..o ,se after Goining the miitar1D his memo stated/ Carter asodire.ted the seri.es? medi.a offi.ias to improe ed,.ation on the harmf, effe.ts of to2a..o ,se and to strengthen

to2a..o .essation programs/ U*ore than seen in "0 smo+ers >ant to M,itD and >e sho,d 2e doing a >e .an tohep them s,..eed in this effortDV he >rote/ )e aso dire.ted that defense offi.ias impement pans for in.reasingto2a..o-free @ones aro,nd areas that are freM,ented 21 .hidrenW and to reie> efforts to in.rease smo+e-free optionsin miitar1 ho,sing/

8he poi.1 is the res,t of a reie> a,n.hed near1 t>o 1ears ago 21 former Se.retar1 of &efense Ch,.+ )ageD>ho as+ed for re.ommendations for .omprehensie to2a..o .ontro programs/ 7n *ar.h !0"4D the Na1 >asreported1 on tra.+ to eiminate to2a..o saes on Na1 and *arine Corps 2ases/ B,t that >as p,t on hod after the.omprehensie reie> >as ordered in F,ne !0"4/ *ean>hieD a>ma+ers moed to stop &o& from 2anning the saeof to2a..o on 2asesD in.,ding a proision in the !0"% Nationa &efense ',thori@ation '.t that prohi2its &o& from

2anning the sae >ithin miitar1 retai stores of an1 ega .ons,mer to2a..o prod,.t .ategor1/ 7n an effort to preentdeep dis.o,nts on to2a..oD a>ma+ers aso .hanged the pri.ing poi.1D preenting miitar1 retai stores from seing

a to2a..o prod,.t at a pri.e 2eo> the most .ompetitie pri.e for that prod,.t in the o.a .iiian .omm,nit1/ 8hatDin effe.tD eiminated the preio,s % per.ent dis.o,nt on the a.t,a pri.e per pa.+/

8o2a..o saes on miitar1 2ases hae steadi1 de.ined sin.e defense offi.ias 2egan ta+ing steps to red,.esmo+ing in the ran+s a2o,t !0 1ears agoD thro,gh a ariet1 of efforts/ 8he1?re sti de.iningI 8he n,m2er of to2a..o,nits sod 21 the 'rm1 and 'ir :or.e EA.hange Seri.e de.reased 21 "" per.ent in !0"%D .ompared to !0"4/ 8hatin.,des to2a..o prod,.ts sod in .ommissaries on 'rm1 and 'ir :or.e 2ases/ :or 1earsD the eA.hanges hae

proided the to2a..o prod,.ts to .ommissariesD in order to se them at mar+ed-,p eA.hange pri.esD rather than at.ost from the man,fa.t,rerD as other prod,.ts are sod in .ommissaries/ [So,r.eI *iitar1 8imes Jaren Fo>ers 'pri !D !0"#]


Coi,,a!y P!i"$, Udat$ 05 3 Pa"ii" F!%it>+$$ta$ Bi##

8he 2,rden of high fr,it and egeta2e pri.es on Pa.ifi. .ommissar1 .,stomers .o,d get ighter/ Congressionaappropriators >o,d reM,ire the &efense Commissar1 'gen.1 to set aside 45 miion in !0" for the shipment of

prod,.e to Pa.ifi. .ommissaries/ 7ts an effort to reerse the pri.e hi+es of fresh fr,its and egeta2es in the Pa.ifi.and espe.ia1 ,amD >here a pa.+age of ett,.e has 2een +no>n to .ost shoppers more than "0/ 8he 2i is fromthe )o,se 'ppropriations Committees defense s,2.ommittee and is headed to the f, .ommittee as part of theoera !0" defense f,nding proposa/

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Pri.es on man1 fresh prod,.e items in the Pa.ifi. spi+ed ast Noem2er after the &efense Commissar1 'gen.1impemented ne> .ontra.ts in an effort to sae the er1 same 45 miion on shipping/ 7nstead of the goernment

pa1ing to ship the prod,.eD .ontra.tors either get the prod,.e from o.a so,r.es in these areas or 2ear the .ost of shipping it from other .o,ntriesD in.,ding the L/S/ 'nd that .ost is passed on to the .ommissar1 .,stomer/ ere some tro,2e spots in Fapan and So,th JoreaD the pro2ems >ith high pri.es appear to 2e more

prono,n.ed in ,amD so,r.es said/ C,stomers in ,am reported that pri.es of some prod,.e items had do,2ed or triped/ One miitar1 >ife posted a pi.t,re of a !!-o,n.e pa.+age of Romaine ett,.e pri.ed at "0/#/ Some itemshae to 2e airiftedD s,.h as 2agged saads and seasona items s,.h as 2erries/ 'irifting is more eApensie/ B,t>hether the prod,.e >as airifted or moed 21 shipD ,nti ast Noem2erD .,stomers didn?t hae to pa1 for that .ost/

8he proision in the s,2.ommittee?s 2i >o,d reM,ire &o& to inf,se the 45 miion 2a.+ into the s1stem tos,pport the transportation of fr,its and egeta2es/ 8he appropriators added another proision imiting the ,se of those f,nds to fr,its and egeta2es either gro>n o.a1 in the .o,ntr1 >here the .ommissar1 is o.ated or 2o,ght

21 .ommissar1 agen.1 offi.ias at a o.ation in the .ontinenta L/S/ 8he s,2.ommittee Yis .ear1 tr1ing to shift thefaied 'sian prod,.e so,r.ing poi.1 2a.+ to something that >or+sDY said one .ongressiona staff mem2er/ )e notedthat the &efense Commissar1 'gen.1 instit,ted the ne> poi.1 >itho,t .ongressiona approa and .ontrar1 to.ongressiona .on.erns/ 8he ne> .ontra.t has not on1 in.reased the .ost of prod,.e 2,t res,ted in poor aaia2iit1

of items and o>er M,ait1D he said/ YC,stomers are .ompaining >hie &eC' is 2aming this on transition iss,es or fo.,sing eA.,sie1 on the ,am iss,eD ignoring Fapan and Jorea/ YSeri.e mem2ers are pa1ing more for o>er-M,ait1 goodsDY he said/

ast monthD in a report a..ompan1ing its ersion of the defense poi.1 2iD the )o,se 'rmed Seri.esCommittee in.,ded a reM,irement for the &o& 7nspe.tor enera to ea,ate the effe.tieness of the ne> p,r.hase

pro.ess for fresh fr,its and egeta2es .ompared to the preio,s pro.ess in >hi.h the transportation .osts >eref,nded 21 &o&/ 7t >i aso do an assessment of the simiar o.a p,r.hase pro.ess .,rrent1 ongoing in E,rope/'mong other thingsD the 7 >i .ompare the amo,nt of prod,.e ost d,e to spoiage or importation dea1s .omparedto the preio,s .ontra.tW and >i .ompare the 2enefits and impa.ts of the ne> .ontra.t on .ommissar1 .,stomers inthe Pa.ifi. and on the Cost of iing 'o>an.e/ Commissar1 pri.es are one of the fa.tors ,sed in determining theoerseas CO'/ ',ditors >i aso do.,ment the per.entage in.rease or de.rease of o.a mar+et pri.es of fresh

fr,its and egeta2es .ompared to Pa.ifi. .ommissar1 pri.es/ [So,r.eI *iitar1 8imes Jaren Fo>ers *a1 "!D!0"# ]

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

POW>MIA R$"o4$!i$, 3 R$o!t$d 1 t/!% 15 May 2016 9 Fo%!

YJeeping the PromiseYD Y:,fi their 8r,stY and YNo one eft 2ehindY are seera of man1 mottos that refer to theefforts of the &epartment of &efense to re.oer those >ho 2e.ame missing >hie sering o,r nation/ 8he n,m2er of 'meri.ans >ho remain missing from .onfi.ts in this .ent,r1 areI


14/125

:ami1 mem2ers see+ing more information a2o,t missing oed ones ma1 aso .a the foo>ing Seri.eCas,at1 Offi.esI L/S/ 'ir :or.e (500$ %3"-%%0"D L/S/ 'rm1 (500$ 5!-!40D L/S/ *arine Corps (500$ 54-"%DL/S/ Na1 (500$ 443-!5D or L/S/ &epartment of State (!0!$ #4-%40/ 8he remains of the foo>ing *7';PO


15/125

8he ne> inspe.tor genera at the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs is hoping to M,i.+1 repair the offi.e?s image after near1 t>o 1ears of .riti.ism for .,rsor1 inestigations and se.re.1/ *i.hae *issaD >ho 2egan >or+ ast *onda1Dsaid he pans to rea.h o,t to eterans? gro,psD Congress and others to et them +no> his door is open and he pans to

2e more transparent/ U7 fee er1 strong1 that the p,2i. has a right to +no> the >or+ of the 6' 7?s offi.eDV *issatod LS' 8O&' in an eA.,sie interie>D his first sin.e ta+ing the Go2/

Mi"/a$# Mi,,a#

8he inspe.tor genera is an independent a,thorit1 responsi2e ,nder federa a> for rooting o,t fra,d andmismanagement at the 6' and +eeping Congress X and thereforeD the p,2i. X Uf,1 and .,rrent1V informed/ B,tLS' 8O&' inestigations fo,nd that his prede.essors faied to reease the findings of "40 pro2es of 6' heath.are and sat on the res,ts of >ait-time inestigations for months/ 7n one .aseD an inestigation fo,nd do.tors at a6' *edi.a Center in 8omahD ere >aiting an aerage of fo,r da1s for appointmentsD 2,t CNN ater reported that interna do.,mentssho>ed the aerage >ait there >as m,.h onger/ a>ma+ers a..,sed her of 1ing and .ompained >hen the 6'initia1 panned to transfer her to oersee the PhoeniA 6' and other fa.iities in the So,th>est and ,timate1 p,ther in .harge of a regiona offi.e oerseeing 6' hospitas and .ini.s in o,isianaD 'r+ansasD and *ississippi/Ua1 to see if there?s an1 iss,e >ith respe.t to ho> the1 do itD if there?s an1impropriet1 >ith respe.t to peope moing aro,ndDV *issa said/

)e is the first permanent inspe.tor genera at the 6' sin.e the ast one retired in &e.em2er !0"3/ &ep,ties hae 2een r,nning the offi.e in the meantime and hae .ome ,nder >ithering .riti.ism/ 7n !0"4D a>ma+ers assaied theoffi.e for faiing to .on.,de that >ait-time fasifi.ation .ontri2,ted to eteran deaths in PhoeniA/ 8he dep,t1inspe.tor genera at the timeD Ri.hard riffinD .on.eded ater that it had/ ers hae a..,sed the offi.e of targeting them for inestigation instead of the pro2ems the1 are reportingD and the Offi.e of Spe.ia Co,nse X a

federa agen.1 .harged >ith prote.ting >histe2o>ers X has .riti.i@ed the inspe.tor genera for in.ompeteinestigations/ Prote.ting >histe2o>ers is a high priorit1D *issa saidD and in the f,t,re he >ants to ma+e s,re hisoffi.e .ond,.ts Yfirst-rateY inestigations/ U:irst-rate >or+ prod,.t means it needs to 2e a..,rateD fairD o2Ge.tieDthoro,ghD and time1DV he said/

8hat ma1 2e to,gher than it so,nds/ 8he inspe.tor genera?s offi.eD >hi.h empo1s ro,gh1 #%0 peope inent from "#D00 in !00" to 35D"00 ast 1earD a..ording to .ongressiona reportsD 2,t the staff has not

Page 15 of 125


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gro>n eno,gh to meet the eApanded >or+oad/ 8he inspe.tor genera no> is on1 a2e to .ond,.t .omprehensieinestigations of one of the ro,gh1 %0 .ompaints a2o,t poor eteran heath .are that it gets ea.h >ee+D a..ordingto .ongressiona testimon1/ 7f Congress proides more mone1D *issa saidD he is read1 to hire more peope/ 7n themeantimeD he >ants to deote his reso,r.es to the most pressing .ompaints/ Ue >or+ onthe important thingsD the ones that are meaningf, and p,t o,t reports that are independentDV he said/ [So,r.eI 66' o,d .ontin,e to get the same ho,sing rate as a.tie d,t1 famiies atthe E-% >ith dependents rate/

• Strengthens administratie pro.ed,res for .are for eterans in .omm,nities/

• ',thori@es 7 Bi eigi2iit1 .redit for time spent in medi.a hod stat,s/

• Creates a piot program to red,.e the appeaed .aims 2a.+og/

• 'o>s s,riors >ho ost their spo,ses ear1 in 7raM or 'fghanistan .onfi.ts (Sept/ ""D !00" - &e./ 3"D

!00%$ ,p to fie additiona 1ears to ,se their :r1 S.hoarship 7 Bi 2enefits/

• Ena2es :r1 S.hoarship ,sers to parti.ipate in 7 Bi mat.hing 21 priate .oeges ,nder the eo>

Ri22on program/

• ',thori@es 7 Bi 2enefits for ino,ntar1 ,ard - Resere .a ,ps for Upre-panned and 2,dgetedV

operationa missions/• Enhan.es resear.h on the heath effe.ts of toAi. eApos,res impa.ts on des.endants/

• Ena2es speedier pa1ment of &ependen.1 and 7ndemnit1 Compensation (&7C$ for a.tie d,t1 deaths

reported 21 a miitar1 seri.e/

• )onoring as eterans .ertain .areer mem2ers of the Nationa ,ard and Resere

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Pane Chairman Senator Fohnn1 7sa+son (R-'$ noted at the press .onferen.e for the 2iD Uhat Congress a..ompished this 1earD the 6eterans :irst '.t >i 2e at the top of the ist/V 8he 2i m,stno> 2e re.on.ied >ith a )o,se eterans omni2,s meas,re passed ast Noem2er/

[So,r.eI *O'' eg LP 'pri !D !0"# ]

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

+A S$"!$ta!y Udat$ 5 3 Ho%,$ P!oo,a#, Wi## H%!t +$t,

6eterans 'ffairs &epartment Se.retar1 Bo2 *.&onad on 4 *a1 offered +ind >ords for the department programs and poi.1 .hanges >hie arg,ing that )o,se proposas >i h,rt ets/Spea+ing at the Center for Se.,rit1 and 7nternationa St,diesD a thin+ tan+ in n a >iingness to proide f,nding for 6' to transition to a moremodern agen.1D >ith on1 a minor differen.es in proposed spending pans/ 8he presidents 2,dget proposa in.,des%/" 2iion in dis.retionar1 spending for 6' in the neAt 1earD >hie the Senate appropriators pared that do>n to4/ 2iionD a..ording to eerD proposed a "/%

2iion red,.tionDY *.&onad said/ YSo ets 2e .ear -- that red,.tion >i h,rt eteransD and it >i impede some.riti.a initiaties ne.essar1 to transform 6' into the high performing organi@ation 6eterans desere/Y

'so d,ring his ho,r-ong spee.hD the se.retar1 o,tined a pan .aed Y*16'Y to transform and moderni@e the

department/ 8he pan in.,des fie ong-term strategies and "! priorit1 programsD he said/ Yith the)o,se 6eterans 'ffairs CommitteeDY *.&onad said/ Y8he Senate .ommittee on 6eterans 'ffairs inited ,s to ahearing eAamining themDY Lnspo+en 2,t .onfirmed 21 a 6' offi.ia >as the )o,se pane did not hod a hearing onthe proposa/ Reations 2et>een the 6' and the )o,se 6eterans 'ffairs Committee hae often 2een .ontentio,sD>ith the )o,se pane far more .onsistent1 and o,d1 .riti.a of the department oer a series of s.andas in re.ent1ears/

*.&onad said improements or reforms in.,ded in the do@en *16' priorities in.,de improing .omm,nit1.are for eterans and .hanging the empo1ment stat,s of hospita administrators and heath .are .areer eAe.,ties/Of some "00 program reM,ests in the 2,dget reM,est are more than 40 that reM,ire .ongressiona a.tionD in.,dingmoderni@ing and .arif1ing the 6's a,thorit1 to p,r.hase .are seri.es o,tside the department/ 8his needs to 2edone as Ya strong fo,ndationDY he saidD for eterans a..ess to .are in the .omm,nit1/ 8he 6' is fa.ing gro>ing .as

to eApand .are-in-the-.omm,nit1 seri.es for a generations/ C,rrent1 on1 Post-;"" eterans M,aif1 for s,.h.areD tho,gh >ith the aging of the 6ietnam-era eteran pop,ationD on top of the e s,2mitted o,r

pan to .onsoidate and simpif1 the oer>heming n,m2er of different programs and improe a..ess to 6' .are inthe .omm,nit1/ 7ts no> *a1DY he said/ 6' aso needs Congress to ena.t egisation that >i ena2e the department

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to pa1 medi.a .enter dire.tors saaries that are .ompetitie >ith their peers in the priate se.torD >hi.h no> p,do>n t>o or three times the saar1 of >hat a 6' dire.tor earns/ )e aso >ants Congress to a.t on a proposa to hiresenior eAe.,ties ,nder 8ite 35D >hi.h >o,d remoe some of the Cii Seri.e prote.tions the1 .,rrent1 enGo1 2,taso offer them some 2enefits/ Y8hen >e .an hire these empo1ees more M,i.+1D >ith feAi2e .ompetitie saariesDand the1 operate ,nder strong a..o,nta2iit1 pro.esses and poi.iesDY he said/ [So,r.eI *iitar1/.om Br1antFordan *a1 4D !0"# ]


+A G$!iPACT 3 S$"ia#i$d Ca!$ o! O#d$! +$t$!an,

8he 6' Uhas 1o,r siAV Z a miitar1 term that means 7?e got 1o,r 2a.+T/ 7ndeedD the 6' has got the 2a.+ of eer16eteran >ho re.eies .are at 6'/ Ea.h one has a primar1 .are proiderD and that proider has a >hoe team >or+ing>ith them/ 8his team mode of .are is .aed P'C8 (Patient 'igned Care 8eam$ and it proides .ontin,o,s and.oordinated .are thro,gho,t a patient?s ifetime/ 6eterans re.eie primar1 .are in P'C8 .ini.sD so 1o, ma1 +no>them 21 .oor namesD i+e sierD or miitar1 apha2et namesD i+e Brao/ 8he fastest gro>ing age gro,p of 6eterans6' seres is those age #% and oder/ B1 !0" amost "0 miion of o,r !"/ miion 6eterans (4#9$ >i 2e oer #%/

6' is responding >ith P'C8 teams .,stomi@ed for oder 6eterans/

' eriP'C8 (eriatri. Patient 'igned Care 8eam$ is a P'C8 team designed for o,r oder and .hroni.a1 i6eterans Z those >ho hae .ompi.ated heath pro2ems made een more .haenging 21 so.ia fa.tors and mentaheath iss,es/ 8he 6eteran is at the .enter of his or her eriP'C8D >hi.h in.,des an Uarm1V of heath .are

proiders from man1 dis.ipines/ EAperts in the .are of oder ad,ts Z i+e the eriP'C8 team Z >or+ together >ith6eterans to identif1 .haenges that ma1 2e 2arriers to heathD independen.e and M,ait1 of ife/ 8he1 ens,re that6eterans and their famiies;.aregiers are a>are of and .onne.ted to the seri.es and s,pports the1 need to maintainthe 6eteran?s independen.e and M,ait1 of ife/ 8his shared de.ision ma+ing pro.ess heps 6eterans de.ide a2o,t the+inds of seri.es and s,pportsD s,.h as )ome and Comm,nit1 Based Seri.esD that >o,d 2est meet their needs and

preferen.esD no> and in the f,t,re/

6isit >>>/a/go;eriatri.s for more information on Shared &e.ision *a+ing and ong 8erm Seri.es andS,pports/ 6ideos on eriP'C8 CareD )omema+er and )ome )eath Care for 6eteransD and Respite Care for 6eteran Caregiers .an 2e ie>ed atI

• httpsI;;>>>/1o,t,2e/.om;>at.hQ=mGL8GPP'%>7 • httpsI;;>>>/1o,t,2e/.om;>at.hQ=@rd)n4"A7 • httpsI;;>>>/1o,t,2e/.om;>at.hQ=JnN!\1o

[So,r.eI 6)' Sheri RederD Ph&D *SP) 8ar1n Oestrei.hD *P)D *C)ES *a1 "0D !0"# ]


Page 1


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+A W/i,t#$o$!, Udat$ 3 +A S$tt#$, it/ P/o$niD W/i,t#$o$!

'n 'ri@ona empo1ee of the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs >ho reported improper .are for menta-heath patientsin PhoeniA has setted a federa >histe2o>er .ompaint against the agen.1 and ret,rned to >or+ this >ee+ after spending "5 months at home on paid eae/ Brandon CoemanD an addi.tion therapist former1 >ith the PhoeniA 6')eath Care S1stemD has a..epted a ne> position at a 6' treatment .enter in 'nthem as a .ondition of thesettement/ 8he Comm,nit1 Based O,tpatient Cini. operates ,nder northern 'ri@onas 6' eadershipD remoingCoeman from s,perision in PhoeniA/ Y7ts ni.e to fina1 2e 2a.+ at >or+DY Coeman said # *'/ Y7m G,st er1eA.ited a2o,t the opport,nit1 2e.a,se 7m going to 2e a2e to hep eterans again/Y

Ca!# T* Hayd$n +A M$di"a# C$nt$!

Coeman reported in !0"% that menta-heath patients >ho >ere potentia1 s,i.ida or homi.ida >ere notadeM,ate1 monitored in an ,nderstaffed Emergen.1 &epartment at the Car 8/ )a1den 6' *edi.a Center inPhoeniA/ )e aeged that tro,2ed eterans >ere ao>ed to YeopeDY or >a+ o,t >itho,t getting .are/ 'fter Coemanreported his .on.ernsD he >as s,2Ge.ted to aegations of mis.ond,.t and interna inestigationsD >hi.h he .aimed>ere retaiator1/ CoemanD >ho has testified 2efore Congress a2o,t >histe2o>er reprisaD .aimed the 6' deniedhim a promotion and sh,t do>n his spe.iai@ed program to >or+ >ith o.a .o,rts in assisting eterans >ho fa.e

prose.,tion for .rimes reated to s,2stan.e a2,se/ 8he disp,te >as mediated 21 the Offi.e of Spe.ia Co,nseD anindependent federa agen.1 that enfor.es the er Prote.tion '.t and other empo1ment-reated a>s/

Spe.ia Co,nse Caro1n erner said in a ne>s reease she is peased that Coeman and the PhoeniA 6' hospitaresoed the .onfi.t and .an get 2a.+ to sering eterans/ Y*r/ Coeman deseres o,r than+s for his efforts toimproe .are for eteransDY she added/

Coeman >as represented 21 the oernment '..o,nta2iit1 ProGe.t/ 7n a >ritten statement reeased 21 attorne1sat the non-profit >at.hdog organi@ationD Coeman saidI Y*1 hope in moing for>ard is that >hat happened to meneer happens to another >histe2o>er/ 7t >as "5 months of heD 2,t as 7 >rite this 7 >o,d do it a oer again/Be.a,se of m1 dis.os,res /// .o,ntess s,i.ida eteran ies hae and >i 2e saed/Y Coeman said he got thro,ghthe ordea >ith s,pport from his fami1D a>1ersD Go,rnaists and mem2ers of Congress/ Y7 am h,m2ed to hae.ompeted this pro.ess >ith their hepDY he added/ Coeman preio,s1 ran a PhoeniA 6' addi.tion program +no>nas *otiation for Change/ )e said he hopes to reie that effort for eterans in northern 'ri@ona/ Compete terms of his settement remain .onfidentiaD and it is ,n.ear >hether an1 empo1ee of the department has 2een dis.ipined

for retaiation/ [So,r.eI 8he Rep,2i. &ennis MIA Ta$,

8he more things .hangeD the more the1 sta1 the same/ 7n >hat has 2e.ome a predi.ta2e patternD the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs responds to atta.+s on reigion >ith .apit,ation 2orne of .o>ardi.e/ 8han+f,1D this .o>ardi.e has

Page 1; of 125


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not gone ,n.haenged/ eaders in 2oth ho,ses of Congress Goined in a etter !5 'PR reM,esting an eApanation as to>h1 the 6' remoed Bi2es from a POa of separation 2et>een .h,r.h and state/V

8his is not the first time the 6' has fa.ed .onfi.t oer reigion/ F,st ast ChristmasD a 6' .ini. in 6irginiaattempted to sh,t do>n its empo1ees? eApressions .ee2rating the federa hoida1/ :ort,nate1D a gro>ing n,m2er of egisators are .aing ,pon the 6' to 2rea+ this pattern of pandering to the perpet,a1 offended/ 8o 2e s,reD the 6'

is in an ,nenia2e spot/ 8argeted 21 anti-reigio,s a.tiist gro,psD 6' offi.ias refeAie1 a.M,ies.e to their demandsD on1 to then 2e .aed to a..o,nt for doing so/ B,t the1 .an aoid this 21 simp1 ,nderstanding andstanding for >hat?s 2oth right and .onstit,tiona in the first pa.e/

8he 6' is an organi@ation .ommitted to .are for those inG,red in o,r nation?s defense and the famiies of those+ied in its seri.e/ One of its .ore a,es is to .hoose Uthe harder right instead of the easier >rong/V 7t is fa.ed >ith

pre.ise1 this .hoi.e hereD and it m,st 2e faithf, to this a,e/ 8he right ans>er is ,ndo,2ted1 harderD 2,t that on1means the 6' m,st p,rs,e it >ith that m,.h more determination/ :or h,ndreds of 1earsD o,r seri.e mem2ers haeref,sed to sh1 a>a1 from ma+ing diffi.,t .hoi.es in order to do >hat?s right/ 8he1 and their oed ones deserenothing ess than for the 6' to do the same/ [So,r.eI 8he )i Congress Bog &anie Briggs *a1 "D !0"# ]


+A Coi,,ion on Ca!$ Udat$ 06 Ca## -o%! Con!$,,an

Page 20 of 125


21/125

'fter more than a de.ade of inadeM,ate f,nding and staffingD the 6' hospita s1stem er,pted in s.anda t>o 1earsago >hen reports of se.ret >aitists emerged from seera hospitas/ *iions of 1o,ng eterans >ere ret,rning homefrom oerseasD 2,t the a>ma+ers >ho sent them there had faied to adeM,ate1 pan for their ret,rn and .ompeAneeds/ 7n the ens,ing monthsD Congress fina1 .ame thro,gh >ith desperate1-needed f,nds for staffing and

fa.iities in the 6eterans '..essD Choi.e and '..o,nta2iit1 '.t of !0"4/ 8he egisation aso .aed for an eApert.ommission to deeop re.ommendations for improing a..ess to M,ait1 6' heath .areD >hi.h soon 2e.ame +no>nas the Commission on Care/ Lnfort,nate1D th,s farD too man1 Commission mem2ers seem on1 to 2e oo+ing o,tfor themsees and their deep-po.+eted 2enefa.torsD not eterans/

as designed as a U2,e-ri22on .ommissionV to deier an ,n2iasedD Udata drienDV fina report has instead 2e.ome a spe.ia interest-drien feeding fren@1/ :or startersD there are the fo,r priateD for-profit medi.a eAe.,ties>hose .ompanies stand to 2enefit finan.ia1 from priati@ationD and a Jo.h 2rothers? empo1ee >ho open1

promotes priati@ation/ *ore appaing is the fa.t that not one .,rrent eterans? seri.e organi@ation mem2er is onthe Commission/ One >o,d thin+ the peope most impa.ted 21 the Commission?s >or+ Z eterans Z >o,d hae themost seats at the ta2e/ B,t seeing the dar+ t,rn this Commission has ta+enD it appears this ma1 hae 2een the panfrom the start/

man do.,ment/V 8he pan .as for .ompete1dismanting the 6' heath .are s1stem and seing it to for-profit hospita .orporations/ 8he1 re.ommend .osing"#0 6' medi.a .entersD "D000 6' .omm,nit1 heath .ini.sD and for.ing the 6'?s #/# miion patients to see+ medi.a assistan.e ,sing a o,.her s1stem Z essentia1 a heath .are .o,pon/ 7mmediate1D eight of the argesteterans? seri.e organi@ations in the .o,ntr1 Z 1o, +no>D the eterans >ho >i a.t,a1 hae to ie >ith thisdisastro,s proposa Z eApressed their o,trage at the idea of seing the heath .are the1 fo,ght for do>n the rier/ 7ntheir Goint etterD the gro,ps sta,n.h1 .ondemn the proposa and M,estion the se.retie pro.ess it >as 2orne o,t of/8he1 raised ita M,estions and .on.erns a2o,t the pan to 2egin .osing 6' heath .are fa.iitiesD .iting thespe.iai@ed seri.es the 6' proides for eteransD and the ,tter a.+ of .onsideration gien to eterans >ho >ant toimproe it/

8his sho,d not .ome as a s,rprise to mem2ers of the Commission/ 7n a Noem2er !0"% 6et 6oi.es :o,ndations,re1D 50 per.ent of eterans opposed transitioning 6' heath .are into a o,.her s1stem/ 7t aso fo,nd that anoer>heming maGorit1 of eterans preferred to re.eie their heath .are at 6' hospitas or .ini.s in their .omm,nities/

8he 6' Choi.e Card program is a ita .a,tionar1 tae for an1one oo+ing to see+ o,t eterans? .are to for-profit proiders/ 7n !0"%D the 6eterans Choi.e Program >as .reated >ith the goa of giing eterans greater a..ess toheath .are in their .omm,nities thro,gh priate .are/ Sin.e its a,n.hD ho>eerD eterans see+ing to ,se the Choi.eProgram hae 2een met >ith onger >ait timesD >orse seri.eD and harassment from the priate medi.a proiders

Page 21 of 125


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see+ing pa1ment/ 6eterans hae eApressed tremendo,s fr,stration >ith the programD to the point >here on1 a tin1fra.tion of those eigi2e a.t,a1 .hoose to ,se it/ 7t?s time for the Commission to stop ramming these ridi.,o,s

proposas do>n eterans? throats/ 8he1 don?t >ant itD and the1?re not ta+ing it 1ing do>n/ e .an?t 2rea+ o,r promise to them no>/ 8he1 desere the

2est .are aaia2eD and the1 +no> a >e-f,ndedD >e-staffed 6' is the 2est >a1 to +eep that promise/ Lness >e dosomething soonD this .ontroersia Commission >i strip that s1stemD se it for partsD and eae o,r eterans to fendfor themsees/ &on?t >ait for the Commission on Care to se o,t o,r eterans to the o>est 2idder/ Ca 1o,r a>ma+er toda1 at !0!-!!4-3"!" and te them 1o, s,pport eterans? a..ess to a >e-f,ndedD proper1-staffed 6'/'nd if 1o,?re a eteran >ho >ants to te the Commission a2o,t 1o,r eAperien.e >ith the 6'D .onta.t them toda1/[So,r.eI 'meri.an :ederation of oernment Empo1ees F/ &aid CoA 'pri !5D !0"# ]


+A Li$ In,%!an"$ Udat$ 01 3 W/at, A4ai#a$

6'?s ife 7ns,ran.e Program re.eied a strong .,stomer satisfa.tion s.ore of 5" on a s.ae of "00 from the

'meri.an C,stomer Satisfa.tion 7ndeA ('CS7$D an independent s,re1 that s.ores .,stomer satisfa.tion for morethan 300 priate .ompanies and federa and o.a goernment agen.ies/ U6' is pro,d of the eA.eent seri.e

proided 21 its dedi.ated 7ns,ran.e Program empo1ees and the re.ent 'CS7 res,ts the1 a.hieedDV said Se.retar1of 6eterans 'ffairs Ro2ert '/ *.&onad/

's part of its mission to sere Seri.emem2ersD 6eteransD and their famiiesD 6'?s ife 7ns,ran.e Program proides indiid,as >ith the pea.e of mind that .omes >ith +no>ing their fami1?s finan.ia se.,rit1 is prote.tedDgien the eAtraordinar1 ris+s inoed in miitar1 seri.e/ 6' proides more than "/3 triion in .oerage andins,red #/4 miion Seri.emem2ersD 6eteransD and their famiies in fis.a 1ear !0"%/ 8he foo>ing ife ins,ran.e

poi.ies are aaia2e to eterans thro,gh the 6eterans 'dministration >ho .an meet the appropriate .riteria/ 8he.riteria for a.h .an 2e fo,nd at httpI;;>>>/2enefits/a/go;ins,ran.eI

•SGLI: Seri.emem2ers? ro,p ife 7ns,ran.e proides .oerage ,p to 400D000 for seri.emem2ers/Coerage ends "!0 da1s after dis.hargeD 2,t .an 2e eAtended for ,p to t>o 1ears if the mem2er is tota1disa2ed/

• SGLI8)E: 7f 1o, are tota1 disa2ed at the time of separation (,na2e to >or+$D 1o, .an app1 for the

S7 &isa2iit1 EAtensionD >hi.h proides free .oerage for ,p to t>o 1ears from the date of separation/


23/125

• S8)+I: Seri.e-&isa2ed 6eterans 7ns,ran.e proides ,p to "0D000 of .oerage for seri.e.onne.ted

eterans/ 7f tota1 disa2edD the1 are eigi2e for an additiona !0D 000/ 6eterans m,st app1 >ithin t>o1ears of 2eing rated seri.e .onne.ted for a ne> .ondition/

• +MLI: 6eterans *ortgage ife 7ns,ran.e (6*7$ is mortgage prote.tion ins,ran.e that .an hep famiies

of seere1 disa2ed Seri.emem2ers or 6eterans pa1 off the home mortgage in the eent of their death/• NSLI: Nationa Seri.e ife 7ns,ran.e poi.1 >ere aaia2e from "40 to "%" on1/ Premi,ms of this

poi.1 are .apped at the age-0 rates/ On.e 1o, t,rned 0D 1o,r premi,ms neer in.reased/ Sin.eSeptem2er !000D a .apped NS7 term poi.1 >i re.eie a termination diidend if the poi.1 apsesD or ifthe poi.1hoder o,ntari1 .an.es their poi.1/

[So,r.eI 6eteran Ne>s &onnie aC,ran 'pri !D !0"# ]

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+A A""o%nta&i#ity Udat$ .1 Wat$!$d )on S$nat$ Fi!in Bi##

' of a federa empo1ee ,nion?s o2Ge.tions >ere remoed from the 6eterans? :irst '.t Senate 2i designed to hepthe &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs (6'$ dis.ipine 2ad empo1eesD ma+ing it poiti.a1 easier for the 2i to passD

2,t indi.ating it ma1 not 2e doing the er1 thing it?s s,pposed to/ 8he 'meri.an :ederation of oernmentEmpo1ees (':E$ sent a etter "5 'PR as+ing taApa1er-f,nded empo1ees to press,re Sen/ Fohnn1 7sa+sonD.hairman of the Senate Committee on 6eterans? 'ffairs/ 7sa+son is a eorgia Rep,2i.an/ U7 strong1 ,rge 1o, tooppose the Senate Committee on 6eterans 'ffairs omni2,s 2i in its .,rrent formDV President F/ &aid CoA >rote/UNo ess than the f,t,re of the 6' heath .are s1stem is at sta+e here/V

)e en,merated fo,r a..o,nta2iit1 meas,res that .a,sed him to oppose the 2i/ &a1s aterD &emo.rats GoinedRep,2i.ans to anno,n.e a fina ersion the1 panned to introd,.e on !5 'PR/ ' &ai1 Caer Ne>s :o,ndation.omp,ter ana1sis of the t>o teAts sho>ed a fo,r meas,res had 2een >a+ed 2a.+D >hie irt,a1 no other .hanges>ere made/ 8he res,t >as a 6' empo1ment reform 2i that 2a.+tra.+ed on meas,res deaing >ith the astmaGorit1 of the >or+for.eD eaing main1 restri.tions on Senior EAe.,tie Seri.e (SES$ mem2ersD >ho representon1 one in "D000 6' empo1ees/ U7t?s the .areer senior eAe.,ties >ho are more responsi2e than an1one for settingthe tone of the >or+pa.e and maintaining the .,t,re at the 6'D and the1?re the ones .oe.ting the 2iggest taApa1er-f,nded saariesDV 7sa+son?s spo+es>oman a,ren a1dos tod 8he&CN:/

8he origina draft said no empo1ee ma1 .ompete their initia pro2ationar1 period ,ness their manager affirmatie1 signs off on it/ B,t this >as .hanged so the empo1ee >i a,tomati.a1 2e.ome permanent ,nessother a.tion is ta+en/ 8he oernment '..o,nta2iit1 Offi.e re.ent1 said one of the 2est >a1s to ens,re 2adempo1ees are 2ooted from goernment is 21 not rene>ing them after the pro2ation periodD 2,t the period often ends>itho,t managers reai@ing it/ 8he ,nion?s other three .ompaints >ere that empo1ees didn?t hae eno,gh time toappeaD reprimands >o,dn?t 2e remoed from their fie M,i.+1 eno,ghD and performan.e reie>s .o,d 2e reisedafter the fa.t/ 7sa+son M,i.+1 ao>ed a of these to 2e .hanged/ :or eAampeD the draft 2i sa1s etters of reprimand.o,d 2e remoed from an empo1ee?s fie after fie 1earsD 2,t the fina ersion red,.es it to three 1ears/

Een the a..o,nta2iit1 meas,res for senior eAe.,ties are 2,rdened >ith so man1 .aeats the1 ma1 hae itteeffe.t/ Senior eAe.,ties stand to hae their pensions diminished after resigning to aoid firing on1 if the1 are.oni.ted of a feon1D hae eAha,sted appeas on the feon1D the Offi.e of Personne *anagement (OP*$ determinesthe feon1 >as s,ffi.ient1 reated to their >or+D and the 6' se.retar1 .hooses to aai themsees of the option/Een thenD the disgra.ed dire.tor .an appea this de.ision to OP*/ 8he .hanges ass,red s,pport from the.ommittee?s ran+ing &emo.ratD Sen/ Ri.hard B,mentha of Conne.ti.,t/ ':E has open1 said it >o,d >or+ tohep him >in re-ee.tion 2e.a,se of his efforts to ma+e it hard to fire 6' empo1ees/

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7n a *ar.h etterD Sen/ *ar.o R,2io and )o,se Committee on 6eterans? 'ffairs Chairman Feff *ier said7sa+son had .,t the Rep,2i.an-ed )o,se o,t of negotiations and eApressed .on.ern he seemed intent on rea.hing adea >ith the O2ama administration at an1 .ost/ 8he )o,se has aread1 passed a stronger 6' a..o,nta2iit1 2iD 2,tif the Senate?s ersion does not mat.h itD those differen.es >i hae to 2e ironed o,t in a .onferen.e .ommittee/':E sent its etter opposing the draft 2i 2efore the p,2i. had een seen the proposa/ a1dos said 7sa+son didnot share the teAt >ith the ,nionD 2,t it >as ea+ed to it 21 another mem2er of the .ommittee/ ':E did not ret,rn a

reM,est for .omment/ a1dos said the )o,se 2i Usimp1 does not hae the reM,isite #0 otes to pass the Senate nor does it hae eno,gh s,pport in the )o,se to oerride a /V

6eterans ado.ates and )o,se Rep,2i.ans 2eiee the 2i sho,d 2e 2ro,ght for a foor ote ,nder the norma pro.ess X rather than ,sing eApedited U,nanimo,s .onsentV >here een one &emo.rat is eno,gh to stop it X for.ing &emo.rats to p,2i.1 >eigh the interests of 6' empo1ees against those of eterans/ )o,se Rep,2i.anssaid the Senate 2i often simp1 restates eAisting a> in different termsD giing the fase impression of strengthening/:or eAampeD .,rrent a> gies 30 .aendar da1s for an empo1ee to respond to proposed dis.ipine/ 8he Senate 2i.hanges it to t>o "0-da1 periodsD 2,t ,ses 2,siness da1sD shortening a 30-da1 period 21 on1 a fe> da1s/ a1dossaid ,nder the Senate 2iD Uempo1ees .annot re.eie an1 pa1 or other .ompensation or 2enefits d,ring the appeas

pro.ess/V B,t )o,se Rep,2i.ans said that is aread1 the .aseD and the ength1 paid-time-off >as o..,rring d,ring pre-firing pro.eedingsD 2efore appeas +i.+ in/

7sa+son 2i?s fo.,sing on 0/" per.ent of the 6'?s >or+for.e misses some of the most nota2e instan.es >here 6'offi.ias hae amented their ina2iit1 ,nder eAisting a>s and reg,ations to fire poor1 performing or .orr,ptempo1ees/ U's far as PhoeniA is .on.ernedD man1 of the empo1ees inoed >o,d fa ,nder the SES proision of the 6eterans :irst '.tDV a1dos saidD referring to the hospita that >as the epi.enter of the department?s most seeres.anda/ an.e Ro2inson and Brad C,rr1D top dep,ties at the PhoeniA 6'D >ere ret,rned to >or+ after .oe.ting pa1for more than a 1ear 2e.a,se the 6' faied in its efforts to dis.ipine them/ 8ho,gh the1 >ere among the er1 topadministratorsD on1 the hospita?s dire.torD Sharon )emanD >as a mem2er of the SES/ [So,r.eI 8he &ai1 Caer ,+e Rosia+ *a1 3D !0"# ]


+A A""o%nta&i#ity Udat$ .2 S$n* M"Cain 9 P$ndin Bi## +$!y Bad P#an

Sen/ Fohn *.Cain on # *' panned the massie eterans omni2,s egisation pending in the Senate as a Uer1 2adV panD .asting do,2t on the f,t,re of the aread1 .ontroersia reform meas,re/ &,ring a radio interie> on'ri@ona?s J:7-'*D the ongtime 'ri@ona senator said he is Udeep1 .on.ernedV a2o,t the panD parti.,ar1 its

proisions deaing >ith firing pro2em empo1ees at the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs and eApanding options for eterans see+ing heath .are o,tside the 6' s1stem/ U8here?s not the a..o,nta2iit1 thereDV he said/ U7?m er1.on.erned/ )opef,1 >e? ta+e ,p some egisation 2efore >e go o,tD 2,t 7?m er1 >orriedD to te 1o, the tr,th/V

Page 2 of 125


25/125

ast monthD Senate 6eterans? 'ffairs Committee Chairman Fohnn1 7sa+son (R-'$ and a 2ipartisan gro,p of a>ma+ers ,neied the 6eterans :irst '.t as a massie reform meas,re >ith an eApansion of 6' .aregier

programsD ne> a..o,nta2iit1 r,es for 6' empo1ees and a host of smaer initiaties designed to ma+e thedepartment more .,stomer-fo.,sed/ 7sa+son said he >as .onfident the egisation >o,d gain the s,pport of 2oth theSenate and the 6' in 'meri.a/V B,t )o,se

a>ma+ers hae aread1 2eg,n M,estioning the a..o,nta2iit1 proisionsD >hi.h don?t go as far as those passed 21that .ham2er earier this 1ear/ 6' eaders had as+ed for the re.assifi.ation of department senior eAe.,ties to ao>for faster hiring and firing of those positionsD p,s more feAi2iit1 on pa1 and >or+ ho,rs/ 8he Senate pan in.,desthat 2,t aso goes f,rtherD giing 2roader po>er to senior eaders >ho >ant to dismiss federa >or+ers in thedepartment/ Lnion eaders and the a..o,nta2iit1 proisions/ 7t doeshae an eAtension of the 6' Choi.e Card programD mandated 21 Congress in !0"4 as a >a1 to simpif1 eterans?

attempts to get medi.a .are o,tside the department/ 7sa+son?s omni2,s on1 in.,des minor ,pdates to that program/ )e said in a press .onferen.e ast month that*.Cain?s proposa >as not at odds >ith the other Senate 2iD and he oo+ed for>ard to >or+ing >ith the Senate'rmed Seri.es Committee .hairman on the iss,es/ 6' offi.ias hae aread1 eApressed .on.ern that their top

priorities X appeas reform and .onsoidation of o,tside .are programs X are not .oered in the omni2,s/ 'ndeterans gro,ps hae eApressed .on.ern a2o,t the .osts of the proposaD >hi.h 7sa+son said >i 2e .oered 21offsets in the meas,re 2,t >i remain ,n.ear ,nti s.oring information is reeased in .oming da1s/ S,pporters of the

2i had hoped the egisation .o,d 2e finai@ed 21 *emoria &a1/ ast monthD )o,se 6eterans? 'ffairs CommitteeChairman Feff *ierD R-:a/D de.ined to offer an spe.ifi. opinion on the egisation 2,t .aed it a UpositiedeeopmentV to>ards passing needed reform meas,res/

8he Senate 6eterans 'ffairs Committee on "! *' ,nanimo,s1 approed theegisatie pa.+age/ Panemem2ers reported o,t the near1 400-page omni2,s 2iD +no>n as the 6eterans :irst '.tD in an afternoon mar+,p inthe hopes of adan.ing the egisation to the Senate foor sooner rather than ater/ 6' Committee Chairman Fohnn17sa+sonD R-a/D has said he >ants to get a negotiated 2i passed 21 2oth .ham2ers to President O2ama 2efore*emoria &a1/ a,ren a1dosD a spo+es>oman for the .ommittee maGorit1D said the1 didn?t +no> >hen the f,Senate >o,d .onsider the egisation/ No amendments >ere offered to the massie 2i d,ring the p,2i. mar+,p/)o,se 6eterans? 'ffairs Committee Chairman Feff *ier (R-:$ has .aed the dea Ua positie deeopmentDVsa1ing that if the egisation passes the Senate he Uoo+s for>ard to immediate1 engaging in .onferen.e .ommitteenegotiations in order to moe a 6' reform pa.+age to the president?s des+/V [So,r.eI *iitar1 8imes eo Shane *a1 #D !0"# ]


+A In +it!o F$!ti#iation Udat$ 0 A!o!iation, Coitt$$ A!o4a#

' do@en eterans gro,ps and s,pport organi@ations are ra1ing 2ehind egisation that >o,d ena2e the 6eterans'ffairs &epartment to offer in itro fertii@ation seri.es to eterans >ith >o,nds and inG,ries preent them fromfathering .hidren/ 8he meas,reD >hi.h has 2een .hampioned for 1ears 21 Sen/ Patt1 *,rra1D a &emo.rat fromas approed 21 the Senate 'ppropriations Committee ast month and is no> part of the omni2,seterans and miitar1 .onstr,.tion 2i >or+ing its >a1 thro,gh the f, Senate/ Ba.+ers >ant to ma+e s,re the

Page 25 of 125


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egisation passes/ Y*,.h is said a2o,t honoring the sa.rifi.e that eterans ma+e for o,r famiiesDY the gro,ps >rote/Yo,d proide for 55 miion --"5 in fis.a !0" and 0 miion in !0"5 -- for fertiit1 treatments for eterans and their spo,ses if the eteran hasa seri.e-.onne.ted .ondition ma+ing it impossi2e to hae .hidren >itho,t the ,se of the treatment/

*,rra1D >ho has 2een ado.ating for 76: and other fami1 seri.es for eterans sin.e at east !0"!D said astmonth she >as pro,d that her amendment .ame o,t of the .ommittee >ith strong 2ipartisan s,pport/ 8he ote >as!3- in faor of the amendment/ Y8his amendment is a2o,t f,fiing o,r promise to the miitar1 famiies >ho >eas+ to sa.rifi.e and sere o,r .o,ntr1 on o,r 2ehafDY *,rra1 said after>ard/ Y7 +no> this is G,st the first h,rde/ 7>i 2e fighting to see this thro,gh to the end so this .o,ntr1 .an +eep ,p its .ommitment to .are for o,r eteransand their spo,ses >ho dream of haing a fami1/Y 7n preio,s 2isD in.,ding one from :e2r,ar1 !0"% that remainsin .ommitteeD *,rra1 aso p,shed for a,thori@ation and f,nding for eterans and famiies to 2e assisted >ithadoption seri.esD third-part1 donor and s,rroga.1 as options/ *,rra1 p,ed it from the foor after some Rep,2i.ana>ma+ers threatened to insert into it seera so-.aed poison-pi amendments that >o,d doom the entire pa.+age>hen it .ame to a ote/

'n offi.ia >ith one eterans gro,p 2a.+ing the .,rrent egisation said the pared do>n amendment offered 21*,rra1 ast month is the +ind of assistan.e that most a>ma+ers .an agree on/ 8he eterans ado.ateD >ho spo+e on

2a.+gro,ndD said there is a>a1s a .on.ern that the other t1pes of assistan.e >o,d .at.h strong opposition frommore .onseratie a>ma+ersD not on1 in the Senate 2,t in the )o,se >hen the 2i rea.hed there/ Some of thesesame gro,ps that sent the re.ent etter to senators preio,s1 anno,n.ed s,pport for *,rra1s proision ast monthDaong >ith other organi@ations/ 8hese in.,de the 6eterans of :oreign


27/125

the a,thorit1 to proide eterans the fertiit1 treatment options that are 2est s,ited for their parti.,ar .ir.,mstan.es/Y [So,r.eI *iitar1/.om Br1ant Fordan *a1 03D !0"# ]


y+A Initiati4$ Udat$ 01 3 +A EDand, y+A Co%niti$,'s part of the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs (6'$ *16' initiatieD the argest transformation in the histor1 of 6'D6' is reporting the progress and gro>th of the o.a1 edD .omm,nit1-drien initiatieD "$:! ,ommunities/*odeed after San &iego?s s,..essf, One 6' Comm,nit1 'do.a.1 BoardD more than %0 .omm,nities hae Goinedthe "$:! ,ommunities moement/ hi.h are ed 21 the .omm,nit1D proide a feed2a.+ and inp,t me.hanism for o.a 6eteransD area..essi2eD and are designed to 2ring together a aaia2e o.a reso,r.es and .apa2iities to 2etter s,pport o,r 6eterans/ 8he1 are aso feAi2e eno,gh to meet the ,niM,e needs of ea.h .omm,nit1 and fa.iitate the deeopmentof o.a so,tions/

U6' is ,ndergoing its argest eer transformationD *16'D 2ased aro,nd the .entra premise that >e m,st oo+ ata of the de.isions >e ma+e thro,gh the ens of the 6eteranD that is ho> >e proide a 2etter eAperien.eDV said

Se.retar1 of 6eterans 'ffairs Ro2ert '/ *.&onad/ U' ita part of that transformation is 2etter >or+ing >ithstrategi. partners and that?s eAa.t1 >hat "$:! ,ommunities hep ,s doD 2ring together o.a .omm,nit1 eadersthat >ant to hep 6' improe and proide seri.es to 6eterans/V

Conne.ti.,t esta2ished the first 6eterans .omm,nit1 2oard in the .o,ntr1 ,sing the ne> "$:!,ommunities mode and >as foo>ed 21 seera other start-,ps in.,ding *16' Pi+es Pea+ in Coorado SpringsDCoorado/ 7n other areasD 6' >as a2e to Goin >e-esta2ished eAisting engagements in.,ding the 'as+a :orget *e

Not Coaition and the Region 6eterans Comm,nit1 '.tion 8eam in 'nn 'r2orD *i.higan/ 8he .omm,nit16eterans engagement 2oardsD >hi.h go 21 different names in ea.h .omm,nit1D are .o-.haired and drien 21 o.a.omm,nit1 eaders and in.,de representaties from a three 6' 'dministrations on the 2oard mem2ership(6eterans Benefits 'dministrationD 6eterans )eath 'dministration and the Nationa Cemeter1 'dministration$/

8o s,pport f,rther integration of 6' seri.e offerings in .omm,nitiesD 6' is in.orporating the 6eterans E.onomi.Comm,nities 7nitiatie (6EC7$ into the *16' 6eterans EAperien.e portfoio of seri.e offerings/ 6EC7D >hi.h >asanno,n.ed 21 the Se.retar1 in !0"%D has improed ed,.ation and empo1ment opport,nities for 6eterans in oer !%.omm,nities aro,nd the .o,ntr1/ 8his is one eAampe of a reso,r.e 6' .an offer to .,rrent and f,t,re *16'Comm,nities a.ross the .o,ntr1/

6' eApe.ts to see "00 "$:! ,ommunities thro,gho,t the .o,ntr1 21 the end of this 1ear as a res,t of ongoingengagements >ith .omm,nit1 eaders and eAisting gro,ps >ith simiar missions/ 8he goa is to see+ integration >itheAisting .omm,nit1 .oa2oratie gro,psD and en.o,rage o.a .omm,nit1 eaders to adopt the "$:! ,ommunitiesmode >here gaps ma1 eAist/ 6isit httpI;;>>>/a/go;na.e;m16';indeA/asp for more information on the "$:!,ommunities effort/ 't httpI;;>>>/a/go;opa;m1a;do.s;m1a\integrated\pan/pdf .an 2e fo,nd moreinformation a2o,t *16'/ [So,r.eI 6' Ne>s Reease *a1 4DD !0"# ]


+A H$a#t/ Ca!$ A""$,, Udat$ .< St%dy Say, +$t, )$#ay S$$7in Ca!$

Near1 three of eer1 ten eterans report the1 hae dea1ed see+ing medi.a .areD >hi.h resear.hers s,ggest ma1 2eso>ing do>n the L/S/ &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs a2iit1 to sere them/ ' re.ent st,d1 .ond,.ted 21resear.hers at *arsha Lniersit1 and the Lniersit1 of 8eAas fo,nd diffi.,t1 a..essing .are is a pro2em for eteransD 2,t 2eing signifi.ant1 more i+e1 to dea1 .are is .ontri2,ting to the so> pa.e of 6'-proided

Page 2 of 125

http://www.va.gov/opa/myva/docs/myva_integrated_plan.pdfhttp://www.va.gov/nace/myVA/index.asphttp://www.va.gov/nace/myVA/index.asphttp://www.va.gov/opa/myva/docs/myva_integrated_plan.pdfhttp://www.va.gov/opa/myva/docs/myva_integrated_plan.pdfhttp://www.va.gov/nace/myVA/index.asphttp://www.va.gov/opa/myva/docs/myva_integrated_plan.pdf


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heath.are/ 8he st,d1 Ys,ggests a possi2e in+ 2et>een 6' a..ess pro2ems and eterans 2ehaior in see+ingneeded heath .areD >hi.h ma1 2e .reating disparities in the effe.tieness of .are for this ,nera2e and desering

pop,ationDY resear.hers >rite in the st,d1D p,2ished in the Fo,rna of P,2i. )eath *anagement and Pra.ti.e/

:or the st,d1D resear.hers ana1@ed data from a nationa s,re1 of ""D000 peope .ond,.ted in !0"0 and !0"" toassess dea1s in see+ing heath.are among the genera pop,ation and miitar1 eterans/ Of the parti.ipantsD G,st

"/!9 >ere .oered 21 eterans ins,ran.eD >hie the rest had priate heath ins,ran.e/ hi.h the resear.hers saidma1 res,t in their .are getting >orseD reM,iring higher ees of .are that reM,ire more time and .ost more mone1Da..ording to a press reease/ Y*ore st,dies are needed to eApand o,r ,nderstanding on the magnit,de and .,rrentstat,s of .are dea1 and offer spe.ifi. steps to re.tif1 reated iss,es on dea1ed .are if reported in miitar1 heath.areDY the resear.hers >rite/ [So,r.eI LP7 Stephen :eer *a1 !D !0"#]


+A +$t C/oi"$ P!o!a Udat$ .; 3 +$t O!aniation, Oo,$ EDan,ion

8he nation?s argest eterans gro,ps hae ined ,p to oppose an1 eApansion of the 6eterans 'ffairs Choi.e programthat >o,d ao> a eterans >ho are eigi2e for 6' medi.a .are to ,se it/ 8he standD 21 the 'meri.an egionD6eterans of :oreign ith seen po>erf, L/S/ senatorsD in.,ding 'ri@ona Rep,2i.an Fohn *.CainD >ho hae proposed egisationto ift restri.tions on Choi.e/ Seen eterans organi@ations >rote the 6' Commission on Care on ! 'PR sa1ingthe1 >o,d oppose an1 6' heath s1stem that ao>s eterans to see a non-6' proider at an1 time/

8he heads of the organi@ationsD >hi.h aso in.,ded &isa2ed 'meri.an 6eteransD 6ietnam 6eterans of 'meri.aD'*6E8SD *iitar1 Offi.ers 'sso.iation of 'meri.a and 7raM and 'fghanistan 6eterans of 'meri.aD tod pane.hair>oman Nan.1 S.hi.hting that giing a eterans a..ess to priate heath .are paid for 21 6' U>o,d haeserio,s .ostsD trade-offs and .onseM,en.es that .o,d endanger or harm the proision of heath .are to eterans/V

US,.h ,nfettered a..ess to the Choi.e program .o,d res,t in a de.ine in the n,m2er of eterans ,sing 6' programs and fa.iitiesD >hi.h >o,d threaten the finan.ia and .ini.a ia2iit1 of some 6' medi.a programs andfa.iitiesDV the1 >rote/

*.Cain introd,.ed a 2i ! 'PR that >o,d ma+e the Choi.e program permanent and eApand its eigi2iit1 to aeterans enroed in 6' .are/ 8he senator said the 2i is needed to Ytear do>n 2,rea,.rati. h,rdesY that den1eterans time1 a..ess to M,ait1 heath .are/ 8he 6'D insteadD >ants to .onsoidate seera .omm,nit1 .are

programsD in.,ding Choi.eD and ,se the ne> .omm,nit1 .are s1stem to s,ppement heath .are proided at 6'fa.iitiesD main1 in areas >here seri.es are ,naaia2e or faiing to proide time1 .are for former troops/

8he "%-mem2er Commission on Care >as tas+ed 21 Congress in !0"4 to st,d1 the 6eterans 'ffairs heath s1stemand ma+e re.ommendations on its f,t,re/ 7t has 2een >or+ing on the effort sin.e ast Septem2er and is eApe.ted to

reease a fina report in F,ne/ B,t the pane made headines ast month >hen mem2ers dis.,ssed the option of .osing a 6' fa.iities and moing eterans to a s1stem simiar to *edi.areD >here a eigi2e eterans >o,dre.eie treatment from priate proiders paid for 21 6'/ 8hat proposa speed o,t in a 3%-page Ustra>manYdo.,ment drafted 21 seen .ommission mem2ers dre> fire from eterans gro,ps that said it represented theintentions of the those >ho >rote itD in.,ding .ommissioner &arin Seni.+D >ho preio,s1 .haired a tas+ for.e oneterans heath .are organi@ed 21 the ado.a.1 gro,p Con.erned 6eterans :or 'meri.a/ 8hat tas+ for.e reeased areport ast 1ear .aing for the pa.ement of 6' medi.a fa.iities ,nder a goernment-f,nded nonprofit organi@ationand shifting treatment for eterans >ith nonseri.e-reated heath .onditions to priate heath ins,ran.e programs/

Page 2


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Criti.s of the panD in.,ding &emo.rati. presidentia .andidates Sen/ Bernie Sanders (7-68$ and former Se.retar1 of State )iar1 CintonD hae .aed it a thin1 eied attempt 21 .onseratie ind,striaists Chares and&aid Jo.h to priati@e the 6eterans )eath 'dministration/ Ne>s reports hae in+ed the gro,p to the Jo.h

2rothers net>or+ of a.tiist organi@ationsD atho,gh C6' offi.ias do not dis.,ss their f,nding so,r.es/ *.Cains 2i is the se.ond in t>o 1ears from the senatorD >ho has so,ght to find Ushort- and ong-term so,tions to pro2emsat 6'/Y ' spo+es>oman for the senator said 4 *' *.Cain .ontin,es to >or+ >ith seera eterans gro,ps to

address ongoing iss,es at the departmentD in.,ding the re.ent1 reeased 2i/ YSenator *.Cain?s Care 6eterans&esere '.t /// >i a..ompish this shared goa thro,gh an a of the a2oe approa.hDY *.Cain .omm,ni.ationsdire.tor Ra.he &ean said/ Y8he Care 6eterans &esere 2i eApands a..ess to 6' fa.iities thro,gh eening and>ee+end ho,rs and teemedi.ineD as >e as the 6' partnering .ose1 >ith >a+-in .ini.s for eterans see+ingsame-da1 appointments/Y

Other egisation aso is >ending thro,gh Congress to address the 6'?s Choi.e programD to gie 6' feAi2iit1 in,sing Choi.e f,nds and improe its pro.esses for reim2,rsing proiders/ B,t the massie eterans reform 2iintrod,.ed 21 the Senate 6eterans 'ffairs Committee ast >ee+ does not in.,de ang,age that >o,d ao> 6' to.onsoidate ario,s o,tside .are programs that department eaders hae reM,ested/ *.&onad said o,d .ontin,e to press for the a2iit1 to .onsoidate the o,tside .are programsD and he reiterated the departmentsstan.e against sh,ttering 6' fa.iities in faor of priate .are/ Y8he1 arg,e that .osing 6)' is the +ind of 2od

transformation eterans and their famiies needD >ant and desere/ 7 s,spe.t that proposa seres some partiessome>here prett1 >eDY *.&onad saidD Y2,t it?s not transformationa/ 7t?s more aong the ines of derei.tion/ 7tdoesn?t sere eterans >e/ 'nd it doesn?t sit >e >ith me/Y [So,r.eI *iitar1 8imes Patri.ia Jime *a1 %D !0"#]


+A T!an,$nd$! Ca!$ 3 G$nd$! T!an,ition8R$#at$d S%!$!y P$tition

8ransgender eterans are petitioning the &epartment of 6eterans 'ffairs to .oer gender transition-reated s,rgeries/U7 sered m1 .o,ntr1 >ith prideD and 7 sho,d 2e treated G,st i+e m1 feo> eterans >ho hae a..ess to the

treatment the1 needDV &ee :,.herD one of the petitionersD said in a >ritten statement "0 *'/ 8he petition for a r,e.hange >as fied 21 am2da ega and the 8ransgender a> Center on 2ehaf of :,.her and another transgender eteranD io SiaD as >e as the !D!00-p,s mem2er 8ransgender 'meri.an 6eterans 'sso.iation/ 8he 6' aread1.oers transition-reated .are for transgender ets in.,ding hormone repa.ement therap1 and pre- and post-s,rgi.a.are/ B,t it doesn?t .oer an1 a.t,a s,rger1D a 2an the petition .as Uar2itrar1 and .apri.io,s/V

S,rgeries s,.h as maste.tomies or penie impants are .oered to treat iss,es s,.h as .an.er and tra,mati.inG,ries/ B,t transgender eterans .an?t get .oerage for the same s,rgeriesD sa1s the petitionD >hi.h >as fied ate*onda1/ :,rtherD the petition sa1sD transgender dis.rimination is a form of seA dis.riminationD >hi.h is prohi2ited

21 the Cii Rights '.t/ 8hat?s the same arg,ment the F,sti.e &epartment is ma+ing against a .ontroersia NorthCaroina a> that reM,ires transgender peope ,se the 2athroom .orresponding to their 2ioogi.a seA/

:,.herD one of the petitionersD sered in the *arines ,nti "!/ She .ame o,t as a transgender >oman and

2egan treatment in !0"3/ 8>o 6' .ini.ians hae re.ommended gender reassignment s,rgeriesD 2,t she .an?t getthem >itho,t 6' .oerageD a..ording to the petition/ U7 fee i+e 7 am 2eing made ess of a personD and it isdeastating for meD 2oth emotiona1 and for m1 ph1si.a heathD that it is eA.r,.iating to 2e trapped in gender

p,rgator1 2e.a,se the s,rger1 7 need is denied thro,gh the 6' 2e.a,se 7?m transgenderDV she said/

SiaD the other indiid,a petitionerD sered in the 'rm1 from !005 to !0"!/ 7n !0"%D a 6' do.tor re.ommendedhe get a maste.tom1D not 2e.a,se he is transgenderD 2,t 2e.a,se he s,ffers from seere 2a.+ painD a..ording to the

petition/ B,t another 6' do.tor determined Sia >anted the s,rger1 primari1 for gender transition and tod Siathe s,rger1 >o,dn?t 2e .oeredD a..ording to the petition/ U*1 do.tor tod me that 7 needed to hae s,rger1

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2e.a,se of m1 seere 2a.+ painD 2,t simp1 2e.a,se 7 am transgenderD a pro.ed,re that is aaia2e to tho,sands of other eterans >i not 2e .oered 21 the 6' for meDV he said in a >ritten statement/ U7 made a .ommitment to the'rm1D and 7 +ept it ,nti 7 retiredD 2,t it is heart2rea+ing for me that this poi.1 on transition-reated s,rger1 +eepsthe 6' from ,phoding its d,t1 to me/V


+A M$nta# H$a#t/ Ca!$ Udat$ 2; St%dy Say, +A ED"$$d, P!i4at$ S$"to!

' st,d1 reeased ast month indi.ated that the M,ait1 of medi.a treatment for menta disorders in the 6' eA.eedsthat of the priate se.tor/ &r/ Praeen :ernandesD &ire.tor of O,tpatient *enta )eath for the 6' Ne2ras+a-a )eath Care S1stemD said the resear.hers on the st,d1 .oe.ted data on more than haf a miion

patients oer the .o,rse of a 1ear in 2oth the 6' and priate se.tor/ 8he1 oo+ed at fo,r M,ait1 indi.atorsD in.,ding>hether patients had 2ood ees monitored >hie the1 >ere on their medi.ationsD >hether or not the proiders too+ a genera 2ood .hemistr1 monitoring >hie patients >ere ta+ing medi.ations for menta inessD >hether the patientstoo+ their meds for at e

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