Donald Trump’s pick to head Veterans Affairs: Robert Wilkie
President Donald Trump announced Friday he is nominating Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to permanently lead the beleaguered department. Wilkie, a former Pentagon undersecretary for personnel and readiness, has led the agency since Trump fired David Shulkin two months ago amid an ethics scandal and mounting rebellion within the department. Trump revealed his decision during a prison reform event at the White House, and said the decision was a surprise to Wilkie. “He doesn’t know this yet — that we’re going to be putting his name up for nomination to be secretary of the veterans’ administration,” Trump said. Trump previously nominated White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson for the job, but he withdrew last month. Wilkie, 56, oversaw a new Pentagon policy aimed at stemming harassment in the military after an online nude-photo sharing scandal rocked the Marine Corps. He was confirmed unanimously as Pentagon undersecretary by the Senate. As acting VA secretary, Wilkie has sought to rebuild morale at an agency beset with inner turmoil and rebellion over Trump’s push to expand private care. On Thursday, he announced a major $10 billion contract with Cerner Corp. to overhaul electronic health records for millions of veterans, a 10-year project that aims to improve mental health care and ease access to private providers. The VA faces problems demanding immediate attention, including a multibillion dollar revamp of electronic medical records, now in limbo, that members of Congress fear will prove too costly and wasteful, and a budget shortfall in the coming weeks in its private-sector Veterans Choice program. The House is slated to vote on a wide-ranging bill next week that would give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the VA health system and fill the budget shortfall, a major step toward fulfilling Trump’s promise to expand private care for veterans. Wilkie, an Air Force and Navy veteran, had the strong backing of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House chief of staff John Kelly for the VA post as a skilled manager with defense expertise, over other candidates who had more political experience, such as former Rep. Jeff Miller, who had chaired the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The son of an Army artillery commander, he spent his childhood at Fort Bragg and served under President George W. Bush as an assistant secretary of defense. He was the youngest senior leader in the department. He also served as senior adviser to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., before being named a Pentagon undersecretary in 2017. Jackson’s nomination to replace Shulkin surprised veterans groups that were unaware his name was under consideration. He was a career military doctor who lacked significant management experience. While Jackson was well-liked in Washington and drew praise from Obama administration officials he’d treated, even many Republicans were skeptical of his ability to lead the VA. After Jackson withdrew from consideration, White House officials said Trump planned to interview and vet his next nominee more thoroughly. Wilkie was among several candidates White House staff interviewed in recent weeks for the post. The president had indicated he intended to pick someone with a more political background for the role, hoping such a person would better navigate the turbulent confirmation process in a narrowly divided Senate. Wilkie has experience shepherding two defense secretaries through Senate confirmation. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
VA nominee accused of drunken behavior, reckless prescribing
White House doctor Ronny Jackson exhibited a pattern of recklessly prescribing drugs and drunken behavior, including crashing a government vehicle while intoxicated and doling out such a large supply of a prescription opioid that staffers panicked because they thought the drugs were missing, according to accusations compiled by Democratic staff on the committee considering his nomination as Veterans Affairs secretary. The summary was based on conversations with 23 of Jackson’s current and former colleagues at the White House Medical Unit. It is the latest blow to his nomination to lead the government’s second-largest Cabinet agency. In just a matter of days, the allegations have transformed Jackson’s reputation as a celebrated doctor attending the president to an embattled nominee accused of drinking on the job and over-prescribing drugs. He was seen pacing back and forth on the White House grounds Wednesday. And while the White House put on a full-scale defense of Jackson, spokesman Raj Shah said aides are “of course” preparing for the possibility that he might withdraw. “This is, as the president said, Dr. Jackson’s decision,” Shah said on CNN. Jackson huddled late Wednesday evening with top White House press staff. They declined to comment on the situation. A former colleague who spoke to The Associated Press described Jackson as a gregarious, Type A charmer who knew how to position himself for success — attentive to bosses but also causing unnecessary grief and consternation among colleagues. He said Jackson became known as “Candyman” because of the way he handed out drugs. The ex-colleague spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation. The “Candyman” nickname was also cited in the summary released by the Democrats. In a section on Jackson’s prescribing practices, the summary said that in one case, missing Percocet tabs threw members of the White House Medical Unit into a panic — but it turned out he had prescribed a “large supply” of the opioid to a White House Military Office staffer. The allegations also referred to multiple incidents of Jackson’s intoxication while on duty, often on overseas trips. On at least one occasion he was nowhere to be found when his medical help was needed because “he was passed out drunk in his hotel room,” according to the summary. At a Secret Service going-away party, the summary says, Jackson got drunk and wrecked a government vehicle. Jackson has denied allegations of bad behavior and told reporters at the White House he was “still moving ahead as planned.” “I never wrecked a car,” he said. “I have no idea where that is coming from.” Reports of overprescribing and alcohol-related behavior problems can jeopardize a doctor’s license. Many state medical boards allow doctors to keep their licenses and return to practice if they complete special treatment programs and submit to random urine screens. The allegations were publicly released on the day that Jackson’s confirmation hearing was to have been held. The hearing was postponed indefinitely while the allegations against him are reviewed. “He treated the people above him very, very well. He treated the people below him very, very poorly,” Sen. Jon Tester, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, told the AP. “It’s not surprising the people above him think he was doing a really, really good job.” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that Jackson had passed “at least four independent background checks” that found “no areas of concern.” “He has received more vetting than most nominees,” she said. Marc Short, the White House legislative director, could not say he was confident the allegations were false. He was “not familiar” with car wreck episode. But Short also suggested Tester was airing the allegations for political gain. “It’s quite unusual for a United States senator to take allegations that have not been fully investigated, but to flaunt them to the national public to suggest he’s the ‘candyman’ I think is outrageous,” Short said. Tester, speaking on MSNBC, acknowledged that not all the allegations had been verified. “Am I 100% rock solid sure that he did this? No,” Tester said. “But I’ve seen a pattern here that continues on and on and on.” Jackson met late at the Capitol with a key Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. They discussed a variety of subjects — “some were the allegations” — as well as Jackson’s credentials for the job. “It was just getting through the facts,” Tillis said. Veterans groups are dismayed over the continuing uncertainty at the VA, already beset by infighting over improvements to veterans care. “The American Legion is very concerned about the current lack of permanent leadership,” said Denise Rohan, national commander of The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization. A watchdog report requested in 2012 and reviewed by the AP found that Jackson and a rival physician exhibited “unprofessional behaviors” as they engaged in a power struggle over the White House medical unit. That report by the Navy’s Medical Inspector General found a lack of trust in the leadership and low morale among staff members, who described the working environment as “being caught between parents going through a bitter divorce.” It included no references to improper prescribing of drugs or the use of alcohol, as alleged in the summary compiled by the Senate Democratic staff members. The White House has released handwritten reports from Trump and former President Barack Obama praising Jackson’s leadership and medical care and recommending him for promotion. Trump’s first VA secretary, David Shulkin, was dismissed after an ethics scandal and mounting rebellion within the agency. But Jackson has faced numerous questions from lawmakers and veterans groups about whether he has the experience to manage the department of 360,000 employees serving 9 million veterans. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Will Ainsworth: Alabama must do more to thank its military veterans
The Bible verse Isaiah 6:8 reads – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Those words from the holiest of books have always prompted me to think of the men and women who have so selflessly served in the United States military and defended the greatest of all nations. Military service is a deep commitment that demands a great deal of sacrifice from the soldiers who serve and the family members who support them. Everyone who wears our country’s uniform deserves our respect, honor, and appreciation, and those warm feelings continue even after that uniform is removed and hung in a closet. Since joining the Alabama Legislature in 2014, I have placed a deep focus on serving the needs of Alabama’s military veterans, and that commitment will continue if I am elected lieutenant governor. Most recently, I worked with State Rep. Dickie Drake (R – Leeds) and members of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to pass the Parks for Patriots Act, which provides free, year-round admission to all Alabama state parks for active military personnel and veterans, including members of the National Guard and Reserves. I also joined with State Rep. Barry Moore (R – Enterprise) to pass legislation that makes it a crime for those who do not qualify to park in spaces specifically reserved for Purple Heart and medal of valor recipients, former prisoners of war, or other military veterans. More and more businesses are setting aside special parking spaces reserved for military veterans who were wounded, taken prisoner, or presented a medal for valor in defense of our country. It is unconscionable to think that someone who does not fall under these categories would park in a space reserved for our nation’s heroes, but it happens quite often. This new law will ensure that those who display such blatant disrespect will be punished appropriately. My Republican colleagues and I have also approved the Veterans Employment Act, which provides tax incentives to businesses that hire honorably discharged veterans who are currently unemployed. The law ensures that the veterans covered by this incentive program would be hired for full-time jobs and earn at least $14 per hour, and because the program is modeled after the “pay as you go” method of awarding economic incentives, it will have no negative fiscal impact on the budgets. And in order to ensure that the sacrifices and legacies of veterans of the past, present, and future are properly protected, I was proud to support the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, a measure that prevents those with leftist agendas and politically correct notions from tearing down statues, monuments, and makers dedicated to our state’s rich military history. Some may argue that the work we have accomplished is adequate, but I believe that more should still be done to properly thank our veteran heroes for their service. That is why I plan to create the Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Veterans’ Needs if I am elected to serve the citizens of Alabama over the next four years. This task force will include a cross section of career military veterans, National Guard veterans, disabled veterans, combat and homefront veterans, business leaders, educators, and other citizens. The task force will be responsible for recommending need laws, programs, and initiatives that will ensure Alabama’s veterans and their families are skilled, educated, employed, and provided the comforts necessary to understand the thanks of a grateful state. As lieutenant governor, I will take the most worthy recommendations of the task force to the members of the Senate and work to enact them into law. And because the needs of veterans continue to evolve with a changing economy, emerging technologies, and shifting military responsibilities, the task force will continue to meet on an annual basis and provide new input and ideas. George Washington, our nation’s first president and one of its greatest generals, stressed the importance of treating our veterans well when he said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” Those are wise words spoken by a great man, and I pledge to live by them as your lieutenant governor. ••• Guntersville-Republican, State Rep. Will Ainsworth is a candidate for lieutenant governor. Elected to the Legislature in 2014, Ainsworth currently represents Alabama’s House District 27, which includes portions of Marshall, DeKalb, and Blount counties.
Kay Ivey takes on mission to have employers hire more Alabama vets
Governor Kay Ivey wants to see more veterans hired across the state of Alabama. On Monday, the governor joined U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta and Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington in urging employers statewide to do just that: hire more Alabama veterans. “Veteran employment is an issue that is very important to me and my Administration,” Ivey said. “We are committed to making sure that those who have volunteered to serve us and our country have worthwhile opportunities to establish long-lasting careers.” Ivey also announced a new federal program, the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, is expected to officially kick off in 2019. It’s designed to encourage employers’ commitment to veteran careers, including hiring, retention, and long-term development. In preparation for its launch, the U.S. Department of Labor is asking employers to apply for its HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration, an effort that will recognize up to 300 employers for their investments in veteran hiring. The program will recognize employers across three categories: large, medium, and small, and will be available at two levels, platinum or gold, based on the criteria they meet. The criteria is available at www.hirevets.gov. “I know that Alabama’s employers care deeply about our veterans, and I encourage them to pursue this federal designation, so that Alabama’s veterans will know how deeply their commitment lies,” Ivey continued. The designations will be available to the first 300 applicants across all categories (large, medium, and small employers) and applications will be available online at www.hirevets.gov on January 31st. Any employer with at least one employee on staff is eligible to apply. There is no application fee. Those recognized in 2018 will also be eligible to apply for the 2019 program. “We know that veterans bring many valuable skills to the workforce,” added Washington. “Employers who have this designation will be that much more attractive to veterans seeking work. It would be wonderful to have dozens of Alabama employers recognized in this first group of designees.” This is not the first time Ivey has brought the spotlight on Alabama’s veterans. In her State of the State address earlier this month, Ivey made hiring one of her administration’s priorities. She announced that she would be extending tax credits to small businesses that hire veterans. “Sometimes, when veterans finish their service, they struggle to find work; that is why I support extending tax credits to small businesses that hire veterans,” Ivey said during her speech. “For those veterans who own their own businesses, they need our support as well. I am proposing legislation that will give preference to veteran-owned businesses that bid on state contracts. Our veterans have given much to protect our state and nation. As a state, we must step up and repay them for their sacrifice.” Employers seeking further information on the HIRE Vets Medallion Program should contact hirevets@dol.gov.
UA study to take ‘deep dive’ into risk factors for veterans, suicides
University of Alabama researchers, America’s Warrior Partnership and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation have partnered on a $2.9 million study to explore risk factors that contribute to suicides, early mortality and self-harm among military veterans. “Operation Deep Dive,” funded by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, aims to create better understanding of the risk factors, particularly at the organizational and community level. Drs. Karl Hamner, director of the Office of Evaluation for the College of Education, and David L. Albright, Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health and associate professor in the School of Social Work, are the principal investigators for UA on the study. Innovative new approach Recent research has shown that neither PTSD nor combat exposure is a good predictor of veterans and suicide, so researchers must cast a wider net, Hamner said. “Previous research has focused primarily on individual-level risk factors, like prior suicide attempts, mood disorders, substance abuse and access to lethal means, but suicide is a complex phenomenon, and those factors don’t paint the whole picture,” Albright said. The study is innovative in that it focuses on veterans across the spectrum of service, gender and lifespan, using data from America’s Warrior Partnership and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, new data collected during the study, and data from the Department of Defense. For instance, female veterans, who are 2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than civilian women, will be spotlighted in the study. Both the DOD and the VA will be vital in identifying veterans with varying medical histories, combat experiences and discharges from military services. America’s Warrior Partnership will also help fill the gaps in identifying veterans who don’t fit criteria for VA benefits, like National Guard or Reserve personnel who aren’t activated, or anyone who has a dishonorable discharge, which could be for a variety of reasons. “The scope of this study is timely and so needed that we really believe we can move the needle,” Hamner said. A better understanding The first phase of the study is a five-year retrospective investigation of the DOD service use and pattern of VA care utilization to examine the impact of less-than-honorable discharges on suicides and suspected suicides, and the differences in suicides between those who receive and do not receive VA services. “Helping to identify the trends or predictors of veterans’ suicide could help immensely in reducing suicide rates and provide much-needed interventions for this community,” says John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “This project will take a deep dive to better understand what was happening at the community level to design better, more targeted intervention programs.” The second phase will incorporate these findings into a three-year study that will include input from medical examiners, mental health experts, veterans, family members and the community to conduct a “sociocultural autopsy” of all new or suspected suicides in America’s Warrior Partnership’s seven partnership communities, as well as in comparison communities. The results will explore how community context and engagement affect prevention of suicides in veterans and why some former service members commit suicide, while others do not. “The overarching goal of the study is to understand triggers of suicide in order to prevent potential suicides before they occur,” said Jim Lorraine, president and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership. “With each organization bringing its own areas of expertise and data, we can make a difference in the lives of our nation’s warriors, particularly the most vulnerable veterans.” Both Hamner and Albright are committee chairs for the Alabama Veterans Network, or AlaVetNet, which connects Alabama veterans to resources and services. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed Executive Order 712, which tasks the group in helping reduce and eliminate the opioid crisis as well as reducing the high veteran suicide rate. This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Kay Ivey: In Alabama, we have our veterans’ backs
Dedication. Honor. Commitment. Sacrifice. Those are the traits that come to mind when I think about our nation’s veterans. I saw these qualities lived out every day by my dad. Boadman Nettles Ivey, my father, served in WWII as part of a field artillery division. From him I learned to love my country, to offer myself to serve my fellow citizen and to stand up for what is right, even when doing so might be difficult. Though I have a profound and deep respect for my dad, he isn’t the only person to possess these qualities; they are shared by most everyone who has ever served in the United States Armed Forces. From the moment a man or woman puts on the uniform and pledges to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic,” he or she enters into an elite class of citizen-soldiers. Veterans, distinguished by their character, duty and service, make great contributions to our society not only on the battlefield, but in our communities. Though one may leave the active service, a veteran never truly stops serving. Once their military careers end, many veterans choose Alabama as their home. In fact, one in 10 Alabamians are veterans. Our state has benefited greatly from those who have been stationed at Fort Benning, Fort Rucker, Maxwell Air Force Base, and Redstone Arsenal, among others. Alabama is enriched because these highly-skilled veterans have chosen to continue their public service by pursuing career opportunities, in many cases, in local and state government. I am proud to have men and women who have worn the military uniform as part of my staff and cabinet, including Jeff Dunn and Brian Hastings, among others. Before becoming Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, Colonel Jeff Dunn had a distinguished career in the Air Force. Likewise, Colonel Brian Hastings, who serves as Director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, held significant Air Force commands. Throughout my career in public service, I have placed importance on supporting the work of the military in Alabama. From helping lead the Alabama Military Stability Commission, to having recently signed into law new legislation allowing veterans to more easily further their educations, supporting those who protect our nation has been at the forefront of my agenda. This month, I announced that veterans will no longer be required to pay entrance fees at any of our state parks. As long as I am governor, it will be the policy of our state to honor those who have protected our freedoms. Alabama has always been and continues to be a veteran-friendly state, but at the same time, veterans have been very good to Alabama. The leadership military men and women provide, and their tireless commitment to public service, have made Alabama a better place to live, own a home, raise a family and to achieve our dreams. Alabama is indeed indebted to countless men and women like Colonels Dunn and Hastings, who never stop serving others. As governor, it comforts me knowing that within my cabinet and staff are individuals who have operated at many levels of the military and who are extremely capable of helping me lead our state. Those who have served in the Armed Forces understand the phrase: “I’ve got your six,” meaning someone is watching your back and is standing ready to protect you at all costs. I am thankful that thousands upon thousands of Alabamians have stood strong, promising to protect and serve while on active duty and afterward. Now, as we celebrate Veterans Day, it is only fitting that we make it loud and clear to those same veterans – “Alabama’s got your six.” This Veterans Day, and every day, when you see a veteran thank him or her for their service. Share a smile, a hearty handshake or a warm hug. Remind them that you will never forget their service and, despite the changes our nation faces, in Alabama, we are still proud to stand for our flag, for our freedom, and in honor of those who sacrificed so much, so that freedom can, and still does, truly ring. ••• Kay Ivey is the 54th, and current, Governor of Alabama. A member of the Republican Party, Ivey served as the 38th Alabama State Treasurer from 2003 to 2011, and later became the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama; she was the first Republican woman elected in this state, serving from January 2011 until April 2017. She assumed office as governor on April 10, 2017
Martha Roby pays tribute to veterans on House floor
In a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday, Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby honored America’s veterans and said advocating for those who have served this nation is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. “I take my responsibility to look out for veterans very seriously, whether through pushing for better policies, fighting to improve access to VA medical services, or going to bat for someone the bureaucracy has left behind,” Roby said. “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has served this country and to their families. Our country is great because of the men and women who were willing to sacrifice on our behalf.” Roby also shared the news that the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS), which serves all of Alabama’s Second Congressional District, has improved by another star rating. CAVHCS now ranks three out of five stars — a significant improvement from two years ago when the system ranked as one of the nation’s worst. Watch Roby’s tribute below: Read Roby full floor speech, as prepared, below: Thank you, M. Speaker. In the year 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, the armistice ending World War I was signed. Originally known as Armistice Day, Congress later passed and President Dwight Eisenhower signed a resolution officially designating November 11th as Veterans Day. Now, every year, Americans pause on this special day to recognize all those, young and old, who have served our country in uniform. While we should honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans every day, this holiday provides a unique opportunity for us to come together as a nation and pay tribute to the men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom. This year I’ll be participating in my hometown of Montgomery’s Veterans Day event, and I highly encourage you and your family to attend the festivities in your area. I can promise you that you won’t regret it. For me, it’s not only an opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have served, but it’s also a chance for my children to meet veterans and to better understand the sacrifices that have been made for us. If you can’t attend an event in person, I hope you will take time to reach out to friends or relatives who have served to let them know they are appreciated. Mr. Speaker, this Veterans Day comes as services for veterans are improving – both on a national level and locally in Alabama’s Second Congressional District. I have been impressed by the leadership of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin. He’s been making the long-troubled Department work better for those it serves. Closer to home for me, the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System has again improved its service rating and now ranks three out of five stars. This is encouraging news, especially considering that just a few short years ago the Central Alabama VA was one of the nation’s worst. Our VA now has the steady leadership of Dr. Linda Boyle, and there’s no question that her guidance has made a difference in making this sustained progress. I’m eager to see it continue. We still have significant issues to address at our Central Alabama VA, which is why I will remain actively engaged in working to turn around the system. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to represent a district that is home to one of the nation’s highest concentrations of veterans and retired military personnel. One of the most rewarding parts of this job is being able to advocate for those who have served this nation in uniform. I take my responsibility to look out for veterans very seriously, whether through pushing for better policies, fighting to improve access to VA medical services, or going to bat on behalf of someone the bureaucracy has left behind. So Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by extending my sincere gratitude to everyone who has served this country and to their families. Our country is great because of the men and women who were willing to sacrifice on our behalf. Thank you. I yield back.
Martha Roby: Honor veterans in your hometown
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, the armistice ending World War I was signed. Originally known as Armistice Day, Congress later passed and President Dwight Eisenhower signed a resolution officially designating November 11 as Veterans Day. Now, every year, Americans pause on this special day to recognize all those, young and old, who have served our country in uniform. While we should honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans every day, this holiday provides a unique opportunity for us to come together as a nation and pay tribute to the men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom. I highly encourage you and your family to attend a Veterans Day ceremony in your area. Many towns throughout Central and South Alabama will be holding special observances, and I’ve had the privilege to attend several over the years. This year, I will be participating in Montgomery’s Veterans Day event at Riverwalk Stadium. For me, it’s not only an opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have served, it’s also a chance for my children to meet veterans and to better understand the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf. If you can’t attend an event in person, I hope you’ll take time to reach out to friends or relatives who have served to let them know they are appreciated. This Veterans Day comes as services for veterans are improving, both on a national and local level. I’ve been impressed by the leadership and ingenuity of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin in making the long-troubled Department of Veterans Affairs work better for those it serves. Closer to home, the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) has again improved its service rating and now ranks three out of five stars. That’s encouraging news, especially considering that just a few short years ago the Central Alabama VA was one of the nation’s worst. There’s no question that finally having the steady leadership of CAVHCS Director Dr. Linda Boyle has contributed to this sustained progress, and I’m eager to see it continue. We still have significant issues to address at CAVHCS, which is why I remain actively engaged in working to turn around this system. It is my distinct honor to represent a district that is home to one of the nation’s highest concentration of veterans and retired military personnel. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to advocate on behalf of those who have served this nation in uniform. I take my responsibility to look out for veterans very seriously, whether it is through pushing for better policies, fighting to improve access to VA medical services, or going to bat on behalf of someone the bureaucracy has left behind. If you are a veteran, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you and to your family. This country is great because you and people like you were willing to sacrifice on our behalf. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband Riley and their two children.
Terri Sewell to host Fourth Annual Veterans Resource Fair
In support of those who served our nation, Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell will host her Fourth Annual Veterans Resource Fair on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Birmingham VA Medical Center Annex. The free event aims to provide assistance with issues unique to veterans including VA benefits, transportation resources, health screenings, housing options, mental health services, caregiver support, women’s services, career services, and more. Over 25 resource groups and service officers will be onsite to help attendees. The event is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, Sewell has published a Veterans Resource Guide to help the brave men and women of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District who have answered the call to serve in our armed forces as they transition back into their communities. The guide helps our veterans obtain the proper benefits and assistance they have earned through their service.
John McCain demands accounting from VA on money for private care
Sen. John McCain is demanding a full accounting from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the financial status of its private-sector health care program after the agency said it could face another budget shortfall as soon as December. The Associated Press reported this week that the VA had acknowledged its Veterans Choice program could run out of money by year’s end despite receiving $2.1 billion in emergency funding just last month. Another shortfall could force the VA to limit referrals to outside doctors, causing delays in medical care for hundreds of thousands of veterans. In a letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin, McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants to know specifically when the VA expects Choice to run out of money. McCain cites AP’s report, which included a statement from VA that Choice funds could be depleted as early as December or as late as March. The letter, sent late Wednesday, calls for a VA response by the end of the week. The Arizona Republican noted that Congress was led astray earlier this year after VA provided false assurances that Choice funds would last until early 2018. After Shulkin admitted to a budget shortfall in June, McCain joined other senators to express concern to VA about possible financial mismanagement. Congress ultimately approved $2.1 billion in emergency spending for Choice that was intended to last until February. “We said at the time that it was essential, given the growing demand for care under the Choice program, that the VA immediately correct the failures that created such a serious shortfall,” McCain wrote. “It appears as if you have not done so.” In its statement earlier this week to AP, the VA said it hoped to move quickly on a proposed long-term legislative fix that would give veterans even wider access to private doctors. The proposal, under review by the White House budget office, would seek money to keep Choice running for much of next year as VA implements wider changes. Earlier this year, the VA began limiting referrals to outside doctors as money started running low. The Choice program was passed by Congress in 2014 in response to a wait-time scandal at the Phoenix VA medical center that spread nationwide. Some veterans died while waiting months for appointments as VA employees manipulated records to hide delays. The controversy spurred Congress to establish Choice as a pilot program to relieve pressure at VA hospitals. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
New Birmingham organization encourages hiring veterans
Up to 360,000 men and women leave the military annually and a new Birmingham-based initiative is hoping to make their transition a little bit easier for those looking to stay in the workforce. Founded in February 2017, VETBHAM, seeks to foster collaboration among Birmingham area businesses to support veteran-orientated initiatives. The group, which officially launched last week with the naming of Danny Noles, the Managing Partner at Penn Mutual Alabama, as President, is looking to strengthen the community of Birmingham through empowering veterans and recognizing their individual and collective skills. Modeled after a simliar initiative in Atlanta, VETLANTA, VETBHAM looks for community support by way of ideas, action and influence rather than monetary donations.
Bradley Byrne: Improvements for Alabama’s veterans
In my office, there is no greater priority than ensuring veterans are appropriately taken care. These men and women sacrificed so much for our country, and it is imperative they receive the attention, help, and care they deserve and were promised. Recently, we had a number of important breakthroughs for veterans in Southwest Alabama. From legislative victories in Washington to progress right here on the Gulf Coast, I want to briefly update you on some of the recent improvements for Alabama’s veterans. Most notably, last week we broke ground on the new VA outpatient clinic in Mobile. Building a new clinic has long been at the top of my priority list since being elected to Congress. I have held multiple meetings with VA officials, sent letters to VA leadership, and demanded progress. As those shovels hit dirt last week, it was a major accomplishment. The clinic will replace the current outdated and small clinic on Springhill Avenue. That building was never intended to serve as a VA clinic, and it lacked many of the basic infrastructure needs for a clinic serving around 11,000 veterans a year. The new, 65,000 square feet clinic will be conveniently located right off I-10 in Tillman’s Corner. This location should be easy for local veterans to access, and the clinic will have adequate public parking. The new clinic will provide space for primary care, audiology and speech pathology, education, eye clinics, mental health, patient advocacy, radiology, Veterans’ Service Organizations, and women’s health. The clinic should be up and running by the end of 2018 or early 2019, depending on construction conditions. Rest assured, I will continue to provide diligent oversight throughout the construction process to ensure things move forward. Other positive developments for our veterans came in the form of new, bipartisan legislation passed in Congress. Despite the reporting by the national news media, Congress has actually come together in a bipartisan way on multiple occasions this year to pass bills important to veterans. For example, we passed the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. This bill makes it easier to remove or demote VA employees who simply are not getting the job done. The bill also increases protections for whistleblowers who speak out about problems at the VA. VA employees should work in a culture of accountability and openness instead of a culture of complacency and deceit. Also this year, President Donald Trump signed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 into law. This landmark legislation removes time restrictions relating to the use of benefits under the GI Bill. Instead of the current 15 year timeline, the bill clarifies that veterans may use their GI Bill education benefits for the duration of their life. Just as important, the bill helps cut down on bureaucratic costs and confusion by consolidating the programs into just a single program relating to the GI Bill. The federal government, VA included, could always use more simplicity and less bureaucratic mess. Finally, Congress recently passed legislation to ensure funding for the VA Choice Card program does not expire. This program is important because it increases veteran access to private medical care outside of the VA system. I am committed to making even more reforms to the program to ensure every veteran has the option of seeking care from doctors and hospitals in their local community. As you can see, taking care of our veterans has been a top priority, but also a bipartisan issue that brings Republicans and Democrats together. We must continue working to reform the VA and take care of those who have given so much to our country. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
