CONGRESS
Article: “Congresswoman, Navy vet calls for cheaper prescriptions for military families, retirees”
Article: “Senate Armed Services shelves 'paper hearing' plans”
Article: “House Democrats Call for Answers on VA’s Mask Supplies”
New CBO score of H.R. 5284, the Vet OUTREACH Act (introduced by Rep. Khanna (D-CA-17)).
New CBO score of S. 524, the Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Act (introduced by Sen. Tester (D-MT)).
New CBO score of H.R. 2847, No Passport Fees for Heroes’ Families Act (introduced by Rep. Mitchell (R-MI-10)).
Op-ed from Rep. Barr (R-KY-6): “Congress taking action to help with COVID-19”
Rep. Barr (R-KY-6) introduced H.R. 6493, the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act.
According to the congressman, “This legislation would protect veterans applying for VA disability benefits by requiring the VA to continue to make available on its website disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) that medical providers and others assisting veterans use to submit evidence supporting disability claims. In addition, the bill cuts down on bureaucratic inefficiencies by requiring the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to accept a veteran’s DBQ for one year after it is completed and filed with the VBA, regardless if the VBA updates or changes the form. Veterans in Kentucky have reported receiving denial of disability claims to which they are legally entitled solely because the VBA changed its forms without their knowledge.”
[bill text not yet publicly available]
Press release/podcast: “Rep. Gabbard Addresses Coronavirus Concerns From Military Families in Latest Tele-Town Hall”
House Ways & Means Committee Republican news bulletin: “No Extra Paperwork for Veterans, Beneficiaries to Get Relief Payments”
Article: “Gottheimer, Pascrell Praise Urgent Aid to Veterans Homes”
Article: “Thornberry wants $6 billion this year to launch counter-China fund”
House Armed Services Committee Chairman’s press release: “Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Trump’s Discriminatory Transgender Ban”
Recent letter from bipartisan group of senators to the Departments of Treasury and VA regarding veterans and the CARES Act
Recent letter from Rep. Axne seeking assistance, clarity for veterans during coronavirus outbreak
Earlier this week, H.R. 4771 (now P.L. 116-137), the VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act (introduced by Rep. Cunningham (D-SC-1), was signed into law. As a reminder, the new law requires the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to allow veterans with pending appeals to appear before the Board remotely from their personal computers.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman’s press release calling on Treasury and IRS to automatically distribute stimulus checks to the most vulnerable veterans
Sen. Gillibrand letter to Senate Majority and Minority leader calling for voting protections in the next round of coronavirus stimulus payments
Elsewhere in Gov’t
Article: “The Pentagon is quietly pushing to roll back recent anti-lobbying restrictions”
Article: “Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins, Medal of Honor Recipient from Opelika, Dies after COVID-19 Illness”
Article: “VA, Treasury still working to get stimulus checks to potentially overlooked veterans”
Article: “Army Decides a Pandemic Is a Good Time to Give GOP Donors $569 Million to ‘Build the Wall’”
Article: “VA Instructs Coronavirus-Exposed Staff to Continue Working, Places Those Who Don’t in AWOL Status”
Article: “Trump’s War on Veterans”
Article: “Pentagon Worries Social Distancing Could Impede America’s Deterrent”
Article: “It's Official: Most Zoom Versions Now Off-Limits to the Military”
Article: “Veterans Affairs denies reports of face mask shortages at hospitals”
VA offering live virtual training to service women: learn to enroll, receive women-specific VA health care
Article: “Veterans’ remote mental health appointments skyrocket amid coronavirus outbreak”
DoD letter to service-members on wearing masks to protect against COVID-19
TV news clip: “Veterans outraged about new VA policy”
Article: “The Space Force is ready to launch”
Article: “Internal memos call into question VA’s still-rising coronavirus count”
TRICARE Pharmacy update: COVID-19 Myths vs. Facts
USAF press release: “Air Force Salutes campaign to honor those working front lines”
USN press release: “Navy Ups the Ante on Reenlistment Bonuses”
Results of Special and General Court-Martial Navy cases convened in February 2020
Results of Special and General Court-Martial Marine Corps cases convened in February 2020
Blog: “The Military’s Pandemic Response—Supporting Civil Authorities”
Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs press release: “VA, Facebook and American Red Cross provide Portal video calling devices to Veterans, caregivers and families”
New CRS report: “U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress”
New CRS report: “Infertility in the Military”
USPS press release: “U.S. Postal Service Tops List Again as Americans’ Favorite Government Agency”
Article: “For veterans who missed out on COVID stimulus cash payouts, VA and IRS have a quick fix”
Article: “No quick exit: US military plans for 'new normal' in COVID era”
Article: “Should GI Bill benefits be extended to civilian medical workers fighting coronavirus?”
Article: “VA secretary refuses to answer questions about COVID-19 supply shortages, lawmakers say”
USAF press release: “Air Force Academy prepares for historic graduation”
FYI: On Wednesday, April 22, at 1 p.m. EST, USMC’s "The President's Own" will release its 2020 Marine Big Band concert as an online streaming event. You can watch here.
Other
Article: “For Young Military Families, The Financial Effects Of The Pandemic Can Be Severe”
Op-ed: “Trump needs to cover all veterans, their families and VA employees during COVID”
DNC comunicado de prensa: “Declaración del DNC sobre el presunto nominado demócrata”
Article: “Millions of veterans to get letters this week on potential reimbursements for medical costs”
Article: “Your 2020 Guide to Military Benefits”
Article: “A Complete Guide For Military Families Considering Adoption”
Article/video: “Hiring our Heroes president: Military spouse employment is ‘critical to national security’”
Article: “How millions of veterans could miss out on coronavirus stimulus checks”
Article: “Germany arrests IS suspects plotting attacks on US bases”
Article: “Tillis challenger Cunningham raises nearly $4.4M in first quarter”
^Related poll from earlier this week (Question #7):
If the candidates for US Senate this fall were Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican Thom Tillis, who would you vote for?
Cal Cunningham 47%
Thom Tillis 40%
Not sure 13%
Article: “Fired as acting Navy secretary, Modly is now stuck in COVID-19 quarantine”
Article: “Glenna Goodacre, Renowned Sculptor Who Created Vietnam Women’s Memorial, Dead At 80”
Interview/podcast: “A new initiative to prevent veterans suicide during self-isolation”
FYI: to find military hospitals and clinics abroad, click here and then “More Search Options” to view
Recorded webinar: “The US military's role in response to COVID-19”
Article: “The Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' Is Being Used to Honor Hispanic Workers Fighting COVID-19. Here’s the History Behind the Lyrics”
Article: “VFW Urges Congress to Pass the Major Richard Star Act to Ease the Financial Burden of Medically-Retired Veterans During COVID-19 Pandemic”
Op-ed: “Helping Student Veterans Amid the Coronavirus Crisis”
Article: “Veterans group continues legal battle over discharge records”
Friendly reminder: This is what happens to your letter when you contact a member of Congress who doesn’t represent you.
Letter to the editor: “Be sure to give thanks and support to our veterans”
Op-ed: “World War III isn't what the strategists thought it would be”
Op-ed: “Honoring ‘Military Brats,’ their sacrifices for family”
Letter from military families organizations to Congress urging for exclusion of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from being counted as income when calculating eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal nutrition assistance benefits
Article: “Veterans education program adapts to virtual world”