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VA Announces Recovery Spending Includes $250 Payment to Eligible Veterans
VA Officials Barred From Testifying Before Subcommittee
New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May

Week of 27 April 2009

(Editor’s Note: On Thursday, 23 April, the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Committee On Veterans Affairs, held a hearing on Contracts and Contracting Policy at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Among the witnesses to testify were Scott Denniston, former director of the Center for Veterans Enterprise and Joe Wynn, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Veterans Enterprise Training and Services Group. The hearing focused on, among other topics, the issue of implementing Public Law 109-461, requiring VA to give preference to service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses in the awarding of contracts and contract bundling. Below are links to the various witnesses’ testimony before the subcommittee. We think it is worthwhile reading. – Ed R.)

Contracts and Contracting Policy
at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Witness Testomonies

VA Announces Recovery Spending
Includes $250 Payment to Eligible Veterans

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will spend more than $1.4 billion as part of President Obama’s economic recovery plan to improve services to America’s Veterans. VA’s Internet site – www.va.gov/recovery – provides current information about VA’s work to deliver its portion of Recovery Act funds into the economy to benefit Veterans.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enables the VA to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, provide grants to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities, and to modify or alter existing facilities to care for Veterans.

VA will dedicate ARRA funds to hire and train 1,500 temporary claims processors to speed benefits delivery to Veterans and pursue needed information technology initiatives for improved benefits and services. Funds will also be used to oversee and audit programs, grants, and projects funded under ARRA.

As part of the President’s Recovery plan, VA will also make one-time payments of $250 to eligible Veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the current economy. These payments will be issued as early as June 2009. VA estimates $700 million in payments will be made to eligible beneficiaries as part of this measure.

To be eligible for the $250 payment, VA beneficiaries must have received compensation, pension, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), or spina bifida benefits at any time between November 2008 and January 2009. Also, beneficiaries must reside within the United States or Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. No application is necessary. VA will use its existing payment records to determine eligibility for the $250 payment.

Beneficiaries will receive their payments the same way they receive their monthly VA benefits (either by direct deposit or mail). VA will inform beneficiaries and the public when releasing the payments. This payment is not countable in determining eligibility for VA pension or Parents’ DIC. The law allows one $250 payment per individual. The payment is tax-free. VA beneficiaries who also receive benefits from the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board will be paid through those agencies, and will therefore not receive the payment from VA.

More details, including VA stimulus project timelines, will be available May 1, 2009.

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NOTES and QUOTES

VA Officials Barred From Testifying Before Subcommittee

VA Officials Barred From Testifying Before Subcommittee. The Navy Times (4/23, Maze) reports, "Department of Veterans Affairs officials were barred Wednesday from providing testimony before a Senate subcommittee because they didn't deliver their prepared statements far enough ahead of time." But that "may have stopped some fireworks," because "the testimony included strong objections to legislation pending before" the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, "including a bipartisan bill to increase benefits to family members who become significant caregivers to disabled veterans." VA officials "also wanted to express concerns about a bill that would make Iraq and Afghanistan veterans eligible for readjustment counseling," and "sought to oppose a rural health care proposal for veterans because it would have the government pay for air transportation when that is the best way to get to a veterans hospital." The Times notes that US Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) "said his committee plans to pass a package of veterans health care legislation, including the caregiver benefits, rural health care expansion and increased access to readjustment counseling, in late May. Aides said they expect efforts will be made to address VA's concerns, but they hope the embarrassment to VA's witnesses will encourage future witnesses to deliver their statements on time."

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New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May

New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May. The Clare County (MI) Review (4/22, Maurer) reports, "After nearly two years of planning and preparation, the dedication of the new Clare Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be held May 8 at 11 a.m." The new facility "is located just east of Clare...at 11775 North Isabella Road."

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