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DINGELL CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING SITUATION AT VA HOSPITAL IN DETROIT

PANEL AGREES ON NEED TO REFORM VETERANS’ DISABILITY SYSTEM

PHAMPHLETS AND FACT SHEETS

GI BILL INFORMATION

BENEFIT PHAMPHLETS

Week of 04 August 2009

Dingell Concerned About Parking Situation
At VA Hospital in Detroit

In continuing coverage July 29, the WXYZ-TV Detroit, MI website reported, "A powerful Michigan congressman is reacting to an Action News investigation" from "our chief investigative reporter Steve Wilson." Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) is reacting to a "story about the parking situation at the downtown Detroit" Veterans Affairs "hospital that bears his name. In a letter from Dingell& to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, "the Congressman says 'this is not the first time I've been made aware (of the problem), nor the first time I have tried to remedy it.'"WXYZ continued, "Just last November," Dingell "says he wrote to the director of the center that bears his name and Director Pamela Reeves responded that she was 'in the process of making long term arrangements.' 'I am very troubled,' the Congressman's letter says, 'that little or no progress has been made...' to resolve the problem.& WXYZ added, "Wilson's original report to which the Congressman is responding featured" 84-year-old veteran Neil Devine, "who lost a leg in battle but walks 30 minutes from the parking ramp to get to his VA dentist on the far other side of the three-block-long facility. It would only take him 10 minutes if he could park...in the lot closest to the dental clinic," but "that lot...is open for employees only."

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PANEL AGREES ON NEED TO REFORM
VETERANS’ DISABILITY SYSTEM

Chairman Akaka encouraged by Administration’s willingness to admit shortcomings; witnesses suggest solutions to claims processing challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Witnesses testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs agreed July 29 on the need to reform the veterans’ disability compensation system. Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) heard from representatives of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, Disabled American Veterans, and a law professor to discuss disability claims processing. The Government Accountability Office presented previously unpublished findings on claims processing from an ongoing review of disability compensation.

"The consensus is growing that the veterans’ disability compensation system needs to be broadly transformed. Representatives from the veterans’ community, academia, and government are coming forward with specific ideas. I am encouraged by the Administration’s willingness to advocate for change, and I will be working with VA officials and others to develop a broad compensation reform proposal," said Akaka.

The hearing is the latest in a series on veterans’ disability compensation. Records of earlier hearings are available at the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the full written opening statements and written testimony for today’s hearing are available here. The GAO’s report is available in PDF

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Senate Approves DOD Bill Containing
Reforms to Contracting Programs

The fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill (S. 1390) passed by the Senate July 23 includes changes to ensure equal treatment of small business contracting programs and reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation and Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Prior to final passage of the measure , the Senate agreed to an amendment by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, addressing two Government Accountability Office decisions requiring agencies to prioritize Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses over other small businesses.

The September 2008 and May 2009 decisions contradicted a long-standing Small Business Administration interpretation that its procurement programs should be treated equally when it comes to awarding contracts, according to Landrieu and Snowe. The Office of Management and Budget also challenged the legality of those decisions in a July 10 memo on grounds that they violate SBA regulations requiring “parity” among 8(a), SDVOSB, and HUBZone programs.

Subcontracting Goal, Mentor-Protégé Programs

The amendment would also create a three percent subcontracting goal for the HUBZone program. Currently the HUBZone program is the only small business contracting program without a subcontracting goal.

In addition, the provision would authorize a mentor-protégé program modeled after those used in the 8(a) program for small service-disabled veteran, HUBZone, and women-owned firms.

“All small businesses should be given an equal opportunity to succeed,” Landrieu said in a statement after the amendment was approved. “That's what this amendment does—it puts businesses that are part of these programs on equal footing when competing for government contracts. This is a strong step in the right direction for all entrepreneurs.”

“The essence of true parity is where each program has an equal chance of competing and being selected for an award,” Snowe said. “During these difficult economic times, it is imperative that small business contractors possess an equal opportunity to compete for federal contracts on the same playing field with each other.”

Landrieu and Snowe also succeeded in attaching language to the defense authorization bill reauthorizing the SBIR and STTR programs for eight years. The language is similar to the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 (S. 1233) passed by the Senate July 13 (137 DER N-1, 7/21/09).

The House passed its version of SBIR legislation July 10.

Pamphlets & Fact sheets

Here you will find pamphlets, brochures, and information sheets relating to the GI Bill. Some of these documents require the free Adobe PDF Reader version 6.0 or above which may be obtained here:

If you wish to order bulk copies of any pamphlets, please click HERE.

Links to info on new, improved G.I. Bill

Post-9/11 GI Bill Information

>

• Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Pamphlet
• Information on transferability of benefits (TEB)
• Letter to veterans explaining the Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit
• General information
• Factors to consider
• Information about eligibility & payments
• More information about the Yellow Ribbon Program
• School Responsibilities Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Poster-Think 11x17
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Poster-Think 24x30
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Poster-Seals 11x17
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Poster-Seals 24x30

Pamphlets for other benefits

• Chapter 30 (Active Duty GI Bill) Pamphlet
• Simple Facts About the GI Bill You Need to Know Before Leaving Active Duty
• Chapter 1606 (Reserve GI Bill) Pamphlet
• Chapter 1607 (REAP) Pamphlet
• Chapter 32 (VEAP) Pamphlet
• Section 901 Pamphlet
• Chapter 35 (Dependent's Education Assistance) Pamphlet
• Change in High School Requirement
• Information for Guard/Reserve Members Called-up to Active Duty
• Licensing & Certification Pamphlet
• Accelerated Pay Information
• Entrepreneurship Training Information
• National Call-to-Service Program Information
• Tuition Assistance Top-up Information
• Work study Program Information

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FYI Archives

01 March 2010
Hiring to Expand Veterans' Services

Be Wary of Advance Fee Loan Scams

State Rolls Out Quarterly Bid List

White House: Stimulus Funds Targeted Upgrades At Saginaw VA Hospital.

25 January 2010
Worst yet to come in Michigan? Small Business bankruptcies soar in 2009

Detroit Companies Graduate From SBA’s ‘Mini-MBA’ Program

Taking the Myths Out of Four Funding Fantasies

GAO Report Details Fraud in Procurement

23 November 2009
GAO Report Cites Fraud in SDVOB Contracting

Detroit Companies Graduate From SBA’s ‘Mini-MBA’ Program

Goldman Sachs Small Biz Program Sparks Interest

Healthy Business Credit Is Demystified

09 November 2009
SBA Lending Down Sharply in Michigan

Funding Cuts at Vets Homes Sparks Rebuke

Building Your Biz Credit

Sagging Economy Prompts Entrepreneurial Spirit

Getting That Elusive Biz Loan

09 October 2009
Six Ways to Land Venture Funding

24 August 2009
SBA ASSISTING SMALL BUSINESSES

DEPUTY SECRETARY CITES PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE SECTOR

VETERAN BUSINESS NEWS GAZETTE

05 August 2009
DINGELL CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING SITUATION AT VA HOSPITAL IN DETROIT

PANEL AGREES ON NEED TO REFORM VETERANS’ DISABILITY SYSTEM

PHAMPHLETS AND FACT SHEETS

GI BILL INFORMATION

BENEFIT PHAMPHLETS

20 July 2009
Getting Small Business Contracts to Small Businesses

Volunteers Attend To Landscaping At Arlington Cemetary

Operation Comfort Warriors: Our Pride and Purpose

22 June 2009
A Different Kind of Boot Camp

GAO ruling assailed; Vets Urged to Act Quickly to Overturn

ARC money will go fast, from the Tampa Bay Business Journal... Small Business Administration Bridge Loans Likely to go Quickly

05 June 2009
House Bill calls for placing SDVOB program under 8a

Senators prepare for battle over Alaska native contracting

Lending up; much left to accomplish, says SBA Chief

25 May 2009
SBA Launches New 100% Guarantee ARC Loan Program on June 15

Lutz VAMC Will Not Allow Medical Marijuana In Hospital.

VA Hires 530 New Claims Processors To Handle GI Bill Applications

Michigan's Disabled American Veterans' Offices Set For Closure Given Four-Week Reprieve.

USAVETBIZ to Urge Congress for Government-Wide Preference Contracting and Set-Aside Programs for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Heroes in Helmets Family Fun Walk

27 April 2009
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

23 March 2009
American Legion Commander Praises Obama’s Change in Plan

Open Letter from VA Secretary

Congress to Agencies: Don’t Shortchange Vets on Contracting

16 March 2009
Is Stimulus harmful To SDVOSB’s?

Vets object to billing private insurance for service injuries

Agencies to direct stimulus funds to veteran-owned small businesses

09 March 2009
Lessons Learned on the Farm Still Apply to Small Businesses

Senator Lieberman Addresses Rumored Tricare Cuts

02 March 2009
Powerball is Stimulus Ticket?

Bid4Michigan—The New Name to Remember!

How Small Business Will Benefit From Obama's Stimulus

Point, Counterpoint On Stimulus Impact On Small Businesses

23 February 2009
Camp Lejeune Water Study Underway

Some Non-profits Shortchange Troops,
Watchdog Group Says

16 February 2009
Military Veterans Land More than
$250 Million in SBA Loans

SBA’s Bill Elmore on Patriot Express Reaching $250 Million

Landrieu and Snowe Highlight Key Small Business Provisions of
Economic Recovery Package
Renew call for elevating SBA Administrator to Cabinet-level status

09 February 2009
Ever Dream of Starting a Business?

Veterans Inaugural Ball Scam Investigated

02 Februrry 2009
Stimulus Bill Aims to Boost SBA Lending

D.C. Restaurant Apologizes to Marines

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