Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

From the VA:

Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

1.      Shinseki Says VRM Will Improve Veterans’ Experience Accessing VA Information. In continuing coverage, TCMNet (9/24, Vaid) reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs “is introducing a multi-year initiative called Veterans Relationship Management,” designed to improve veterans’ access to healthcare and benefits information. VA Secretary Shinseki “stated that Veterans Relationship Management will transform veterans’ interactions with the VA by using innovative 21st century technologies, and provide veterans will have a better experience when they contact the VA for assistance” through call centers and the Internet.

2.      Michigan Military And Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill Signed. In an article on several 2001 appropriations bills signed into law by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the Monroe (MI) Evening News (9/24) reports that the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs received $150 million, including $36.4 million in general fund money. The budget provides $43.2 million in funding is provided for military training sites, headquarters and armories for national security, $68.4 million for two veterans homes serving nearly 900 veterans, and $3 million for veterans’ service organizations offering veterans benefit counseling and assistance.

 3.      Illinois DVA Salutes Latino Veterans. A release from the Illinois Government News Network (9/24) announces that as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs hosted a “A Salute to Latino Veterans” to honor and recognize Latino Veterans in Illinois for their dedicated military service. A proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn declared September 24 to be “Latino Veterans Recognition Day” in the state, and Rodrigo Garcia, a Marine veteran with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, was honored as the veteran of the month. CLTV-TV Chicago (9/24) also reports the celebrations.

4.      Wisconsin DVA Chief, Other Backers Thank All Who Aided LZ Lambeau. In a guest column in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (9/24, Black, Brown, Barker, Steinbach), the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and other sponsors of a “LZ Lambeau,” a Welcome Home event for Wisconsin Vietnam veterans, write to express thanks for all who supported the event.

 5.      Alabama Governor Joins Honor Flight. The Kansas City infoZine (9/24, Alberti, Aguirre) reports, “A planeload of World War II veterans from Alabama, escorted by the state’s governor and others, spent a day in Washington to visit the World War II memorial and other sights.” Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, R, “was the first governor to join a trip,” serving as guardian for three of the World War II veterans making the trip.

 6.      New Mexico Holds Conference For Women Veterans. The Las Cruces Sun-News (9/25, 22K) reports that the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services “honored women veterans Saturday at the Women Veterans Conference in Las Cruces,” which “addressed such issues as military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and homelessness — issues that, according to the VA, have higher incidences in women veterans than their male counterparts.”

 7.      Connecticut To Hold Another Career Fair For Veterans. According to the New London (CT) Day, the state of Connecticut “will hold the fifth in its series of Heroes4Hire career fairs on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the ballroom at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.” More “than 50 employers are expected to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Labor, the Connecticut Veterans’ Administration and CBS Radio.” At the event, the “Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vets Express bus will be available for anyone needing help filing a claim” with the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
     Connecticut VA Commissioner Heading National Association. The New London (CT) Day (9/27) reports, “Linda S. Schwartz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs, was recently installed as the president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans’ Affairs for 2010 to 2011.” She is the “first woman to hold this position in the association’s 65-year history and the first person from Connecticut to ever lead the nation’s veterans’ affairs directors.”

 8.      Work To Begin This Week On New Veterans Cemetery In Louisiana. According to the AP (9/26), work “on a new veterans cemetery begins this week next to Fort Polk. Mike Sewell — project manager for Pat Williams Construction Inc. of Leesville — says a survey crew should be preparing for timber clearing on or about Monday, with earth moving to begin in about two weeks.” The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs “says the cemetery is expected to provide for needs of 59,500 central Louisiana veterans and their families.” KNOE-TV Monroe, LA (9/26, 10:24 p.m. CT) and KTBS-TV Shreveport, LA (9/26, 5:36 p.m. CT) aired similar reports.

 9.      Land Rights Causing Controversy For Planned Veterans Cemetery In Alabama. The Mobile (AL) Press-Register (9/26, Baggett) reported, “Baldwin County commissioners voted last week to give the chairman and staff authority to do what is necessary to resolve the major hang-up in establishing a state veterans cemetery north” of Spanish Fort, Alabama. The Press-Register added, “After first asking for and accepting some donated rights” for the land on which the cemetery is to be built, the “county offered $2,000 per acre and threatened condemnation for anyone who didn’t take the deal.” Some “interested parties said, though, that they hadn’t donated rights or accepted the offer because they questioned whether Eastern Shore dentist Barry Booth profited from the venture or gained a tax benefit.”

10.    Senate Appropriators Seek Details Of DOD-VA Health Record Sharing. Government Health IT (9/24, Mosquera) reports, “The Senate Appropriations Committee wants more details about how the Defense Department plans to modernize its electronic health record system, which DOD is upgrading in coordination with the Veterans Affairs Department. The committee is monitoring progress the two departments are making improving their electronic health record systems, but lacks details from them on how that will be accomplished, according to a report accompanying the 2011 Defense appropriations bill. The committee approved the spending bill last week.”