Tag: GI Bill

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Oceanside, California, Omaha, Nebraska, Parkersburg, Iowa, Redding, California, Washiongton, DC, Dover, Wisconsin, Somers Point, New Jersey, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Medford, Oregon.

Did you know “old is the new green”? Re-using historic buildings is a sustainable practice – in fact, it’s the ultimate in recycling. As good stewards of its resources, both man-made and natural, the Office of Asset Enterprise Management has successfully “recycled” a number of historic buildings the VA no longer needs. Through Enhanced Use Leases (EUL), VA transfers underutilized space and maintenance responsibilities to public or private-sector entities, saving both money and energy.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Jackson, Mississippi, El Paso, Texas, Bayonne, New Jersey, Roanoke, Virginia, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Emmanok, Alaska, Arlington, Texas, Trenton, New Jersey, and Racine, Wisconsin.

It looks like U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) got some pretty speedy action from the Veterans Administration in response to a letter he sent yesterday questioning the continued listing of the nonprofit U.S. Navy Veterans Association in an online directory maintained by the agency of Veterans Service Organizations.

Springfield, Missouri, Shreveport, Louisiana, Seattle, Washington, Kenmore, New York, Council Bluffs, Iowa, San Bernardino, California, Wrightstown, New Jersey, Hartford, Connecticut, Missoula, Montana, and San Francisco, California.

VA’s 2010 VA Energy Champion is Rick Hart, energy manager for the VA North Texas Health Care System based in Dallas, Texas. Rick leads an energy management team that has significantly reduced VA’s energy intensity, environmental impact, system vulnerability, and annual energy costs.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Bellevue, Nebraska, Portland, Oregon, New York City, New York, Green, Ohio, Tyler, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Oakland, California, Newton, Massachusetts, Green, Ohio, and Madison, Wisconsin.

VA was ranked as one of the top five of 30 agencies responding in the 2010 DiversityInc Top Federal Agencies for Diversity! VA ranked second among agencies with more than 100,000 employees. The results were unveiled March 10 at a two-day event in Washington, DC by DiversityInc, recognized as the leading publication on diversity and business. This is the second year that Federal agencies were asked to participate and the first time VA applied. DiversityInc’s Federal-agency survey was sent to more than 500 agencies and focused on four key areas: Leadership Commitment, Human Capital, Communications and Supplier Diversity.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Fresno, California, Gadsden, Alabama, Trenton, New Jersey, Richmond, Virginia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Allouez, Wisconsin, Hartford, Connecticut, Bremerton, Washington, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This past week, Secretary Shinseki spoke to National Public Radio about the obligation VA has to Veterans. He touched on topics ranging from wait times for claims to the GI Bill.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Corinth, New York, Nipton, California, Manville, New Jersey, Seattle, Washington, Dayton, Ohio, Taunton, Massachusetts, Dearborn, Michigan, Brownsville, Texas, Burns, Oregon, and Meridian, Idaho.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Greeley, Colorado, Salisbury, Maryland, Norman, Oklahoma, Topeka Kansas, Fort Wayne, Indiana, St Louis, Missouri, Anchorage, Alaska, Edinburg, Texas, and Prescott, Arizona.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Chico, California, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Rector, Arkansas, Stockton, California, Portland, North Dakota, Danville, North Carolina, Billings, Montana, San Jose, California, and Eugene, Oregon.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers' Memorial Day, and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. On behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs I proudly recognize and thank the men and women of the VA Police force who stand firm as the first line of our protection at VA facilities, working to insure the safety and security of each of us – employee, Veteran and visitor-- and make it possible for us to carry out our mission at every facility and office throughout our Department.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Barre, Vermont, Alexandria, Louisiana, Anchorage, Alaska, Little Rock, Arkansas, Tampa, Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie, New York, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Lindale, Texas.

During May, a month of renewal and promise, we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to honor the great amalgam of nationalities and cultures represented by more than 16 million Americans who trace their roots back to Asia and the Pacific. Their contributions have helped renew America for many generations. Their vitality and energy underscore America’s promise of continued freedom and leadership throughout the 21st Century.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Gadsden, Alabama, Austin, Texas, San Diego, California, York, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, Boyne City, Michigan, Billings, Montana, Dade City, Florida, and Charlevoix, Michigan.

VA’s “Top Cop” for 2010 leads a police force of 44 officers who protect the safety of employees, Veterans and visitors at facilities of the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. Chief of Police Dennis Moore, based at the Omaha VA Medical Center, received the VA Police Services “Chief of the Year” award at the Police Services annual awards banquet last month.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Fernley, Nevada, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Amarillo, Texas, Fresno, California, Deland, Florida, Asheville, North Carolina, East Brunswick, New Jersey, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and San Jose, California.

More than 1,700 historic properties under the VA’s stewardship are a tangible connection between today’s heroes and the men and women of past generations who served our country. During the midst of the Civil War in 1862, Congress authorized President Abraham Lincoln to purchase land to be used as national cemeteries "for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country."

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Corvallis, Oregon, Youngstown, Ohio, Arlington, Virginia, Oceanside, California, Port Charlotte, Florida, Morristown, New York, Eugene, Oregon, Danbury, Connecticut, North Platte, Nebraska, and Tampa, Florida.

In this centennial year of her death, nurses around the world recognize Florence nightingale as the founder of modern nursing and as a visionary who emphasized that nursing practice should be measured by outcomes through evidence-based practice and that nurses should be “educated,” not “trained.”

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Camden, New Jersey, Louisville, Kentucky, Sacramento, California, Anchorage, Alaska, Kittery, Maine, Salt Lake City, Utah, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Gilmer, Texas, Roanoke, Virginia, and Urbana, Illinois.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Amarillo, Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio, Hagerstown, Maryland, Rockford, Illinois, Durant, Oklahoma, Lakeland, Florida, Panama City, Florida, Dayton, Ohio, Kankakee, Illinois, and Lebanon, Oregon.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Demopolis, Alabama, Palo Alto, California, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Bristol, Tennessee, Pleasanton, California, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Columbus, Ohio, Vinton, Iowa, Cape Coral, Florida, and Saginaw, Michigan.

VA has shown that health information technology provides improved quality of health care and substantial cost savings, according to a study in the public health journal Health Affairs. The use of technology lowered costs while producing improvements in quality, safety and patient satisfaction. The study covered a 10-year period between 1997 and 2007 and found that VA’s health IT investment during the period was $4 billion, while savings were more than $7 billion.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from

National Nurses Week (May 6-12) reminds us of the important contributions made every day by VA nurses. Talented VA nurses meet Veterans’ needs with compassion and skill in a time of rapid changes in technology, knowledge, and approaches to health care. This year’s Nurses Week theme, Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow describes the excellence and the mission of more than 77,000 VA nursing staff, across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Conroe, Texas, Shreveport, Louisiana, Hillsboro, Illinois, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Yakima, Washington, Mason City, Iowa, Las Vegas, Nevada, Yakima, Washington, Bristol, Connecticut, and Amarillo, Texas.

From The VA VA has conducted studies evaluating the potential use of renewable fuels in energy plants supplying 38 VA medical centers around the...

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Anniston, Alabama, New London, Connecticut, Des Moines, Iowa, Tallahassee Florida, Augusta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Tyler Texas, Santa Barbara, California, Boulder, Colorado, and Boston, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Army Women's Museum is hosting a Museum Homecoming at Fort Lee just outside Petersburg, Va., May 13-15, 2010 for all former and current Army women, their friends and families. "Come Home to Your History", is the theme of the event, which promises to be a fun and interesting opportunity to participate and learn how a 21st century museum shares and teaches Army women's history to thousands of people every year. Most of all, it is a great time to reconnect with old friends and celebrate your Army service, then and now. Check the Museum Homecoming Web at for the invitation, schedule of events, registration form and other information.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Gallstone Spa, New York, Stockton, California, West Lafayette, Indiana, Medford, Oregon, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Augusta, Georgia, Swannanoa, North Carolina, Edinburg, Texas, and Sausalito, California.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry only had a week left in Iraq when he injured his hand. He could have gone home with a Bronze Star. Instead, he volunteered for one last run to defuse bombs. After working seven hours, Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry was killed March 8, 2006 by an improvised explosive device. Now, a new scholarship program named after Fry will allow his three small children and those of other service members who died on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan to apply for benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Yuma, Arizona, Washington, DC, Pocatello, Idaho, St Paul, Minnesota, Brighton, Michigan, Cohasset, Massachusetts, North Platte, Nebraska, and Juneau, Alaska

Elko, Nevada, Wausau, Wisconsin, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Holyoke, Massachusetts, Dover, Delaware, Buffalo, New York, Maxwell, Nebraska, Salisbury, Maryland, and Austin, Minnesota.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Mission Viejo, California, Montgomery, Alabama, Smithfield, Rhode Island, Washington, DC, Kansas City, Missouri, Columbia City, Indiana, Palm Springs, California, Dayton, Ohio, Jacksonville, Florida, and Bethel, Alaska.

As he enters his second year as head of VA, Secretary Shinseki is focused on reducing the disability claims backlog. "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said during a news interview last week. He's counting on four pilot programs designed to identify and overcome obstacles that slow the claims process.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Portage, Wisconsin, Bend, Oregon, Hartford, Connecticut, Redding, California, Bristol, Virginia, Toms River, New Jersey, Tallahassee, Florida, Gillette, Wyoming, Baltimore, Maryland, and Smyrna, Tennessee.

VA honored three facilities on Earth Day for their efforts in ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment for current and future generations. VA’s Chief of Staff John R. Gingrich presented the 2010 VA Green Routine Awards to Martinsburg VA Medical Center’s “Waste Watchers” Program; Portland VA Medical Center’s recycling education program; and to the Oscar H. Johnson VA Medical Center for innovative recycling.

Regional stories on veterans' health, education and other benefits and issues today from Ottawa, Illinois, Coldwater, Michigan, San Antonio, Texas, Panama City, Florida, York, Pennsylvania, Shakopee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Louisiana, Montrose, Colorado, Lynchburg, Virginia, and Rapid City, South Dakota.

From The VA Federal stimulus funds are being used for more than bricks and mortar at VA. The department is putting Americans to work...