Blog post

Daily News Summary 1/29/09
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on January 29

Here are some of today’s top stories and happenings at IAVA.

Headlines

• Officials: Army suicides at 3-decade high
• 'Difficult decisions' on Iraq, Afghanistan ahead: Obama
• Army questions aspects of electrocution story
• Army orders recall of body armor
• Buyer’s Plans to Create Jobs for Veterans Excluded from Stimulus Plan

Iraq

• White House: Obama review of Iraq to wrap up soon
• Iraq to Deny New License To Blackwater Security Firm
• Gallup survey: Iraq matters most (after Israel)

Afghanistan

• Afghan Elections Delayed until August as violence rises
• NATO says enough time to reinforce Afghan poll
• Spurned by U.S., Karzai Eyes Russia
• Inside an Afghan battle gone wrong: What happened at Wanat? (I)

Military News

• Spat stalls eye-trauma center for troops
• Lawmakers press for more progress on assault cases
• Alliance asks for steady rise in BAH rates
• Deadline extended for overseas Tricare claims
• DOD announces new officer assignments
• Firm charged with deceptive practices at Drum
• Army Deserter Seeks Asylum in Germany
• Service dog group lost $5,000 on failed Inaugural ball

Nation

• $820B Obama stimulus clears House Vote
• Jobless claims hit record peak, orders plummet

World

• Gaza violence complicates U.S. envoy's mission
• UN asks for $600m to avert new humanitarian crisis in Gaza
• Russia Halts Missile Move As U.S. Ponders Shield

Opinion

• Don't move the goalposts on Afghanistan
• For Holbrooke, Situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan Is 'Dim and Dismal'
• Afghanistan Deployment puts Germany in al-Qaeda's Crosshairs

 
DC
 

THE SENATE      
The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.       
 
FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST       
 
HR 2— SCHIP reauthorization       
 
COMMITTEE HEARINGS and MARKUPS of  INTEREST       
 
January 29, 2009  -- Small Business and Entrepreneurship roundtable on investing in small businesses. 9:00 a.m., 428-A Russell
 
January 29, 2009  -- Senate Budget hearing on the global economy. 10:00 a.m., 608 Dirksen
 
January 29, 2009  -- Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on health care overhaul’s impact on quality. 2:00 p.m., 430 Dirksen 
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS and PRESS RELEASES of  INTEREST:     
 

• Inspector General Releases Investigation on VA Staffer's Email Discouraging PTSD Diagnosis:  Chairman Akaka remains concerned that VA is overburdened and underfunded 
• Veterans Organizations give Unanimous Support for Advance Funding of Veterans’ Health Care:  Akaka signals intention to reintroduce advance funding legislation 

 
PRESS RELEASES of  INTEREST: 
 

• Inspector General Releases Investigation on VA Staffer's Email Discouraging PTSD Diagnosis:  Chairman Akaka remains concerned that VA is overburdened and underfunded 
• Akaka Questions Defense Secretary Gates On G.I. Bill, Walter Reed Reforms, and China Military Modernization 

 
 
THE HOUSE of  REPRESENTATIVES       
The House  is not in session.       
 
FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST       
 
H.R. 1 – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Reps. Obey/Rangel/ Waxman/Miller/Oberstar/Gordon/Frank/Velazquez/Towns/Spratt - Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule) Postponed Suspension Vote (1 bill)1)    
 
S. 328 – To delay the Digital Television Transition until June 13, 2009, as amended (Sen. Rockefeller – Energy and Commerce)       
 
COMMITTEE HEARINGS and  MARKUPS of  INTEREST       
 
No issues today.      
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS and PRESS RELEASES of  INTEREST       
 

• Buyer’s Plans to Create Jobs for Veterans Excluded from Stimulus Plan 

 
IAVA In The News
 

Media Outlet: Leslie Marshall Show
Topic: IAVA’s 2009 Legislative Agenda
Date: Tuesday, January 27
Representative: Todd Bowers

 
What The Blogs Are Saying
 

Blog: Veteran Dissent
Title: Paul Rieckhoff on Todd Bowers testifying before congress
Date: Thursday, January 29
Representative:  Paul Rieckhoff
 
Blog: Military & Veterans: Politics for the deserving
Title: VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS GIVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR ADVANCE FUNDING OF VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
Date: Wednesday, January 28
Representative: Todd Bowers
 
Blog: Radio Free Wisconsin
Title: Stimulus offers tax credit for hiring vets
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Representative: Todd Bowers
 

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