Blog post

IAVA Daily Brief 1.26.10
Posted by Terrell Frazier on January 25 2010

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA.  Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking?  Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom or subscribe to receive the brief in your inbox each morning at www.iava.org/dailynewsbrief.

MUST READS

1) Families of wounded warriors often under-supported

One in five American troops are estimated to have traumatic brain injuries that require around-the-clock attention. NOW on PBS documents the challenges such injuries pose to family members, arguing that these family caregivers are often overworked and under-supported.

2) Source: Obama to address ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in State of the Union

The announcement of congressional hearings on the ban of openly gay troops serving in the military has been delayed at the request of the Obama administration until after Wednesday night’s State of the Union Address. A key lawmaker said the President may announce in the address that military leaders will support changing the law.

3) Cables show deep concerns on Afghan strategy

New declassified cables from the Ambassador of Afghanistan offer a much bleaker accounting of the risks of sending additional American troops to Afghanistan than was previously known. The cables were especially critical of Afghanistan’s leader, arguing that President Hamid Karzai is “not an adequate strategic partner.”

AFGHANISTAN
Afghan election authorities have agreed to push back a parliamentary election to September from May, pleasing diplomats who wanted time to prevent a repeat of the rampant fraud that plagued a presidential vote last year.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Nato's top commander in Afghanistan, has said increased troop levels could bring a negotiated peace with the Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban is increasingly viewing al-Qaida “as a handicap,” according to the senior U.S. military intelligence officer in Afghanistan.

IRAQ

Three car bombs exploded Monday near three Baghdad hotels popular with Western journalists, security contractors and businessmen, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 104.

The U.S. State Department is struggling with its accounting for billions of dollars spent on police-training contracts in Iraq with DynCorp International Inc.

The head of the Iraqi commission that initially disqualified about 500 candidates from running for office because of ties to the Ba'ath Party of dictator Saddam Hussein is rejecting a proposal that would allow purged politicians to run for office.

MILITARY AFFAIRS
While a group of researchers unveiled a new study that may allow for the diagnosis of PTSD by charting brain activity, experts argue that more analysis should be done before declaring this a solution to pinpointing PTSD.

U.S. troops have encountered a range of challenges and difficulties as they have helped people in the Haitian shanty town Cite Soleil dig out from the earthquake.

The Pentagon program “Darpa” announced it is seeking proposals for a new program that would allow troops to surveil in 3-D.  

INSIDE WASHINGTON

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-New York) has introduced a bill that would force the military to more tightly regulate burn pits.

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard who served in Iraq from 2008 to 2009, has indicated he will not seek his father’s Senate seat. 

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

No issues today

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

January 28, 2010  Markup of pending legislation and vote on the nomination of Raul Perea-Henze to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning  9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

February 10, 2010  Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on VA’s FY 2011 Budget   9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES



The House convenes at 12:30 p.m.

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



January 27, 2010  Full House Veterans' Affairs Committee Roundtable:  Meeting the Unique Health Care Needs of Rural Veterans  10:00 a.m.; 345 Cannon HOB

February 3, 2010    HVAC Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled, Review of VA Contract Health Care: Project HERO.

February 3, 2010    HVAC Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing entitled, „Implementation and Status Update on the Veterans‚ Benefits Improvement Act, P.L. 110-389.‰  2:00 p.m.; 334 Cannon

February 4, 2010  Full House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing:  VA's Budget Request for FY 2011 and FY 2012  10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

February 10, 2009  House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health Hearing:  The Veterans Health Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget  2:00 p.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

March 10, 2010  Full House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing:  Structuring the VA of the 21st Century  10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA

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