Blog post

IAVA Daily Brief 2.2.10
Posted by Terrell Frazier on January 26

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) Budget includes 20 percent increase for VA

The Obama administration announced a 20 percent increase in the VA budget, calling for $60.3 billion Veterans Affairs Department budget plus $50.6 billion in advance funding for VA health care programs in 2012. The budget also includes a 1.4 percent increase for servicemembers, the smallest pay bump since 1973.

2) Military leaders to announce changes to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy

Top defense officials are expected to tell the Senate today that the military will no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay servicemembers whose orientation is revealed against their will by third parties. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, military leaders also are expected to announce the creation of a group to assess how to fully repeal "don't ask, don't tell.”

3) VA says efforts to fix GI Bill delays are working

Roger Baker, VA’s assistant secretary for information and technology, said problems that delayed payments of the new education benefit during the fall semester have been addressed. About 7,000 benefits claims are being processed per day, compared to 1,800 per day in the fall.

AFGHANISTAN

NATO's chief says member nations must urgently provide more trainers for Afghanistan's expanding army and police if they are to assume responsibility for security as planned.

Four NATO troops — including one American servicemember — were killed in action Monday, the deadliest day for the international force in more than two weeks.

Airmen in Afghanistan are increasingly searching for places to drop bombs that can be heard and felt, but where they're unlikely hurt people.

IRAQ

A suicide bomber walking among Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad detonated an explosives belt on Monday, killing at least 54 people and wounding around 117, Iraqi officials said.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says the nation's upcoming March 7 elections need to be widely accepted as fair so that protests by the losers don't bog down the new government.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

Capt. Scott Smiley, a ranger and combat-diver qualified infantryman who was blinded in Iraq in 2005, Monday took over as company commander of the West Point Warrior Transition Unit.

U.S. Southern Command has released the carrier Carl Vinson and three other ships from their duties as part of the Haiti task force, according to a Navy announcement Monday.

A new program is pairing children of servicemembers with older mentors to help them deal with the stress of having a parent deployed. 

INSIDE WASHINGTON

Ilario Pantano, who served three tours and was the first Marine in Iraq to be charged with and exonerated for a capital crime, is seeking the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 7^th Congressional District.

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

February 2, 2010 Senate Armed Services Committee. 12:00 p.m. -  1:00 p.m.:

To receive testimony relating to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Russell 228

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

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

February 16 - 17, 2010  SVAC will conduct field hearings in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, on benefits and health care issues, to be conducted by Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES



The House will convene at 12:30 p.m.

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



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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