As some of you veterans and retirees of the U.S. armed forces may or may not know D.A.V. stands for Disabled American Veterans, it is an organization kind of like V.F.W. but IMO is FAR BETTER (V.F.W. is just mainly drinking and bingo and telling war stories). D.A.V. is VERY political, and they watch Congress and our Prez more than any other group when it comes to bennies for our retirees and disabled vets, and they also do what they can for our active duty stormtroopers.
We have monthly meetings as well as national conventions many times a year. D.C. was great but I skipped the Las Vegas one as I know what that one was going to be about. Here is info from the monthly newsletter. I thought I would post as we are approaching Federal budget finalization time.
Legislative Report, August 2005
Washington
COLA watch: COLA is based on inflation over the final 3 months of the fiscal year, JUL thru SEP, as measured by the CPI. The COLA as of Jun 05 was 2.7% (You KNEW it was going to be lower than the 3.3% we got last year as noone has to kiss arse for votes this year since elections were last year). Final figure will be announced in Oct. 05. That will be our raise in our checks folks.
Survivor Benefit Plan: widows still getting taxed, but has not been a failure. 100% relief will take effect in 2008.
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2006: H.R. 1815 authorizes 441.6 BILLION dollars for D.O.D. and NSC programs of the Dept. of Energy (Why they did that agency is beyond me
) plus 49.1 BILLION for Iraq and Afghanistan (Nice to know those fat juicy handouts are still going on as the stormtroopers are paid out of D.O.D. funds). This is NOT passed yet, but when both House and Senate have passed, a joint comm. will finalize this budget.
VA FY 06 Budget: set at 68.1 BILLION dollars. VA Sec. informed Congress of shortfalls in funds. Senate quickly approved and authorized an additional 2 billion dollars for VA (I bet that pissed G.W. off royally as he has consistently tried to rape VA funds while he sends our troopies off to war). The House is expected to approve but sources doubt they can approve an additional 2 Billion (Emperor Bush does not like when people fight the dark side). I quote from D.A.V.'s newsletter "Should be interesting to follow."
100% Disabled Retirees with individual unemployability (IU): The D.O.D. has not agreed to permit retirees to receive retired pay and VA service connected compensation as those retirees who are rated at 100% by VA. Stay tuned.
IMO this is a sticky issue. I can see it for the agent orange folks and Sarin exposure and atomic test people as most retired with 20 plus and we simply did not know of or do something of those problems until the mid 90's. But the average veteran usually goes on to do another 20 or more in the civilian service sector after doing 20 in the military thus earning 2 retirement checks and bennies. Then they get to the age of "unemployability" as the civvie secor wants younger and more educated folks so they cry to the govt. for more money? I do not agree with that one at all. We all know that there is a certain age that when you reach you really will have a more difficult time gaining employment in the civvir or govt. sectors. You vets cannot tell me we did not receive financial education classes when we signed on, I know I got mine when I joined in 88 and almost every year afterwards, gotta plan and save for the future ya know. Like I said, this one will be a very sticky issue as it is not black and white.
VA gives a 10 million dollar grant for TX veteran home: long term- health care nursing home in Amarillo, TX. I know the one the stte built in Temple is VERY NICE, kudos for TX on that one.
Texas
The 79th legislative session - no comments - no progress!! (I wonder what they were asking for, I'm more than happy with my bennies as a TX veteran.
ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION??? Why Not!!! (Those of us that are TX vets and Texans know what our special session was about, what IT was SUPPOSED to be was about Education funding and overhauls, but somehow the debates turned into the SBC and Verizon deals). This is one case where the good side defeated the dark side.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/06/1sbc.htmlWell, that's about it except for local stuff for Austin and Central TX veterans. Remember to try to do something in your home state, many vets fought hard for our bennies that we EARNED and now with them passing away it is up to OUR generation to carry the torch for not only ourselves but for the active duty troopers now!
Topic: News from D.A.V. (This applies to you veterans) (Read 1041 times)