23 April 2007
Governor Jim Gibbons dropped by the Nevada State Veterans Home on April 23rd, to chat with residents, family members, and staff. Following his tour of the Home, the Governor pointed out he was appreciative of the fine work Home team members were doing and was happy to hear from residents that they were well cared for. Prior to departing, he commented that he was pleased with the Home and he was anxious to see a second State Veterans Home constructed in the Reno/Sparks area.
- Gary Bermeosolo, NFA @ 17:06
- link to this entry
18 April 2007
According to VA Undersecretary Cooper's testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on March 7, 2007:
In FY2006, VA produced over 774,000 disability determinations.
. . . answered over 6.6 million phone calls
. . . conducted over a million interviews
. . . briefed over 390,000 service members
. . . conducted over 65,000 hours of outreach to military members, former POWs, homeless, minority, and women veterans.
Disability backlog . . .
. . .increased every year since 2000.
. . . 578,773 in FY2000 to 806,832 in FY2006. A 38% increase
. . . 54 percent of them are reopening of old claims.
Over 1.4 million active-duty service members, members of the National Guard, and reservists have been deployed in the Global War on Terror. Over 685,000 have returned and been discharged.
The number of veterans receiving compensation has increased by almost 400,000 since 2000 (2.3 million to 2.7 million veterans).
Over 54,000 military retirees receive Combat-Related Special Compensation.
There were 2 million military retirees at the end of FY2006. Over 40% receive VA benefits.
From FY2000 to FY2006, the number of veterans receiving compensation for PTSD has increased from 130,000 to 270,000.
Over 11percent of disability determinations are appealed. Up from 7 percent in 2000. There are more than 130,000 appeals no pending in regional offices and the Appeals Management Center. There are over 30,000 appeals pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
12 April 2007
Our IT Department informed me we were beginning to see quite a few hits on the journal. Of course, it's been quite some time since our last update, so we may have lost that readership. Despite that, I'm here to update you on some of the most recent happenings in Carson City.
Friday is a deadline date for bills to receive action in their original committee. If they aren't acted upon in their original committee or referred to Senate Finance or Assembly Ways & Means they will be deemed "dead" come Monday. For veteran related legislation, that leaves the following 7 bills:
AB159 (Protesting at Funerals)
AB209 & AB210 (Veteran Property Taxes)
AB278 (Veteran Motorcycle License Plates)
SB170 (Committee on Veterans & Senior Citizens)
SB372 (100% Disabled Veteran Exemption on Motor Vehicle Fees)
SB493 (Active Duty Military Member Voting Privileges)
I just received a phone call AB278 will be heard in work session this afternoon along with AB209 and 210. SB493 is also scheduled for a work session this afternoon. We are attempting to exempt the remaining issues but may not be totally successful.
SB493, a bill that has been inherited by NOVS has educated me on the issues of absentee voting especially as it relates to the military. I can honestly say I've learned more in the last two days about the issue than I ever hoped to understand. With some luck and the very kind support of Senator's Horsford and Chairwoman Cegavske, we may see an amended version of this bill passed through committee today.
AB278's inclusion in the afternoon work session today is truly a measure of the impact of the veteran voice. I was told that numerous veteran advocates were calling the chairman's office pleading he hold a vote on the issue. This despite the fact we were told more than once this week the committee would not consider the issue in a vote. The phone calls seemed to have worked as we have been included in the work session this afternoon. Keep up the great work.