From PVA’s “Washington Update.”
As in years past, representatives from every PVA chapter traveled to Washington,
DC to attend the Advocacy/Legislation Training Seminar in early March. The grass-roots
event conducted by PVA’s Government Relations staff concludes with the
PVA President’s annual testimony to a joint session of the House and Senate
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The seminar includes presentations from
the national staff, Congress persons and staff, and Administration officials
that prepare the attendees for visits with elected officials.
More than 80 representatives attended. The first day, introductory remarks were
provided by PVA’s National President Gene A. Crayton, Maurice Jordan,
Deputy Executive Director, and Douglas Vollmer, Associate Executive Director
for Government Relations.
The
participants were fortunate to again have Eric Shinseki, Secretary for the VA,
as the keynote speaker. He emphasized his continued efforts to transform the
VA into a 21st Century organization. He also explained his goal for this year
is to fix the claims process.
The
first day focused on advocacy issues. National Advocacy staff asked PVA members
to push Congress to complete health-care reform. Current bills contain provisions
on home based assistance that may be helpful to PVA members and their families.
It also requires the Access Board to set standards for accessible medical equipment.
Staff also presented the Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements
Act, or BRAVE Act, to enable veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities
to access a “fast track” process for Social Security disability
benefits. Legislation to end the two-year Medicare waiting period for Social
Security Disability Insurance recipients to receive Medicare coverage was discussed.
Currently, SSDI recipients must wait 2 years after determination for Medicare
coverage. PVA also distributed letters asking Congress to fully fund the Lifespan
Respite Care program. There were a number of speakers. Betty Siegel, Director
of Accessibility at the Kennedy Center in Washington, spoke about ticketing
policy, focusing on on-line purchase of accessible seats in theaters and arenas.
Kay Ellis, Accessibility Program Manager for the National Park Service, spoke
of the progress in increasing access to National Parks. Speakers from the Office
on Disability Employment Policy in the Dept, of Labor and from the Office of
Personnel Management discussed efforts to increase federal employment of veterans
and others with disabilities. Later, representatives of the Depts of Health
and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development discussed the federal Community
Living Initiative – designed to enable families to learn about and access
health and long-term care options through Aging and Disability Resource Center
Programs (ADRCs). These provide “one-stop shop” sources of information,
counseling, and streamlined access to services that enable people to remain
in their own homes and communities.
Closing
the day, Mike Spollen of the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department
of Transportation discussed some aspects of the Air Carrier regulations that
became effective last May.
The seminar’s second day focused on veteran-related legislative priorities
for the coming year. Following an update of legislation from the previous year
which emphasized the recently enacted Advance Appropriations, a panel focused
on what is potentially “The Next Big Issue,” the claims process.
National Legislative staff and Veterans Benefits Department addressed the current
claims process and ongoing efforts to improve the process. Other panels included
members from the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees and an
update on national Health Care Reform currently working its way though Washington.
The day concluded with a presentation on PVA’s Vocational Rehabilitation
Program.
On Wednesday, March 3, Congressional representatives from the House Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs – John Boozman (R-AR), Harry Mitchell (D-AZ),
John Hall (D-NY) – addressed seminar participants. Representative John
Sarbanes (D-MD) spoke about his legislation, the “Brave Act”. Each
member pledged their continued support for VA funding and to ensure that veterans,
in particular those with disabilities, received the health care.
On
Thursday, March 4, National President Gene A. Crayton, presented testimony before
a joint hearing of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.
This was President Crayton’s first year testifying on behalf of PVA and
America’s veterans as the new national president of PVA.
Patrick McCallister
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