In late August I visited the Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic and Rehab Center with Congressman John Mica and his staff. We also visited the site of the new OPC and met the site engineer. We were told the state of has agreed to remove and replace 14 feet of contaminated soil.
The Florida Veterans
Council met in August and Mr. Jim Brodie discussed some of the bills that were
brought before congress.
• Florida Veterans Hall of Fame Bill: Passed unanimously.
• Joint Resolution for Property Tax Relief for Elder Combat Wounded Veterans:
• This amendment will be sent to the voters on 2012 ballot.
• Gold Star Parent Bill : Honored with lifetime entrance to Florida’s
160 state parks
• Wounded Veterans with Access to Tuition Wavers: FDVA broadened acceptable
documentation that colleges can accept in lieu of the DD214.
• Wounded Warrior’s Hunting Areas: Established in state parks.
• Veteran Indicator Status on Drivers License: Will be available this
coming year.
• Expansion of Combat Wounded Veteran Property Tax Discounts: Mr. Brodie
said it has passed and can be considered the single biggest fiscal benefit to
Veterans.
• House Bill 1141: The implementation language that speaks to amendment
2 passed in 2009. This would provide per diem discounts and ad valorem property
taxes to those veterans deployed in certain areas of operations during the calendar
year 2010. Mr. Brodie presumes this will be signed into law and then information
will be sent to county tax assessors to inform veterans of this new benefit.
The deadline for filling will be June 1st.
• Bill Honoring Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr.
National’s Government Relations Director’s Point Papers
• PROTECTION
OF HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PVA’s Position
• PVA urges the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Congress
to preserve critically needed funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs
health care system. Reducing spending on VA health care programs will place
the health and welfare of veterans at significant risk.
• PVA urges the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Congress
to avoid cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that many veterans, seniors,
and people with disabilities rely upon for their health care.
INCREASE IN CHAMPVA
BENEFICIARY AGE
PVA’s Position
• PVA urges the House to pass H.R.115, the “CHAMPVA Children’s
Protection Act
• of 2011,” and the Senate to pass S. 490. This will ensure that
the dependent children of 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans are
afforded the same health care protections as all other children
PROTECTION OF BENEFITS
PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PVA’s Position
• PVA urges the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Congress
to reaffirm that VA compensation and benefits programs which support vets and
their families must be preserved during any efforts to reduce the federal deficit.
• PVA urges the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Congress
to preserve the SSDI program that supports people with disabilities, including
veterans with severe non-service connected disabilities, during any efforts
to reduce the federal deficit. Additionally, any attempts to modify the Social
Security program should be done outside of the context of the deficit reduction
debate.
Mike Sprouse
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