The Veteran and Military Community Must Vote for Congressional Leaders Who Are Willing to Resolve VA Issues Not Exploit Them

As an avid supporter of military families, I have learned to temper my outrage when it comes to the treatment of those who have served by our government after a military person retires from active duty. I have also learned that many individuals who say "thank you for your service" to show support for member of the military will also vote for a member of Congress who would be willing to cut funding for services to a veteran while giving him/herself a raise. Cutting services that could help veterans, voting against funds, or not voting on bills at all to help the Veteran Affairs (VA) are as common as crossing the street. Yet, it is done often by members of congress who will wave the American Flag while blocking votes to help veterans.

Having several members of my family who have served, I have heard stories that represent the good, the bad, and the ugly about VA Hospitals. I remember vividly as young girl seeing one of my uncles, a WWII veteran, kick out the back door of an ambulance while screaming, “Don’t take me to the VA!” He had one bad experience that left him afraid of the doctors at the VA for the rest of his life. I have also experienced in my adulthood some of the best healthcare given to veterans at VA hospitals. Recently a friend who is a member of the Triple Nickles, the First Black Paratroopers, got ill and was hospitalized at the VA. Over the years, I have visited the VA on many occasions to visit veterans and their family members. I have often wondered if Congress members visit the VA in their area without announcing they are going?

Triple Nickels

The VA issues that have been reported on for the last several weeks regarding veterans not being seen by doctors and the backlog of disability claims, as horrendously as it is, are not new. I have heard these issues talked about in my grandparents’ home during the 70’s. That was before the Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq Wars. Dissecting the many issues of the VA would take a month long in-depth series but let us look at a few that are systemic from one decade to another.

Many in congress now have been in congress for several terms. On the VA Subcommittee for Healthcare, the role of the committee states: Subcommittee on Health, which shall have legislative, oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over the Veterans Health Administration including medical services, medical support and compliance, medical facilities, medical and prosthetic research, and major and minor construction.

The Members of the Subcommittee are: (Republicans) Dan Benishek (MI) Chairman: David Roe (TN): Jeff Denham (CA); Tim Huelskamp (KS); David Jolly (FL); (Democrats) Julia Brownley (CA;)Ranking Minority Member; Corrine Brown (FL); Raul Ruiz (CA); Gloria Negrete-McLeod (CA); and Ann Kuster (NH).*

Of the names listed above, Jeff Denham is the only member on the committee who has served in the military. Healthcare is one of the most important issues that a veteran faces after service. With millions of veterans returning from Afghan and Iraq, members of the committee should have some military experience to be able to relate to the gravity of the veteran and military issues.

Don McCasland (Army): Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq Veteran

 Here are a few of the bills that have been introduced over the years that deal with veterans’ healthcare:
U.S. H.R. 3053 (113th) - Healthcare for Our Heroes Act Armed forces and national security
Kyrsten Sinema / The bill has been referred to committee.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program.

U.S. H.R. 635 (113th) - Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for Your Vets Act of 2013
Armed forces and national security
Stevan Pearce / The bill has been referred to committee.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. 

U.S. H.R. 3895 (112th) - Protect VA Healthcare Act of 2012
Economics and public finance
Jeff Miller / The bill has been introduced.
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to clarify that all veterans programs are exempt from sequestration. 

U.S. H.R. 3682 (112th) - Patient Centered Healthcare Savings Act of 2011
Health
Sean Duffy / The bill has been introduced.
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and provide for comprehensive health reform, and for other purposes. 

U.S. H.R. 315 (110th) - Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for Your Vets (HEALTHY Vets) Act of 2007
Veterans
Stevan Pearce / The billed has been introduced.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. 

U.S. H.R. 6036 (109th) - Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for Your Vets (HEALTHY Vets) Act of 2006
Veterans
Stevan Pearce / The bill has been introduced.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other purposes.

U.S. S. 1682 (110th) - Servicemembers' Healthcare Benefits and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act of 2007
Defense policy
Olympia Snowe / The bill has been introduced.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care for members of the Armed Forces, to improve the speed and efficiency of the physical disability evaluation system of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

U.S. S. 1670 (110th) - Servicemembers' Healthcare Benefits and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act of 2007
Defense policy
Olympia Snowe / The bill has been introduced.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care for members of the Armed Forces, to improve the speed and efficiency of the physical disability evaluation system of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

 U.S. H.R. 612 (110th) - Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007
Veterans
Bob Filner / The bill was voted on in the House on May 23, 2007
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period of eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or

The bills listed are just a few of many that were introduced. Introducing a bill is easy but getting one passed, that will benefit veterans, is an entirely different matter. Most bills are referred to a subcommittee where they die a slow death like a veteran waiting to receive healthcare.

It is time for members of the military and veterans to protect their interests by voting for members of congress who will advocate, pass bills, and regulate funding for veterans, not against them. This may means not looking at who you like or party affiliations but voting for individuals who vote the interests of the military and veteran community. Too often, members of congress use being on a VA committee as campaign badge of honor to say they are supportive of military and veterans’ issues. Often, the only bills that are passed are naming building after our heroes while doing absolutely nothing to help improve the quality of life of many of our veterans by increasing and implementing healthcare funding. It is a dog and pony show in congress when it comes to the VA. And has been for years. Yes, improvements have been made but those improvements usually come after a major scandal like Walter Reed Hospital.

Old Walter Reed Hospital

The ranking member of the Senate VA Chair is North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr (R). It is no secret in the veteran community that Burr has a horrible reputation with veterans groups but his actions leading up to Memorial Day Weekend made it clear for the 99% who have not served in the military that he is not fit to be on a committee dealing with veteran issues.

Sen. Burr

The week before the holiday, a hearing on the state of the VA was held. During the hearings, several leaders of Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) testified before congress. Sen. Burr was not present during their testimony and only returned after the group finished testifying.

The next day, Sen. Burr admonished the VSOs in an open letter. Here are some of his comments to the VSOs:

 Regrettably, the Legion was alone among the VSOs that testified in taking such a stand. It became clear at the hearing that most of the other VSOs attending appear to be more interested in defending the status quo within VA, protecting their relationships within the agency, and securing their access to the Secretary and his inner circle. But to what end? What use is their access to senior VA staff, up to and including the Secretary, if they do not use their unprecedented access to a Cabinet Secretary to secure timely access to care for their membership? What hope is there for change within the VA if those closest to the agency don't use that proximity for the good of veterans across our country?

Did I mention, that Sen. Burr has never served in the military? Yet, he chastised men of war of who have served faithfully and honorably about their testimony that he never heard. What do you think the VSOs leaders did? They did what men of war do; they opened a can of whip-ass (with words) and fired back telling Burr what they thought of him and his lack of respect for VSOs and veterans.

Sen. Burr was elected to the Senate in 2005 to represent the state of North Carolina. He sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee. North Carolina has eight military bases. EIGHT! Pope AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB, Camp McKall, Fort Bragg, Air Station Elizabeth City, National Strike Force, Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS New River, and Military Ocean Terminal Point.

His top contributors:**
Health Professionals $455,742
Lawyers/Law Firms $415,801
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $415,705
Insurance $407,751
Lobbyists $304,996
Securities and Investment $298,325
Electric Utilities $271,479
Real Estate $262,518
Banks and Credit $227,534
Oil and Gas $208,050

 Sen. Burr votes for the interests of his donors. In an accepted pay to play political culture, Congress usually votes on issues that their top donors want them to vote on not the interests their constituents.  In a state with eight military bases, Sen Burr should be fighting tooth and nail for veterans not penning a letter that was meant to marginalize and antagonize veteran groups. 

The military and veteran community need to desperately start to vote their interest. There are too many in Congress who do not vote for the interests of those who have served or is active duty military. It is time for veterans to protect their interests like they protected our country...bravely, courageously and with fierce determination.

Montford Point Marine Mark McCann Sr. meeting Vietnam Marine Bert Watkins the 1st time.

* OpenSecrets.Org
**Maplight
Photo Credits: VA, Sen. Burr, Genma Holmes, Don McCasland, Triple Nickels Archives

Fly Girl Vernice Armour and Operation Stand Down Nashville on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life as we celebrate "HERstroy...Women In the Military". Hear from military women, active and veterans, who are daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends. Women from the Marines, Army, Air Force, and Navy will share personal stories and highlights from their military careers. All have roles that made them the "first" in many endeavors throughout their lives and in the military. We will hear about their many acts of courage and sacrifice that embody servant leadership that will empower, inspire, and motivate listeners.

On Saturday, September 8, 2012, we hear from Vernice Armour, Fly Girl. Vernice Armour is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps who was the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps and America's first African American female combat pilot in the United States military. She flew the AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and eventually served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Listen as she shares about her life before and after combat duty. She will share about being the first of many firsts, from flying a helicopter in Iraq to riding a motorcycle on the police force in Nashville. Flygirl will share how important it is to not let anyone else's "no" determine your destiny in life.

Vernice Armour will be the keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual Heroes Breakfast on September 17, 2012 for Operation Stand Down, Inc at 8am at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. For ticket information click here.

This show is part of an ongoing series, HERStory, that profile women in the military. Tune in 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live online at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

More about Vernice Armour

Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was 3 years of age. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. Her first little pony was given to her on the Christmas following her fourth birthday, and her dream quickly started to have a foundation in reality. In 1991, she graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts, where she was very active in the music program, class Vice President, and a member of Mu Alpha Theta (the mathematics honor society) and The National Honor Society.

Vernice marched in the military boot steps of both her dads; Clarence Jackson, a former Marine, who married Vernice’s mother Authurine, and her father, Gaston C. Armour Jr. of Chicago, a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and in the fall semester joined the Army ROTC program while enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). During an Army ROTC career day, the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young black female in an Army flight suit. “Now why didn’t I think of that!” was her first thought! In June of 1996, after a brief stint as a Nashville Sheriff’s Department Correction Officer, Vernice took additional time off from college to accept an invitation to the Nashville Police Academy and graduated as a police officer in December 1996. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science. In 1998, with the aviation seed in full bloom, Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998 and on her way to flight school.

When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. 1 out her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate. She made the Naval Air Station’s prestigious Commodore’s List, received the Academic Achievement Award and was her classes top graduate and went on to make history as the Marine Corps’ first African-American female pilot.

After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, she was recognized as America’s first African-American female combat pilot. Vernice flew above the deserts of Iraq in her missile-equipped attack helicopter, engaging the enemy and scouting the roads from her cockpit, making sure they were safe for her fellow Marines and soldiers on the ground. She has completed 2 combat tours of duty in the Gulf.

Vernice now travels extensively in order to create a global movement based on the Breakthrough Mentality mindset. In order for us to change the current conditions we are going to need to think and execute differently. We are going to need leaders to step up and lead.Our society and global community needs people to take personal responsibility and accountability. We win or lose together. One Mission, One Goal, One Team™.

More About Operation Stand Down Nashville

Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc (OSDN) is the primary nonprofit resource for veterans in Middle Tennessee providing life changing social services including transitional housing, or referrals, employment readiness training and placement assistance, and coordination of the activities of other agencies in the delivery of such services. They are the only VA approved and supported Veteran Service Center in Tennessee. Their clients are honorably discharged veterans with an emphasis on veterans who are homeless. OSDN's ultimate goal is to give veterans in need the tools to rejoin their community as productive, responsible citizens.

The homeless count, conducted by the city of Nashville in January 2009, found 2,157 homeless people in Davidson County. The count did not include homeless in the surrounding counties who also come to OSDN for services. With approximately 30% of the homeless being veterans, at least 647 veterans are homeless in Nashville/Davidson County, with more in the surrounding counties, on any particular night. Our unique partnership with the VA Medical Center and the VA Regional Office allows us to provide more direct, personal social services than any other agency in this area.

No veteran should be homeless. No veteran who wants to work should be jobless. No veteran should feel hopeless. Thanks to the caring support of our many government and community partners, OSDN has and will continue to successfully aid veterans in restoring their lives. While it is a source of pride that OSDN programs meet and exceed all the funding standards, true success comes when a veteran in need moves on to a renewed life within the community. That is why OSDN exists. You can help them with their efforts by donating here.