Posted for your information will be the latest VFW Washington Weekly and VA News Releases
 

• The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on VA's medical care budget. VFW testified on the VA's major and minor construction needs for FY 2011. Citing our portion of the Independent Budget, we called on Congress to provide funding to complete the numerous projects under construction and those being planned.
• The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs discussed VA's Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) and Quick Start programs. VFW testified that error rates and quality of ratings continue to plaque the popular programs. We recommended that VA expand its BDD sites and increase outreach to servicemembers about their benefits. Far too many servicemen and women are unaware of their benefits. We also believe that the VSO community can provide expert assistance to transitioning service personnel, which would improve the quality of initial claims being submitted.
• The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on an array of bills designed to improve education and other protective programs for servicemembers. VFW testified in support of most of the bills to include:
• HR 3257 - would grant military family members temporary annual leave during the deployment of their loved ones.
• HR 3976 - would extend mortgage interest rate caps and foreclosure protections to nine months after a member is released from duty.
• HR 4359-would authorize VA to guarantee housing loans for the construction of energy efficient dwellings.
• HR 4469-would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to restricting permanent child custody decisions while a member is deployed in support of a contingency operation.

• Expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include a larger population of veterans.
• Provide disabled veterans with an increased opportunity for gainful employment by modernizing the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employments program.
• Increase education opportunities and expand access to capital for veterans interested in starting businesses.

• Air Force Col. Elton L. Perrine, from New York, listed as missing in North Vietnam on May 22, 1967. His remains were recovered in 2007 and identified in December 2009.
• Air Force Maj. Russell C. Goodman, Utah, missing in North Vietnam on Feb. 20, 1967. His remains were recovered in 1993 and identified in September 2009.
• And Army Sgt. First Class Douglas J. Glover, New York, and Staff Sgt. Melvin C. Dye, Michigan, both of whom were declared MIA in Laos on Feb. 19, 1968. Their remains were recovered in 2007 and identified in February 2009.

Web Site Offers Single Access Point for Wounded Warriors
Three Federal Departments Collaborate on National Resource Directory

 

WASHINGTON (Feb. 25, 2010) - The federal departments of Veterans  Affairs, Labor and Defense unveiled today an improved Web site for wounded warriors.

"VA is committed to tapping into the full powers of the Internet to provide accurate, timely, easy to find and easy to understand information that improves the lives of Veterans, service members, their families and all who care for them," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. 

The National Resource Directory is a comprehensive, free, online tool for wounded, ill and injured service members, Veterans and their families.  Visitors to the site can find an extensive range of information about Veterans' benefits, including disability and pension benefits, VA health care and educational opportunities.  The site also provides information for those who care for Veterans, such as access to emotional, financial and community assistance.

The Web site has been enhanced to provide a single point of access to a wealth of information from more than 10,000 sites by federal, state and local governments and organizations offering services for wounded warriors.

"This online directory is an invaluable resource for those involved in helping service members and Veterans," Shinseki said. "Reliable information about government and private-sector programs can be a priceless tool."

A recent addition to the Web site is a specialized section where users can find help for homeless Veterans.  These resources will help end Veteran homelessness over the next five years. 

The new design will help visitors find needed resources easily.  Other enhancements include a fast, accurate search engine; a "bookmark and share" capability that allows users to share valuable resources on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites; and a news feature with updates on relevant information and events.  Resources are added daily.

Visit the site at www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.

VA Expands Evaluation of Technology Projects
Management and Accountability System Found Effective

WASHINGTON (Feb. 23, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced that all information technology (IT) projects at the Department will now be managed under its program management and accountability system (PMAS). 

"We will end projects that don't work, streamline those that do, and focus on the responsibility we have for achieving maximum value for our Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

First announced by Secretary Shinseki in June 2009, the system requires IT projects to deliver new functionality within six months and keeps projects tied to established milestones.  VA is using PMAS and other rigorous management techniques to reform its IT management practices and provide better value, efficiency, and effectiveness for taxpayers' dollars.

VA announced the temporary halt of 45 of its most problematic computer projects last summer so they could be fixed.  During the next six months, VA restarted 32 of these projects, stopped 12, and continued the review of one.  These actions resulted in cost avoidance of $54 million for VA during fiscal year 2010.

"While we have stopped the 12 projects, the real saving is in the increased probability of success for the projects we changed and restarted," said Roger W. Baker, VA's Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology.  "Holding each project accountable for regularly delivering value is key to getting the most out of our IT budget.  While much work remains to be done, PMAS has shown what can be achieved by forcing measured demonstrations of performance." 

PMAS, in conjunction with the analytical tools available through the IT Dashboard, will ensure early identification and correction of problematic IT projects.  The Internet-based IT Dashboard <http://www.usaspending.gov/> , launched in June 2009, is a one-stop clearinghouse of information, allowing the American people to track federal information technology initiatives and hold the government accountable for progress and results.

"Better accountability and focus on results lead to better services for our Veterans and better value for the American taxpayer," said Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra. "Investing in what works is about continuing projects that are effective and making tough choices when projects, however well intentioned, are broken and failing.  We owe it to the American people to make sure their dollars are being spent wisely."

VA Education Call Center Again Operating Five Days a Week
Temporary Closures Significantly Cut Post-9/11 GI Bill Pending Inventory


WASHINGTON (Feb. 23, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that the Education Call Center, closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the past two months, is again operating five days a week  

"I am pleased by the progress these call center employees made in significantly cutting our pending inventory of education claims," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "As a result of their efforts, 30,000 additional student Veterans received their checks, bought books, paid the rent, and stayed in school."

By temporarily reassigning call center employees on Thursdays and Fridays to process Post-9/11 GI Bill claims, VA was able to complete a significant number of education claims from mid-December through mid-February.  VA's goal was always to return call center employees to their permanent duties.

The decision to supplement claims processing staff by the call center employees was a key factor in meeting VA's aggressive processing goal of Post-9/11 GI Bill claims.  As of mid-February 2010, VA's capacity to process Post-9/11 GI bill claims jumped from an average of 2,000 a day in August 2009 to 7,000 a day.

Since inception of this historic new program, VA has issued nearly $1.9 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments and opened the door to higher education to 209,490 people.

As of Feb. 12, VA received spring semester Post-9/11 GI Bill enrollments from approximately 180,000 student Veterans and already paid nearly 90 percent of them.  All Post-9/11 GI Bill participants whose spring enrollments were received by Jan. 18 have been paid. 

Because VA is now processing spring enrollments timely, advance payments are no longer available at VA regional offices or through the online advance payment Web site.

In December when the decision was made to redirect phone agents to claims processing, the number of pending claims was almost 80,000 and timeliness measures were extremely high.  The inventory of education claims was driving call volume at the call center to an all time high of 1.26 million call attempts during November.

That is why in mid-December 2009 VA temporarily reassigned employees at the VA Education Call Center on Thursdays and Fridays, the lowest call volume days, to help process education benefit claims. 

Since that time, the call center demand dropped by 42 percent as student Veterans received their payments.  The call center received 769,637 call attempts on Monday thru Wednesday during the first two weeks in December 2009.  By comparison, the call center received 446,328 call attempts on Monday thru Wednesday through the first two weeks in February 2010. 

Information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as VA's other educational benefit programs, is available at VA's Web site, www.gibill.va.gov <http://www.gibill.va.gov/> , or by calling
1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).