VA Announces Travel Reimbursement Increases for Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that eligible veterans will see an increase in the mileage reimbursement they receive for travel to VA facilities for medical care.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced today that he will use his authority to raise the mileage reimbursement from the 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile for all eligible veterans.
Continue Reading Add comment December 1, 2008
Enhanced VA Mortgage Options Now Available for Veterans
WASHINGTON (Oct.24) — Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which the President signed into law on October 10, 2008.
Continue Reading Add comment October 27, 2008
The VA’s Difficulty With The New G.I. Bill
The Department of Veterans Affairs is in a pickle. Tasked by Congress to implement the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, the VA has failed to discover how it will complete the creation of a working program by the August 1st, 2009 deadline (when the new benefits take effect).
In fact, the program has to be operational long before then so that the appropriate training can be done for VA education workers, and materials can be provided to assist veterans learn how to navigate the news system. However, the VA has run into some problems.
Continue Reading Add comment October 24, 2008
Should America Fear the Word “Socialism”?
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been accusing presidential candidate Barack Obama of being a socialist, but do Americans even understand what that term means today? I think not: Especially when the terms socialism and communism seemed to be used interchangeably and erroneously thrown about as antonyms to capitalism and democracy.
First—get this straight—capitalism and democracy are not the same thing. Democracy is a system of government and capitalism is a system of economy. You can have a communist and capitalist society (look at China). You can also have a democratic-socialist society, a socialist-capitalist society, etc.
Continue Reading 4 comments October 22, 2008
VA Tightens Protections for Veterans Paperwork
Peake: Lapses “Unacceptable,” Procedures and Accountability Tightened WASHINGTON (Oct. 16, 2008) — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B.
Peake vowed swift action after a handful of documents related to veterans’ applications for financial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were found among documents identified for shredding. The documents, which were not duplicated in government files, could have affected veterans’ eligibility for benefits.
“I insist on the highest possible standards for processing and safeguarding information in VA’s custody,” Peake said. “It is unacceptable that documents important to a veteran’s claim for benefits should be misplaced or destroyed.”
Continue Reading 1 comment October 16, 2008
Obama Letter in Response to Election Day Issues
This is a copy of a letter by the Obama-Biden Campaign sent last month (and released today) responding to Senator John C. Danforth and Senator Warren Rudman’s concerns about potential voter fraud:
Continue Reading Add comment October 15, 2008
Iranians linked to attempt to bribe Iraqi officials
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq http://www.mnf-iraq.com 703.343.8790
Press Release A081015 October 15, 2008
BAGHDAD – Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) Gen. Ray Odierno recently stated that current intelligence indicates Iranian officials intend to attempt to bribe Iraqi officials to prevent passage of the SOFA Agreement. MNF-I further clarified that this no way infers that any Iraqi governmental officials accepted bribes.
“The Council of Representative members work hard to represent and serve the Iraqi people performing an honorable, critical role in building the new Iraq,” stated MNF-I Spokesman Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll.
Add comment October 15, 2008
The Job Market After the Election
Jobs are on the forefront of many Americans’ minds going into this election season, especially job seekers. Each candidate promises to enact policies that will help ignite a recovery and new job growth, but where that growth occurs will depend heavily on who wins the presidency in November.
A McCain win will likely mean job gains in oil and gas, aerospace/defense, nuclear engineering, insurance, automotive and financial services. Meanwhile, an Obama win could help spur job growth in education, telecommunications, manufacturing, alternative energy industries and construction.
Continue Reading Add comment October 14, 2008
VA Announces ‘In House’ Option to Implement IT Aspects of New GI Bill
WASHINGTON, Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it will rely upon its own workforce to set up the information technology programs needed to implement the educational benefits of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Continue Reading Add comment October 13, 2008
VA Announces $36 Million in Grants for Homeless Programs
Homeless veterans in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will get more assistance, thanks to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grants providing $36.7 million to community groups to create 1,526 beds for homeless veterans this year.
Continue Reading Add comment September 23, 2008
