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Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom or subscribe to receive the brief in your inbox each morning at www.iava.org/dailynewsbrief.

MUST READS

1) Pentagon focuses on brain trauma

Troops caught near a roadside blast will be pulled out of combat for 24 hours and checked for a mild traumatic brain injury, even if they appear unhurt or say they are fine, according to a treatment policy the Pentagon is planning to release. The policy change stems from an increase in the number of troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

2) Hold off on new GI Bill changes, VA cautions

In the face of a growing pile of ideas for changing the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the head of Veterans Affairs Department’s education service is asking Congress hold off on any significant revisions to the education benefit until next year. For more information visit NewGiBill.org.

3) Female vets find VA inadequate

As Good Housekeeping reports, female veterans continue to discover that the VA health-care system lacks the resources and initiative to care for women returning from duty. More than 10 percent of all veterans are women. See IAVA’s issue report “ Women Warriors ” for a comprehensive review of the urgent service and homecoming issues facing female troops and veterans.

AFGHANISTAN

Six NATO service members died Monday in separate attacks across Afghanistan, including a suicide car bomb that targeted an international military convey as it crossed a bridge in the Taliban-dominated south, the coalition said.

In a posthumously released video, the suicide bomber who attacked a CIA base in eastern Afghanistan claims he lured targets with false information.

NATO forces are confronting the difficult task of building a credible government in southern Afghanistan after completing the initial phase of the Marja military offensive.

IRAQ

The civilian death toll in Iraq jumped to 211 people compared 135 people in the previous month, officials said on Monday, a sign of rising violence in the run-up to a March 7 parliamentary election.

As Iraq moves toward its March 7 elections, 78,000 election monitors from 30 international organizations and more than 300 Iraqi groups are deploying across the country.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

With the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games behind them, two U.S. bobsledders are hoping they will be called upon to serve with the U.S. Army in Iraq or Afghanistan in the coming months.

Civilian victims of sexual assault are now able to confidentially report and seek medical care without triggering a criminal investigation as part of a six-month U.S. Army Europe pilot program aimed at encouraging more victims to seek help.

The Army psychiatrist charged in the worst mass shooting on a U.S. military base will soon be moved to a county jail near Fort Hood after four months in a military hospital, his attorney and jail officials said Monday.

The American Bar Association has stated objections to legislation that would protect deployed service members from losing custody of children.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith wants to expand a federal law covering illnesses and injuries to include up to two weeks of unpaid leave for family members of deployed service members.

Former U.S. Marine Corps officer Ilario Pantano has officially filed with the North Carolina State Board of Elections, qualifying the conservative Republican candidate to run for the United States Congressional seat presently held by Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

No issues today

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

March 3, 2010 SVAC Oversight Hearing: Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention for Veterans 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

March 24, 2010 SVAC Oversight Hearing: VA's Plan for Ending Homelessness among Veterans 9:30 a.m.

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES



The House convenes at 12:30 m.m.

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



No issues today

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



March 3, 2010 HVAC Subcommittee on Health Hearing: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4241, regarding State Veterans Home reimbursement 2:00 p.m.; 340 Cannon HOB

March 4, 2010 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies hearing: VA’s budget requests for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. 10:00 a.m.; 2359 Rayburn.

March 10, 2010 Full House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: Structuring the VA of the 21st Century 10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

March 18, 2010 Full House Veterans' Affairs Hearing: Claims Summit 2010 2:00 p.m.; 345 Cannon

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA .