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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) Rules Would Protect VA, Other Benefits from Bank Seizure

The Treasury Department proposed new rules that would prevent banks from seizing Federal benefits, including those paid by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The rules, which would be jointly issued by Treasury, the US VA, the Social Security Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Railroad Retirement Board, could become law later in 2010.

2) Veteran turns to twitter trying to get G.I. benefits

Frustrated by a series of mistakes that prevented him from getting the education benefits he was owed, a veteran sought a solution through Twitter. The online firestorm that followed revealed that veterans around the country have encountered similar problems accessing their benefits. For the latest information on the GI Bill visit NewGIBill.org.

3) VA shoots down Montana gov’s plan for cheap drugs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday that it can't sell the state of Montana the cheaper medicine it gets from the pharmaceutical industry, rejecting a request made last week by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Schweitzer hoped to purchase prescription drugs directly from the VA to drive down drug costs, but the agency is restricted from redistributing the cheaper medicine to anyone other than veterans.

AFGHANISTAN

Combat units in Afghanistan now contain a squad-sized contingent of humanitarian teams focused on helping Afghans with governance and development. They have been deploying around the country in force since the start of the year.

U.S. troops are pulling out of Afghanistan’s perilous Korengal Valley as part of a new focus on protecting population centers, NATO said Wednesday, ending a mission that saw some of the most intense fighting of the nearly nine-year American presence in the country.

Hundreds of U.S. troops are still stranded at a key air base in Kyrgyzstan following civil unrest there that resulted in personnel flights to Afghanistan being diverted through other countries, officials said.

IRAQ

Talks on an alliance between Iraq's two main Shi'ite Muslim blocs to form the next government appear to be nearing a conclusion , with the main sticking point being how to nominate a prime minister, officials said.

Iraqi security forces disrupted a 9/11-style plot by al-Qaida in Iraq to fly hijacked planes into Shiite religious shrines, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

Military exchanges between China and the United States are still suspended, a People's Liberation Army spokesman said Tuesday, despite a recent warming of relations between the countries.

Retired Maj. Tammy Duckworth, one of the National Guard's most famous veterans, was recently in the spotlight in Las Vegas as she shared a powerful message about her personal quest for success as a veterans advocate at the Third annual Nevada Women Veterans Summit.

Some designer drugs legally sold at shops and online have been added to the U.S. Navy's zero-tolerance drug-abuse policy. The amended policy now covers more substances that can be used "with the intention to induce intoxication, excitement or stupefaction of the central nervous system.”

INSIDE WASHINGTON

Testifying before a Senate subcommittee about current and future readiness, Assistant Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos said about 40 percent of the equipment items being transferred from Iraq to Afghanistan in preparation for the surge was destined to be returned to U.S. stockpiles.

Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, who is the Obama administration's nominee to take on additional duties as head of the new Cyber Command, said the U.S. should not be deterred from taking action against countries such as Iran and North Korea just because they might launch cyber attacks.

The Army will court martial a lieutenant colonel who refused to deploy to Afghanistan because he said orders from President Obama are "illegal," claiming the president is not a U.S. citizen.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

April 15, 2010 Senate Appropriations MilCon-VA Subcommittee Hearing: FY 2011 Budget. Witnesses from VA: The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki 2:00 p.m.; Dirksen 124

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

April 21, 2010: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: Oversight Hearing: Implementation of the New Post-9/11 GI Bill – Looking Back and Moving Forward 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

May 5, 2010: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: VA Disability

May 19 2010 Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: Pending Legislation 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES 



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

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST 



April 15, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing: Status of Veterans Employment 1:00 p.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

April 15, 2010 House Armed Services hearing on the Quadrennial Defense Review. 10:00 a.m., 2118 Rayburn

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST 



April 22, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Hearing: Examining VA’s Fiduciary Program: How Can VA Better Protect Vulnerable Veterans and Their Families? 2:00 p.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

May 5, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: Status Update on the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study 10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon House Office Building

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