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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) VA Promises to Repay Wrongly Withheld GI Bill Checks

The VA is racing to fix a computer glitch that caused its debt management office to deduct too much money from some veterans' education benefits. After receiving a number of complaints from our members, IAVA publicized that the VA’s recoupment of the emergency $3,000 checks got off to a rocky start. Thousands of veterans who received a $3,000 advance education benefit payment last fall found that a larger than expected repayment amount was deducted from their April 1 benefit checks. For more information visit NewGIBill.org.

2) Rigid filing deadlines strike disabled veterans’ claims

The Supreme Court is weighing whether to consider an appeal to a federal ruling that is being applied to bar claims from disabled veterans who miss filing deadlines. Lawyers are advocating for the Supreme Court to reconsider a ruling that requires rigid deadlines and prevents the United States Court of Appeals for veterans claims from showing any flexibility for veterans with meritorious benefits claims, even if they miss a deadline by a single day.

3) White House is ‘frustrated’ by Karzai remarks

Afghan President Hamid Karzai aggravated Washington, his biggest backer, on Sunday when he told a gathering of tribal leaders that the U.S.-led alliance would not move against Taliban fighters in Kandahar "until you say we can." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday that Karzai's remarks were "genuinely troubling."

AFGHANISTAN

A 28-year-old junior officer became the first Afghan to fly a combat mission in a cargo fixed-wing aircraft as well as the first Afghan pilot in 50 years to complete U.S. pilot training.

Pakistani militants attacked the American consulate in Peshawar with rocket launchers and a bomb Monday, killing at least eight guards. No one was injured inside the compound, which was rattled by three blasts Monday afternoon.

The U.S. military admitted Sunday that American Special Operations forces killed three Afghan women in "a badly bungled" February attack, and several sources alleged that American forces attempted to hide the true nature of the incident.

IRAQ

A Shiite couple and four of their children were gunned down in their home outside Baghdad on Monday, the latest in a string of attacks that have killed some 70 people since Friday, police said.

In a joint statement yesterday, Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador, and Gen. Ray Odierno, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, pledged America's support to Iraq.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The Web site WikiLeaks.org released a graphic video on Monday showing an American helicopter shooting and killing a Reuters photographer and driver in a July 2007 attack in Baghdad. A senior American military official confirmed that the video was authentic.

The Air Force’s nearly 50,000 BlackBerrys are not quite so handy anymore. Starting this month, airmen can no longer use the mobile devices to send text messages with photos or videos attached, or download new applications. Bluetooth capability is also being disabled on most BlackBerrys.

The U.S. military plans clinical trials next year to see if breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber helps brain injuries to heal, or at least relieve the headaches, mood swings or other symptoms.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama threw the ceremonial opening pitch Monday at the Washington Nationals’ home opener here, which also featured a special event with children of servicemembers in honor of Month of the Military Child.

A new GAO study found that the military may be underestimating troops’ pay and benefits with those of comparably situated private-sector employees.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate is not in session
Reconvenes at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 12

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

No issues

FUTURE 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.; Location TBD

April 21, 2010 Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: VA Disability Compensation: Presumptive Disability Decision- Making 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES 



The House is not in session
Reconvenes at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST 



No issues today

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST 



April 7, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Field Hearing: Serving America’s Aging Veterans: Is the VA doing Its Part? 10:00 a.m.; Fishkill Town Hall

April 15, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing: Status of Veterans Employment 1:00 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

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 .