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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) Mullen apologizes for comments on wounded care

A call by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs for community organizations to step in to help wounded war veterans make the transition to civilian life has drawn complaints from a major veterans organization and an apology from the JCS chairman.

2) Army Examines Units Treating Injured Soldiers

A high-ranking general that the Army wanted to learn more about shortcomings at its Warrior Transition Units, which treat soldiers with physical injuries and severe psychological trauma and have come under criticism from service members and their families.

3) U.S. to Send Trainers to Afghanistan as Stopgap

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has signed an order sending 850 more American military personnel to Afghanistan as a stopgap measure to fill vacancies in the high-priority effort to train local security forces, Pentagon officials said Monday.

AFGHANISTAN

A third NATO soldier was killed in 24 hours in southern Afghanistan when a bomb exploded, the military said Tuesday.

More than 100 wounded soldiers from Afghanistan are expected to soon join Fort Carson's Warrior Transition Battalion amid questions about the unit's effectiveness.

IRAQ

The electoral coalitions of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and the other major Shiite bloc in Iraq announced a post-election alliance on Tuesday night that cleared the way for a Shiite-dominated government for the next four years.

Iraq has announced the arrest of a network it says was behind the April bombings of foreign embassies that killed 46 people.

A jury has been selected in the court-martial of a Navy SEAL accused of punching a suspected terrorist in Iraq.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The White House announced that President Barack Obama will address the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2010 at the annual commencement ceremony. West Point's graduation is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 22 at Michie Stadium.

The Veterans Affairs Department has discovered software bugs that led to instances of doctors receiving the wrong patient data when they accessed electronic medical information shared with the Defense Department.

A court gave five young men who admitted they took part in a costly vandalism spree a choice between having two felony convictions on their records or pleading guilty to misdemeanors and joining the military.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

The House by voice vote Tuesday agreed to rename the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Pentagon is more than a month late in releasing its investigation into its contracts with retired officers who serve as paid advisers, prompting concern among members of Congress.

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

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

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

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 



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

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST 



May 6, 2010 House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Hearing: Quality vs. Quantity: Examining the Veterans Benefits Administration‚s Employee Work Credit and Management Systems

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