IAVA Daily Brief 06.23.09

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 at @iavapressroom [1].

MUST READS

(1) Advance VA funding takes step forward [2]

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected to vote Tuesday to authorize a change in budget rules so the health care budget for the Veterans Affairs Department can be approved a year in advance of the rest of the federal budget.  Meanwhile, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee is also expected to vote Tuesday to approve the first draft of the advanced VA budget.

(2) VA Officials Shinseki, Duckworth Join First Lady in Kick-Off for United We Serve Summer [3]

As First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off United We Serve summer on Monday, VA Secretary General Eric Shinseki joined the endeavor helping to transport two Vietnam-era veterans through commuter traffic to a VA hospital in Washington.  According to Shinseki, more than 80,000 people donated time last year helping with VA-related programs; however, he remains concerned that there has been a decline in the number of volunteers this year.  Other senior VA officials including Tammy Duckworth, a VA assistant secretary who lost both her legs in an attack in Iraq in 2004, volunteered at homeless shelters and in other ways.  Interested in volunteering with IAVA?  Click here [4] to register and receive updates about volunteer opportunties to help veterans in your community.

(3) President Obama to Host Noon Press Conference on Health Care, Iran [5]

President Obama will hold a press conference at the White House at 12:30 pm EST Tuesday afternoon to address four issues: health care, the economy, Iran, and a climate bill.>   Be sure to tune in at 12:30 pm EST to see if the President addresses advanced funding for VA health care which is expected to go to a vote before the House of Representatives later this afternoon.  For live updates throughout the conference, follow IAVA on Twitter @iavapressroom [1].

AFGHANISTAN

In a deal approved Tuesday by the Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the U.S. has agreed to more than triple the rent [6] it pays to continue use of the air base at Manas which is crucial to U.S. operations in neighboring Afghanistan.  Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev told lawmakers that, under the new one-year deal, rent will increase to $60 million a year from the current $17.4 million. Washington will also pay $37 million to build new aircraft parking slots and storage areas, plus another $30 million for new navigation systems.  Previously, Kyrgyzstan stunned Washington in February by announcing that U.S. forces would be evicted from Manas, saying the U.S. wasn't paying enough and citing other concerns.

Meanwhile, U.S. military officials said Monday that the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal [7] will soon formally order U.S. and NATO forces to break away from fights with militants hiding in Afghan houses so the battles do not kill civilians.  The anticipated announcement comes after controversy surrounding a May 4th battle between U.S. and Afghan forces and militants in western Farah province that the Afghan government claims killed 140 civilians.  In an investigative report, the U.S. military concluded the number was much smaller.

Across the border, Pakistani officials confirmed Tuesday that Qari Zainuddin [8], a rival of powerful Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, was shot dead Tuesday in northwestern Pakistan. The death of Zainuddin comes as a serious blow to the Pakistani government, which had supported him as a counter to Mehsud in its campaign against the Taliban in the Swat Valley.

IRAQ

Ahead of the June 30th pullback deadline, violence flared [9] again on Monday with bombings and shootings claiming more than 30 civilians across Iraq on Monday, including high school students on their way to final exams.  "There aren't enough Iraqi army and police and they're ill-equipped to confront the terrorists," said Abdul-Salam Mohammed, a 33-year-old car dealer in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba, north of Baghdad. "The pullout is not in our interest at this moment because we are still in the recovery phase and not yet cured."  Though Monday's attacks pushed the three-day death toll over 100, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki assured that Iraq's security forces are prepared to take over operations from U.S. troops in the country's urban centers.

Despite the violence, Iraq appealed on Monday for Iraqi scientists [10] living abroad to return home and use their expertise to help rebuild the country's economy after years of war.  For decades Iraq boasted one of the most highly educated populations in the Middle East in part because government spent large amounts of its oil wealth to send bright students overseas to study at prestigious universities.  Today, only about 700 university professors from across academic fields have returned.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The Hurt Locker [11], a highly anticipated film about an elite U.S. Army bomb squad working in Iraq, is scheduled to open in theaters this weekend (June 26th).  In a review, the Associated Press is calling Hurt Locker - which follows the efforts of the squad 38 days before they can leave Baghdad in the summer of 2004- the most effective film yet on the Iraq war.  The script is based on accounts from journalist Mark Boal, who spent time embedded with bomb squads in Iraq.  Click here [12] to watch the trailer.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

In Washington on Monday, President Barack Obama signed a bill that extends a special survivor indemnity allowance benefit [13] through 2017 for survivors whose military benefits are reduced dollar for dollar by the amount they receive in veterans survivor benefits. Under the original law, the benefit was set to expire in 2014, but a provision of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed by Obama on Monday, extends the allowance for another five years, with continued regular increases.  Most survivors lose $1,500 a month because of the government’s long-standing practice of not paying two survivor benefits for one death.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate will convene at 10:00 am.

FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST

·         Senate will be in a period of morning business.

·         (Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for their respective party conferences.)

COMMITTEE REPORTS and PRESS RELEASES of  INTEREST

·         Senate Report [14] 111-027  Veterans’ 2nd Amendment Protection Act 

·         Senate Report [15] 111-024   Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS  of  INTEREST

·         June 24, 2009 - SVAC will hold a hearing on VHA’s quality management.  9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell (Prudhomme)

·         July 15, 2009 - SVAC will hold a hearing entitled, “Women Veterans: Bridging the Gaps in Care.”  9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell (Vasquez)

·         July 29, 2009 - SVAC will hold a hearing entitled, "Review of Veterans' Disability Compensation: Forging a Path Forward."  9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell (Smith)

COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF INTEREST

MARKUPS

·         Fiscal 2010 Defense Authorization: Personnel

·         Personnel Subcommittee (Chairman Nelson, D-Neb.) of Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up portions of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization under its jurisdiction. 9:30 a.m., 232-A Russell

·         Fiscal 2010 Defense Authorization: Airland

·         Airland Subcommittee (Chairman Lieberman, I-Conn.) of Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up portions of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization under its jurisdiction. 11 a.m., 222 Russell

·         Fiscal 2010 Defense Authorization: Strategic Forces

·         Strategic Forces Subcommittee (Chairman Nelson, D-Fla.) of Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up portions of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization under its jurisdiction. 2 p.m., 222 Russell

·         Fiscal 2010 Defense Authorization: Readiness and Management Support

·         Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee (Chairman Bayh, D-Ind.) of Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up portions of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization under its jurisdiction. 3:30 p.m., 232-A Russell

THE HOUSE of  REPRESENTATIVES

The House will convene at 10:30.

FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST

Suspensions (5 Bills)

1)  S. 407 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 (Sen. Akaka – Veterans’ Affairs

2)  H.R. 1172 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors (Rep. Boozman – Veterans’ Affairs)

3)  H.R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (Rep. Filner – Veterans’ Affairs)

4)  H.R. 1211 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act (Rep. Herseth Sandlin – Veterans’ Affairs)

5)  H.R. 1777 - Making technical corrections to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Rep. George Miller – Education and Labor)

COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF INTEREST

·         APPROPRIATIONS-4:00-Open

·         Full Committee.  Markup of the FY 2010 appropriations for the Department of State and foreign operations, military construction programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  2359 RHOB.