Veterans Legislative News APRIL 2009

1. Veterans Legislative News APRIL 2009

2. Central Texas NAUS Chapter TX-17 Meets every 3rd Tuesday, 1900 - 2000 HrsUnited Electric Cooperative Services3309 N. Main Street, Cleburne, Texas President Smokey Cleveland 817-994-7150 Vice President Fred Cummings 817-233-1686 Secretary Scott Manning 817-295-2963 Treasurer Jerry Clayton 817-933-4929 Director - 1 Year Ronnie McBroom 817-645-2248 Director - 2 Year Michael Johnson 254-854-2277 Director - 3 Year Michael Guthrie 817-295-8803 Appointed Positions Chaplain Joe Stephens 817-641-8868 Historian Robert Duis 817-645-5103 Legislative Affairs Hal Cleveland 817-602-6826

3. National Association for Uniformed Services5535 Hempstead Way Springfield, VA 22251-4094 1-800-842-3451 • Legislative Issues Rick Jones rjones@naus.org Ext. 1008 • RVP/Chapter Management Issues Steve Hein shein@naus.org Ext. 1009 • Administrative Issues (Chapter Rosters etc.) Mike Boone mboone@naus.org Ext. 1003

4. Quote of the Month “Leadership is action, not position.” Donald H. McGannon

5. NAUS Legislative Alerts Last months legislative alert concerning the Obama administration’s plan to bill insurance companies of disabled veteran’s for treatment of their service connected injuries caused the President to rescind that part of the budget within 48 hours. Uniting to communicate with our legislators shows what can be achieved when we all work together for a common goal. Lets continue to prove that veterans are not their own worst enemy.

6. Tax Withholding Reduction (Single or Duel income Families) Explained • The tax reduction (up to $400 for singles or up to $800 for couples) applies to “earned income” – in other words, people still earning a paycheck from an employer. Payroll taxes will be reduced & at the end of the year, receive a tax credit for the reduced amount. Thus you will be paying fewer taxes now (this translates to more pocket money) & you won’t owe the tax later. • Each wage earner in the family may have this reduction applied to them by their employer. However, the duel income family can apply only one tax credit at the end of the year for up to $800 per joint tax filing.

7. Tax Withholding Reduction for Retirees • Retiree checks are not eligible for the program. However, retiree checks use the same tax withholding tables a paychecks. So retiree checks will reflect the tax withholding decrease. This means you will need to increase your withholding to compensate for the withholding reduction or be ready to possibly owe more taxes when you file your 2009 income tax returns.

8. Tax Withholding Reductions for Retirees Who Draw Social Security and/or VA Disability Compensation • Retirees drawing Social Security and/or VA Disability Compensation, will receive a one-time lump sum amount of $250 in one of your monthly checks in the next few months. If you also work & receive either VA or SS checks, this means you will receive the payroll tax withholding reduction AND the $250 lump-sum, HOWEVER the $250 will be subtracted from your payroll tax withholding credits. • Clear as mud, huh? Just don’t expect to get the deduction AND the lump sum without the IRS calling for the $250 back when you file your income taxes in 2009.

9. Public Law 110-329 Expands Enrollment for Priority 8 Veterans • On June 15, 2009, 266,000 additional veterans are expected to be enrolled thru FY2010. • Veterans whose incomes do not exceed the VA Means Test threshold or the Geographic Means Test threshold (which ever is applicable) by more than 10 percent can enroll in the VA system. • The VA has developed a calculator that will help veterans determine if their income makes them eligible for enrollment. • Follow this link to use the calculator. http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/apps/enrollmentcalculator/ • To learn more about the plans for implementation and other issues follow this link: http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/ • If anyone meets the income criteria they would be enrolled even if the numbers exceed the 266,000 target.

10. Access Your DD-214Online The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214's online:  http://vetrecs.archives.gov • There are 4 steps that you need to accomplish to navigate the system & it will guide you through the steps & tell you exactly which step you are on. • Print, sign and date the signature verification area of your customized form. This is important because the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that all requests for records & information be submitted in writing. Each request must be signed & dated by the veteran or next of kin. • Mail or fax your signature verification form to them, & they will process your request. You must do this within the first 20 days of entering your request, or your request will be removed from the system.

11. Vet Corps Bill is on its way to the President for Signature • HR 1388 creates a volunteer program for recently discharged veterans and military retirees. • The concept is to identify the unmet needs of veterans through promoting community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families, veterans developing educational opportunities, including professional and work force certification; and developing projects tailored to assist older veterans and newly disabled veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. • Collectively, Veterans Service Organizations, the VA & other organizations are to provide education, job training & mentoring. These organizations plan to work closely with Congress & the Corporation for National Community Service which is responsible for administering the program, to make sure that adequate funds are provided & allocated properly.

12. Congressional Score Card TX06 & TX17 Rep. Barton TX 6 Rep. Edwards TX 17 HR 270 (41) Tricare for ReservesNO NO HR 303 (46) Concurrent ReceiptNO NO HR 333 (60) CR That Includes Ch 61NOYES HR 775 (186) Repeals Widows TaxNOYES HR 1171 (4) Homeless VeteransNO NO HR 1377 (3) Pays for Emergency TreatmentNO NO HR 1513 (10) Increases Disability/DICNO NO Sen. Hutchison Sen. Cornyn S 404 (2) Companion Bill to HR 1377NO NO S 535 (25) Companion Bill to HR 775NO NO S 546 (26) Companion Bill to HR 333NO NO

13. House Votes To Raise Widows' Allowance • Military widows have asked Congress for years to end the offset in Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP) payments that occurs when widows also qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC). • Currently, about 33,000 widows in receipt of DIC lose their entire SBP as a result.  • SBP is paid for by the military retiree & surviving widows don't understand why they lose SBP annuities that they believed were secured for them. • If it passes muster & becomes law, it will be another bone tossed by the Congress.

14. Gains made for Advanced Funding for VA Health Care • The Administration stated they are in favor of advanced funding for VA health care. S423 in the Senate can make this change. “President Obama’s reaffirmed commitment to securing timely and predictable funding for the veterans’ health care system is welcome news. VA operates the largest health care system in the nation, but its funding has been late 19 of the past 22 years. This is no way to operate a national system that has such a solemn duty. ” • This proposed change is far from being a reality. While S423 has 32 co-sponsors in the Senate (almost a 33% of the Senate); HR 1016, Chairman Filner’s companion bill in the House has 69 co-sponsors (approximately 15% of the House. And more members of the House are opposed to the change.

15. New Deputy Secretary & Deputy Assistant Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs • W. Scott Gould was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Julie M. Anderson as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. • The Deputy Secretary post is the equivalent of a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Secretary Gould retired as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves. His civilian background includes posts in the Commerce and Treasury Departments and most recently being Vice President for public sector strategy at IBM Global Business Services. • Deputy Assistant Secretary Anderson also came from IBM’s Public Sector Global Business Services. She had been a legislative aide to former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerry as well as being a policy analyst at the Department of Transportation. • These swearing-ins mean that the VA is farther along in filling major positions that most other federal departments.

16. COLA Slowly Makes Ground • The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% in March. • Even with that small gain, the CPI is still down 3.8% so far for this fiscal year. Unless the CPI gains about 4% or more over the next six months, there won't be any COLA for 2010.

17. Selected U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives Contact Information Senator Kay Bailey HutchisonSenator John Cornyn LB 606 Occidental Tower 10440 N. Central Expressway 5005 LBJ Freeway Suite 1160 Suite 1150 Dallas, TX 75231 Dallas, TX 75244 (214) 361-3500 Tel. (972) 239-1310 Tel. (214) 361-3502 Fax (972) 239-2110 Fax Representative Joe Barton (TX-6)Representative Chet Edwards (TX17) 6001 W. Ronald Reagan Memorial Hwy 115 S. Main Street Suite 200 Suite 202 Arlington, TX 76017 Cleburne, TX 76033 (817) 543-1000 Tel. (817) 645-4743 Tel. (817) 548-7048 Fax (817) 645-4796 Fax

18. Selected Texas State Senator and Representative Contact Information State Senator Kip Averitt (Dist. 22) P.O. Box 12068 400 Austin Avenue Capitol Station Waco, TX 76701 Austin, TX 78711 (254) 772-6225 or 772-6229 (512) 463-0122 (254) 776-2843 (Fax) (512) 475-3729 (Fax) State Representative Rob Orr (Dist. 58) Room E1.410 210 West Ellison Capitol Extension Burleson, TX 76028 Austin, TX 78701 (817) 295-5158 (512) 463-0538 (817) 295-5319 (Fax) (512) 463-0897 (Fax)

19. Questions or Recommendations…Refer them to me!I will do what I can for you… Hal Cleveland 224 S. Scott St. Burleson, TX 76028-4856 hal.cleveland@sbcglobal.net 817-295-7466