MINUTES OF MILITARY RETIREE COUNCIL OF THE SPRINGFIELD AREA, JULY 14, 2010

Meeting called to order at 1830 hours.  There were 14 members present to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.   Hollie Elliott (Sen. Bond’s office) and David Rauch ( Sen. McCaskill’s office) were present to answer questions. 

New Members: none

Widows Group: July meeting has been cancelled.  See you August 16, 2010 at 11:30AM for our next meeting in Meeting Room Three at Heritage Cafeteria, 1364 E. Battlefield, Springfield (SW corner of Battlefield & Fremont).  Please get your lunch at 11:00AM and join us.

VA REPORT - JIM HUNTSLINGER (RETIRED) BRIEFED ON:

President Obama signed Public Law 111-163 the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act.  This authorizes the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to create an array of supportive services to family caregivers of disabled veterans from all areas of military services.

DUANE FIELDS (RETIRED) BRIEFED ON:

·         The MOAA defends military benefits before the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.  He stated that “military and veterans benefits, including survivor benefits, are not a gift or benefit or commodity provided by tax payers simply for being a part of the U.S. economy.  They are earned compensation in recognition of special service and sacrifice for the Nation, over and above what is rendered by other tax payers”.

·         The following veterans bills are in the Congressional process:

ü       HR3407 The Severely injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009

ü       HR3787 deems certain service in the reserve components as active service for the purpose of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans affairs

ü       HR4541 The veterans Pension Protection Act 2010

ü       HR5064 the Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act 2010

ü       HR5549 the Repaid Claims Act

·         New veterans medallion for privately purchased headstones – available thru the Veterans Affairs

·         Memo sent out by William Schoenbard, Deputy Under Secretary, for health at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs

·         The pentagon’s survey sent to 200,000 active duty and 200,000 reserve and National Guard e-mail addresses.  The survey must be completed by August 15, 2010.  Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith urged service members to fill out the questionnaire and to take the task seriously

·         The Weekly Address by President Obama was read in its entirety concerning changes to help veterans with PTSD receive the benefits they need

·         Veterans in Priority 7 and 8 groups will pay an additional one dollar for each 30-day supply of out-patient medication.  This additional charge does not affect veterans in Priority Group 2 through 6.  This was effective July 1, 2010.

·         The VA has reduced the evidence needed if the trauma for service connected PTSD, claimed by the veteran, is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with the place, type and circumstances of the veteran’s service.  This science-based regulation relies on evidence that concluded a veteran’s deployment to a War Zone is linked to an increased risk of PTSD

Meeting adjourned at 1920 hours.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 1830 hours at the American Legion Post 69, 149 Memorial Plaza, Springfield. If you know of other retirees or Veterans please ask them to attend our meeting. We NEED to increase our membership. 

Duane Fields, Chairman