Veterans News – January 22, 2016

Good Friday all! For those of you (like me) that are caught up in this major Winter storm, please be safe and stay warm. For those of you not caught up in the areas where this storm is in progress....stay where you are!! :-) Wishing everyone a great weekend.

For Today: When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It's all a matter of perspective. - Harvey Mackay

It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver. - Betty White

--------------------------------

--------------------------------

Veterans News

---------------------------------

---------------------------------

Military Times: Conservative-backed Veterans group restructures after leader quits. The head of Concerned Veterans for America — a key voice on the GOP presidential campaign trail — quietly resigned earlier this month, forcing a leadership reorganization for the group just weeks before the first primaries. Pete Hegseth had been president and chief executive officer of CVA since July 2012, helping the group quickly to become a prominent voice among congressional Republicans, although officials have long insisted their goal is to build a bipartisan consensus on Veterans Affairs reform. (No doubt most of you know that this outfit and others like it are not VSOs! Congressionally chartered VSO's are not allowed to get into the political scheme of things).

-------------------------------

This Week at VA as of Thursday, January 21, 2016. Of particular note is the article “Why I'm filing my VA claim - Do you agree with this Veterans Appeals report?

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/1318f9e

------------------------------

DOD Contracts Awarded for Friday, January 22, 2016.

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/644105/source/GovDelivery

-------------------------------

DOD Contracts Awarded for Thursday, January 21, 2016.

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/643962/source/GovDelivery

-------------------------------

Defense News Early Bird Brief for Friday, January 22, 2016.

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6b1270756506797214&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe23117374640c78731c78&r=0

-------------------------------

Defense News Early Bird Brief for Thursday, January 21, 2016.

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5111797c6d06757114&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc1574746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe291173756c077e731373&r=0

-----------------------------

Sent in by our fellow Veteran Wilbert Forbes. "Listening to the Voices of Veterans and their journey in the appeals system – VAntage Pont:" Thanks Wilbert!

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/25331/listening-to-the-voices-of-veterans-and-their-journey-in-the-appeals-system/

-------------------------------

VA Media Summary and News Clips for Friday, January 22, 2016. Please see attached pdf.

------------------------------

Piliero/Mazza, PLLC, Attorneys At Law, Weekly Report. For my fellow Veteran small business owners, please note the article regarding Payment of Subcontractors…good stuff!

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3137381f0d20c6d9665e6633f&id=0a5f19002e&e=2437c2a935

------------------------------

Piliero – Mazza, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, Legal Advisor Newsletter 1st Quarter, CY 2016

Highly recommend my fellow Veterans in business read through this Newsletter. Please be particularly attentive to the information regarding Overtime Pay into 2016.

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3137381f0d20c6d9665e6633f&id=d8d09af4be&e=2437c2a935

------------------------------

Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs News and Announcements for Jan 22, 2016.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=30c38b78-2f3e-4c2e-a761-2a6c871f00cc&c=8dbaae20-aaae-11e3-9e26-d4ae52844390&ch=8e909bc0-aaae-11e3-9e79-d4ae52844390

-----------------------------

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) WEB Weekly for Friday, January 22, 2016

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=fc1957b75b642e06570817b9d&id=d5eaf02e53&e=b4237e9c56

BTW, I am proud to be a Vietnam Veteran and proud to be a Life Member of VVA! :-)

-----------------------------

Disabled Veteran Business Alliance (DVBA) Newsletter for January 2016.

https://www.trailblz.info/disabledvetba/eviewer.aspx?vid=224DBA98CA14169B616ED7D89DF03005779E370B20B6639E098CF7DBEEC1C8AF

-----------------------------

TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin 336 of Friday, January 22, 2016.

http://www.tricare.mil/podcasts

-----------------------------

National Veteran Small Business Coalition First Call (NVSBC) Newsletter for January 2016.

http://www.nvsbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/First_Call_January_2016.pdf

Thanks to Scott Denniston and his Team for running such a first rate organization - NVSBC!

-----------------------------

TRICARE Over-The-Counter (OTC) Coverage Changes February 1, 2016.

http://www.tricare.mil/OTCChanges012116

-----------------------------

Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, January 22, 2016.

http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=87564335-AB5D-413B-A181-AD63E32D3321&sid=22cbe9eb-3ef0-4eca-8105-ef9f466dc32d

-----------------------------

National Association for Uniformed Services Weekly Update for Jan 22, 2016

http://naus.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9NTMwMDQ1MyZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTAwODM4ODY4MA==

-----------------------------

POLITICO Morning Defense for Friday January 22, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus.

http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/dods-body-armor-problem-two-more-transferred-from-guantanamo-the-show-goes-on-today-for-one-think-tank-event-212293

------------------------------

POLITICO Morning Defense for Thursday, January 21, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/boeing-tops-defense-lobbying-fanning-confirmation-hearing-today-senators-push-back-on-possible-petraeus-demotion-212266

-------------------------------

American Legion On-Line Update for Thursday, January 21, 2016.

http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=79653a71-4004-49e5-ac25-dca54b0ae301&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2b-c1a65794d1dd&MailID=31328354&listid=84772

-------------------------------

Your 5:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=af722a425f&e=a823c4dfb6

--------------------------------

Your 12:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=65bda2d3a8&e=a823c4dfb6

---------------------------------

Your 6:00 am GovConWire - Top News from Executive Mosaic.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=71f0f4a619&e=a823c4dfb6

--------------------------------

Executive Mosaic – GovConWire Week's Top GovCon News Stories – Jan 18–22, 2016.

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=b4b9dab225&e=a823c4dfb6

--------------------------------

U.S. Department of Labor News & Events Newsletter for Thursday, January 21, 2016.

http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/newsletter

-------------------------------

Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, please consider sponsoring.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt

--------------------------------

A Variety of Veterans Related Scoop from a Variety of Sources.

New York Times Senate Blocks Bill on Tougher Refugee Screening. A bill that would have greatly tightened screening procedures on refugees from Syria and Iraq failed on a procedural vote in the Senate on Wednesday, saving President Obama from another vexing veto scenario on an issue that has divided the country.

Stars and Stripes NATO top brass agree to recommend changes in alliance . Top NATO brass on Thursday agreed on changes to recommend in the alliance's force posture and decision-making procedures to better deal with a more aggressive Russia and other evolving security threats.

The Hill Senators: Don't demote Petraeus. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on Wednesday wrote a joint letter urging Defense Secretary Ash Carter not to demote David Petraeus in a way that could take away his status as a retired four-star general.

Army Times PETA accuses Army MPs of mutilating wild pig; commander reprimanded. Animal rights group PETA wants answers from the Army after learning a company commander offered his soldiers $100 during a field exercise to hunt and kill a wild pig.

Military.com First Female Marines Apply to MARSOC. Osterman said MARSOC is actively soliciting and recruiting qualified female Marines to join the command's ranks. The command does not have, as Osterman put it, a "street to fleet" recruiting program; rather, it recruits from within the ranks of the Marine Corps.

Virginian-Pilot Navy: Drinking water contaminated at Fentress in Chesapeake. High levels of contaminants from a firefighting foam that was used for decades at Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field were found in its well water during a recent laboratory test, leading Navy officials Wednesday to tell workers to drink only bottled water until a permanent solution is available.

IHS Jane's 360 USAF enlisted personnel to operate Global Hawk UAVs. The US Air Force (USAF) is preparing to allow enlisted personnel to operate Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) this year, according to the service's deputy chief of staff for operations.

Stars and Stripes Congress is last hurdle to women in every combat role. On Jan. 8, six days before he closed out a 45-year Marine Corps career, his last job leading U.S. Southern Command, Gen. John F. Kelly sounded an alarm, which he must have hoped would be heard on Capitol Hill.

Stars and Stripes Army secretary nominee vows to reverse troop cuts. President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next Army secretary told the Senate on Thursday that he would reverse plans to shed 40,000 soldiers during the next two years.

Military Times: VA Secretary outlines ambitious goals for 2016. Veterans Affairs officials want to speed the benefits appeals process, simplify their websites and hotlines, and fix lingering

problems with outside care programs — all within the next 11 months. Department Secretary Bob McDonald unveiled an ambitious list of goals for his department in 2016 during a Senate hearing Thursday, saying the moves build on continuing reform efforts already underway. “Our goal is to be the No. 1 customer service agency in government,” he said.

Stars and Stripes: VA’s McDonald sets 12 ‘breakthrough priorities’ for 2016. In a bold move Thursday before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Secretary Bob McDonald identified 12 “breakthrough priorities” that the VA will accomplish by the end of 2016. All 12 would improve care for veterans, but the promises come from an agency that has been engulfed in scandal for the past two years over its inability to meet the needs of the 2.2 million veterans it serves.

Military.com: McDonald Lays Out ‘Breakthrough Priorities’ for VA in 2016. Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald told lawmakers on Thursday that by the end of 2016 veterans who walk into or call a VA medical center will have their clinical needs addressed "that day," while 90 percent of veterans appealing a compensation decision will -- with Congress' help -- get an answer within one year. The ambitious commitments were two of a dozen "breakthrough priorities" that McDonald detailed for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

ABC News (AP): VA Chief to Congress; You Can’t Fire Your Way to Excellence. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald on Thursday disputed claims by members of Congress that his scandal-plagued agency hasn't dismissed enough employees, saying, "You can't fire your way to excellence." McDonald told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that he and other top leaders are turning the VA around, "providing more and better care than ever before" and holding employees accountable, including firing about 2,600 workers since he took office 18 months ago.

Federal Computer Week: VA Chief lays out 2016 priorities including IT improvements. The head of the Department of Veterans Affairs laid out 12 goals for 2016 and touted IT accomplishments from 2015 in a Capitol Hill appearances. His message, however, was met with skepticism from lawmakers. "We have a lot of work to do that but we are making progress," VA Secretary Robert McDonald testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Jan 21. Some of his priorities for the year include improving veteran experience…

Washington Examiner: VA won’t say how many officials have been fired. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald struggled to answer questions Thursday about the number of employees he has fired since taking the helm of the agency in July 2014 amid

scrutiny over the perceived lack of accountability at the VA. During a hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, McDonald told lawmakers he had fired more than 2,600 employees in his time at the agency.

The Conversation: Veterans’ health care: doctors outside the VA need to know more about the Veterans they treat. Each year the military discharges over 240,000 veterans to reintegrate into civilian society. It’s a professional transition, but it’s also a personal one. Veterans go from TRICARE, the Department of Defense’s own health care system, to navigating the ins and outs of the civilian health care system. Under TRICARE, military service members are cared for in a manner that meets their needs. When they’re discharged, their new health care providers might not know that they were ever in the military.

The Washington Times (AP): Tomah VA mental health worker charged with exploitation. A mental health worker at the Tomah Veterans Administration Medical Center is charged with sexual exploitation by a therapist. Forty-seven-year-old Charles W. Davis was charged Thursday in Monroe County with two felony counts of sexual exploitation by a therapist. Davis also is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, a misdemeanor. The La Crosse Tribune reports the complaint alleges Davis made repeated sexual advances to two female patients. The VA says Davis is on unpaid leave.

Realtor.com: Military Buyers Spur VA Loan Program to Record Year. A home loan program steeped in history continues to make it. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, known as the VA, backed an all-time record 631,151 loans in fiscal year 2015, eclipsing the previous high-water mark set just two years prior. More and more veterans are using these flexible, $0 down loans to crack the housing market during a time of tight credit and limping wages.

Associated Press Navy Veteran's Smart Home Rezoning Request Denied. The Cedar Falls City Council has rejected a rezoning request for a disabled Afghanistan war veteran who wants to build a "smart home" in a remote area to accommodate his disabilities.

Los Angeles Times: Michelle Obama urges mayors to remove ‘stain’ of Veteran homelessness and praises L.A. efforts. First Lady Michelle Obama urged the nation's mayors Thursday to redouble efforts to ease homelessness among military veterans in a speech that both highlighted progress and underscored the magnitude of the problem. Obama, speaking at the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, said it was "an absolute outrage" that veterans were sleeping on the nation’s streets.

WXYZ-TV (ABC-7, Video): Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander unveils contributions to VA Healthcare system. Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander contributes strikeouts and wins to his team on a regular basis, but today he made a contribution that was priceless. His donation to the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Ann Arbor helped renovate one the units there. Tim Fluary is one of hundreds of veterans who will benefit from the renovations done to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit.

The State: Did Blythewood man illeally collect $1 million-plus in VA benefits? For years Dennis Paulsen of Blythewood played in a Saturday baseball league at Owens Field, pumped iron at a local gym and shot pool at Jillian’s in the Vista. He ran in the Marine Corps Mud Run. While doing all that, Paulsen, 45, was collecting a combined $9,400 monthly in tax-free Veterans Administration and Social Security benefits for being severely impaired due to multiple sclerosis, according to government evidence in a federal trial…

Military Times Keep an eye out for this important tax document. Today is the first day you can file your tax return for the 2015 tax year. As you gather your documents for filing your taxes, make sure you watch for one important new document this year - form 1095.

Agence France-Presse Report: Chinese Soldiers Linked to US Military Hacking Case. Two Chinese soldiers were "co-conspirators" in a plot to steal US military secrets, including designs for the F-35 stealth fighter and other warplanes, a Canadian newspaper reported Tuesday.

Associated Press Japan FM says Russia key to resolving Syria, N. Korea issues. Japan's foreign minister pledged Tuesday to continue talks with Russia even though the two countries still lack a World War II peace treaty, saying Moscow is key to resolving international threats from Syria and North Korea.

The Hill White House: $1.7B Iran payment not 'ransom'. The White House is denying that the $1.7 billion sent to Iran to settle an outstanding claim this weekend was in any way tied to the release of five American prisoners.

Washington Post Supreme Court to review Obama's power on deportation policy. The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will consider whether President Obama exceeded his

powers in trying to shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, stepping into one of the most contentious topics in the nation's political debate.

Stars and Stripes Attorney General Lynch defends plans to tighten gun buyer checks. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch defended the Obama administration's plans to expand background checks on firearms purchases as lawful and "common sense" executive actions to address what she called an epidemic of gun violence.

National Defense Battle Looms Over Military Health Care Reform . Members of the Armed Services Committees are expected to make a push this year for military health care reform. But opposition from advocacy groups and lawmakers standing for reelection may stymie those efforts, analysts said.

Stars and Stripes Pentagon delays cybersecurity requirement for 10,000 contractors. The Pentagon has delayed for almost two years a requirement that as many as 10,000 companies show that they have systems to protect sensitive but unclassified information from cyberattacks before signing new defense contracts.

Defense News US Army Struggling To Keep Up With Needed Flying Hours. The US Army continues to struggle to get all of its pilots the flying hours they need for training stateside due to budgetary constraints and amid the high operational tempo of rotary wing units, Maj. Gen. Michael Lundy, the Army's Aviation Center of Excellence commander, said.

Marine Corps Times Top Marine general eyes changes to promotions, deployments and fitness. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller has released his planning guidance for the next four years, which includes changes to how Marines are promoted, how units develop physical fitness programs and how Marines deploy.

Associated Press Lawyer, Former Firm Say They Gave Former SEAL Proper Advice. A Fort Wayne attorney and his former law firm are defending advice they gave to a former Navy SEAL who wrote a book describing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Washington Post More Air Force drones are crashing than ever as new problems emerge. A record number of Air Force drones crashed in major accidents last year, documents show,

straining the U.S. military's fleet of robotic aircraft when it is in more demand than ever for counterterrorism missions in an expanding array of war zones.

Stars and Stripes European generals: Military alone won't defeat Islamic State. Scoffing at calls made last month by Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz to carpet-bomb the terrorist group ISIS into oblivion, four European generals said Tuesday that more bombs won't defeat the Islamic State.

Stars and Stripes VA strikes against Capitol Hill assertions over corrupt agency. When two members of Congress took a shot at the Department of Veterans Affairs in an op-ed last week, management decided it was not going to duck and cover.

WNPR-FM (NPR-90.5, Audio): Defense Department Settles Suit Over Discharge Upgrades. Almost two years ago, advocates filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Defense seeking records for how often veterans with "other than honorable" or "bad" discharges applied for discharge upgrades due to their PTSD diagnoses. Now the DOD will be turning over that information. Last week, the U.S. District Court in Connecticut approved a settlement which requires the Department of Defense to disclose on a quarterly basis…

Hudson Valley News Network: Schumer Says House Bill Will Re-Victimize Veterans Impacted by Asbestos Poisoning. On a conference call with reporters, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched his push to block legislation that would further victimize veterans and others who are suffering from asbestos poisoning. According to The Mesothelioma Center, veterans are at a higher risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses, like mesothelioma cancer, as a result of the military’s past reliance on asbestos. This material was previously used when building ships, tanks, automobiles and other aircraft due to its heat resistance and fire-proofing capabilities.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: VA committee chairman hears Veterans’ complaints at meeting. Months-long delays for doctors' appointments at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center and paperwork snarling veterans' use of VA "choice cards" to see private physicians were among the complaints House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller heard Wednesday. Miller, R-Fla., who was returning to the East Coast from California, stopped in Las Vegas for a meeting of 40 veterans on advisory panels for Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev.

The Wall Street Journal: The VA Can’t Just Fire its Way to Excellence, You Have to Inspire. Republicans Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida complain in their Jan. 14 op-ed (“Chronic Indifference at Veterans Affairs”) that we haven’t fired enough people to turn around the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are veterans and businessmen, not politicians. We’ve been charged with turning around a department the size of a Fortune Six company, and in all our years in business we have never known an organization that measured success by how many people it fired.

Military.com: VA Expert; 9/11 Made America Understand Post-Traumatic Stress. Doctors learned a great deal about post-traumatic stress disorder in the years following the Vietnam War. Terence M. Keane, Ph.D., director of the Behavioral Science Division of the Veterans Affairs Department's National Center for PTSD in Boston, last week called the decades-long advances in diagnosis and treatment "stunning." But Keane believes it was the 9/11 attacks -- which shook America far beyond the attack locations in New York; Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania…

The Denver Post (Denver and the West): Denver VA to test whether walking machine can help brain-injured Vets. Five years ago, a bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan paralyzed Sgt. Dan Rose from the chest down. Doctors said he would never walk again. Wednesday, at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Denver, he proved them wrong. With crutches and a bionic walking machine, the brown-bearded young man rose from his wheelchair, strutted slowly across the auditorium with a metallic swoosh, pirouetted, strutted back.

Reuters: Sexual trauma raises suicide risk among Veterans. Men and women veterans who experienced sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment while serving in the military are at heightened risk of suicide, according to a recent U.S. study. Researchers with the department of Veterans Affairs found that men with a history of what the VA calls military sexual trauma (MST) are 70 percent more likely than fellow vets without such experience to commit suicide, and women veterans with MST…

The Morning Call: VA fails to clear Veterans’ claims backlog. For two years, the Department of Veterans Affairs repeatedly bragged about how it was chipping away at the backlog of disability claims from veterans. The agency said it was nearing its goal of eliminating the backlog by the end of 2015. When the calendar turned, though, about 70,000 cases remained backlogged. The VA was quiet about that, but Congress made sure that missed goal didn't go unnoticed.

Washington Examiner: House probes claim the VA is spying on whistleblower emails. A key House committee is investigating a complaint that the Department of Veterans Affairs is spying on whistleblowers by diverting their emails to the secretary's office in Washington, D.C. And while the VA denies the charge, several whistleblowers backed up that complaint in interviews with the Washington Examiner this week. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has received a complaint from an anonymous VA whistleblower who had trouble sending a work email to her personal email, after which an IT worker told her the VA was blocking certain email functions.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (AP): Dying WWII Vet may get to be with wife in Colorado nursing home. The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper reports that 92-year-old Elmer Melchi, who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, is in Veterans Administration hospice care while his wife, June Melchi, who has dementia, is at the University Park Care Center. It is not a VA-approved nursing home and the family didn't want to move her to a sanctioned facility.

Military Times: Conservative-backed Veterans group restructures after leader quits. The head of Concerned Veterans for America — a key voice on the GOP presidential campaign trail — quietly resigned earlier this month, forcing a leadership reorganization for the group just weeks before the first primaries. Pete Hegseth had been president and chief executive officer of CVA since July 2012, helping the group quickly to become a prominent voice among congressional Republicans, although officials have long insisted their goal is to build a bipartisan consensus on Veterans Affairs reform.

WBKO Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry to receive AMVETS Silver Helmet Award . As a leading advocate for military veterans nationwide, Heather has established ... for community outreach in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

-------------------------------------

From: Ann Markel, VFW

Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 11:02 AM

Subj: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 22, 2016.

Senate Hearing on MyVA Transformation Plan: On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing to discuss Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald’s plan to transform VA into a high performance organization. In his testimony, Secretary McDonald

outlined 12 breakthrough priorities for 2016, which focus on improving veteran experience, improving employee experience, improving support services, establishing a culture of continuous improvement, and enhancing strategic partnership. Senior Legislative Associate Carlos Fuentes submitted testimony offering the VFW’s support for many of the MyVAprograms, and provided suggestions to improve others. To read the VFW’s testimony or view a video of the hearing, visit: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/vas-transformation-strategy-examining-the-plan-to-modernize-va.

2. Authorization to Build Medical Facilities: On Thursday, the Senate passed the “Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs Seismic Safety and Construction Authorization Act.” This bill will allow VA to begin several major construction projects that were funded in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016.” Here is a list of the projects that were authorized:

-- Seismic corrections to buildings in San Francisco, Ca.;

-- Seismic corrections to facilities at the medical center in West Los Angeles, Ca.;

-- Seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, Ca.;

-- Construction of an outpatient clinic, administrative space, cemetery, and columbarium in Alameda, Ca.;

-- Realignment of medical facilities in Livermore, Ca.;

-- Construction of a medical center in Louisville, Ky.;

-- Construction of a replacement community living center in Perry Point, Md.; and

-- Seismic corrections and other renovations to several buildings and construction of a specialty care building in American Lake,Wa.

We encourage the House to quickly pass this legislation so VA can begin closing these access and safety gaps for veterans to receive care more quickly and in a safe environment.

3. TRICARE Nurse Advice Line: TRICARE has established a Nurse Advice Line (NAL) that is available at no cost to TRICARE beneficiaries in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. The NAL is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NAL has health care professionals on staff ready and able to answer urgent care questions, give health care advice, provide assistance locating a doctor, and schedule next-day appointments at military hospitals and clinics. More than half of the calls to the NAL are related to pediatric health concerns,

which are routed to the NAL’s experienced team of pediatric registered nurses. The NAL may also answer questions about high fevers, allergic reactions, rashes, and/or accidents, and advise you on the clinically appropriate level of care you should seek for your child. To learn more about the NAL, visit: http://www.tricare.mil/ContactUs/CallUs/NAL.aspx.

4. Are You Registered To Vote? Every election is important, but many people may not be properly registered to vote. If you have moved, changed your name, changed party affiliation or never registered before, you could be blocked from voting on the day of your primary, caucus or the general election. For more information on registering to vote, visit: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote.

5. Two Korean War MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of two soldiers who had been missing in action since the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors on a date and location to be determined are:

-- Army Pfc. Roy A. Henderson, 18, of Newark, Ohio, was declared MIA in North Korea on July 27, 1950. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

-- Army Cpl. Kenneth R. Stuck, 24, of Hummelstown, Pa., was declared MIA in North Korea on Nov. 2, 1950. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

-------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

VETERANS EVENTS

-------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

Federal Business Council (FBC) 2016 List of Conferences and Events: Lot of events going on and set-up and managed by FBC. Here is the list that takes us through to October 2016.

https://www.fbcconferences.com/search.aspx

-------------------------------------

Job ZONE Listing of Job Fairs for 2015 through 2016.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0990c1fbb840ccb617b5992e6&id=383110f983&e=4c98ba860d

--------------------------------

Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Virginia Values Veterans V3 Program, Training Schedule for January 12 – 31, 2016.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=9cf88308-4cba-4f11-99bb-19263b9e9666&c=f0bce490-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6&ch=f0f7a3a0-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6

---------------------------------

Engineer Job Fair. Sponsor: Corporate Gray / Washington Post. January 27, 2016, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Location: Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. If you have an engineering background, you are invited to meet face-to-face with Northrop Grumman, Amtrak, Federal Aviation Administration, ACT-I, Pepco, and other top companies seeking engineering talent at the Corporate Gray / Washington Post Engineer Job Fair on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. All engineering disciplines are welcome, including but not limited to software engineers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, chemical engineers, computer engineers, electrical engineers, nuclear engineers, aerospace engineers, RF engineers, systems engineers, and more! Go here for detailed information and to register. http://www.corporategray.com/jobfairs/372

--------------------------------

January 2016 Objective Rally Point (ORP) Breakfast - Veterans Business Networking Event. Thursday, January 28, 2016, 7:15 AM to 9:15 AM, Army-Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. Don’t pass up this opportunity to network with other Veterans focused on success in business. If you are a company looking for a VOSB or SDVOSB to team with there is no better place to find qualified Veteran owned businesses than at ORP. Although the focus of the ORP is on the connections made between and with Veterans, we do have a speaker each month. The speaker for January is Harrison Smith, Department of Homeland Security, Industry Liaison. Mr. Smith has a long distinguished career in government acquisition. He joined DHS in 2005 as a contracting officer. He later supported the Office of the Chief Information Officer as an Associate Director in the Information Technology Acquisition Center before transitioning full-time to the award and administration of enterprise-wide

contracts. In this role, he acted as the Contracting Officer for several multi-billion dollar procurements in the services and IT arenas, most notably the PACTS, FirstSource II, and Enterprise Software Solutions procurements. In 2011, Harrison joined the newly-formed Enterprise Acquisitions Division (EAD) as an Associate Director, ultimately becoming the Division Director in 2013. During his tenure there, EAD’s portfolio of enterprise-wide contracts included more than 25 procurement vehicles with a combined ceiling of $68 billion. Hope to see you at ORP! For more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/objective-rally-point-january-2016-tickets-20592257998

--------------------------------

Don't Miss the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Government Contracting Forum. Thursday, January 28, 2016, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Bethesda Pooks Hill Marriott. Cost is $60.00. Go here for more detailed information and to register:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Don-t-Miss-the-MCCC-Government-Contracting-Forum.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=z6UtFBDgJ8o

--------------------------------

Virginia War Memorial’s Popular Artifacts Roadshow Returns Saturday, January 30, 2016. For detailed information, please see the attached pdf.

--------------------------------

SBA, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office Presents - Responding to a Federal Request for Proposal (RFP) 101: How to submit a compliant, persuasive and WINNING Bid. Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd St SW, Washington, D.C. 20416. For more information and to sign up for this cost-free event: http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/1315ef7

--------------------------------

Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, consider sponsoring.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt

--------------------------------

National Veteran Small Business Coalition - DC Metro Dinner Meeting. Wednesday, February 10, 2016 from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST), Arlington, VA.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-veteran-small-business-coalition-10-february-2016-dc-metro-dinner-meeting-tickets-20954599772?ref=enivtefor001&invite=OTA2MTY5MS93Z2F0ZXdvb2RAcXVhbGl0eXN1cHBvcnQuY29tLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend

---------------------------------

SBA Workshop – Pricing for Government Contractors. Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), 4224 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. This event is at NO Cost. Go here to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pricing-for-government-contractors-tickets-20481441543?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

--------------------------------- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce – National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement once again announces VIP. March 1 – 3, 2016, and June 21 – 23, 2016. VIP Grow is a 3-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program designed for veteran businesses to increase their ability to win government contracts by establishing best business practices. Classes are instructed by industry experts, government officials, and agency representatives. To date, 546 Veteran-owned businesses nationwide have graduated from the program. VIP is offered at no cost to participants. Enrollment is open to Veteran-owned businesses nationwide and limited to one executive from each business. Class size is limited to 50 individuals per session. As I understand from a number of Veterans that have attended VIP, this is an OUTSTANDING program. Two sessions are now available but better sign up quick! Go here for more detailed information. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/VIP-Grow---Spread-the-Word-to-Arm-Vets-to-Win.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=D95rd9q3xcc

--------------------------------

VA OSDBU Announces the NASA/JPL and the City of Pasadena Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Industry Day. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 7:00 AM, Pasadena Convention

Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Registration is Free. Go here for details and to register:

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12b94ae

--------------------------------

Early Bird Registration - Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) GovConNet Procurement Conference. Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7:30am - 3:00pm, The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. For more information and to register: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=08c96955-1f83-4caf-b177-027760fb00db&c=654b34e0-c049-11e3-b39b-d4ae529cddd3&ch=665b4550-c049-11e3-b39d-d4ae529cddd3

---------------------------------

Save the Date: VA OSDBU Announces the 2016 National Veterans Small Business Engagement. November 1 – 3, 2016, Minneapolis, MN.

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12dadbb

--------------------------------

Folks! If you want to be REMOVED from the Vets News Distribution List, just send me an e-mail with the subject line "REMOVE!"

Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our amazing Troops and their loved ones everywhere.

Godspeed all....Wayne

Wayne M. Gatewood, Jr., USMC (Ret)

Founder, President, CEO

Quality Support, Inc.

Established 1989, VA CVE-Verified SDVOSB

AIMS Consolidated Schedule GS-00F-0068M

MOBIS - Schedule 874

8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 220

Landover, MD 20785

301-459-3777 - Fax 301-459-6961

http://www.qualitysupport.com/