Today At Talk Radio News

Reporters are covering:

1. The House Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the base posture and supplemental request. Witness: Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command.

2.House Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on "The American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009, Day 4. Witnesses: Former Vice President Al Gore, former Sen. John Warner, (R-Va.), and others.

Helping veterans remain independent

The House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity met to discuss the Independent Living Program (ILP,) a rehabilitation program of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA.) Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.) explained that the ILP’s goal is to help veterans maintain independent lives through learned skills despite physical and mental barriers. Hall said federal money is often underutilized which causes delays in services. Hall closed his statement by saying veterans deserve the best programs possible.

Bruce McCartney, a Vietnam veteran from Georgia, recounted his four year struggle with the ILP, saying that various actors like doctors and case officers were unable to give him adequate answers and that assistance took too long to obtain. After recalling his experience, he said he sees no benefit from the ILP. McCartney said Americans want to help their troops but that unnecessary bureaucracy in the Department of Veterans Affairs prevents ILPs from helping veterans.

John Lancaster, the executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) said his organization helps many veterans acquire housing and employment, adding that the NCIL often serves as a voice for veterans’ advocacy. Lancaster said the NCIL is working to provide additional funding and services that would improve government programs while creating new ones.

Drug used to curb smoking amongst vets seen as killer?

Secretary James Peak of the Veterans Affairs Administration briefed reporters today on the issue of smoking cessation. Specifically, Peak mentioned the Pfizer drug Chantix which is supposed to help patients quit smoking. According to the non profit organization the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices nearly 3,000 serious health effects including suicides, heart trouble and aggression, the study said.

Currently the military is using the medication to help treat soldiers who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Department of Veterans Affairs has been conducting studies on the possible adverse health effects which have been noted in the research provided by the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices. The study has focused on 945 patients who are using differing medications to curb their smoking habits. Out of those 945 patients 143 have also taken the drug with therapy.

According to Peak the veteran population that has been using Chantix to stop smoking is about 33,000 but Peak stressed that if the rates of high injury and suicide were to continue, the department would not hesitate to take it off the shelf. “We know how to do recalls; given our electronic records we are at a better position than most to do that on a large scale across the this entire department.”

Democrats though criticized the Veterans Administration for what they viewed as playing with people’s lives. "Nearly 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior have been linked to Chantix, yet the VA has chosen to continue the study and administer Chantix to veterans with PTSD," said Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA).

The Veterans Affairs Department will continue conducting its study but Peak stressed that the department would continue to do whatever necessary to keep veterans healthy. “We understand this population very well, we’re a department of veterans,” Peak added “our veterans mean absolutely everything to us.”

Veterans owed more than blanket, hot meal

At the Senate Appropriations Committee, Joint Subcommittee meeting on “Homeless Veterans,” Senator Patty Murray(D-WA) said when our country fails to live up to obligations to our veterans, there is a result of high rates of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and chronic unemployment, and all of these are contributing factors to homelessness. Experts estimate that 1 in 4 of all the nation’s homeless are veterans. Our veterans are heroes, she said, and we must ensure that they never reach the point of homelessness. Women veterans are the fastest growing group of homeless veterans, and we must ensure that the Veteran’s Administration evolves along with the needs of the veterans that it is serving, but HUD (Housing and Urban Development) must take steps to promote affordable housing.

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) said we have to provide veterans with health care, mental health care, and transitional services. He quoted a different set of statistics, saying that approximately 20-33 percent of the homeless in shelters are veterans. The bottom line, he said, is that it’s critical for the success of the programs to have properly trained staff and appropriate facilities. A large percentage of veterans that are homeless served in Vietnam or Korea, and they’ve got trouble dealing with transitioning back into civilian life and dealing with guilt and forgiveness. “Our veterans are owed more than a blanket and a hot meal,” he said.

Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs, HUD, said they have developed programs specifically to deal with homeless veterans. Because homeless people face many challenges, there is a need to have many separate programs to deal with each specific issue. HUD just announced a 11.75% reduction in homelessness since 2005. This is the first time we’ve ever seen a reduction in homelessness, Johnston said. HUD had partnered with the VA and others to target the chronically homeless. HUD provided permanent housing, and this have provided a permanent solutions to thousands.

Peter H. Dougherty, Director, Office of Homeless Veterans Programs, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, said their goal is to help veterans not only with benefits, but to help them find gainful employment and permanent housing. Benefits are very important, and they have expedited homeless veteran’s claims. We believe that it is important, he said, that veterans receive health care benefits which may or may not be contributing to their homelessness. There has been a significant reduction in homelessness, but funding is needed to ensure that the program continues and chronic homelessness be addressed.

Cheryl Beversdorf, President and CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, said veterans receive employment assistance, transitional housing, and counseling. Affordable housing is the number one unmet need amongst veterans, particularly those with chronic health problems. She requested Congress to provide supportive services to veterans, and help with funds made available so that there would be an increase in available housing made to low income veterans. When asked why so many veterans are homeless, she said PTSD is a significant issue, along with employment problems, health problems, and that so many things veterans have learned in the military are not transferable to civilian life.

Veterans Affairs Health Dept. Undersecretary addresses House Appropriations Subcommittee

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs met today to discuss the FY2009 budget for Veterans Affairs.

Chairman of the committee Chef Edwards (D-TX) briefly introduced the panelist and commended the efforts of Veterans Affairs in providing medical treatment for injured vets.

Undersecretary for the Health Dept. of Veterans Affairs Michael Kussman spoke on the President's FY2009 budget which sets aside $41.2 billion for Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care—a $2.3 billion increase over the 2008 budget. He spoke of the need to implement recommendations offered by the Dole-Shalala Commission which he said provide a powerful outline to ensuring that military personnel injured during the “Global War on Terror” receive the necessary aid and medical assistance. He said the 2009 budget request will achieve two main goals of the VA: 1. to provide “timely, accessible, and high-quality health care [to their] highest priority patients,” and 2. to advance “collaborative efforts with the Department of Defense (DoD).” He also promised to provide “compassionate care” for veterans suffering from mental health issues such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said that VA expects to treat about 5,771,000 patients in 2009. Kussman also said that in April 2006, over 250,000 “unique” patients were waiting more than 30 days to receive their treatment but that as of January 2001, that figure has been reduced to just over 69,000.