Veterans Legislative Veterans Legislative NewsNews

APRIL 2009APRIL 2009

Central Texas NAUS Chapter TX-17 Meets every 3rd Tuesday, 1900 - 2000 Hrs

United Electric Cooperative Services3309 N. Main Street, Cleburne, Texas

PresidentPresident Smokey Cleveland 817-994-7150Vice PresidentVice President Fred Cummings 817-233-1686SecretarySecretary Scott Manning 817-295-2963TreasurerTreasurer Jerry Clayton 817-933-4929Director - 1 YearDirector - 1 Year Ronnie McBroom 817-645-2248 Director - 2 YearDirector - 2 Year Michael Johnson 254-854-2277Director - 3 YearDirector - 3 Year Michael Guthrie 817-295-8803

Appointed PositionsChaplainChaplain Joe Stephens 817-641-8868 HistorianHistorian Robert Duis 817-645-5103Legislative AffairsLegislative Affairs Hal Cleveland 817-602-6826

National Association for Uniformed ServicesNational Association for Uniformed Services 5535 Hempstead WaySpringfield, VA 22251-40941-800-842-3451

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

Quote of the Month

““Leadership is action, not position.”Leadership is action, not position.”

Donald H. McGannonDonald H. McGannon

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Congressional Score Card TX06 & TX17

Rep. Barton TX 6 Rep. Edwards TX 17HR 270 (41) Tricare for Reserves NO NO

HR 303 (46) Concurrent Receipt NO NO

HR 333 (60) CR That Includes Ch 61 NO YESYES

HR 775 (186) Repeals Widows Tax NO YESYES

HR 1171 (4) Homeless Veterans NO NO

HR 1377 (3) Pays for Emergency Treatment NO NO

HR 1513 (10) Increases Disability/DIC NO NOSen. Hutchison Sen. Cornyn

S 404 (2) Companion Bill to HR 1377 NO NO

S 535 (25) Companion Bill to HR 775 NO NO

S 546 (26) Companion Bill to HR 333 NO NO

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.

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.

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.

COLA Slowly Makes GroundCOLA 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.

Selected U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives Contact Information

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Senator John CornynLB 606 Occidental Tower10440 N. Central Expressway 5005 LBJ FreewaySuite 1160 Suite 1150Dallas, 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 StreetSuite 200 Suite 202Arlington, TX 76017 Cleburne, TX 76033(817) 543-1000 Tel. (817) 645-4743 Tel.(817) 548-7048 Fax (817) 645-4796 Fax

Selected Texas State Senator and Representative Contact Information

State Senator Kip Averitt (Dist. 22)

P.O. Box 12068 400 Austin AvenueCapitol Station Waco, TX 76701Austin, 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)

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