May 12, 2010

Did You Know? ROA advocated a Survivor Benefit provision whereby earned retirement pay could pass to a family member.

LEGISLATION AND MILITARY POLICY:

President Obama signs S. 1963 into law. (Dept. of Veterans Affairs photo)

Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act Signed Into Law
President Barack Obama signed into law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act May 5 at the White House. Executive Director MG (Ret) David R. Bockel represented ROA, one of a select number of Veterans Service Organizations invited to attend. The Act makes a stipend, health insurance, and expanded training and counseling available to the caregivers of Veterans who were severely injured in the line of duty after 9/11.
Watch the White House video of the event (7 min. 53 sec.)
Learn more about the bill

ROA Testifies on Health Effects of Vietnam War
ROA testified to the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) May 13 on the health effects of the Vietnam War. CAPT Marshall Hanson's testimony reflected the need to expand presumption of health care coverage to those who had served in both the Navy and Air Force, but weren’t “boots on the ground” in country.
Learn more
Read the testimony (pdf)

HASC Subcommittee Releases Review of Professional Military Education
The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee released the first comprehensive Congressional review of the professional military education system in 20 years May 6. The report is titled “Another Crossroads? Professional Military Education Two Decades After the Goldwater-Nichols Act and the Skelton Panel.”
 Learn more
 View the report

EDUCATION:
DEF to Host US-China Maritime Relations Conference
ROA's Defense Education Forum (DEF) and the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) will present a conference to examine the current and future state of US-China maritime relations May 13 at the Minuteman Memorial Building in Washington.
Learn more