From: FRA NewsBytes [newsbytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 03:58
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA Newsbytes -- 2-22-10
In this week's NewsBytes:
Doctor Payment Fix Stalls in Senate
Presumptive Agent Orange Exposure for Some Navy Crews
FRA Supports Name Change for the Department of the Navy
Happy Birthday to the Naval Reserve, Navy Band and Seabees

Doctor Payment Fix Stalls in Senate
Legislation (HR 4691) to delay drastic cuts (21 percent) of reimbursement rates by 30 days for doctors with Medicare and TRICARE patients passed the House by voice vote this week, but Senator Jim Bunning (KY) put a hold on the bill which has delayed the Senate vote prior to the March 1 deadline. The legislation authorizes extension for several programs that are expiring soon, including unemployment benefits, flood insurance etc.

If these cuts take effect, many physicians may stop accepting Medicare and TRICARE patients. Bunning insisted that the bill include provisions requiring that the extensions be paid for with economic stimulus funds. This short-term legislation is intended to give lawmakers time to work on a package that would include longer-term extensions of doctor reimbursement cuts and other programs. There will be another vote on the bill next Tuesday. This is a priority issues for FRA and members are urged to use the Action Center on www.fra.org to ask their Senators to pass this temporary fix.

Presumptive Agent Orange Exposure for Some Navy Crews
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acknowledges that some "blue water" Navy veterans were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides while their ships operated on inland rivers of Vietnam. Proving exposure may be easier now that the VA has released a list of vessels with confirmed participation in "brown water" operations. FRA strongly encourages all Vietnam Navy veterans and retirees to review the following list.  of "blue water" Navy vessels and operation dates released by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and is posted with this story on the News page of www.fra.org. If a veteran's service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through their military records during the time frames specified, exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further proof, thus expediting the VA claims process.

If you or someone you know served aboard any of these vessels during the times indicated, a VA claim for exposure to an herbicide agent should be filed as soon as possible. To start a claim, contact your nearest VA Regional Office (a list is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp) or contact Chris Slawinski at vafra@fra.org  or 1-800-FRA-1924 (ext. 115).

FRA also strongly supports pending legislation (H.R. 2254 and S. 1939) that would grant presumptive status to all blue water Navy retirees and veterans exposured to herbicides, not just those who served in Vietnam's inland areas. All veterans are encouraged to visit the Action Center at www.fra.org and ask their elected officials to support these measures.

FRA Supports Name Change for the Department of the Navy

FRA joined Representative Walter Jones (N.C.), Senator Pat Roberts (KS) and others at a press conference this week to kick-off a national grassroots effort to rename the Department of the Navy so it more accurately reflects the Marine Corps' significant contributions. The campaign to change the department's name to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps is an ongoing priority for the Association, and has been since 2001, when Jones first introduced legislation on the matter in the House of Representatives. Roberts has since introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.

The press event was organized by the Marine Corps League and included comments from Former Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Alfred Gray; retired Marine General Anthony Zinni; Marine veteran R. Lee Ermey, star of "Full Metal Jacket" and The History Channel's "Mail Call," and others who support the initiative.

FRA encourages its members and others to ask their elected officials to support Congressman Jones' legislative initiative (H.R. 24) and its companion bill in the Senate (S. 504), introduced by Kansas Senator Pat Roberts that will recognize the Corps' important role as an equal member of the armed forces.

Happy Birthday to the Naval Reserve, Navy Band and Seabees
FRA salutes members of the Naval Reserve, the U.S. Navy Band and the Seabees as each organization celebrates birthdays next week. March 2nd marks the 95th anniversary of the Naval Reserve, which was established by combining 17 state naval militias into a single federal force. The U.S. Navy Band celebrates its 85th birthday on March 4th and the U.S. Navy Seabees celebrate 68 years of "Can Do!" spirit on March 5th.

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