From: FRA NewsBytes [NewsBytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 4:08 AM
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA Newsbytes -- 06-25-10
Newsbytes 06-25-10  
In this week's NewsBytes:
House Passes Separate Doc Fix Bill
Auto Dealers Get a Pass on Financial Regulation Bill
FRA Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee
More Ships Added to VA Agent Orange List
Korean Conflict Remembered on Capitol Hill


House Passes Separate Doc Fix Bill
As stated in last week's Newsbytes, the Senate passed a bill (S. 3962) authorizing a six-month delay to the 21-percent reimbursement rate cuts for doctors who accept Medicare and TRICARE patients. Lawmakers had previously considered this so-called "doc fix" as part of the broader "Tax Extenders" bill (H.R. 4213), which also addresses concurrent receipt reform, unemployment benefits and extension of various tax incentives.

This week, House leaders demanded that the Senate pass the larger Tax Extenders legislation before the House would vote on the Medicare/TRICARE measure. In response, the Senate restored the doc fix provision, but failed to muster enough votes to pass the tax bill. The House then passed the stand-alone measure (417-1), extending the rate-cut deadline to November 30, 2010.

The doc fix bill will be sent to the President for his signature, but the fate of the Tax Extenders measure and its concurrent receipt and other provisions remains unclear.

Hot Topics:  Visit www.fra.org/hottopics to share your concerns about these prospective cuts to TRICARE/Medicare reimbursement rates.


Auto Dealers Get a Pass on Financial Regulation Bill
Auto dealers will be exempt from lending restrictions outlined in the conference report on "The Restoring American Financial Stability Act" (S. 3712) that was approved early this morning. Despite opposition from the White House, the Pentagon, consumer groups, FRA and other military and veterans' organizations, the conference committee voted to exclude auto dealer loans from regulation by the newly created Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.  The final bill is expected to be voted on by the House and Senate next week.

Since 2005, FRA has been outspoken in its opposition to predatory lending practices that impact service members. Financing an automobile purchase is a major obligation for most service members and FRA believed it was important that auto dealers financing and sales be included in the reform bill to ensure greater protections for our military personnel and their families.  


FRA Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee
FRA's Director of Legislative Programs John Davis summarized the Association's recommendations for the FY2011 Department of Defense (DoD) budget before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee this week. FRA recommends authorization and funding to expand the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation and funding to cover active duty pay increases that are at least 0.5 percent above the Employment Cost Index (ECI). The Association also supports adequate end strength for the Sea Services; early retirement for Reservists that have deployed frequently since 9/11/01; enhanced family readiness; adequate child and youth programs; and supplemental Impact Aid funds. Davis also recognized the Administration's second consecutive year of adequately funding Defense health care programs without proposing drastic TRICARE fee increases for military retirees.


More Ships Added to VA Agent Orange List
FRA strongly encourages all Navy and Coast Guard (USCG) Vietnam veterans to review an expanded list of vessels exposed to Agent Orange that was recently released by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). The VA is continuously updating its list of offshore "blue water" vessels that conducted operations on the inland "brown water" rivers and delta areas of Vietnam, and the most recent additions include all USCG vessels with hull designations of WPB (patrol boat) and WHEC (high-endurance cutter) that served in Vietnam. If a veteran's service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through his military records during the time frames specified, exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further proof, thus expediting claims for VA benefits. The comprehensive list is available at www.fra.org/news and includes the first iteration that was released earlier this year and the most recent additions.

FRA strongly supports pending legislation (H.R. 254 and S. 1939) that would grant presumptive status to all blue water Vietnam veterans exposed to herbicides, not just those who served inland. All veterans are encouraged to visit the Action Center at www.fra.org and ask their elected officials to support these measures.
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).


Korean Conflict Remembered on Capitol Hill
Congress held a special ceremony this week to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean Conflict. The "Forgotten War" started on June 25, 1950, when the Communist North Korean Army invaded South Korea. The United States and 21 other nations resisted the invasion and an armistice was signed July 27, 1953. More than 52,000 Americans died in the fight for South Korea's freedom. FRA salutes veterans of the Korean Conflict, including Representatives Charles Rangel (N.Y.) and Sam Johnson (Texas).

Hot Topics:  Visit www.fra.org/history to share your memories or thoughts about the so-called "Forgotten War"?

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