Va Beach VH Fan
05-30-2014, 03:13 PM
I'm as upset as anyone else on the VA scandal, and it was right for Gen. Shinseki to resign today. He was ultimately responsible, he failed, and now he's gone....
But those of us who've been around the VA for many years know that these failures around VA Hospitals is nothing new, but has been in the works for DECADES, regardless of Democratic or Republican administrations.....
As I watched Gen. Shinseki resign today, I find it entirely hypocritical that those that have been raking him over the coals are the same ones that have been continually obstructing bills that would benefit the VA and its veterans. Such as:
DETAILS OF BILLS REJECTED BY REPUBLICANS:
H.R. 466 Wounded Veteran Job Security Act This bill would actually provide job security for veterans who are receiving medical treatment for injuries suffered while fighting in defense of their country. It would prohibit employers from terminating
employees who miss work while receiving treatment for a service-related disability.
H.R. 1168 -- Veterans Retraining Act This bill would provide for assistance to help veterans who are currently unemployed with their expenses while retraining for the current job market.
H.R. 1171 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization This bill would reauthorize programs in support of homeless veterans, to assist them with job training, counseling, and placement services through the Department of Veterans Affairs through 2014.
H.R. 1172 -- Requiring List on VA Website of Organizations Providing Scholarships for Veterans which does nothing more than direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information about scholarships for veterans.
H.R. 1293 -- Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 Heres another bill in support of those who have fought for their country, passed by House Democrats and blocked from becoming law by Republicans.
This would increase the amount paid by the VA to disabled veterans for necessary home structural improvements from $4,100 to $6,800 for those who are more than 50% disabled, and from $1,200 to $2,000 who are less than 50%, disabled. This means, if a veteran lost the use of his legs in service of his country, the country will pay for the wheelchair ramp so that he can live at home.
By the way, the last time this ceiling was lifted was in 1992. There isn't even a fiscal reason for being against this bill, as the total cost of this bill, according to CBO estimates, would be a whopping $20 million. That's about a quarter (25 cents) per family of four.
H.R. 1803 -- Veterans Business Center Act This bill would set up a Veterans Business Center program within the Small Business Administration, which would specialize in such programs as grants for service-disabled veterans, help them develop business plans and secure business opportunities. In other words, folks, it would create jobs and offer opportunities those who have fought in defense of our country.
H.R. 2352 Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act This bill essentially combines a number of other bills that Republicans had blocked in the Senate previously, and adds a few elements. The bill would again establish a Veterans Business Center Program; .... it would establish a Military Entrepreneurs Program; ...
H.R. 3521 - Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013. It also would have authorized the construction of 27 new clinics and medical facilities.
This is the same Congress that now has 81 percent of them that never bothered with serving not one day in uniform, unlike General Shinseki, who wore the uniform for nearly 39 years, including two combat tours in Vietnam....
I applaud Gen. Shinseki for his service, and here's hoping whomever is selected to lead the VA gets some actual cooperation from Republicans as they attempt to revamp an obviously archaic system.....
Or rather, will it just be more hypocritical lip service yet again from those "patriots"....
But those of us who've been around the VA for many years know that these failures around VA Hospitals is nothing new, but has been in the works for DECADES, regardless of Democratic or Republican administrations.....
As I watched Gen. Shinseki resign today, I find it entirely hypocritical that those that have been raking him over the coals are the same ones that have been continually obstructing bills that would benefit the VA and its veterans. Such as:
DETAILS OF BILLS REJECTED BY REPUBLICANS:
H.R. 466 Wounded Veteran Job Security Act This bill would actually provide job security for veterans who are receiving medical treatment for injuries suffered while fighting in defense of their country. It would prohibit employers from terminating
employees who miss work while receiving treatment for a service-related disability.
H.R. 1168 -- Veterans Retraining Act This bill would provide for assistance to help veterans who are currently unemployed with their expenses while retraining for the current job market.
H.R. 1171 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization This bill would reauthorize programs in support of homeless veterans, to assist them with job training, counseling, and placement services through the Department of Veterans Affairs through 2014.
H.R. 1172 -- Requiring List on VA Website of Organizations Providing Scholarships for Veterans which does nothing more than direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information about scholarships for veterans.
H.R. 1293 -- Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 Heres another bill in support of those who have fought for their country, passed by House Democrats and blocked from becoming law by Republicans.
This would increase the amount paid by the VA to disabled veterans for necessary home structural improvements from $4,100 to $6,800 for those who are more than 50% disabled, and from $1,200 to $2,000 who are less than 50%, disabled. This means, if a veteran lost the use of his legs in service of his country, the country will pay for the wheelchair ramp so that he can live at home.
By the way, the last time this ceiling was lifted was in 1992. There isn't even a fiscal reason for being against this bill, as the total cost of this bill, according to CBO estimates, would be a whopping $20 million. That's about a quarter (25 cents) per family of four.
H.R. 1803 -- Veterans Business Center Act This bill would set up a Veterans Business Center program within the Small Business Administration, which would specialize in such programs as grants for service-disabled veterans, help them develop business plans and secure business opportunities. In other words, folks, it would create jobs and offer opportunities those who have fought in defense of our country.
H.R. 2352 Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act This bill essentially combines a number of other bills that Republicans had blocked in the Senate previously, and adds a few elements. The bill would again establish a Veterans Business Center Program; .... it would establish a Military Entrepreneurs Program; ...
H.R. 3521 - Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013. It also would have authorized the construction of 27 new clinics and medical facilities.
This is the same Congress that now has 81 percent of them that never bothered with serving not one day in uniform, unlike General Shinseki, who wore the uniform for nearly 39 years, including two combat tours in Vietnam....
I applaud Gen. Shinseki for his service, and here's hoping whomever is selected to lead the VA gets some actual cooperation from Republicans as they attempt to revamp an obviously archaic system.....
Or rather, will it just be more hypocritical lip service yet again from those "patriots"....