The Pentagon could be forced to make some tough choices in the coming days because of Congress' failure to clear the war supplemental spending bill before they left for the July Fourth recess. 

The $58.8 billion bill which funds military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq was passed by the Senate in May and sent to the House for approval.  Late Thursday before they adjourned, the House passed the measure but not before they adopted an amendment that would add approximately $21 billion in spending for domestic programs such as aid to states to help avoid teacher layoffs, collegiate Pell Grants as well as funding that would assist youths with finding summer work. 

The addition of domestic spending is what could create a problem now that the bill has to go back to the  Senate. Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, deliberately kept the focus of the bill on the war, veterans and disaster relief.  If the Senate makes any changes to the measure, which is expected, then the House will have to agree with the revised version. 

In the meantime, base maintenance and unit training may be the first activities curtailed later this month because of the funding delay.  At a hearing last month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that the department would have to do “stupid things” if the bill was not passed by the July Fourth recess.  He added, “We could reach a point in August, in early to mid-August, where we actually could be in a position where the money that we have available to us in the base budget runs out.  And we could have a situation where we are furloughing civilians and where we have active duty military we cannot pay.”

Timing is a real concern.  Congress returns to Washington on July 12.  That gives them approximately three weeks to pass this bill before they depart again for the summer recess beginning the first week of August through September 14.  Also, let’s not forget that neither the defense authorization nor appropriations bills have been passed.

All of these choices are unacceptable to AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret.  He said, “The impact of having to constantly plan for multiple financial contingencies to deal with potential shortages or lack of operational funds does not allow the Army to operate at maximum efficiency while involved in ongoing combat.  Such contingency planning is a detractor from mission focus and has long term implications both for readiness and for the well being of the force, including the readiness of our non-deployed units and quality of life for Soldiers and their families.  Congress must pass this critical legislation as well as the regular defense bills as soon as they return.”


BILL WOULD IMPROVE VETERANS' DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESSING


Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, recently introduced legislation that would make much-needed improvements to VA’s disability claims processing.

Sen. Akaka said that, “VA’s system to provide veterans with disability compensation is well intended, but it is broken.  This bill will move the Department closer to fulfilling its obligation to provide every eligible veteran with timely and accurate disability compensation.”

The Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010 (S.3517) would make various changes to the way VA processes disability compensation claims, including provisions to:

* Set up a process to fast-track claims that have been fully developed;

* Help veterans with multiple disability claims by allowing VA to provide partial disability ratings; and,

* Provide that the Department give equal deference to the medical opinions of a veteran’s non-VA doctor.

The bill would also establish a test program at several Regional Offices replacing VA’s method for identifying musculoskeletal disabilities.  Compensation under the pilot would be based on a functional assessment of limitations due to the disability, such as standing, walking or lifting, and would take into account the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms of the disability.  To identify disabilities, the pilot would use the common language of the International Classification of Diseases, rather than VA’s current Rating Schedule.

FINALLY...