Branson Women Veterans Week
The fourth annual Branson Women Veterans Week is May 19-25. The event features a full schedule of activities including a miniature golf tournament, shows, meals, receptions, and free time to enjoy the many shows and attractions throughout Branson. For more information about Women Veterans Week, the Women Veterans Committee and a complete schedule of the activities visit the committee's website or call the Branson Veterans Task Force office at 417-337-8387.

Retiree SBP Accounts Being Reviewed
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service is reviewing all military retiree accounts affected by the new "Paid-Up SBP" law. Under the law, retirees who are at least 70 years old, and have paid at least 360 months of premiums on Oct. 1, will have their monthly premiums terminated. The change will be reflected in the November 2008 pay statement. If a retiree does not meet the eligibility criteria on Oct. 1, the premiums will stop when the retiree has met both criteria - reached age 70 and paid SBP premiums for 360 months. Eligible retirees will be notified by DFAS via mail regarding the status of their account and premium payment count

Vacations for Vets Program
The Maryland-based Greenwell Foundation offers a respite program for disabled veterans undergoing treatment in the Washington, DC area through its Vacations for Vets Program. The Foundation provides weekend stays for disabled veterans and their families with outdoor activities such as horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and sailing. The program also needs volunteers. Servicemembers who would like to participate in the Vacations for Vets program should contact 301-373-9775 or e-mail vacationsforvets@greenwellfoundation.org

Senate Passes the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007
The Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 1315) finally passed the Senate last week by a vote of 96 to 1. The legislation was approved by the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in June 2007 and reported to the full Senate in August.

The only sticking point in the bill was debate on an amendment to strip a provision that would authorize $220 million to increase and expand VA benefits for Filipino World War II veterans residing in the Philippines. With Veterans’ Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii leading the charge, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 56 to 41.

Sen. Akaka applauded passage of the bill and the amendment’s defeat. “The Filipino veterans of World War II fought bravely under U.S. military command, helping us win the war only to lose their veteran status by an Act of Congress. I commend my colleagues for supporting those veterans who stood with us."

Akaka continued, "I am also very pleased that the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 can finally move forward. This bill makes needed improvements to veterans' benefits by expanding and increasing support for veterans, their families, and their survivors. I urge my colleagues in the House to act swiftly on this much needed bill."

The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 also includes a multitude of improvements to veterans' benefits, including provisions to:

• Provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under SGLI for qualifying injuries incurred between October 7, 2001 and December 1, 2005;
• Authorize SGLI coverage for members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR);
• Raise the VA home mortgage life insurance rates to $200,000 by 2012;
• Accelerate award of special adaptive housing benefits to certain currently serving servicemembers (including burn victims) likely to be released from active duty due to the extent of their disabilities;
• Increase supplemental burial benefits to $2100 in the case of a service-connected death and $900 for a non-service connected death;and,
• Allow troops called to active duty for not less than 90 days to cancel or suspend their cell phone contracts without incurring early termination or reactivation fees.

House Roundtable on Survivor Issues
The Roundtable was chaired by the Chairman of the House VA Committee’s Subcommittee for Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Representative John Hall (D-NY). Along with the Subcommittee’s Ranking Member Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and numerous staff members, they heard from representatives of the major VSOs (VFW, AL, DAV, NAUS and PVA) as well as from groups that particularly focus on these issues (GSW, NMVA, MOAA and Former POS’s). Both DoD and VA also sent representatives to discuss what is being done now. There were also many members of the public in attendance. The analysis concentrated on ending the SBP/DIC offset (although that issue is not under the VA Committees jurisdiction), the need to change and improve the VA’s adjudication system (including discussion of the Chairman’s bill: the “Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization of 2008), the possible creation of an office in the VA dedicated to Survivors issues and the need to improve the Education Benefit for survivors, as well as for service members. Of course during a long meeting many other ideas were also presented. It looks like there will be action on many of these issues in the House in the near future.

Express Scripts -Pharmacy Meeting
Express Scripts is the company that has DoD’S contracts for both the TRICARE Mail Order program and TRICARE Retail Pharmacy plan. Most of Express Scripts’ clients are American private Corporations, Unions and local governments. Representatives of military organizations attended the conference on behalf of military beneficiaries. This year there was no talk of 4th tiers or new blockbusting drugs coming down the pike. Rather, they were speaking about the need for more skilled communications with beneficiaries and the growth of specialty drugs.