Committee Approves Second Amendment Legislation Week of July 07, 2008 The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act (S.3167), which would end the government's ability to strip veterans of their Second Amendment rights. Currently, when the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) deems a veteran mentally incompetent and reports him or her to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act would require a judicial body to deem a veteran, surviving spouse, or child as a danger to himself or others before being listed in NICS. The legislation is supported by several veterans? organizations.

Rumsfelt and President Bush has tried to cut disability benefits right after the start of the war. Rumsfelt tried to review 72000 veterans medical record, it back fired because congress stopped him, Then Bush formed a veterans commission of disabilities to justify cutting disability pensions. What kind of a man would start a war then betray the fighting men and women of this nation, the commission took a year to study disability pensions. The finding were to give the disabled veterans a 25% across the board pay raise. Guess what Bush did! He formed the Dole commission, Senator Bob Dole was one of the worse senators ever to serve. He was all for the Bush agenda. The republicans like Rep. Steve Buyer who is on the veterans committee pushed the dole bill. Make sure you help remove the people from office that betrayed the veterans.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee

Thank you for taking the time to contact my office with your thoughts concerning Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other issues affecting our service members and veterans. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

I too am concerned about the effects that multiple and prolonged rotations may have upon our service members and their families. I hear about these concerns as I meet with our men and women in uniform from Tennessee, and when I have traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress and the Administration need to seriously evaluate what can be done to mitigate the current strains on our military. In this regard, I was happy to hear that the President has directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to decrease deployment lengths for all soldiers deploying to the Central Command area from the current 15 months to 12 months. I believe that this will have a positive effect on the resilience of our force. I will continue to do my best to ensure that our troops receive everything that they need to do their job successfully and that their best interests are taken into consideration as deployment decisions are made.

In addition, I am concerned about the effects of PTSD on our service members. Along with my colleagues in the Senate, I have recognized this ever-evolving problem, and have been working very hard to pass several robust PTSD and healthcare-related provisions such as:

oThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive policy to improve the care, management, and transition of recovering service members. This policy requires that health care professionals giving care to our injured service members be able to detect early warning signs of PTSD and respond accordingly. This bill also requires joint planning between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs concerning the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of PTSD.

oThe Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act which considers the possible effects of PTSD, and how the Department of Veterans Affairs can deal with PTSD induced suicide among veterans. The bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a new program to reduce the amount of veterans' suicides.

oThe Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act which provides approximately $87.5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $2.9 billion for mental health care. In addition, the President requested $91.8 billion for veterans in his FY2009 budget request with $3.9 billion being allotted for mental health care.

These provisions certainly won't solve all of the problems related to veterans care, but they are an important step in the right direction. The insight you've given in your letter will certainly help my staff and I more affectively look into this issue and I thank you for your input.

I want to close by recognizing the service of our men and women in uniform and the commanders that lead them so courageously. I believe General Petraeus had it exactly right when he called our service members "America's new Greatest Generation." They are patriots and we owe them a great debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they have made as an all volunteer force. As I continue to serve in the United States Senate, I will work to see that our service members and veterans receive every benefit that America has promised them, and to ensure that your legacy is honored and protected.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me over the course of my term.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker United States Senator

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Senator Dianne Feinstein of California

From: senator@feinstein.senate.gov Date: 7/14/2008 11:05:16 AM To: worldnewstoday@dove777.com Subject: U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message

Dear Mr. Banton:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for enhancing mental health services for military service members and Veterans. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

First, I want to express my appreciation for the members of the Armed Forces who have answered the call to duty and selflessly sacrificed for our country. It is imperative that service members and Veterans receive proper mental health screenings and treatment. A number of bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives to improve access to mental health care for Veterans and service members.

On December 18, 2007, the Senate voted 76 to 17 to approve the fiscal year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which provides funding for most federal government agencies. I am pleased that Congress was able to provide much-needed resources to areas that have been neglected over the last few years. The bill provides $43.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a $6.6 billion increase from FY 2007 and $3.7 billion over the President's budget request. The Veterans Health Administration received $37.2 billion, which includes $29 billion for Medical Services. This bill directs the VA to increase its emphasis on polytrauma care and mental health services, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and provides increased funding for Veterans substance abuse services.

Additionally, I am troubled to hear of cases where the military discharge, "Separation Because of Personality Disorder," may have been used improperly. This discharge, which can render a service member ineligible for military and VA health benefits, implies that an individual's injuries or symptoms were pre-existing. You may be interested to know that the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008" (H.R. 4986), which the President signed into law on January 28, 2008, includes a provision that requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees detailing all cases of members of the Armed Forces who were discharged because of a personality disorder. It also requires that the Comptroller General submit a report evaluating the policies and procedures of the Department of Defense relating to this discharge.

I recognize the importance of ensuring that our Nation's service members and Veterans receive the best care and support possible. As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate considers future funding for the VA, as well as legislation to improve mental health services for those men and women serving our country today.

Once again, thank you for writing. If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein United States Senator