[Vision2020] Lone Senator Holds Up Veterans Bill

[Tom Hansen]

"It also would expand mental health programs for veterans in rural areas
by contracting with local community mental health centers, and expand
mental health services for the immediate families of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans.

Improvement programs for homeless veterans also are included — a high
priority for the Obama administration."

Courtesy of the Army Times.

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Lone senator holds up veterans bill

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 2, 2009 17:01:59 EST

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is trying to bring pressure on
the Senate to ignore tradition and bring a veterans health care bill up
for debate despite the anonymous hold on the bill placed by a senator.

The bill in question is S 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2009, which includes three top priorities of the veterans
group.

It contains a package of improvements for female veterans, including more
training for mental health providers in treating sexual trauma, a pilot
program to offer child care so that veterans who have children find it
easier make appointments, and a trial counseling program in which newly
separated female veterans would be treated in retreat-like settings.

It also would expand mental health programs for veterans in rural areas by
contracting with local community mental health centers, and expand mental
health services for the immediate families of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans.

Improvement programs for homeless veterans also are included — a high
priority for the Obama administration.

Although it is not one of the priority items for IAVA, another key part of
the bill is a precedent-setting program that would pay stipends to family
members who provide care to severely disabled veterans, rather than having
the veteran institutionalized or receive regular at-home nursing care.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
chairman and chief sponsor of the bill, said the legislation would provide
living stipends, health care, counseling and support for family
caregivers.

The precedent of paying family members as caregivers is believed to be the
issue that has held up work on the bill until a formal cost estimate is
available from the Congressional Budget Office.

Patrick Campbell, chief legislative counsel of IAVA, said the delay is
troubling. “Unless the Senate decides to act on this, we will miss our
small window to see this legislation pass before Veterans Day,” he said,
urging veterans to contact their senators to demand a vote on the measure.

“With so much good riding on one bill, it is hard to imagine that anyone
could oppose this legislation. But there is one senator holding up
consideration,” Campbell said.

Senate holds on bills are a controversial issue. By tradition, any senator
can inform the Democratic or Republican cloakroom staff that they do not
want a bill to be brought up for debate on the Senate floor. The senator
is not identified unless he or she agrees to be named. A hold usually
remains for five to seven days at a time, but there is no limit on the
number of times a hold can be renewed.

This is an informal process; the Senate majority leader — currently Sen.
Harry Reid, D-Nev. — can bring up a bill for consideration despite a hold.

However, the Senate needs consent of all senators to do all kinds of
routine business, such as allowing committees to meet while the Senate is
in session and to allow quick consideration of noncontroversial
nominations and legislation.

Reid tried to bring up S 1963 for debate on Oct. 29 but was blocked by an
unidentified objection.

The House of Representatives is engaged in its own pre-Veterans Day rush
of legislation, with 11 uncontroversial veterans bills and resolutions on
Monday’s schedule and more planned for the rest of the week.

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.