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I was very excited when I first heard about the mailer below, sent last week along with another.(Part 1, Part 2) As a veteran and a Democrat, I am proud to support Annie Kuster, as she asks Granite Staters for their vote on November 2nd.
Annie's commitment to the veteran and military family community is sincere. Some here may recall, Annie met in April 2009 with local activists to listen, tapping into their collective wisdom. Prior to that meeting, Annie sent me this biographical note, so I could help introduce her connection to the issues they care so much about.
Thank you for your very thoughtful invitation to gather a group of folks to discuss veteran's issues. As you may know, my father, Malcolm McLane was a decorated fighter pilot in WWII who was shot down in the Battle of the Bulge and held for six months in a German prison camp. My father in law, Bob Kuster, served in the infantry on communications and was on the beaches of Normandy and among the first to liberate the concentration camps. Our family was blessed by the compassionate care my father in law received in the last several years of his life in the new Alzheimer's wing of the Veterans' Home in Tilton. Brad and I have raised our two sons on stories of courage and valor from their two distinguished grandfathers. I would be honored to meet with vets and learn more about the important issues of the day. I appreciate your efforts.
If you get your news from New Hampshire, you may have missed this huge win Carol Shea-Porter secured for veterans in the National Defense Authorization Act. From a May 18th release:
Shea-Porter's amendments will ensure that TRICARE health care and prescription drug costs and co-payments do not increase in 2011.
"Our military personnel, retirees, and their families have made enormous sacrifices on behalf of our country, and our country must honor our commitment to them," said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. "Our military families rely on TRICARE and they should not have to worry about cost increases during these difficult economic times. My amendments will ensure that TRICARE costs do not increase next year."
And that's not all. The full release below details Carol's efforts to ensure that TRICARE gets full consideration under the new health care reform law.
Adding: and if you think protecting TRICARE is some kind of election gimmick, think again. This article from February 2008 details Shea-Porter's efforts to stop George W. Bush from jacking up TRICARE co-payments on American's veterans.
It's CSP Week on BH. Learn more here about it. Get involved, and give what you can. Note: photo of CSP honoring a veteran earlier this year.
The blog VetVoice reports that the Obama administration is cutting the red tape between veterans and their health services, most notably the treatment of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to the site, PTSD affects nearly 20% of returning veterans.
After already increasing VA funding and signing a bill to insure advanced funding for the Department, President Obama's Department of Veterans Affairs plans to announce next week that it is removing the speed-bumps that hindered PTSD afflicted Vets from obtaining a disability rating
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman and soon to be Senator PaulHodes have also been instrumental in assuring the men and women serving in harm's way will finally receive the services and supports they need to live healthy, productive lives. This applies not only to recent vets, but all vets.
(h/t Joan McCarter, DKos)
Carol Shea-Porter this week presented "World War II veteran Harry Trott of Silver Lake with the WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 bronze stars, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Discharge Button, Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck)."
More of Carol's honoring of veterans can be found here.
(This is a rare moment of Republican message control malfunction. First, the Tea People complain about lack of town halls. Now, the opposite. The underlying strategy is the same, however; no matter how much more of a leader on veterans' issues Carol has been compared to Jeb and the rest, she's insufficiently patriotic because she's... Carol. - promoted by Dean Barker)
This just in from Mark Vallone, in Epping, thanks to Bill Duncan:
There will be an article in the Union Leader tomorrow [Tuesday, Dec. 22] stating that the selectmen may vote to reconsider/retract an invitation it had approved to let Carol Shea-Porter hold a town hall in Epping next month.
Long story short.... there are Navy seals who will have a trial by a court martial for charges relating to the capture of a very evil al-Quaeda operative that involved charges the suspect may have been assaulted while in custody in Iraq. Republican Rep Dan Burton has circulated a letter to other US Reps demanding the Defense Dept. quash the charges. Carol did not sign the letter and so now her patriotism is being questioned.
Carol Shea-Porter has strongly supported our veterans and soldiers. A member of the Armed Services Committee, she has brought increased medical care to NH veterans. She has sponsored legislation to stop the burning of toxic wastes in Iraq and Afghanistan that has caused widespread medical problems for returning veterans. She sponsored an amendment to hold defense contractors accountable for shoddy work such as poor wiring that has killed and injured US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has voted to approve increases in the defense budget and has traveled to both Iraq and Afghanistan to visit soldiers. These are just a few of the things Carol has done on behalf of our men and women in the armed forces.
I think the selectmen will back down if we show up with a group to speak our case. How ridiculous that the selectmen want to interject themselves into Defense Department issues. How more ridiculous that, instead of looking forward to address their concerns directly to Carol Shea-Porter, they want to tell her to go away. How childish! How irresponsible to want to deny Epping residents their Constitutional right to directly petition the government- face to face- to redress their grievances!
Adding (Dean): This strikes me as the perfect opportunity to show Carol your support.
(Is $1 million per soldier per year too high? No; it doesn't count the costs of the wounded. I don't know whether Jack gets credit for this going mainstream - just that he earned it. - promoted by elwood)
I'm gonna share this, but it will come across as me being full of myself. I'm doing it anyways because I think it goes to why we do what we do. When BH received the C. Arthur Soucy NHYD Achievement Award, you couldn't help but notice the Admins insistence that this was about all of us, as much as it was about them. So this story goes out to you all. I hope it gives you a boost, as I am feeling my wheaties.
On the Primary campaign trail in '07, I volunteered to help organize Obama For NH Veterans. This involved plenty of grip 'n grin. Listening to vets about 3x more than pitching Obama. This works out well, as they cannot all speak to key staffers like the cadre of activists can, but all that we hear can be condensed and feed into the campaign via proper channels. Obama was very good at this.
I distinctly remember one vet telling me that the government would be much more careful about waging war, if they projected the full cost on one balance sheet. Simply put, if the cost of a soldier was computed from recruitment to training to arming to combat operation to separation to veterans care to burial with honors, the military would get quite the sticker shock. Now multiply that by every servicemember, care for active duty families, ect...
You get the idea. There are other costs, as well, but let's move on.
On the day after Veterans Day, it might be easy to skip over another blog about saying "Thank You" to those that have served. I'll admit, my eyes glaze over at times. Knowing that much is sincere, it is difficult to figure out when sometimes folks are just saying what must be said, when it needs to be said.
However, there is no arguing the sincerity of the doers, those that deliver.
Congressman Paul Hodes Encourages Businesses to Hire Veterans, Launches New Small Business Web Page
With many veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan to a difficult economy, Congressman Hodes is reminding businesses that this tax credit lowers taxes for businesses that employ a veteran. To help small businesses take advantage of tax credits and other available assistance, Congressman Hodes has also launched a new section of his website at www.hodes.house.gov/smallbusiness.
"Granite State veterans have served our country with honor overseas, only to return home to have trouble finding a job in this difficult economy," said Congressman Paul Hodes. "This tax credit is good for New Hampshire's small businesses, and will encourage small business owners to hire veterans and provide good jobs for working families. We must do all that we can to ensure that veterans have job opportunities when they return home to our communities."
As we are about to reach the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I want to say thank you to all of our veterans. Here is a letter that President Obama sent to veterans today; one of my partners, who is a veteran, received it by e mail and forwarded it to me:
Today, on Veterans Day, my message to you is simple: Thank you. Thank you for your selfless service, for your valor, and for your strength of purpose that make all of us proud to be Americans.
Today, Americans will pause amidst a great conversation about the future of our nation to take a moment and recognize your service to our democracy -- a service that guarantees us all the liberty to engage freely in that conversation, no matter what our views may be.
We know that we owe you a debt that cannot be repaid. But we can and will fulfill our nation's promise to stand by you and your loved ones. That is why we've worked hard for better care for our veterans, and why we provided the largest increase in Veterans Administration funding in history.
Today, we honor those Americans past and present who've served on battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Ramadi to Kandahar. You have defended our freedom on land, and at sea, and in the air.
You reflect the diversity that makes this America. You share a patriotism beyond question. And you share the same unflinching courage, selfless compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that -- when faced with the tragedy of a despicable and heartbreaking attack last Thursday -- the soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood humbly revealed to the world.
You and your loved ones are the patriotic men and women we honor today, Veterans Day. And you are the men and women we shall honor every day, in times of war and times of peace, so long as our nation endures.
I subscribe to Don McCanne's Quote-of-the-Day, on PNHP.org, so I get pro-single-payer info on a daily basis. It's informed my opinions re health insurance for quite some time.
I don't usually feel the need to post links to other articles or comments, but with Veterans' Day tomorrow, the posting today from Dr. McCanne was especially heartbreaking. So here's the link.
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/...
There is so much we need to do to really fix health care in this USofA. And the military should be front and center in our hearts and in our action.
Since the Grand Pajandrum posted video of lifelong Republican and WWII vet Phillip Spooner's passionate support for marriage equality, other bigger fish have done so (Sullivan, Boing Boing). It's gone viral (over half a millions views!) and Spooner has become the face of the No on 1 campaign next door in Maine.
Of course, this just gives me an excuse to re-play one of the best vids ever to be embedded on this site:
A victory in Maine will solidify marriage equality in New England, and make us the regional leaders in the country on this civil right. Can you help?
Most of you that know me, know that I try to help organize NH progressive veterans around progressive causes and candidates. I was excited by a flurry of e-mails that have come my way, as of late.
Our friend, Rep. Steve Shurtleff, is participating in an effort called Operation Free. This band of brothers and sisters detail their "core motivational principles" as:
- We need to get America running on clean energy.
- Clean energy reduces our dependence on the foreign oil.
- Oil ties our hands in foreign policy, funds terrorists, and entangles America with hostile regimes.
- Our Federal government is considering legislation that promotes clean energy incentives, and people need to understand why this helps our security.
- Getting energy that is CLEAN, DOMESTIC, CHEAP, and SAFE is going to take some real work, so we need to start now.
- It's our patriotic duty to do everything we can to keep our nation safe and secure: clean energy is one of those efforts.
Let's never forget that in Carol Shea-Porter, veterans (and DoD employees) in New Hampshire and nationwide have a tireless advocate for their welfare.
Out of a body of over 400 members, she has in under three years' time become a leader on helping those who have served. Just one example (via email release):
There is evidence that veterans may become ill-and some may have actually died-as a result of exposure to the dangerous toxins produced by solid waste disposal "burn pits" that the Department of Defense has established for military and contractor operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This language prohibits the use of burn bits for hazardous and medical waste in contingency operations, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, with an exception if the Secretary of Defense sees no alternative. The Department of Defense must report to Congress whenever burn pits are used, justifying their use, and give status reports on the usage of burn pits every six months. This provision also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the health and environmental compliance standards for these burn pits, and on whether existing medical surveillance programs suffice to track exposures to toxic substances released by open-pit burning.
As progressives who engage in countering conservative TP, I thought you may like to hear this. I'm sure you are aware that "the left" has been holding up the VA as a model of success, in terms of "gubmint run health care."
This is widely accepted. The recent high profile blips at Walter Reed create some fog around the quality of care. However, the VA is considered to provide exceptionally good care. Care which needs be specific to the types of physical, mental and emotional wounds that servicemembers bear.
Well, to the far right, talk of the VA's success, simply won't do. Yesterday, at Rep. Tsongas' town hall meeting in Chelmsford, MA; I heard GOPer vets talking down the VA. They were retelling "horror stories."
I salute this cause. Modern warfare has shattered gender bias in the combat zone. What bias remains is within us. Today's warriors deserve the respect and full support of a grateful nation. We must maintain the sacred trust.
WOMEN VETERANS TESTIFY THAT VA MUST IMPROVE OUTREACH AND EXPAND PROGRAMS FOR FAST-GROWING FEMALE POPULATION Akaka pushes for support of Committee-backed veterans' health bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, held an oversight hearing to outline gaps in VA care for women veterans and highlight strategies to bridge those gaps. Akaka gathered a panel of women veterans and representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Government Accountability Office to share their personal experiences and views on the VA system. The witness testimony yesterday illustrated the gap between the Department's wide array of services for women veterans and the actual experiences of many women veterans.
"VA plans many valuable programs and services for women veterans. However, our witnesses demonstrated that VA must do more than just set mandates - the Department must ensure that women veterans know about the services available to them and are given assistance to receive them," said Akaka.
Our first-district congresswoman is turning into a singular champion of our nation's men and women in uniform. Her hard work is creating real results:
New Hampshire's veterans will receive acute inpatient hospital care without having to travel to Vermont or Massachusetts, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today.
The VA has entered into a contract with Concord Hospital to provide acute care for more than 100,000 veterans living in the state. The amount of the contract was not listed in a press release. Last year, however, the VA spent $300 million on New Hampshire veterans.
...Since her election three years ago, Shea-Porter has been trying to convince the VA to make its Manchester medical facility either a full-service hospital or allow veterans to be treated locally at a private hospital.
As the only state in the union without a full-service VA hospital, this is a tremendous step forward, and Carol deserves major props for getting this done. And many thanks also to Jeanne Shaheen, who worked on a companion effort to this in the senate.
Good news all around, and especially for our men and women in uniform (email):
At the urging of national military and veterans organizations representing millions of service members and veterans, the House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Representatives Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) that will end the irresponsible use of open-air burn pits. The Bishop/Shea-Porter amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 2647) would require the Defense Secretary to prohibit the disposal of medical and hazardous waste in open-air burn pits during a contingency operation lasting longer than 12 months. It also would require the Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the use of such burn pits and safer alternatives.
..."Burn pits expose our troops to dangerous toxins that can cause long-term health problems," said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. "When they deploy, our service members put their lives at risk and do not deserve to suffer this added, unjustifiable risk."
And now on to Paul Hodes:
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment Congressman Paul Hodes sponsored to help improve suicide prevention for Guard and Reservist members. The measure was included in the 2010 Defense Authorization bill to train key service providers and community members to provide an integrated community response to reduce risk and promote healing in the aftermath of a suicide. The program is modeled after a successful New Hampshire program.
..."The amendment will help bring a successful New Hampshire program to the nation," Congressman Paul Hodes. "I believe it can be successful in preventing suicides for National Guard members and Reservists across the country. Our guardsmen and woman and reservists deserve all the resources necessary to prevent these tragedies."
I couldn't think of better reasons than these to give what you can to these two progressive champions fighting for the health of our veterans.
If you get your news from New Hampshire, you may have missed this huge win Carol Shea-Porter secured for veterans in the National Defense Authorization Act. From a May 18th release:
