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VFW Washington Weekly - March 13, 2009

Posted at 09:35 AM on Monday, March 16, 2009 by VFW News

In This Issue:
1. Third-Party Collection Proposal a Reality
2. VFW Testifies on FY 2010 VA Budget
3. House Small Business Hearing
4. VA Celebrates 20th Birthday Sunday


1. Third-Party Collection Proposal a Reality: VA Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed in House and Senate VA Committee testimony Tuesday that the Administration's FY 2010 VA budget is considering a proposal to bill veterans with private insurance for their service-connected disability treatments.  Although some committee members questioned the proposal, only three voiced their outright objections to it: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking minority member Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), and Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME).  VFW joins them in adamantly opposing any attempt to pass healthcare costs on to wounded and service-connected disabled veterans.  Billing a veteran's private insurance could lead to higher premiums and make it difficult for veterans and their families to obtain or retain their health insurance, as well as discourage employers from hiring disabled vets.  The VFW is asking all of its members as well as all Americans to contact the White House and their congressional delegations to urge them to stop this budget proposal. 
To send a message to the White House, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
To send a message to your members of Congress, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=12844211
To read the VFW press release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4952

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