January 20 2017
In this issue:
Agent Orange Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Bill Introduced
Retired Marine Corps General Selected for SecDef
FRA Education Foundation Filing Deadline
More Veterans get Access to Online Exchange Shopping
Agent Orange Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Bill Introduced
Rep. David Valadao (Calif.) has introduced the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 299) that would clarify that service members serving off the coast of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict have a presumption for filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for ailments associated with exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently presumes any service member who had boots on the ground or served on Vietnam’s inland waterways was exposed to Agent Orange. FRA believes Congress should recognize that so-called “Blue water” veterans were exposed to Agent Orange herbicide and authorize presumptive status for VA disability claims associated with this exposure.
Please visit the FRA Action Center to ask your Representative to support this important legislation.
Retired Marine Corps General Selected for SecDef
President-elect Donald Trump selected James Mattis for Secretary of Defense and is likely to be one of several Cabinet nominees confirmed by the Senate, once formally nominated, after Trump is sworn into office. The biggest hurdle to Mattis’ confirmation was cleared when the House passed the waiver he needs to serve since he’s not been out of uniform the required seven years. The waiver now goes to the President to be signed.
James Mattis was born in Pullman, Washington in 1950 and initially enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1969. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in history from Central Washington University and was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) on January 1, 1972. Before retirement, he last served as the 11th Commander of the United States Central Command, the unified command responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, and Central Asia, from August 11, 2010, to March 22, 2013. Earlier in his career he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, US Marine Corps Forces Central Command, and the First Marine Division during the Iraq War.
FRA Education Foundation Filing Deadline
FRA believes that educating our service members, veterans and their families is important for their futures, as well as the future of our country. The FRA Education Foundation was established to support the needs of individuals pursuing higher education.
It sponsors a generous scholarship program that helps deserving students reach their educational and professional goals by presenting awards of up to $5,000 to individuals pursuing college and graduate degrees. The Foundation presents more than $100,000 each year to recipients, based on financial need, academic standing, character, and leadership qualities.
You may apply for
these scholarships if you are affiliated with the USN, USMC or USCG through
your own service or that of your spouse, parent, grandparent or
great-grandparent. FRA members in good standing, their spouses, children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren are eligible for a wider range of FRA
Member Scholarships. Please keep in mind that recipients must be U.S. citizens,
and be full-time students at an accredited college or university in the United
States.
For a thorough
list and their eligibility criteria, as well as other scholarships offered by
the Auxiliary of the FRA and other affiliated entities go to FRA Scholarships. All applications and
supporting documents must be postmarked no later than April 15th.
More Veterans get Access to Online Exchange Shopping
The Department of Defense will expand access to more than 16 million eligible veterans to shop online at military exchanges with reduced prices. Peter K. Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed a memorandum Wednesday announcing the benefit expansion, effective Veterans’ Day November 11, 2017, giving Congress the required 30 days’ notice before actions begin to implement the plan.
Months of preparation are needed to make e-shopping portals more robust and to allow the Defense Manpower Data Center time to create software for verifying veterans’ status against the Department of Veterans Affairs records.
Several million veterans are already eligible to shop in exchanges—on base or online—because they are active or reserve component retirees, or 100-percent disabled from service-connected injuries or ailments, or Medal of Honor recipients. A major reason for the change is the hope of increasing revenue at exchanges to help offset troubling declines due to the drawdown of active duty forces, base closures and the end of military tobacco discounts. Higher net earnings are expected to boost exchange dividends that support on-base morale, welfare and recreational activities.
NewsBytes is FRA's weekly legislative update. If you would like to subscribe, and receive publication via e-mail please contact us at: newsbytes@fra.org with "Subscribe" in the subject line and your name and address in the body. If you are a member of FRA or LA FRA, please include your member number as well. Membership not required but encouraged.
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