Newsbytes December 5, 2025 

In this issue:
Medal of Honor Recipients Stipends Increase 
SVAC Medication Management Hearing
IBM  Training for Veterans and Military Families 
HVAC Hearing:Pathways to Skilled Trades 
VA Improves Access To Gynecology Care 

Medal of Honor Recipients Stipends Increase 
Living recipients of the Medal of Honor will now receive a significantly increased annual stipend under a new law recently signed into effect. The legislation, known as the Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends (MEDAL) Act, raises the monthly pension from approximately $1,489 to $5,625, totaling about $67,500 per year for each recipient. 

The stipend increase is intended to help cover costs commonly associated with being a Medal of Honor recipient, including travel, public appearances, educational outreach, and other obligations tied to their historic service. Many recipients spend large portions of their time speaking to students, military members, and communities across the country, sharing firsthand accounts of courage and sacrifice. 

Congressional leaders described the increase as long overdue. While recipients have received special pensions since 1916, the last significant increase came in 2002. Lawmakers emphasized that while the nation can never fully repay its debt to these heroes, it can ensure they live with dignity and financial security. 

Currently, there are 61 living Medal of Honor recipients. Since the award was first presented in 1863, 3,547 medals have been awarded to 3,528 service members, with 19 individuals receiving the honor twice. The Medal of Honor remains the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded by the United States.

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) voiced strong support for the MEDAL Act, recognizing it as an important step in honoring those who demonstrated “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.” The increased stipend reflects the responsibility of a grateful nation to care for its most decorated heroes and reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for meaningful, lasting benefits for all veterans. 

SVAC Medication Management Hearing 
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medication management program. Chairman Jerry Moran emphasized the VA’s obligation to provide safe, effective care, while noting that veterans still face limited access to non-medication treatments. Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal warned that staffing shortages and wait times, reaching as high as 208 days in some areas, are contributing to an over reliance on prescription drugs. 

Testimony from the Government Accountability Office showed that 37 percent of veterans with mental health conditions received medication alone or with limited therapy, and polypharmacy rates reached 61 percent among PTSD patients in primary care settings. The Office of Inspector General reported serious gaps in documentation and medication coordination, including incomplete discharge instructions and a lack of oversight for prescriptions issued in the community. Veteran advocates cited frustration with a “medication-first” model and urged greater use of personalized and whole-health approaches. 

VA officials highlighted progress, reporting a 68 percent reduction in opioid prescriptions since 2013 and a 90 percent drop in benzodiazepine use. Pharmacogenomic testing is now available at nearly every VA facility to reduce harmful interactions, and more than 1.8 million doses of naloxone have been distributed. While the VA supports overdose prevention efforts and expanded telehealth care, agency leaders cautioned that certain proposed consent requirements could delay treatment and increase stigma for veterans seeking mental health support. 

Lawmakers also reviewed pending legislation, including the Written Informed Consent Act, which would require signed consent for certain high-risk psychiatric medications. Support for the bill was submitted through formal testimony by the Fleet Reserve Association, citing transparency and patient protection concerns. Other proposals included strengthening VA-DoD coordination, improving electronic health record interoperability, and removing co-pays for holistic treatment options such as acupuncture, yoga, and counseling. 

With more than 500,000 veterans living with PTSD, lawmakers from both parties acknowledged that reform cannot wait. The committee called for improved oversight, smarter data systems, and accelerated innovation in mental health treatment. The hearing reflected a growing bipartisan push to move the VA away from over-medication and toward safer, evidence-based, veteran-centered care. 

Click Here to Support The Written Informed Consent Act

IBM  Training for Veterans and Military Families 
The IBM SkillsBuild program is offering more than 1,000 free online courses designed to help Veterans, service members, and their families start or advance careers in today’s most in-demand fields. The program is open to individuals age 18 and older who are Veterans, active-duty service members, members of the National Guard or Reserve, as well as spouses, children, and caregivers of Veterans. 

SkillsBuild provides training in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and IT support. Participants can choose between two learning formats: Guided Learning Experiences (GLEs), which are structured live courses with set start and end dates, and independent eLearning courses, which are available 24/7 for flexible, self-paced study. Both options offer professional certificates and digital credentials that can be added to professional profiles like LinkedIn. 

Two upcoming GLEs are now open for enrollment. The AI Era Career Readiness course runs from December 8, 2025, through January 4, 2026, with enrollment open from November 17 through December 5, 2025. The AI Fundamentals course runs from December 29, 2025, through January 23, 2026, with enrollment open from December 1 through December 26, 2025. 

To enroll, participants must create a free account on the IBM SkillsBuild website. Once registered, users will be automatically directed to the portal designed specifically for Veterans, service members, dependents, and caregivers. By registering, users acknowledge that SkillUp, an IBM training partner, will process their name and email for participation and program support. 

For questions or additional information, participants can contact the SkillsBuild team at sbuser@us.ibm.com 

HVAC Hearing:Pathways to Skilled Trades 
In a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Economic Opportunity, Chairman Derrick Van Orden and Ranking Member Chris Pappas examined expanding non-traditional education and career pathways for veterans. The session focused on the lack of veteran participation in apprenticeships and on the job training programs. Fewer than one percent of Post 911 GI Bill users entered these tracks in 2023, despite significant federal investment. Lawmakers stressed the need for stronger alignment between veterans’ training opportunities and real-world job markets in order to reduce underemployment and improve long term outcomes. 

Serious concerns were also raised about delays affecting survivors and dependents using Chapter 35 benefits. More than 75,000 families faced interruptions in tuition and housing support, in some cases for months. Staffing shortages and temporary government closures worsened an already strained system, creating a backlog of more than 60,000 applications and pushing counselor to veteran ratios as high as one to two hundred. Lawmakers warned that these delays undermine trust in the system and harm those who depend on timely support to rebuild their lives. 

VA officials outlined programs such as Transition Assistance Program and Solid Start, which reach hundreds of thousands of veterans each year. Vocational training initiatives placed thousands in skilled positions with competitive wages, yet participation and placement rates remain lower than expected. Committee members called for automation, improved fraud protections, expanded restitution for victims, and targeted investments to increase awareness and access to non-college career routes. 

Private sector employers shared promising results from veteran hiring programs. Companies in transportation, manufacturing, and skilled trades reported strong veteran recruitment, high placement success, and competitive salaries. They advocated expanding credentialing programs, offering targeted tax credits, and simplifying access for small businesses. With millions of skilled trade vacancies projected by the end of the decade, witnesses framed veteran workforce development as not only an economic need but a national security priority. 

The Fleet Reserve Association strongly supports efforts to expand skilled trade and vocational pathways for veterans, survivors, and transitioning service members. FRA calls on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to eliminate processing delays, strengthen apprenticeship partnerships, and ensure programs are properly staffed and funded. Our veterans possess unmatched discipline, leadership, and work ethic, and it is the nation’s duty to provide clear, reliable, and accessible pathways that lead to meaningful, sustainable careers. 

VA Improves Access To Gynecology Care 
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a new change that allows women Veterans to schedule appointments directly with VA gynecology specialists, eliminating the previous requirement for a referral from a primary care provider. This streamlined process is designed to reduce barriers, speed up access to care, and give women Veterans more control over their own health decisions. 

By removing the primary care referral requirement, the VA aims to make services more accessible for the growing number of women Veterans enrolled in its health system. Women Veterans who are eligible for VA care can now contact gynecology clinics directly, helping them receive timely and specialized care without unnecessary delays in administrative processing. 

This policy shift reflects a broader effort to modernize Veteran healthcare delivery by prioritizing convenience, efficiency, and patient-centered services. As more women enter the Armed Forces and transition to Veteran status, the need for gender-specific and respectful healthcare options has increased significantly. The VA’s action addresses long-standing concerns about access, responsiveness, and equity in care delivery for women who have served. 

The expanded access to gynecology care is part of a larger push to enhance overall healthcare services for Veterans nationwide, including improving appointment availability, expanding clinic locations, upgrading infrastructure, and increasing coordination between VA and community-based providers. These changes collectively aim to strengthen trust in the VA healthcare system and ensure that all Veterans receive the care they deserve. 

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) welcomes this change and applauds the VA’s efforts to remove barriers to specialty care as the population of women Veterans continues to grow. Ensuring timely access to gynecological healthcare is a critical step in honoring the service of women in uniform.