NewsBytes July 2, 2021
In this issue:
Bilirakis Given Pinnacle Award
VA Modernizes GI Bill Platform
Veterans Legacy Memorial
Youngest SecDef Dies at age 88
FRA Closed on Monday
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.) Given Pinnacle Award
During the FRA National Board of Directors (NBOD) meeting, National President Michael F. “Mick” Fulton (Imperial Branch 289) presented the prestigious FRA 2020 Pinnacle award to Rep. Gus Bilirakis. The Congressman was first elected to the Congress in 2006. He is known for distancing himself from partisan fights and focusing on his legislative agenda. Congressman Bilirakis represents the 12th Congressional District of Florida, a seat formerly held by his father Michael Bilirakis, a former Pinnacle Award recipient (2005).
In the last session of Congress (2019-2020), Congressman Bilirakis cosponsored more than 25 bills impacting the lives of service members, veterans and their families. One of the FRA supported bills is the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (HR.299), which was enacted into law in June 2019. In 2020 he introduced a comprehensive veteran toxic exposure bill, Protection for Veterans’ Burn Pit Exposure Act (H.R.4086).
For years, Congressman Bilirakis has been a leader for the FRA issue of concurrent receipt. In this session of Congress, he introduced the FRA-supported concurrent receipt bill the “Retired Pay Restoration Act” (H.R.303). More recently, the Congressman introduced another concurrent receipt bill, the “Major Richard Start Act” (H.R.1282). Bilirakis is currently in the process of drafting a bill for FRA’s 100th year commemorative coin. These concurrent receipt bills are listed on the FRA Action Center.
VA Modernizes GI Bill Platform
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is modernizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill platform, that will provide students with easier access. The digital GI Bill will enable the VA to call, email, text and chat with GI Bill beneficiaries. It also will allow the VA to instantaneously respond to questions from schools.
“We are in the beginning stage of implementing a multi-year, joint undertaking with select vendors working together to deliver a modern, integrated solution our GI Bill students,” said acting VA Undersecretary for Benefits Thomas J. Murphy. “Throughout implementation, VA will seek feedback from students, schools, and partners to ensure we are meeting their needs effectively as they pursue their academic and vocational goals.”
Veterans Legacy Memorial
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently debuted new features on the Veterans Legacy Memorial site. Originally launched in 2019, VLM contains a memorial page for each of the nearly four million veterans and service members interred in a VA national cemetery where visitors can leave written tributes. VLM will now permit online visitors to submit photos and biographical summaries of a veteran’s life, along with historical documents such as award citations, letters, and newspaper clippings. Another feature will allow visitors to follow their veteran’s page and receive email alerts when new content is posted.
Both Youngest and Oldest Secretary of Defense Dies at age 88
Donald Rumsfeld first took the oath of office for Secretary of Defense at age 43 with limited experience in Defense policy. Although he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served as both a naval aviator in the 1950s and in the Naval reserve for many years later. His first tenure as the youngest Secretary of Defense lasted only 14 months near the end of President Ford’s Administration. His focus was on modernizing each component of the nuclear triad (MX missile, Trident submarine and missile, and B-1 bomber).
Rumsfeld became the oldest secretary when he was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2001. He was inside the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, when a hijacked jet airliner crashed into the Pentagon. He stayed at the Pentagon throughout the day overseeing rescue efforts from the attack that killed 189 passengers and people in the building. He vowed that the Pentagon would be open for business the next day and he fulfilled his pledge. Rumsfeld became a central figure in developing and implementing the Global War on Terror including the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. His efforts were not without criticism. Opponents accused him of advocating for the torture of suspected terrorists and engineering the invasion of Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction that his critics claimed he knew probably did not exist. After the Democrats gained control of Congress in the 2006 election, Rumsfeld submitted his resignation.
Despite his critics, he had a large number of supporters who admired his work ethic, intelligence and impatience with those who failed to share his sense of urgency to get things accomplished.
FRA NHQ Closed on Monday to Celebrate Independence Day
FRA’s National Headquarters (NHQ) offices will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. Congress will be in recess next week and the next issue of NewsBytes will be July 16, 2021. The NHQ staff wishes all FRA shipmates a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend.
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