NewsBytes March 4, 2022
In this issue:
President’s State of the Union Address
Veterans Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing
Rare Cancers Added to Presumption List
Happy Birthday Navy Reserve, Navy Band, and Seabees
President Biden Gives State of the Union Address to Congress
President Joe Biden gave his first State of the Union address to Congress. The 62-minute speech comes as inflation dramatically increased raising the consumer price index 7.5 percent annually by the end of January, the fastest rise since 1982. Further, Congress has been unable to agree on funding levels for the government in FY2022. In addition, there is an international crisis created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The FRA is thankful that the president addressed the veterans burn-pit/toxic exposure issue, calling on Congress to pass legislation. He noted his deceased son Beau, an Army veteran, was exposed to burn pit pollutants and said many veterans, like his son, suffer from lifelong injuries including cancer, after serving in combat. He said Beau may have developed his brain cancer as a result of exposure to toxins from burn pits in Iraq. He called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand presumptions for these types of disability claims. (See story below.)
The first item addressed in his speech was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He then discussed the problem of inflation and noted economic gains over the past year. He proposed initiatives to reduce ocean shipping costs and spiraling nursing care costs for the elderly.
The president pledged to address what he says is a mental health crisis in America. President Biden promoted a new three-digit crisis line already available in many parts of the country and is expected to go nationwide in July. He also proposed $700 million in funding for local crisis centers. He thanked Congress for progress made against the COVID-19 pandemic.
House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing
The House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees held their annual hearings on veteran’s issues. This year’s hearings are set against the backdrop of competing bills that would expand care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who were exposed to airborne contaminants and other toxins during their military service. The Senate has already passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act (S.3541), which extends the period of eligibility for veterans to apply for benefits.
The “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act” (H.R. 3967), goes much farther. It creates new service presumptions for more than 20 health conditions, expands research, and allows more veterans to receive coverage for the effects of toxic exposure. The House passed the bill that is estimated to cost $300 billion over 10 years.
The FRA submitted a statement for the joint hearing that supports both toxic exposure bills. The statement raises alarm over the VA family caregiver program’s expansion not being properly implemented. The VA’s revised regulation tightened the eligibility criteria substantially beyond what is required by law. As the VA’s regulation substantially changes the program’s eligibility criteria, the process to determine a veteran’s need for assistance, and the entire methodology and basis for the stipend paid to the caregiver. The FRA is concerned that many caregivers will be unable to obtain assistance, which was the intent of the 2018 Act. The FRA statement also includes commentary on other veteran’s health care issues, mental health challenges, veteran’s homelessness, and veteran suicide, among other issues.
Members can weigh in on the toxic exposure issue by using the FRA Action Center online.
VA will Add Rare Cancers to Presumption List
The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to propose adding certain rare respiratory cancers to the list of presumed service-connected disabilities in relation to military environmental exposure to particulate matter.
The VA determined through a review of scientific and medical evidence there is biologic plausibility between airborne hazards, specifically particulate matter, and carcinogenesis of the respiratory tract, and that the unique circumstances of these rare cancers warrant a presumption of service connection. Based on these findings, the VA’s secretary is proposing a rule that will add presumptive service connection for several rare respiratory cancers for certain veterans. The cancers under consideration include:
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea.
• Adenocarcinoma of the trachea.
• Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea.
• Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung.
• Large cell carcinoma of the lung.
• Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung.
• Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung.
• Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung.
“This is the right decision. The rarity and severity of these illnesses, and the reality that these conditions present a situation where it may not be possible to develop additional evidence prompted us to take this critical action,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We’ll continue to hold ourselves accountable to veterans to provide more care, more benefits and more services to more veterans than ever before.”
The VA intends to focus its rule on the rare respiratory cancers listed above, in veterans who served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and other locations. The VA will invite and consider public comments as part of this process. Once rulemaking is complete, they will reach out to impacted veterans and survivors to inform them about potential eligibility.
Happy Birthday Navy Reserve, Navy Band and Seabees
Thursday, March 3 was the 107th year anniversary of the Navy Reserve, known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, and is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy.
The United States Navy Band, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served as the official musical organization of the Navy since March 4, 1925. The Navy Band serves the ceremonial needs at the seat of government, performing at presidential inaugurations, state arrival ceremonies, state funerals, state dinners and other significant events.
The United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is from the initial letters “CB” from the words Construction Battalion. They were started on March 5, 1942, as replacements for civilian construction companies in combat zones, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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