Prayers and Blessings for you and your loved ones and for our Troops and their loved ones everywhere.
No Federal Report today folks.
1. Shinseki Seen As One Of Obama's Five Best Cabinet Members. In his "Washington Whispers" blog for US News & World Report (3/2), Paul Bedard writes, "We polled many Whispers associates and sources, and they were quick to size up the top five Obama cabinet members." Fifth on the list, according to Bedard, "is Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who has turned an agency that is at the bottom of lists in past administrations into an example of how to bring federal services to the troops, injured veterans, and even homeless vets. He's showing that the VA has a heart."
2. VA Threatened With Lawsuit Over Agent Orange-Related Diseases. The Navy Times (3/3, Kennedy, 54K) reports, "Three veterans groups have threatened the Veterans Affairs Department with a lawsuit if VA does not publish" a regulation "about three Agent Orange-related diseases that the Institute of Medicine has deemed should be presumed connected to military service." The American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart and the National Veterans Legal Services Program "sent a letter to VA on Monday demanding that the organization publish the regulation by March 12." After noting that Barton Stichman, joint executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, said VA Secretary Eric Shinseki's "agency has let him down on paying anyone their benefits" for the three Agent Orange-related diseases, the Times adds, "A VA official said the agency is working to make sure the regulation goes through correctly -- and therefore causes no more delays -- after severe snow storms...shut down the federal government for almost a full week in early February."
3. Pittsburgh VA Worker's Disability Claims Idea Wins Contest. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/3, Twedt, 223K), reports, "A Pittsburgh man's idea for speeding up military veterans disability claims has earned him special recognition." Jack Hudson, "assistant veterans service center manager at the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Downtown, was one of 10 winners in a nationwide innovation contest among VA employees and veterans service organizations sponsored by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki's office. Mr. Hudson's idea sounds remarkably simple -- create and use standardized medical questionnaires for private physicians to fill out when they treat veterans to speed up the process for evaluating VA disability claims."
4. Women Vets Face "Roadblocks To Good Care." On its website, ABC News (3/2, James) reported, "Women are enrolling" in Veterans Affairs "healthcare at 'historical rates,' about 44 percent of all Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, but say they face roadblocks to good care." The VA, however, "which serves 1.8 million females out of 8 million total veterans, has said it has...already set in place a number of changes at its 153 hospitals and 783 outpatient clinics across the country. One important step was staffing every VA medical center with a women veterans program manager and educating more doctors in female health," an effort that is part of a "'national movement to raise the standard of comprehensive care for women vets at all facilities,' said Dr. Laura Herrera, the VA's director of Women's Comprehensive Health."
5. Palo Alto VA Co-Conducts Study On Benefits Of Reducing Salt Intake. In continuing coverage, the WCCO-TV Minneapolis, MN (3/2) website noted that researchers who worked on a new study "said if the food industry reduces salt by as little as 10 percent, it could prevent nearly 500,000 heart attacks" and save approximately $32 billion in healthcare costs. The study "was done by Stanford University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in California." The KLIV-AM San Jose, CA (3/2) website also took of the study.
6. Concern Expressed About Efforts By VA, US Military To Support Guide Dog Programs. In a front page story, the Sarasota (FL) Herald Tribune (3/2, A1, Anderson, 100K) reported, "The demand for highly trained guide dogs to serve blinded veterans is one of the little-known consequences of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where roadside bombs are the enemy's weapon of choice, and extreme head trauma that can cause vision problems in survivors is common." But some "former service members...question whether the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are doing enough to support guide dog programs and promote their benefits to injured soldiers and veterans." The Herald Tribune adds that VA "recently took over responsibility for screening every service member returning from deployment for vision problems," and Gale Watson, director of the agency's "Blind Rehabilitation Service, believes the screening system is much better now at identifying significant vision problems among active service members."
7. Iraq Veteran Charged With Bank Robbery To Undergo Psychiatric Exam At VA Hospital. The Johnstown (PA) Tribune-Democrat (3/3, Reabuck) reports Lisa Lazzari, an attorney representing Iraq veteran John Fletcher "suggested Tuesday that the Cambria County Court consider setting up a veterans court with special programs to assist defendants such as hers." Lazzari, "chief public defender, asked that all charges – including bank robbery – against...Fletcher be continued while he undergoes a forensic psychiatric exam at the Veterans Justice Outreach program" at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Altoona. Judge Linda Fleming, "over the objections of prosecutors, continued the cases while asking Lazzari to have the exam completed and a report on Fletcher submitted by an April 7 pretrial conference."
Philadelphia Veterans Court To Be Formally Launched. The Philadelphia Daily News (3/3, Dean, 93K) notes that on Wednesday morning, "several judges and other dignitaries" are "scheduled to attend the formal launching of Philadelphia Veterans Court. The court -- the first of its kind here -- will provide qualified veterans in the criminal-justice system with a range of services, including linking them with representatives" from the Department of Veterans Affairs, "who will determine benefits eligibility, as well as veterans' suitability for an array of VA programs dealing with housing, job training, job referrals and treatment for alcohol, drug, mental-health or medical issues." The Daily News adds that on Monday, US Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), "hosted a congressional hearing in Pittsburgh to discuss the possibility of opening veterans courts across the state and country -- a proposal he has endorsed."
8. Fort Wayne Incident Highlights "Broader Concern" About Toll Of Wars On US Troops. USA Today (3/3, Zoroya, 2.11M) reports, "Military doctors in Alaska scrambled to prevent 12 medically unfit soldiers from being sent to the Iraq war in late 2008 despite commanders' attempts to deploy them, an Army investigative report on the incident has concluded." The report on the "Fort Wainwright case highlights a broader concern about sending soldiers unfit for duty into battle as eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq have taken a toll on troops. Army brigade commanders this year are reporting that 16% of their soldiers are non-deployable, many of those because of health problems, according to Army figures."
9. Vets Return To Iwo Jima For 65th Anniversary Of WWII Battle. The AP (3/3, Talmadge) reports dozens of US veterans, "now in their 80s and 90s, returned to the remote volcanic island of Iwo Jima on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of one of World War II's fiercest battles." The veterans "said they had, for the most part, come to respect the sacrifice of their former enemy. 'Iwo Jima is a symbol of courage, on both sides,' said Richard Lowe, 84, of Fredericksburg, Virginia."
10. CPAC Once Again Expected To Open In 2012 At Lebanon VAMC. The Lebanon (PA) Daily News (3/3, Snyder, 19K) reports, "Although the timeline has changed for opening" a Consolidated Patient Account Center (CPAC) at the Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the "bottom line is still the same. When the North East CPAC begins operations -- now targeted for 2012 -- it will create about 450 new jobs, at an average annual salary of $60,000, including benefits. Lebanon VA Director Robert Callahan Jr. said Tuesday that the project is now back on its original timeline after having been moved forward to 2011 several months ago."
11. VA Personnel Assisting Haiti Earthquake Survivors. In continuing coverage, AOL News (3/2, Mittleman) reported, "About 17 hospitals" in Atlanta "are currently hosting at least 40 critical Haitian" earthquake survivors "and their family members. The operation is part" of the Department of Health and Human Services' National Disaster Medical System, whose area manager, Kenneth Wheeler, is based at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center. AOL noted that Haitian-born VA nurse Marie Mompoint has been working as a translator when flights arrive in Atlanta carrying Haitian patients.
12. Louisiana Governor Names Four Nominees To Teaching Hospital Board. The New Orleans Times-Picayune (3/3, Barrow, 169K) reports, "After months of vetting and negotiating behind the scenes," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal "has unveiled his four nominees for the governing board of the planned" University Medical Center (UMC), which is "slated for ground-breaking this fall in Mid-City." The Times-Picayune names and offers brief background on the nominees, then notes, "State contractors continue the process of buying and expropriating parcels of land for UMC and the planned federal veterans hospital next door."
On its website, WWL-TV New Orleans, LA (3/2, Paulsen) reported, "Last week several business groups said lawsuits challenging that states proposed biomedical corridor need to be dropped, and Gov. Bobby Jindal needs to make his appointments to the state teaching hospital board soon" Jindal "said he couldn't agree more." He also "said work on the state and the VA hospital is moving, and ground will be broken this year."
13. Nursing Job Fair To Be Held At VA Hospital. On its website, KOAT-TV Albuquerque, NM (3/2) reported, "There will be a special nursing job fair Wednesday from 9 to 3" at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Albuquerque. Nurses "planning to attend should bring their resumes, applications, declarations for federal employment, and at least three references with current phone numbers."
14. Soldiers Need Help With The Emotional Toll Of War. An op-ed in USA Today (3/3, 2.11M) by M. David Rudd, "scientific director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah."
15. Honor Women's Achievements. An op-ed in the State College, Pennsylvania-based Centre Daily Times (3/3) by veteran Elizabeth M. Tallichet, a "field representative for Women in Military Service of America."
16. Military Widows Who Don't Remarry Keep ID Cards. The Washington Times (3/1, Fales, 77K) "Sgt. Shaft" column.
17. GI Bill Brings Payday: VA Pushes Students To Cash In On Benefits. The University of Kentucky in Lexington's Kentucky Kernel (3/3, Salz).
18. Event Celebrates Veterans' Return. The Northeast Tampa (FL) News & Tribune (3/3, McKenzie).
19. Stories Of Hope: Part One. The KDLH-TV Duluth, MN (3/2) website.
20. Mobile VA Van In Newport News Next Week To Help Veterans. The Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot (3/3, Clayton).
21. Apple Valley Woman Gets 5 Years For Stealing Vets' Money. The Minneapolis Star Tribune (3/3, Walsh).
22. Researcher Looks At Brain Response To Familiar Voices. The Chicago Tribune (3/3, Finkel).
23. A Lesson In Appreciation. The North Jersey Herald News (3/3), a newspaper in Passaic, New Jersey, reports, "Fifth-grade students in Gina Loder's and Mary Ledyard's social studies class at Stony Brook Elementary in Rockaway Township" recently "made Valentines to send to veterans" at the Veterans Affairs "hospital in Lyons and to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan." Many of the Valentines "were delivered" to the VA hospital "and the rest will be sent to local troops in the monthly packages that the American Legion Post 344 sends."
24. Group To Host Trout Tournament. The Tampa (FL) Tribune (3/3, Ceballos) reports, "The South Shore Anglers Club will partner with several fishy organizations for an upcoming tournament." Proceeds "from the event will benefit Freedom Excursions," a "nonprofit organization that works along with the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa to provide water-based recreational opportunities, which the group calls on Day on the Bay, for military personnel and their families."
25. Vietnam Wall Tells 58,000 Stories. The St. George (UT) Spectrum (3/3, Bly, 22K).
26. Time To Heal With Replica Of Vietnam Wall Memorial. The Bakersfield Californian (3/3, Haenes, 57K).
27. Song And Dance Man. On its website, WGRZ-TV Buffalo, NY (3/2, Kellman) profiled 91-year-old Coast Guard veteran Russell Lewis, who is "undergoing hospice care at the Veterans Medical Center in Buffalo."
28. Wounded Warrior Ability Camp And Ability Bash To Return To Alpine Meadows. The Sierra (NM) Sun (3/3).
29. On the Hill for March 3, 2010:
The Senate resumes consideration of a bill to extend several expired tax provisions. Votes on amendments are expected.
The House is expected to vote on a number of minor resolutions as well as a bill intended to reduce the use of physical restraint on students.
President Obama is expected to outline his preferred procedure for finishing a health care overhaul.
House: Convenes 10 a.m.
Under suspension of the rules:
H Res 1096 — Census Awareness Month
H Res 1079 — New Orleans Saints
H Res 1082 — America Saves Week
HR 2554 — National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers
H Con Res 239 , H Con Res 236 — Use of Capitol grounds
S 2968 — Technical changes to the Lanham Act
H Res 1127 — Suicide plane attack in Austin, Texas
H Res 1117 — California State University system
Subject to a rule:
HR 4247 — Physical restraint of students
Postponed suspensions:
H Res 747 — West Point
H Res 699 — Military appreciation
H Res 1111 — Read Across America
H Res 362 — School lunch program
Senate: Convenes 9:30 a.m.
Roll call votes expected.
HR 4213 — Extending various provisions
Markups
Senate Energy and Natural Resources votes on nominations. Time TBA, 366 Dirksen
House Transportation and Infrastructure marks up legislation on building naming ( HR 4275 ), the Coast Guard ( H Res 1062 ), and draft bills on reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board, clean estuaries and National Public Works Week. 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn
House Agriculture marks up bills on state agricultural mediation programs ( HR 3509 ) and Florida land adjustment ( HR 3954 ). 3:30 p.m., 1300 Longworth
Hearing Highlights
House Education and Labor hearing on the fiscal 2011 budget for the Education Department, with Secretary Arne Duncan . 9:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn
Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on fiscal 2011 funding for the Army. 9:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen
House Budget hearing on fiscal 2011 budget requests. 10 a.m., 210 Cannon
Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the fiscal 2011 budget for the Interior Department, with Secretary Ken Salazar . 10 a.m., 366 Dirksen
Senate Finance hearing on the 2010 trade agenda, with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk . 10 a.m., 215 Dirksen
House Science and Technology hearing on the fiscal 2011 budget for energy programs, with Energy Secretary Steven Chu . Noon, 2318 Rayburn
House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing on repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay and lesbian military servicemembers. 2:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn
30. Today in History:
- 1284 – The Statute of Rhuddlan incorporates the Principality of Wales into England.
- 1575 – Indian Mughal Emperor Akbar defeats Bengali army at the Battle of Tukaroi.
- 1776 – The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.
- 1820 – The U.S. Congress passes the Missouri Compromise.
- 1845 – Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
- 1845 – For the first time the U.S. Congress passes legislation overriding a presidential veto.
- 1849 – The United States Department of the Interior is established.
- 1849 – The U.S. Congress passes the Gold Coinage Act allowing the minting of gold coins.
- 1857 – Second Opium War: France and the United Kingdom declare war on China.
- 1861 – Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing serfs.
- 1865 – The U.S. Congress authorizes the formation of the Freedmen's Bureau.
- 1873 – Censorship: The U.S. Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" books through the mail.
- 1875 – The first ever organized indoor game of ice hockey is played in Montreal, Canada as recorded in The Montreal Gazette.
- 1877 – Rutherford B. Hayes is privately inaugurated as the 19th President of the United States (his public inauguration coming on March 5).
- 1879 – The United States Geological Survey is created.
- 1885 – The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is incorporated in New York.
- 1891 – The Penalty Kick rule in Association Football is conceived, but does not come into effect until the next season.
- 1904 – Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany becomes the first person to make a sound recording of a political document, using Thomas Edison's cylinder.
- 1910 – Rockefeller Foundation: J.D. Rockefeller Jr. announces his retirement from managing his businesses so that he can devote full time to being a philanthropist.
- 1915 – NACA, the predecessor of NASA, is founded.
- 1918 – Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
- 1923 – TIME magazine is published for the first time.
- 1924 – The 1400-year-old Islamic caliphate is abolished when Caliph Abdul Mejid II of the Ottoman Empire is deposed. The last remnant of the old regime gives way to the reformed Turkey of Kemal Atatürk.
- 1924 – The Free State of Fiume is annexed by Kingdom of Italy.
- 1931 – The United States officially adopts The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem.
- 1938 – Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
- 1939 – In Mumbai, Mohandas Gandhi begins to fast in protest at the autocratic rule in India.
- 1942 – World War II: Ten Japanese warplanes raid the town of Broome, Western Australia killing more than 100 people.
- 1943 – World War II: In London, England, 173 people are killed in a crush while trying to enter an air-raid shelter at Bethnal Green tube station.
- 1944 – The Order of Nakhimov and Order of Ushakov are instituted in USSR as the highest naval awards.
- 1945 – World War II: American and Filipino troops take Manila in the Philippines.
- 1958 – Nuri as-Said becomes the prime minister of Iraq for the 14th time.
- 1961 – Hassan II becomes King of Morocco.
- 1969 – Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 9 to test the lunar module.
- 1971 – Beginning of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and India's official entry to the Bangladesh Liberation War in support of Mukti Bahini.
- 1980 – The USS Nautilus is decommissioned and stricken.
- 1991 – An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers.
- 1991 – In two concurring referendums: 74 % of the population of Latvia votes for independence from the Soviet Union, in Estonia – 83 %.
- 1992 – The nation of Bosnia is established.
- 1997 – The tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, opens after two-and-a-half years of construction.
- 2002 – Citizens of Switzerland narrowly vote in favor of their country becoming a member of the United Nations.
- 2004 – Belgian brewer Interbrew and Brazilian rival AmBev agree to merge in a $11.2 billion deal that forms InBev, the world's largest brewer.
- 2005 – Mayerthorpe Incident: James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust at his property in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. It is the deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 and the North-West Rebellion.
- 2005 – Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.
- 2009 – The Sri Lankan cricket team is attacked by terrorists while on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore for a Test match against Pakistan.