Congress holds no one accountable for veteran suicides

Gee if you read this then it seems as if the House has only been looking at veterans committing suicide for two years. They "held hearings" but didn't do anything about them.

Chairman Miller's Response to New VA Suicide Report
House Committee on Veterans Affairs
FEB 1, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement in response to the new Department of Veterans Affairs report on veteran suicides:

“The VA’s report reveals that, despite a dramatic increase in the number of VA resources and programs devoted to suicide prevention, the number of veterans committing suicide has remained relatively stable for the last 12 years. This is beyond unacceptable. It is not enough that suicide numbers aren’t getting worse. They aren’t getting better, and that means the VA has much more work to do.”

“Perhaps more troubling is the report’s finding that demographic characteristics of veterans who die by suicide are similar among those who access VA care and those who don’t – raising serious questions about the efficacy of the VA’s mental health care and suicide prevention services. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Over the past two years, the committee has held a number of hearings on VA’s mental health care, revealing a complex bureaucratic system fraught with lengthy delays and unconnected care.”

“The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a full committee hearing Feb. 13 entitled, ‘Honoring the Commitment: Overcoming Barriers to Quality Mental Health Care for Veterans.’ The hearing will continue to explore systemic issues with the delivery of mental health care through the VA. We expect the department to come ready and willing to get to the bottom of perhaps the most important question this report raises: Is the VA’s complex system of mental health and suicide prevention services improving the health and wellness of our heroes in need?”
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112th Congress House Bills House-Passed Bills

Servicemember Family Protection Act (H.R. 4201)
Introduced by Rep. Mike Turner
The Servicemember Family Protection Act would amend SCRA to prohibit the deployment of a servicemember for being grounds for determining child custody.
Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: May 20, 2012)

Honoring as Veterans Certain Persons Who Preformed Service in the Reserve Components (H.R. 1025, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Timothy J. Walz
The Honoring as Veterans Certain Persons Who Preformed Service in the Reserve Components would recognize the service of the Reserves by honoring them with status as veterans.

Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: October 11, 2011)

Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 (H.R. 4057)
Introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis
The Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 would direct VA to improve outreach and transparency to student veterans by providing more information on institutions of higher learning via VA.gov.
Additional Provisions:

H.R. 4115 (Introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers): Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Return to Employment at Home Act would direct the Secretary of VA, as a condition of a grant or contract to a state for certain veterans’ employment and training programs, to require the state to demonstrate consideration of military training received by a veteran when approving or denying a commercial drivers license or a certification to be a nursing assistant or certified nursing assistant, a registered nurse (RN), or an emergency medical technician (EMT).
H.R. 4079, as amended (Introduced by Rep. David McKinely): The Safe Housing for Homeless Veterans Act would require recipients of grants and other assistance from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of housing and other services for homeless veterans to comply with codes relevant to operations and level of care provided.
H.R. 3337, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Todd Akin): The Open Burn Pit Registry Act would establish an open burn pit registry to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits while deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq receive information regarding such exposure from VA as more data becomes available.

The Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 5948, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson
The Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 mandates that all VA fiduciaries submit to a background and credit check, as well as institute an appeals process to ensure that veterans and their families have recourse should they lose confidence in a VA-appointed fiduciary in order to cut down on fraud within VA’s Fiduciary Program. Furthermore, this bill will add a layer of protection to a veteran’s savings, and decrease the amount of money a fiduciary may receive as a commission. H.R. 5948 also includes provisions to establish a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery, ensures that religious and other expressions of mourning are allowed at National Cemeteries, and prohibits VA employees who violate civil law from receiving incentives and awards.

Additional Provisions:

H.R. 5735, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers): Would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery for the remains of servicemembers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any subsequent war if the remains are unidentifiable or unclaimed.
H.R. 2355 (Introduced by Rep. Vicki Hartzler): The Hallowed Grounds Act would prohibit persons convicted of certain sex offenses to be interred at national cemeteries or Arlington National Cemetery.
H.R. 2720 (Introduced by Rep. John Culberson): Would prohibit VA from interfering with the content of a funeral on VA property, so long as it is in line with the last will and testament of the individual being interred.
H.R. 5881, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan): The Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act would provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain employees of local governmental agencies with access to VA case-tracking information.
H.R. 3730, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Joe Donnelly): The Veterans Data Breach Timely Notification Act would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice to individuals whose sensitive personal information is involved in a data breach. H.R. 4481, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe): The Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that no employee of VA, who knowingly violates any civil law, receives any retention incentive, payment, or award for or during the year of such violation.
Establishes a ceiling on VA bonus and incentive payments.
Status: Pending in Senate (House-passed: September 19, 2012)

111th Congress Legislation Enacted
Veterans’ Legislation Enacted (15 Public Laws)
Public Law 111-37 (S. 407, amended) (Sen. Daniel K. Akaka D-HI) Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, was signed into law on June 30, 2009.

Public Law 111-81 (H.R. 1016, amended) (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA) Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, was signed into law on October 22, 2009.

Public Law 111-82 (S. 1717, amended) (Sen. Daniel K. Akaka D-HI) to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes, was signed into law on October 26, 2009.

Public Law 111-97 (S. 475) (Sen. Richard Burr R-NC) Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, was signed into law on November 11, 2009.

Public Law 111-98 (S. 509) (Sen. Patty Murray D-WA) to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes, was signed into law on November 11, 2009.

Public Law 111-137 (H.R. 1377, amended) (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA), to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes, was signed into law on February 1, 2010.

Public Law 111-156 (H. J. Res. 80) – (Rep. Deborah L. Halvorson D-IL), Recognizing and honoring the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded veterans and their families, was signed into law on April 7, 2010.

Public Law 111-163 (S. 1963, amended) – (Sen. Daniel Akaka D-HI) Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, was signed into law on May 5, 2010.

Public Law 111-164 (H.R. 4360) – (Rep. John Campbell R-CA), To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the "Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center" was signed into law on May 7, 2010.

Public Law 111-246 (H.R. 4505)– (Rep. Mac Thornberry R-TX), to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Services, was signed into law on September 30, 2010.

Public Law 111-247 (H.R. 4667) – (Rep. Thomas S.P. Perriello D-VA), Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010, was signed into law on September 30, 2010.

Public Law 111-275 (H.R. 3219, amended) – (Rep. Bob Filner D-CA), Veterans’ Insurance and Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, was signed into law on October 13, 2010.

Public Law 111-339 (S. 3860) – (Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO), A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery, was signed into law on December 22, 2010.

Public Law 111-346 (S. 4058) – (Sen. John F. Kerry D-MA), Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010, was signed into law on December 29, 2010.

Public Law 111-346 (S. 3447) – (Sen. Daniel Akaka D-HI), Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, was signed into law on January 4, 2011.

That's the problem. When they don't do anything to address suicides or hold anyone accountable, no one is held accountable. Not even them.

Burial planned for US Army soldier dog

Burial planned for US Army soldier dog
Feb 03, 2013
By Ron Savage
Fox 2 News

A war hero comes home. It's a Fox 2 follow-up. We previously told you about Mina, the black lab, a US Army soldier dog who did at least 9 tours of duty in Afghanistan. Her handler, still serving, has been battling for a final resting place for Mina.
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Fayetteville VA failed vets at high risk of suicide

Report says Fayetteville VA failed vets at high risk of suicide
Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks
Staff writer
Feb 02, 2013

A recent government audit of the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center shows that the VA failed to properly check on veterans considered high suicide risks after releasing them from the hospital.

The audit precedes a report released Friday that says the vast majority of veterans seeking help from the VA who attempt suicide do so within a month of a hospital visit.

The report, billed as the first comprehensive review of veteran suicides, found that an average of 22 veterans a day committed suicide in 2010.

The audit of the Fayetteville VA was prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and released Dec. 10.

It found the VA noncompliant in two areas dealing with mental health - workers failed to property follow up with patients in accordance with Veterans Health Administration policy and did not document attempts to contact patients who failed to appear for scheduled appointments.

According to the audit, nine of 10 patients who were on the high risk for suicide list did not receive sufficient follow-ups.

The VA is required to check on such patients weekly for the first month following their release, according to the review, but Fayetteville officials failed to check on the patients for the last two weeks of that period. The report released Friday by the Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that 80 percent of all suicide attempts among VA patients occur within that one-month span.
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Marine Admits to Bludgeoning Death with No Memory of Event

Marine Admits to Bludgeoning Death with No Memory of Event
A military judge accepted a guilty plea by Lance Cpl. Darren Evans who beat his roommate, Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, to death with a crowbar in November of 2011. Evans relied on evidence to deliver his plea.
By Daniel Woolfolk
February 1, 2013

A Camp Pendleton Marine admitted to bludgeoning his roommate to death with a crowbar in November 2011 despite citing having no memory of the incident.

Lance Cpl. Darren Evans was arrested Nov. 6, 2011 after falling—or jumping—off a three-story catwalk. His roommate, Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, was found dead shortly after midnight in a room they shared in the barracks.

During a plea hearing this week, Evans told a military judge he had blacked out after drinking too much beer and vodka and couldn’t remember the crime. He relied, however, on overwhelming DNA evidence, witness testimony, toxicology reports and fingerprints authorities found on the crowbar.
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Iraq veteran with PTSD getting help after shooting

Back home, veterans battle to shake horrors of war
By JOHN BARRY
The Bulletin
Posted Feb 01, 2013

Shortly after 1 a.m. on May 9, two state troopers entered a basement apartment in a Lebanon home in a rural neighborhood.

There, according to an arrest warrant, they found Jason Durr, a recently returned veteran of the Iraq War, standing in front of a kitchen counter. Durr’s girlfriend was lying on a bed in Durr’s bedroom, bleeding from a bullet wound in her chest.

Durr has been charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and illegal possession of an assault weapon. More than eight months later, he remains held on a $1 million bond.

While the victim was rushed to the hospital for surgery that saved her life, police started questioning Durr. Police said Durr told them that after drinking heavily with his girlfriend and a friend, he blacked out and didn’t remember the shooting. He said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and three days earlier had run out of Xanax he was prescribed for anxiety, a symptom of his condition.

Unable to speak when police questioned her after her surgery, the victim, from her hospital bed, wrote that “There was a loud noise outside that startled Jason … he had a weird glassed over look in his eyes,” and “He started having flash backs of Iraq.”

“I feel he’s a victim of war just as much as his friend (the victim) was,” said Pia Strobel, Durr’s landlady and friend. She said Durr told her as well that he blacked out that night. “When he learned what happened, he was beside himself,” she said.

“He was a very proud soldier,” Strobel said of Durr. “He’s a great guy. I can’t say enough good about him.”
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