VA News Briefings

Obama Pledges Support For Iraq, Afghanistan Vets. The American Forces Press Service (3/27, Miles) reports, "President Barack Obama promised during an online town hall meeting" Thursday "to ensure returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the benefits and support they deserve." Obama "said his Department of Veterans Affairs budget proposal -- with the biggest funding increase in 30 years – will help provide more services to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury." The President also "called the high homeless rate for veterans -- multiple times that of nonveterans –'inexcusable.'" But Obama "emphasized that 'government alone can't do it' in supporting the country's veterans." The AP (3/27) publishes a similar story.

Impact: OEF/OIF veterans

VA Uncertain About Scope Of Infection Exposures. In continuing coverage, the AP (3/27, Poovey) reports, "Thousands of military veterans across the South are waiting to find out if they were exposed to infectious diseases" by Veterans Affairs facilities "that performed colonoscopies and other procedures with equipment that wasn't properly sterilized." Katie Roberts, a VA spokeswoman, "said officials are working to determine if mistakes that may have exposed patients to infections at medical centers in Tennessee and Florida and a clinic in Georgia could have also happened at other VA facilities." The AP added, "After the VA declined to answer repeated requests from The Associated Press during the past week about the results of what the department described as a nationwide procedure and training review that was to end March 14, Roberts said Thursday that the evaluation of the review was continuing. Roberts said the mistake in Miami was discovered during the review," but she "also said she was confident that any other mistakes in operating endoscopic equipment at other VA facilities were corrected during the review."

Impact: Infection control, endoscopic equipment

Filipino Vets Hope Cash Payments Do Not Come Too Late. In continuing coverage, the Voice Of America (3/26, Bayron) website said, "Thousands of Filipinos fought for the United States military against Japan during" World War II, but after the conflict, the same veterans "began another long battle to gain recognition as American war veterans. Victory came more than 60 years later," when the US Congress "granted a one-time cash payment to all Filipino veterans for 'suffering endured.' Frail and old now, some veterans say it has come nearly too late." Voice Of America noted that the veterans "have until next February to apply for the payment. It could take months before they finally receive a check," and with "their advanced age and poor health, some say they hope it will not come too late."

Impact: Filipino veterans’ economic stimulus