also:
http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11511750

Coburn's amendment calls for paying for the bill by eliminating earmarks for Defense projects not requested by the president or reducing contributions to the United Nations.

“Once again the Senate chose to fund its own parochial projects instead of helping our nation and our veterans in need,” said Dr. Coburn in a statement. “If our veterans are willing to sacrifice for our nation, surely Congress should be willing to sacrifice for our veterans. Unfortunately, as this vote demonstrates, members of Congress are not willing to sacrifice their pet projects for any reason, including caring for disabled veterans.”

Tom Coburn, one of the taxpayers last lines of defense against Congressional earmarking,

The Senator Fighting Pork
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,…

Yesterday the Senate passed S. 1963, the “Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009″, which would provide comprehensive new support to caregivers of severely disabled veterans and improve health care services for women veterans and all veterans who rely on the VA.

I wanted you to know that this important victory would not have been possible without the grassroots efforts of thousands of DAV members and supporters throughout the country.

With your help, DAV was able to play an important role in getting S. 1963 through the Senate and we will continue working with Congress until this legislation is enacted into law.

For your perusal, I have included DAV's press release below. Thanks for all you have done.

——————

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2009

Senate Passes Major Veterans Legislation to Aid Caregivers, Women Veterans

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 – The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) applauds the U.S. Senate for unanimously approving S. 1963, “The Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.”

As passed, S. 1963 creates a comprehensive new program to support family caregivers of severely disabled veterans, and strengthens VA health care programs for women veterans, homeless veterans, veterans with mental health needs, and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.

“The Senate's overwhelming statement of support for this bill sends an unmistakable message that our government has an obligation to provide comprehensive support to family caregivers of severely wounded and disabled veterans,” DAV National Commander Roberto Barrera said. “S. 1963 also contains landmark provisions that will help ensure that women veterans, who have played an increasingly essential role in our military, receive quality, timely and gender-appropriate health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), equal in every respect to that afforded male veterans,” Barrera said.

S. 1963 combines the content of two measures previously approved by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, S. 252 and S. 801, into a single VA health care omnibus bill. Since the House of Representatives has already passed similar, but separate veterans health bills, the two bodies must now reach an agreement on identical legislation before it can be sent to the President for his approval.

“DAV looks forward to working together with the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees and other interested veterans service organizations to develop the strongest veterans health care legislation we can to aid all veterans,” Commander Barrera said. “In particular, we believe that disabled veterans from all eras could benefit from family caregiver support services and will work to see that the final legislation moves in that direction,” he said.

Commander Barrera expressed DAV's gratitude to several Senators who played leading roles in developing and moving the legislation successfully through the Senate.

“Senator Daniel Akaka, Chairman of the Senate's Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has been a tireless champion for veterans health care programs throughout his tenure, and his skillful work on S. 1963 was central to the Senate's approval,” Barrera said. “A veteran himself, Chairman Akaka has proven to be a reliable and effective leader, always ready to stand up for our nation's veterans.”

“Senator Richard Burr (N.C.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, worked in a truly bipartisan manner with the Chairman to help craft this legislation and then provide crucial leadership to help it overcome barriers that may otherwise have derailed it,” Barrera said. “DAV applauds Senator Burr for putting the interests of veterans first.”

“DAV also applauds the relentless efforts of Senator Patty Murray to enact legislation that will improve the lives of all veterans, especially women veterans. Senator Murray's landmark women veterans health care legislation was included within S. 1963, and her passionate advocacy for women veterans has been crucial throughout this process,” Barrera said.

The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation's disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. More information is available at http://www.dav.org

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/new…

The hold on a veterans' benefits bill in the Senate was lifted on Wednesday by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

Coburn's office confirmed that the Oklahoma conservative had agreed to lift his hold on the bill in exchange for the opportunity to offer an amendment that will address his concerns with the legislation.

Coburn had complained that the current veterans bill is discriminatory in that it limits benefits to caregivers of veterans who have been on active duty since September 11, 2001.

The senator will be allowed an amendment that would expand those benefits of all generations of veterans, and require the State Department to transfer money to the Department of Veterans Affairs to finance those benefits.

Coburn will be allowed three hours of debate on his amendment after striking an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), reported the Army Times.

The obstruction of veteran's benefits angle was partisan spin.

Some details from the Army Times:

“One senator’s hold delaying consideration of a veterans caregiver and health benefits bill has been lifted….

A new agreement will allow a final vote on S 1963 after senators consider an amendment that would pay for stipends, health care, counseling and other benefits for people taking care of severely disabled veterans by cutting the U.S. contribution to the United Nations.

As a result of the agreement, the Senate is now expected to take up and pass the bill this week, .

Coburn’s hold on the Veterans Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009 came to a head before Veterans Day, when Senate Democratic leaders were trying to get the bill passed. Coburn wouldn’t allow the bill to proceed if he wasn’t allowed to offer an amendment, a position that drew sharp criticism from major veterans groups….

.

Lifting of the hold came one day after Coburn tried but failed to get the 2010 veterans appropriations bill modified to pay for the new caregiver benefits. By a 69-24 vote, the Senate rejected a Coburn amendment to send the military construction and veterans’ appropriations bill back to the Senate Appropriations Committee so that money being allocated to military construction projects not requested by the Defense Department could be spent, instead, on new veterans benefits.”

That was unanimous COMMITTEE approval, not unanimous Senate approval.

As a veteran, I remain skeptical on this bill. There is WAY too much gerneality in it that can be “interpreted” to include any number of liberal agendas. The Omnibus titles show that.

Why not criticize the pork barreling politicians who believe that another Akaka Center is Hawaii is more important that helping veterans?

And a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here at The Moderate Voice… A place that I am thankful for.

I believe Democrats did have to make a couple of concessions to the Senator for him to release his hold. I'll try to find what they were for you…after Thanksgiving.

Have a good one,

Dorian

“… Senator Coburn caved in a few days ago, released his hold, and the bill passed unanimously!”

Good article Dorian. Since the bill passed unanimously it will be interesting to see what the “right of center” crowd that thought Coburn was right because the bill was flawed have to say about this about face by Coburn.