American Gold Star Mothers lay wreath at Tomb of the Unknowns, Gold Star Mothers Sunday, 09/26/05 Soldiers looking at Vietnam Wall Memorial Francis Turley at a funeral for a forgotten veteran. One of the many markers at Arlington Cemetery remembered by a mother Perpetuating the noble principles for which they fought and died.


Various pieces of legislation have been highlighted in recent newsletter articles. This list is constantly changing and would require a legislative professional much work to stay abreast of the changes and the status of each piece. We have no legislative professional on staff to monitor the changes and our highlights are meant to be helpful, but are in no way comprehensive or exact as to the current status of the legislation. If you want to check the current status of legislation, go to www.libraryofcongress.gov and click on the Thomas button (named for Thomas Jefferson, whose picture may float into view). Here you will find options to take you to House or Senate legislation. You may search by specific number or key words. This process takes a little bit of time to navigate and read the legislation, but should be helpful in answering your questions about sponsors and status. If you have questions or need additional information, e-mail goldstarmoms@yahoo.com.

Deadline for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Extended Again

The RSLSP was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss Authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

When RSLSP began on Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts over the past 18 months. Outreach efforts including direct mail and engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue through Oct. 21, 2011.

To apply, or for more information on RSLSP, including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss

Veterans Benefits Act of 2010

HR 3219, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 was recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. The bill covers many areas including:

  • Protects soldiers who are deployed or moved from having to pay an early termination fee (such as for a cell phone) and on residential leases.
  • Reauthorizes an expired VA work-study program for veterans.
  • VA will be verifying their database of Veteran and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
  • Authorizes $10 million more for dedicated services for homeless women Veterans and homeless Veterans with children.
  • Allows 100% disabled Veterans to receive free SGLI insurance coverage for two years.
  • Increases the auto allowance for disabled Veterans.
  • Allows parents whose child died on active duty to also be buried in a national cemetery if the deceased veteran was not survived by a spouse or children.
  • Instructs the Institute of Medicine to carry out a review of best treatment practices for chronic multi-symptom Gulf War Veterans.

Are you entitled to the Stop-Loss bonus?

Time is running out to apply for retroactive bonus pay for 145,000 military personnel who were forced to remain on duty beyond their original discharge date, following the September 11th attacks. Congress has approved back pay of $500 for each month of involuntary service; the average lump-sum due is between $3,500 and $3,800. Applications must be submitted by December 3, 2010. The DoD is desperately trying to track down about 90,000 veterans. Congress ordered the military to dole out back pay to those affected by the policy dating to 2001. There are some exceptions. Soldiers who accepted re-enlistment bonuses, for instance, are ineligible. So far, the military had processed about 55,000 applications and approved $210 million in back pay, leaving $324 million left unclaimed. Submit your application online at www.defense.gov/stoploss.

Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act

Yesterday (April 23, 2010), the United States Congress passed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, giving severely wounded warriors and the family members who care for them some much-needed support to ensure the warriors receive the highest quality of care available and remain out of nursing homes.

Now the bill will head to President Barack Obama for signature and enactment into law.

On behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project community, I thank you all for your unparalleled support to pass this legislation. If it were not for you and your tireless efforts, these wounded warriors and their caregivers would not have a new sense of security and hope as they look toward the future.

The passage of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act will help provide financial, emotional, and medical assistance to the caregivers of those veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who were so severely injured in the line of duty they require round-the-clock care.

We thank you for giving them and their loved ones the support that they need to move forward. These warriors have served our country well, and I'm proud that they are getting the help they deserve.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many,

Steven Nardizzi, CEO
Wounded Warrior Project

Legislation of interest in the 111th Congress, 2nd session (2010) includes:

  • AGSM Monument Bill, H.R. 4197 To establish a national monument in Washington, D.C.
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill, already passed, needs some technical modifications to better serve Veterans. The modifications needed relate to current tuition and fees system to ensure equality in all states and schools and to eliminate discrimination in distance educational programs used by many Veterans. Changes should also allow for Veterans to opt for vocational education with appropriate financial assistance.
  • Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (H.R. 2254) needs Co-Sponsors in the Senate. This bill would clarify the law so that every service member awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, or otherwise deployed in the Republic of Vietnam would be fully covered by the law passed in 1991. If enacted, the bill would make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War Veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that are linked to toxic exposure currently identified.
  • S. 504 Re-Designation of “The Dept. of the Navy” to “The Dept. of the Navy and Marine Corps”.
  • HR4241 would allow increased flexibility in payments to State Veterans Homes that would correct funding inequities for long-term care.
  • H.R. 403 and S.1160 Bills would provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
  • H.R. 667 To improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces and to expand health programs at Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
  • S. 1963 The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 contains provisions to give severely wounded Veterans an option to stay home, with their primary caregivers receiving a stipend based on hours and level of care. Bill was passed in the Senate and the House referred it to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs last November.
  • H. R. 1034 To establish the Honor & Remember Flag as a National symbol for all military personnel who have given their lives in service.
  • H. R. 761 – To all a parent to be interred with their child who is buried in a Veterans’ Cemetery, if the child was not married and had no independent children.

Feb 2010

At the February, 2010 meeting of AGSM National Executive Board, we took our legislative efforts forward in two significant ways. Rick Weidman of Vietnam Veterans of America, along with Donald Overton and Tim Wheeler of Veterans of Modern Warfare held a legislative workshop for Board members. It proved to be so informative that they have been invited to our National Convention in PA in June to hold a workshop for all attendees. They have firsthand experience and knowledge in all things legislative to share with us.

Prior to arrival in DC, Board members made appointments with their respective Congressmen or Senators on the Hill. Historic snowstorm aside, many of those appointments were kept and we were able to highlight four important pieces of legislation. One that has garnered the largest response from our members is HR761, which would allow a parent to be interred with their child in a Veterans’ Cemetery if the child was not married and had no independent children. Feedback from legislators visited is that they support this bill and feel that it will pass with relative ease. If you support it too, contact your legislators and ask them for a favorable vote.