2009 NERA National Conference

Save the date...the Annual National Conference will be held in Oklahoma City, 13 - 18 October 2009. The Oklahoma Sooner Chapter will be hosting the conference this year. Hotel Information: Clarion Meridian Hotel and Convention Center, Okalahoma City, OK , 737 S. Meridian Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73108. More information will be posted as schedules and events are secured. Check out the NERA Affiliates for Cheap-O Fares.

USAA will Reimburse for Transaction Fees

USAA will reimburse service members for foreign transaction fees charged on their Mastercard or Visa. These fees are usually about 1% of the purchase price. Once you notify USAA of your overseas deployment, the benefit lasts for up to a year. However it is not retroactive if you are already deployed. Contact USAA at 877-233-7569 for specific information.

Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

Here is an article fomr Veterans Today claiming that the drinking water from Camp Lejeune does not cause health problems or has little impact on those that were exposed to the drinking water contaminated with industrial sovlents from the 1950s to 1985.


Evidence of Health Problems From Contamination of Water at Camp Lejeune Is Limited & Unresolved
Posted on June 18, 2009 by GM
Scientific Evidence of Health Problems From Past Contamination of Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune Is Limited and Unlikely to Be Resolved With Further Study
WASHINGTON -- Evidence exists that people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1985 were exposed to the industrial solvents tricholorethylene (TCE) or perchloroethylene (PCE) in their water supply, but strong scientific evidence is not available to determine whether health problems among those exposed are due to the contaminants, says a new report from the National Research Council.
The report adds that further research will unlikely provide definitive information on whether exposure resulted in adverse health effects in most cases. Therefore, policy changes or administrative actions to address and resolve the concerns associated with the exposures should not be deferred pending new or potential health studies.
"Even with scientific advances, the complex nature of the Camp Lejeune contamination and the limited data on the concentrations in water supplies allow for only crude estimates of exposure," said David Savitz, chair of the committee that wrote the report and professor in the department of community and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City. "Therefore, the committee could not determine reliably whether diseases and disorders experienced by former residents and workers at Camp Lejeune are associated with their exposure to the contaminated water supply."
In the early 1980s, two water-supply systems, Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point, on Camp Lejeune were found to be contaminated with various toxic industrial solvents, including PCE -- which entered the groundwater as a result of spills and improper disposal practices by an off-base dry cleaner -- and TCE from on-base spills and leaks from underground storage equipment. Considerable public controversy grew over the potential health consequences, such as various cancers, for former residents. To supplement the few studies that have been performed and to help inform decisions about addressing health claims, Congress asked the Research Council to examine whether adverse health effects are associated with past contamination of the water supply at Camp Lejeune.
The committee reviewed an extensive water modeling effort of the contamination of Tarawa Terrace, and for Hadnot Point they examined information on chemical contamination from records and disposal practices. PCE was the primary contaminant of the Tarawa Terrace water supply, but the water models could not overcome data gaps to provide accurate estimates of the concentrations of the contaminants. The committee concluded that in the Hadnot Point area, exposures to TCE and PCE occurred, and exposures to several other contaminants through the drinking water distribution system were likely. The ability to determine the levels of exposure at Camp Lejeune was complex, because people could have been exposed at home, school, daycare, or work.
In addition to reviewing the studies focusing specifically on Camp Lejeune, the committee examined data on exposures and available scientific research on associations between these chemicals and adverse health effects to determine which health problems might be associated with the Camp Lejeune contaminant exposure. The committee looked at data from two types of studies:
epidemiologic and toxicologic. Epidemiologic studies examine whether a group of people with more exposure to particular chemicals have greater frequency of disease than people with lesser or no exposure. Toxicologic studies conduct tests on animals to observe the health effects caused by exposure to chemicals.
The epidemiologic studies of TCE and PCE, primarily conducted in workplace settings, contained insufficient evidence to justify causal inference for any health effects. However, the committee found "limited or suggestive evidence of an association" between chronic exposure to TCE, PCE, or a mixture of solvents, and some diseases and disorders, including cancers of the breast, bladder, kidneys, esophagus, and lungs. This categorization means these epidemiologic studies give some reason to be concerned that sufficiently high levels of TCE or PCE may have an adverse effect, but the studies do not provide strong evidence that they actually do.
The majority of the health outcomes reviewed in the epidemiologic studies was placed in the category of "inadequate or insufficient evidence," meaning that evidence was of insufficient quantity, quality, or inconclusive in results to make an informed assessment, but that an association between exposure to a specific agent and a health outcome cannot be ruled out. A summary of the conclusions drawn from the epidemiologic studies related to solvent exposure can be found in Box 2 on page 8 of the report. Some health outcomes reported by former residents of the base -- such as male breast cancer and second-generation effects -- are not cited because those specific outcomes were not investigated or the studies were too small or of insufficient quality.
The committee also compared information from epidemiologic studies with that from toxicologic studies and found similar health effects in both humans and animals for kidney cancer. Similar noncancerous diseases and disorders included adverse effects on the liver, kidneys, and nervous and immune systems. The findings are in Table 1 on page 10. The absence of other diseases and disorders from Table 1 indicate that the findings were inconsistent between the epidemiologic and toxicologic evidence or were not addressed in the available studies.
Studies specifically on the Camp Lejeune population have addressed only reproductive health outcomes, but the limited quality of exposure information restricts their value. The inability to study exposure and health outcomes accurately is a serious limitation in any future research. Thus, the committee concluded that the U.S. Department of the Navy, under which the Marine Corps operates, should not wait for the results of more research before making decisions about how to follow up on the evident contaminant exposures and their possible health consequences. They should undertake appropriate action in light of the available sparse information that indicate exposure to toxic contaminants occurred and may have affected the health of the exposed population.
The report was sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Navy. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are independent, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter. Committee members, who serve pro bono as volunteers, are chosen by the Academies for each study based on their expertise and experience and must satisfy the Academies' conflict-of-interest standards. The resulting consensus reports undergo external peer review before completion.
The report was sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Navy. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are independent, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter. Committee members, who serve pro bono as volunteers, are chosen by the Academies for each study based on their expertise and experience and must satisfy the Academies' conflict-of-interest standards. The resulting consensus reports undergo external peer review before completion.
Copies of Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune – Assessing Potential Health Effects are available from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet

ONE MORE WEEK

GET YOUR TICKET TO THE NAVAL ENLISTED ASSOCIATION HARLEY-DAVIDSON RAFFLE! YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A $20,000 MOTORCYCLE AND ALL IT COSTS IS $100 PER TICKET! CALL LAURA AT 800/776-9020 OR GO TO THE NERA WEBSITE AT WWW.NERA.ORG.

THE DRAWING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 14TH. GOOD LUCK!

White House Withdraws Proposal

Here is an article that the White House is withdrawing the proposal to privatize health insurance for wounded veterans. Thank you President Obama for listening to our objections.


WHITE HOUSE WITHDRAWS CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL

VFW calls it the right decision



WASHINGTON (March 18, 2009) – The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is thanking the president for withdrawing a controversial proposal that would have billed veterans with private health insurance for the care they receive for their service-connected disabilities and wounds.



"President Obama said in a meeting Monday that he would listen to the veterans' community if they objected to this proposal," said Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas.



"The president kept to his word and made the right decision. Now we can move forward and work with his administration and Congress to ensure that the rest of the Department of Veterans Affairs budget recommendation is signed into law."



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The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is a nonprofit veterans' service organization composed of combat veterans and those who currently serve on active duty or in the Guard and Reserves. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is the nation's largest organization of war veterans and is one of its oldest veterans' organizations. With 2.2 million members located in 7,900 VFW Posts worldwide, the VFW and its Auxiliaries are dedicated to "honor the dead by helping the living" through veterans service, legislative initiatives, youth scholarships, Buddy Poppy and national military service programs. The VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 13 million hours annually in community service to the nation. For more information or to join, visit the organization's Web site at www.vfw.org.

The Military Coaltion Response

Read the response of The Military Coalition on the proposed changes to VA Health Benefits http://www.nera.org/storage/nera//third%20party%20billing.pdf

Then vote in our poll!

Proposed Changes to VA Health Benefits

Will Obama Go AWOL on VA Health Benefits?

By DAVID K. REHBEIN

'If you were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan and you have not paid your co-pay, please press 1. If you were injured during military training and you have not yet reached your deductible, please press 2. If your family has reached its maximum insurance benefit, please call back after you have purchased additional coverage. Thank you for your service."

Before the leaders of other veteran's groups and I met with President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, I believed a phone call like the one described above unimaginable. Now it seems all too possible.

President Obama made clear during our discussion that he intends to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans with service-connected disabilities. He is trying to unfairly generate $540 million on the backs of veterans.

The proposed requirement for private companies to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would not only be unfair, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. Depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health-care benefits.

Currently, when veterans go to a VA hospital or related health-care facility for treatment of a service-connected disability, they receive the care without any billing to the veterans or the veterans' insurance. (On the other hand, those veterans who choose the VA for the treatment of nonservice-connected disabilities pay a co-pay, and the VA bills private insurance companies reasonable charges.)

Perhaps nobody would be hit harder by the Obama administration's proposal than the thousands of veterans who own small businesses. Not only will their private insurance premiums be drastically elevated to cover service-connected disabilities, but many will be forced to cut staff as a result. The unemployment rate for veterans may climb even higher, as businesses avoid hiring these heroes for fear of the impact they would have on insurance rates.

This plan is as unfair as it is unnecessary. According to the U.S. Constitution, it is the president and Congress who send troops in harm's way, not the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield.

As head of the nation's largest veterans organization, I was startled by this radical shift of position the president has taken. Last October, candidate Obama listed several proposals he had for the VA and none of them included billing veterans' insurance providers.

In fact, when asked how he would improve the funding formula for the VA's health-care system, then-Sen. Obama told the American Legion Magazine, "It starts with the president saying that if I'm budgeting for war, then I am also budgeting for VA. If I've got a half-a-trillion-dollar Pentagon budget, then I'd better make sure that I make some of those billions of dollars available to care for the soldiers once they come home. It should be a non-negotiable proposition that people are receiving the services that they need. This is the reason I joined the Veterans Affairs Committee -- because I believe deeply in that principle."

So I ask President Obama now, for all America's veterans, where is that principled stance today? By abandoning its responsibilities to the heroic men and women who answered our nation's call, the federal government is breaking a sacred promise. Moreover, it is unnecessary.

The 2.6 million member American Legion has long advocated for Medicare to reimburse the VA for its treatment of Medicare-eligible veterans. Veterans pay into the Medicare-system, yet they are unable to use Medicare benefits in the VA health system, which was created specifically for them. The Indian Health Service is successfully billing and collecting needed revenue for both Medicare and Medicaid. We also believe that direct billing between two federal agencies will reduce the opportunities for waste, fraud and abuse that tend to occur when for-profit corporations enter the mix.

Our military veterans have already served this country. They have given us their blood, sweat and devotion. Under President Obama's proposal, the most severely wounded veterans could easily exceed their maximum insurance benefit, leaving their family without any additional coverage. This is hardly the thanks of a grateful nation.

Mr. Rehbein, a former U.S. Army sergeant of the Vietnam War era, is national commander of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, the nation's largest wartime veterans organization.

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AIG Bonuses

The big news today is how can we stop AIG in paying out bonuses to their employees who helped create their financial mess in the first place? If somehow the bonuses cannot be stopped, then the people receiving the money should be fired. I also wonder, did AIG know that they had to payout the bonuses when they originally received the $170 billion from the government?

Click on the title to read an article from the Associated Press.

Obama Pay Raise

Obama calls for 2.9% pay raise in 2010

Staff report
Posted : Sunday Mar 1, 2009 8:48:46 EST

President Obama is proposing a 2.9 percent military pay raise effective Jan. 1, 2010, a figure that would match — not exceed — average wage growth in the private sector.

The pay raise is contained in a broad-stroke summary of Obama’s first federal budget, titled “A New Era of Responsibility.” Full details of the budget are not expected to be released until some time in April.

In every year of this decade so far, the military pay raise has been at least one-half percentage point above the average private-sector wage growth, a sustained effort by Congress to close a purported gap between military and civilian pay that some say has existed since 1982. The gap reportedly stands at 2.9 percent today.

The Bush administration also proposed military pay raises that matched private-sector wage growth in at least two years of this decade, but lawmakers consistently have bumped up the increase slightly in the final defense budget.

Obama’s defense budget request for fiscal 2010 totals $533.7 billion, which would be a 4 percent increase over this year’s figure of $513.3 billion. That does not include funding for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama has asked for $75.5 billion for the rest of this fiscal year and $130 billion in fiscal 2010 in wartime supplemental funding.

At the same time, the administration will begin shifting back into the base defense budget spending for some programs that have been supported with emergency supplemental funds in recent years.

The administration says these programs do not belong in the “wartime emergency” category. They include “certain medical services, family support initiatives, security assistance to foreign governments, and enhancements to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.”

In other areas, Obama’s 2010 budget proposal would:

• Expand concurrent receipt of full veterans disability payments and military retired pay for those who are eligible for both payments. The budget document does not explain what this proposal entails. Currently, many disabled military retirees still have a portion of their retired pay offset dollar-for-dollar by the amount they receive in VA disability payments. The offset is being phased out over a 10-year period that is scheduled to end in 2014.

• Increase Veterans Affairs Department funding by $25 billion over the next five years. The budget also would restore eligibility for VA health care to veterans who have at least modest incomes and do not have service-connected conditions. These “Category 8” veterans have been shut out from enrolling in VA’s health care system since 2003. By 2013, this would bring more than 500,000 more veterans into the system.

• Fund expanded VA mental health screening and treatment services, with a focus on reaching veterans in rural areas by establishing more Vet Centers and mobile health clinics.

• Support continuing efforts to “improve the medical care and housing for wounded, ill and injured service members.” The Defense Department will complete new Army wounded warrior complexes at posts throughout the U.S., including in Alaska and Hawaii, as well as in Germany.

• Expand Pentagon and VA pilot programs to expedite the processing of injured troops through the Disability Evaluation System. The pilots are designed to substantially cut the time required to determine disability ratings and begin paying benefits to wounded troops.

• Continue to “sustain and modernize barracks and dormitories housing service members around the world and works to end all inadequate housing for military families.”

• Fund a comprehensive Defense Department traumatic brain injury registry, “including a single point of responsibility to track incidents and recovery.” The military services also will expand the number of mental health professionals integrated with deployed units “to better channel medical attention to those who need it quickly.”

Obama’s 2010 budget proposal also would support additional permanent end-strength increases in the size of the Army and Marine Corps to 547,000 and 202,000, respectively, that are on track to be achieved by the end of 2009.

Camp Lejeune and Tainted Drinking Water

If you have lived or worked in 1987 or before at Camp Lejeune you need to register with the Marine Corps by visiting www.marines.mil/clsurvey or by calling the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Call Center at (877) 261-9782,

There were 2 unregulared solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), found in water systems serving the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point areas. These solvents are the sames ones used in dry cleaning and may be toxic. It is being determined at this time if exposure to these chemicals can cause certain adverse health effects.

Today, the water at Camp Lejeune meets or exceeds all envrionmental standards

TRICARE

This is from the Navy Times:

An e-mail is bouncing around cyberspace claiming the TRICARE for Life benefit is abut to be reduced or even eliminated. The e-mail’s originators claim the White House Office of Management and Budget is now making decisions to that effect, and they’re even insinuating that President Barack Obama has something to do with it—even though the source document for those claims originated weeks before Obama’s Jan 20 swearing in.

Many worried readers have contacted me to ask whether this is true. Here is what I can tell you.

There is something called the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency (it serves neither Democratic nor Republican masters) with two main missions: working up cost estimates for the many legislative proposals that come out of Congress each year and offering lawmakers annual options for cutting federal spending.

In December, CBO issued its first wave of annual options, focusing on health dare costs. Among the 115 options are three related to TRICARE.

One would nominally increase cost-shares for family members of active duty members. Another would do the same for “working age” military retirees under age 65. And a third would introduce nominal cost-sharing fees for TRICARE-for-Life users.

I cannot stress strongly enough that these are options. No one is actively working to implement these ideas. In fact, the vast majority of the options issued by CBO are never acted upon.

The White House Office of Management and Budget is not involved. OMB and CBO are in different branches of government and do not work together. Further, given all the other things Obama has on his plate, it’s absurd to think that TRICARE is even close to being on his radar screen.

Could some of the CBO options possibly gain traction at some point? Anything is possible. And it is always a good idea to keep your elected representatives apprised of your views on issues that are important t you. But again, very few, if any, of these annual CBO options go anywhere, and not one in a policymaking position is talking about eliminating or altering TRICARE for Life.

The Internet is one of greatest innovations in human history, but it also gives people a way to rapidly spread unfounded and inaccurate information. We face enough real uncertainties these days. We don’t need to unnecessarily scare one another with baseless rumors and speculations.

One of President Obama's first executive orders was to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center within the next year and to ban "torture". This can be a great step for the United States because it shows that we are standing up for human rights. It goes without saying that one would want to "do unto others as you would have others do unto to you."

But what will happen with all the detainees that are currently there? Is a year a realistic goal?

Standing up for human rights is something I believe in, but the United States needs to make sure we are also coming across as a force to be reckoned with and finding that balance can be difficult.

What are your opinions? Vote and let us know!

NERA Merchandise

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Follow the link to get your NERA hats, shirts and more. A percentage of the sales will support NERA's efforts to promote the rights of enlisted reservists in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

If you do not find the item you are looking for, send me a note and we will look into adding it to our store.

As always, you can purchase coins, decals and memberships directly on the NERA website, www.nera.org.

Happy shopping!

College Scholarship Program

I am sure there are many families wondering how they will pay for their children's college education. The NERA 2009 College Scholarship Program, funded largley by a grant from USAA Insurance, can help in these tough times. The program is eligible to NERA members and their families. Not a member of NERA? It only costs $30 for a year's membership. A small cost to pay.

There will be two scholarships given to regular NERA members at $3,000 a piece and four more scholarships of $2,500 given to family members and/or NERA associate members.

To apply, join NERA or just find out more information, go to our website, www.nera.org.

Winter Mariner

The 2008/09 Mariner is now online. Click on the title of the post and it will take you directly to the Mariner where you can read articles on the Wounded Warrior Project, Homeless Veterans, a report from the Orlando conference in October 2008 and more!

President Obama's Inauguration

Today, I realized there is just a little over a week left until President Obama's inauguration. Less than that for the beginning of the festivities. By the end of the week, the Washington, DC area will have swarms of citizens coming in from all around the country, wanting to take part in this historic event.

What will you be doing this weekend? Will you watch everything from the comfort of your own home? Will you brave the crowds in DC to get a glimpse of our future President and his family? Will you host a party? Or will you not even acknowledge this event? Yes, there are many people out there who voted for McCain and wish they could be rejoicing in the upcoming events. But as a country, we all need to come together now and realize that no matter who we voted for in this past election it's time to work together. I am not saying that you should throw away your political beliefs but we all need to be more open minded to other viewpoints whether it's democratic, republican or any other party.

Please take part in our most recent poll and I look forward to hearing your comments!

NERA Store

You can now buy your NERA merchandise at http://www.soldiercity.com/nera-embroidered-clothing/c/1320. Get hats, shirts, and sweatshirts embroidered with the NERA logo!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone has either renewed their NERA membership or has joined because as of today, annual dues has increased to $30 per year. Still a bargain and a great investment for the future of enlisted reservists.