The department of veterans affairs, also called the VA, received cabinet level status on March 15, 1989. It was signed and put into law by President Ronald Reagan but did not take effect until George H. W. Bush came to office. The VA is reasonable for providing benefits and support to veterans. These benefits include but are not limited to: disability compensation, survivors’ benefits, education, health care and burial benefits. Currently the VA is run by Robert A. McDonald, a former United States Army captain. All secretaries of veterans affairs have been veterans, but is not required. The VA has a budget projected for 2017 of $182.8 billion with $78.7 billion for discretionary resources and 103.6 billion in mandatory funding. They employ nearly 280,000 people who serve over 21.6 million U.S. veterans. After WWII the government found a dramatic rise in veterans. With this congress passed many laws that gave new benefits to war veterans. The VA became a cabinet because most veterans from WWII were now retiring and would need more care and benefits than before. Another main reason was a court case in 1987. Rose vs Rose was a case against a totally disabled veteran who was held in contempt for not paying child support. The government …show more content…
decided that the benefits needed to include any dependents. We needed to have more set guidelines and laws to help veterans and their families. Having these issues allowed the government to make the Veterans Administration into the Department of Veterans Affairs. The veterans needed a branch that was in touch with the government at top level.
When they became cabinet level this allowed for them to make a budget, create support that all veterans need, especially at the time of retirement. The VA also has the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which brings 152 hospitals, 800 outpatient clinics, and 126 nursing homes. Before they were a cabinet veterans only had 54 hospitals. Another major section is the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). They purchase land and make sure for proper burials of veterans. Over time we now have 147 national cemeteries, with more in the making. The United States have more than 19,000 acres devoted to memorialization for those who serve our great
nation. I really think that making the VA a cabinet has helped alot. It makes the veterans feel more important and receive the care and support that they need/should get for serving our country. I am proud to have two parents that worked for the Navy, a brother that is a veteran and a sister that is currently serving. They have never had anything bad to say about the benefits they receive. Making it cabinet level made for improvement in health, education, burial, etc. "There is only one place for the Veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America." -George H.W. Bush The Department of Veterans Affairs recently enacted the Veterans Employment Pay for Success (VEPFS) program which will put $3 million towards employment, labor, and training for employment rehabilitation for around 500 veterans over 5 years. This program will mainly address PTSD which is something that greatly affects veterans and stops them from reaching meaningful employment.
The United States has the most comprehensive system and programs of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world. The first domiciliary, a residential home for Veterans was authorized by the Federal Government in 1811. After the Civil War, President Lincoln made a promise to care for widows, orphans and injured soldiers; many State veterans homes were established to care for indigent and disabled veterans. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Congress established a new system of Veterans’ benefits, including the addition of disability compensation and vocational rehabilitation. In the 1920s, the ever-increasing benefits were administered by three different Federal agencies: the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, the Veterans Bureau, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized President Herbert Hoover to consolidate the programs for Veterans into one government bureau. The Veterans Administration took over the responsibility of the National Cemetery System from the Department of the Army in 1973, but in 1989, President Bush established the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Cabinet-level position. President Bush was quoted as saying; "There is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America." (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 2010)
The draft is something young men fear and crave. Some fear they will lose everything, die or just not be the same if they get picked. I have met young men who cannot be in the military due to family issues, so the draft would come as a blessing. The draft is also very random, so both of those boys' chances of getting picked is also very slim. The draft reminds me of The Reaping from The Hunger Games, we pick your name out of a bowl and the magic of selection will decide if you go or not. Then your skill set will determine how long you live in battle. May the odds be ever in your favor, and don't forget that you're and accountant and have no hand-eye coordination! There are plenty of volunteers in America that will gladly serve our country if we need more soldiers, I personally think the wars have past their expiration date, and there are other jobs people can do
The third legacy of the GI Bill devolved from the manner in which it was administered and funded. The program was concentrated in the Veterans Administration (now known as the Department of Veterans Affairs) and was a centralized federal program that was based on a decentralized market approach. Legislators funded the GI Bill educational benefits through the veterans, who had the control of the postwar allocation of resources which established the basic postwar method for subsequent federal loans and grants to college students ("GI BILL—1952", 1952).
Originally, assistance for veterans began in the 1600 where the colony passed laws where soldiers that became disabled while fighting with the Pequot Indians would be supported by the colony. The DVA was established as a cabinet-level position under the Bush administration in 1989. The agency mission is based on a commitment statement that was developed by President Lincoln, which commits the organization to excellence.
America is the land of opportunity and the land of second chances. People come to America to live a better life, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. When Veterans come back home, all they want is a second chance at life again. They want to come back and be able to start from where they left off. But the government has done very little to help these veterans. The government believes they have done enough with the programs they have created, but it hasn’t had much of a change. The purpose of this essay is to discuss my opinion and what I know about this issue, to benefit The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who are my intended audience. If the government were to put a lot of effort, like they do for pointless issues, there wouldn’t be many struggling veterans. If the government does more to improve every aspect of the reintegration process of veterans, so many benefits would come out of this action. There are a couple of reasons for why we should work toward improving veterans lives. First, there would possibly be a decrease in the veteran suicide levels and a decrease in the substance abuse aspect. Second, less veterans and families will have to worry about living and struggling with mental illnesses. Third, by improving the economical aspect for these veterans, more will find jobs and less will end up on the street homeless. And lastly, the reintegration process won’t be as hard for these veterans, and they will be able to resume a normal life. This essay is not meant to offend in any way, its purpose is to provide a new perspective over this issue, to cause a change for the better.
The federal government has funds for all veterans who need to go back to school.
United States Government Accountability Office (2011). Veterans' Education Benefits: Enhanced Guidance and Collaboration Could Improve Administration of the Post-9/11 Program (GAO-11-356R). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
It was once assumed that the government would provide services for veterans, but nonprofit organizations and communities have been picking up the slack to help veterans get back on their feet after returning home. The government is dependent on nonprofit organizations to supply veterans and their families with the necessary goods and services. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is an organization that provides services for veterans and their families. The WWP focuses on mind, body, economic empowerment, and engagement, all things that help veterans through post-war symptoms (The Wounded Warrior Project). The government is recommending giving less housing allowances, limiting pay raises, and having higher fees for health care benefits; other cuts would include stores being unable to give discounts to military families (Nissenbaum and Barnes). The amount of money veterans receive for housing, health care, and retirement is being cut left and right by the government and the money is being used and put towards other departments. In California, The County Veterans Service Officers Inc. plays a very important role in verterans’ lives (California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc.) Many organizations help veterans who are in need of services because our government is not always able to provide...
Are veterans being taken care of medically, mentally, and financially? According to Steve Buyer, a member of the House of Representatives from Indiana's fourth district, "Because all of us believe and understand in the fabric of the common bond of why we call ourselves American is to care for the men and women who wear the uniform; and when they take off the uniform, we care for them when they are veterans." After men or women finish their time serving our country and take off their uniform, they still hold the title of Veteran. They are the brave ones who fought and served for America. The care for the veterans of America is a crucial part of giving back to those who risked their lives for our country.
“Factors Affecting Health Care” (50-55) Demonstrates the sacrifices and how difficult it is for veterans to receive healthcare from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The DAV was founded when our country was struggling with the effects of World War I. American veterans that came home from World War I started the DAV in 1920. A lot has changed in the last ninety-one years, but the wounded and sick from the wars still need the DAV's help in life cope with their disabilities (Wars & Scars 1). In 1932 the DAV was deemed the official voice of the nation’s wartime disabled veterans (About Disabled American Veterans 1). The DAV have many missions in helping the veterans. Some mission statements are “Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs” (Mission Statement 1), “Extending DAV's mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local Chapter” (Mission Statement 1), and “Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widows and spouses, and their orphans before Congress, the White House, and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government”(Mission Statement 1). “Providing outreach concerning its program services to the Am...
One of the most serious problems facing all veterans today is the lack of proper healthcare. Soldiers, sailors and airmen are leaving active duty without having proper healthcare to cover their physical or mental injuries. The department responsible for veteran’s healthcare is the Department of Veterans Affairs. (VA) According to The department of Veterans Affairs website, “The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is responsible for administering programs of veterans’ benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors. The benefits provided include disability compensation, pension, education, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivors’ benefits, medical benefits and burial benefits. It is administered by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.” The VA, who was formerly called the Veterans Administration, was established 21 July 1930, to consolidate and coordinate government activities affecting war veterans. The VA encompassed the functions of the former U.S. Veterans' Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. On 25 October 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation creating a new federal Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs to replace the Veterans Administration effective 15 March 1989 (V.A.)
Soldiers are left waiting and unrewarded for their time spent helping America. An example of this is Kenny Porter a veteran from the 82nd airborne(ARMY) was treated wrongly at a VA hospital. He describes his experience like this: “Every time I opened my mouth the doctor shushed me or tried to shut me up. He was impatient. I was humiliated in front of my daughter”. This story is just an example of many other veterans that have been lost in the VA system and that have received little to no compensation for their service. Our current VA system disgusts me and the above quote describes the reality of what our servicemen face when they return from their service.What America needs to do is make the system more consistent. We do this by hiring more people to work for the VA hospitals so our country can get veterans suffering with PTSD immediate help when they ask for it. We give people the benefits promised prior to their service such as healthcare, insurance, education, housing, and status. And we create excellent jobs waiting for soldiers when they come home. In all honesty there is no reason why our veterans should not get what they
In 1636 the “Pilgrims passed a law which stated that disabled soliders would be supported by the colony.” (VA History) This paved the way for veterans’ benefits and healthcare. It wasn’t until 1811 that the federal government authorized the first medical and domiciliary facilities along with benefits and pensions for the veterans and their families. When the United States entered World War 1 in 1917, Congress created a new system for veterans’ benefits such as disability compensation, insurance, vocational rehabilitation. These benefits were directed by three different agencies in the Federal Government, these branches were the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Ten years later congress authorized the president to “consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans”; this action united the three component agencies into bureaus under the veterans’ administration. In the following six decades there were vast increases in the veteran population, and new benefits enacted by congress for veterans following Wo...
The Big Five is the largest cluster in the Federal Budget, consisting of 82% of the budget. “The Big Five distributes money to Medicare and Medicaid, social security, defense, safety net programs for the poor and elderly, and interest on national debt”(Document C). The defense and interest on the national debt categories accomplish the goal in the preamble to provide for the common defense. “The government