August 26, 2009

VA vows to limit vet homelessness

By Steve Brooks | The American Legion
Veterans Benefits
House moves to cut 'widow tax'
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Sylvester Daniels, assigned to Marine Barracks Washington, presents the flag to Bettina L. Beard during her husband's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. DoD/U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob H. Harrer

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki made strong promises to veterans while speaking at the 91st National Convention.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki says he and the Obama administration are determined to keep veterans from falling into homelessness. The retired four-star U.S. Army general spoke at the opening session of The American Legion’s 91st National Convention in Louisville, Ky.

In his “seven–month report” – referring to his term of office thus far – Shinseki pointed to the over-representation of veterans among people dealing with mental-health issues, drug abuse, alcoholism and homelessness. He said the new administration and VA in particular are working to correct this problem, as well as enroll many more eligible veterans into VA health care. The staggering backlog of benefits claims now facing VA case workers will also be addressed. Shinseki said retraining, already under way, will help.

Shinseki lauded the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which expanded veterans educational benefits to cover all tuition costs for any public college or university. Recalling the post-World War II economic boom attributed in part to the exponential growth of college-educated veterans, the VA Secretary predicted that, “we are on the verge of that happening again.”

Shinseki joined fellow convention speakers Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, at the Legion convention’s opening ceremonies.

  • Veterans Benefits