Dr. Kizer, former VA Undersecretary for Health from1994 to 1999, is widely credited with turning around VA’s health care system, as documented in Longman’s book. Also participating for the Commission was the Honorable Harry N. Walters, who served as VA Administrator from 1983 to 1987. During Walters tenure in charge of VA he also helped modernize VA through a number of management and organization reforms. Walters was also the driving force in creating the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans, and serves as Managing Commissioner.

Other experts participating in the discussion include Dr. Gerald Cross, Acting VA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health; John Holahan, Ph.D., Director, Health Policy Center at The Urban Institute; and John F. Sommer, Jr., Executive Director of The American Legion.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how our government can meet those needs. The Commission has been meeting and conducting independent research to develop and deliver recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by spring 2008.

“We are grateful for the generous sponsorship of the PGA and for their demonstrated dedication to the cause of America’s veterans,” said Walters.  “Golf is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and all abilities, and can provide tremendous physical, emotional and social benefits to our nations wounded warriors.  We believe that pairing up disabled veterans and golf can be an important component of their rehabilitation, and the PGA has some ideas that our Commission should consider as we develop our recommendations for the future,” Walters said.

PGA Chief Executive Office Joe Steranka expressed thanks to the Commission for “…the very important work you are doing for this special group of Americans.  We welcome the opportunity to explain the role that golf can play as a lifetime activity for America’s veterans,” he said.

The PGA has developed a number of programs to provide golf instruction to wounded and disabled servicemembers and veterans, working through the Military Severely Injured Center and VA hospitals across the country.  As part of their program, PGA professionals will provide disabled veterans with instruction on golf, including specific instruction on how to use compatible motion to develop golf skills relative to their abilities.  They will also provide information about equipment and resources to fit disabled golfers with adaptive equipment. Further information about the PGA program can be at: http://www.pga.com/news/pganews/pgamedianewsletter/pgadsusa_051707.cfm

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how the government can meet those needs.  The Commission has been meeting and conducting independent research to develop and deliver recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008.  The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization comprised of leading veterans service organizations, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded American Veterans Foundation, and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Following three days of fact-finding visits and public meetings in Tampa, Florida, Managing Commissioner Harry N. Walters said that, “the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans has taken major strides towards its goal of developing a vision and plan for how this nation can best deliver needed benefits and services to our veterans far into the future.”  The centerpiece of the Tampa visit was an open, public “town hall” meeting held on Wednesday night in which hundreds of Florida residents (some all the way from Miami) were able to speak directly to the Commission about their experiences with VA today and their hopes for its future.  This “town hall” meeting, called “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans”, was also webcast live over the Internet.

“Our Commission was able to hear the heart-felt views and insightful ideas of Tampa Bay veterans, caregivers and supporters of veterans, as well as leading medical professionals working to improve veterans’ lives,” said Harry Walters, who previously served as Administrator of Veterans Affairs under President Ronald Reagan.  “We are grateful to all the Floridians who cared enough to come to our meetings, take us on tours, and provide expert testimony to the Commission.  Our Commissioners heard them loud and clear, and we will make sure that their ideas become part of this Commission’s work,” Walters said.

Over the past week, the Commission conducted comprehensive tours of the VA nursing home at Bay Pines and the polytrauma and spinal cord injury units at the Haley VA hospital in Tampa.  The Commission also heard several hours of expert testimony about the future of VA research, academic affiliations, and information management and technology.  On Wednesday, the Commission was joined by retired General Norman H. Schwarzkopf, himself a Tampa resident, who is supporting the Commission as a member of its National Leadership Council.  Schwarzkopf praised the Commission for its work to fulfill America’s obligation to care for those men and women who defend our nation.

Among the experts who spoke to the Commission were: Dr. Steven Scott, Medical Director, Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center; Dr. Joel Kupersmith, VA Chief of Research and Development; Dr. Paul Tibbits, VA Deputy Chief Information Officer; Dr. Malcolm Cox, Chief Academic Affiliations Officer; Dr. Jordan J. Cohen of the American Association of Medical Colleges; Dr. Lynn Wecker, Associate Dean for Research at the University of South Florida College of Medicine; and Mr. Gary Ewart, Director of Research at Friends of VA Research.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans (www.future4vets.org) began operating in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and develop recommendations for how the federal government should meet those needs.  Over the next 15 months, the Commission will continue holding meetings and conducting research to develop and deliver recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008.  The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization that includes The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Blinded American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, and  Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The Commission is currently engaged in a multi-state tour entitled “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans”, actively seeking input from military veterans, veterans’ experts, and other Americans interested in supporting veterans.  The “Conversation” began at Charleston, West Virginia in January, continued this week in Tampa, Florida and next goes to San Diego, California at the end of May, and then on to Cincinnati in July.

The purpose of the “Conversation” is to actively engage the American people in helping the Commission develop a long term, strategic plan for meeting the needs of veterans decades into the future.  Participants of this Webcast will be able to listen to the entire meeting online, view any materials presented, and will also have the opportunity to pose questions and comments to the panel at any time during the meeting via Web Q&A.  

Prior to the day of the Meeting, please test your system at http://www.vcall.com/vcall/system_test.asp (simply click on the orange “Test My Computer First” button).  This will automatically run your computer through a simple set of tests.  Please note, you may need to install a few things (Java plug-in, Macromedia Flash player, etc.) if your computer does not pass the system tests.  Please see your I.T. staff should you need assistance with these installations.  A complete list of system requirements is can be found at: http://www.vcall.com/vcall/requirements.asp.
 
To participate in the Web cast of the meeting on Wednesday, March 14th, at 7 pm ET, please follow the instructions below (we recommend you login 15 minutes prior to the 7pm start time):
 
1. Go to: http://www.vcall.com/vcall/participant_login.htm

2. Enter your first name, last name, and email address as requested. Enter the room number: 82882 

Should you have any technical questions while or after testing your system, please contact technical support at support@vcall.com

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and develop recommendations for how the federal government should meet those needs.  Over the next year, the Commission will hold meetings and conduct independent research to deliver a plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by the spring of 2008.

“We are very pleased to expand our activities beyond the confines of auditoriums and conference rooms through the use of modern technology that allows anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to fully take part in our meetings,” said Harry N. Walters, Managing Commissioner and former VA Administrator.  “Not only will web participants see and hear the same things as the live audience, they will also be able to submit comments and questions over the Internet to the Commissioners,” said Walters.

“The shocking stories about living conditions for many of our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center bring home the problems that can occur when a health care system is strained to the breaking point,” Walters said.  “With a looming budget crisis facing the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal programs, it is absolutely imperative that we begin planning today to ensure that our future veterans get the treatment they deserve.  That’s what this Commission is all about: looking at the system today, envisioning where it needs to be in the future, and developing plans to get there from here,” Walters said.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans began operating in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and develop recommendations for how the federal government should meet those needs.  Over the next 15 months, the Commission will continue holding meetings and conducting research to develop and deliver recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008.  The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization comprised of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and AMVETS.

The Commission is currently engaged in a multi-state tour entitled “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans”, actively seeking input from military veterans, veterans’ experts, and other Americans interested in supporting veterans.  The “Conversation” began at Charleston, West Virginia in January, continues with another Town Hall meeting on March 14 in Tampa, Florida and next goes to San Diego, California at the end of May.  All future town hall meetings of the Commission will be broadcast as ‘virtual’ town hall meetings on the web.

“The VA of today cannot survive Washington’s deadly budget battles much longer,” Walters said.  “Only by bringing about dramatically new ideas and more robust partnerships with States and other entities can we provide what our veterans have earned and will desperately need in the future,” he said.

“Our independent, non-governmental and non-partisan Commission is charged with establishing a visionary, critically-needed plan to ensure that our veterans will have the resources and assistance they require when returning from the hazards of war,” said Walters. 

“There is an economic train wreck looming that could seriously jeopardize VA’s ability to provide for veterans within a few short years. The Commission is looking at new models that could align state governments and other important partners to provide efficient veterans services in collaboration with the federal government to save the system for our veterans,” Walters said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Commission with State Directors and particularly pleased by their thoughtful input and interest in supporting the Commission’s work.” Walters said.

Fellow Commissioner Ray Boland, a former State Director from Wisconsin and Past President of NASDVA, introduced Walters, pointing out that the Commission enjoys strong interest from congressional and government leaders and is the only national entity addressing the serious challenges facing veterans’ services for the future.

Many NASDVA members, including President John Garcia from New Mexico, pledged support for the Commission as it visits cities around the country.  State Directors LeRoy Collins from Florida and Tom Johnson from California offered support for the Commission’s upcoming meetings in Tampa, Florida in March, and San Diego, California in May. 

The Commission is currently engaged in a multi-state tour “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans”, actively seeking input from military veterans, veterans’ experts, and other Americans interested in supporting veterans.  The “Conversations” tour began at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia in January and will continue with another National Town Hall meeting on March 14 in Tampa.  That meeting will also be simulcast over the Web as a ‘virtual’ town hall meeting.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how the government can meet those needs.  Over the next 15 months, the Commission will hold meetings and conduct independent research to develop and deliver their recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008.  The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization founded by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and AMVETS.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans had a tremendous start to their national “Conversations” tour in Charleston, West Virginia in January.West Virginian’s veterans and political leaders packed the State House Chamber for the Commission’s “Town Hall Meeting” to share their views on what veterans deserve and will need decades from now.

West Virginia’s Governor Joe Manchin, as well as the State’s Adjutant General of the National Guard, Secretary of Military Affairs, and Director Veterans Affairs all addressed the Commission. National leaders from The American Legion, VFW, DAV, AMVETS, and PVA also made the trek from Washington to help kick-off the “Conversation” in Charleston.

And in a state where the coal industry is so important, it was refreshing to see the West Virginia Coal Association and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) come together in support of the Commission. In fact, fellow Vietnam veterans Cecil Roberts (President of the UMWA) and Pete Lilly (COO of CONSOL Energy, a major coal company) stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the Statehouse while backing the Commission.

But perhaps the most poignant and powerful messages the Commission heard came from veterans themselves who spoke about their experiences, their needs, and their hopes for the future of their fellow veterans. It was a fantastic beginning to the Commission is calling “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans.”

The next stop will be in Tampa, Florida on March 14, 2007, to be followed by a stop in San Diego, California in May.

WV Governor Joe Manchin addresses the Commission (seated at left) and hundreds of veterans in Chamber.

A packed House of Delegates Chamber served as an historic backdrop as hundreds of West Virginia veterans talked to the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans and West Virginia’s political leadership.

Left: Peter Lilly, COO of CONSOL Energy, addresses a packed State House audience in Charleston. Right: Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers speaks about the future for veterans.

Hershel “Woody” Williams. West Virginia’s oldest living Congressional Medal of Honor awardee, received a standing ovation after making an impassioned presentation to the Commission. Standing behind “Woody” are Peter Lilly, Cecil Roberts, Coal Association President Bill Raney, and WV Governor Joe Manchin.

The Commission’s “Town Hall Meeting” in Charleston, West Virginia garnered quite a lot of media attention in West Virginia, as well as some national press. Television, radio and newspaper stories before and after the meetings helped spread the word about “Conversations on the Future for America’s Veterans.”  Watch a comprehensive TV report from WSAZ-3 from Charleston.  Or read news clips from the Charleston Gazette and the Associate Press.

Tuesday’s town hall meeting was the first for the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans in a series of similar hearings, where input will be sought for crafting a long-range plan for maintaining and improving the U.S. Veterans Administration. Among those speaking Tuesday were United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts and Consol Energy CEO Peter Lilly. The two recently sat at different sides of the table when hammering out a new national coal agreement, but agreed Tuesday that America’s veterans need better treatment.

The coal executive and the union leader — both Vietnam veterans — are “proud of our veterans,” Lilly said, and anxious to see that they receive the benefits that are due them. “We need a new GI Bill that gives veterans everything they were promised by risking their lives, limbs and livelihoods” through military service, Roberts said.

“They should be getting the best health care possible, without having to be sent to facilities across the United States,” he said. Maintaining and improving VA programs “is not a conservative issue or a liberal issue,” Roberts said. “We need to stand up and with one voice say to Congress and to the presidential candidates, ‘This is what veterans want.’” The VA’s aging hospital system needs to be upgraded, he said, “and people shouldn’t have to wait years and years and years to have their claims processed. We can do better than that.”

West Virginia’s only living Medal of Honor recipient warned of a new group of veterans who will need care. “We will need more medical centers with the expertise to care for our seriously injured veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, who in many cases would not have survived in my day,” said Herschel “Woody” Williams of Ona, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism as a Marine during World War II.

In addition to the “tens of thousands of servicemen and women who have suffered traumatic injuries such as losing limbs, blindness or extensive burns over their bodies from blasts,” thousands more returning veterans will need treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, said Randall Bare of Ravenswood. Treatment of severe traumatic injuries, Bare said, “is a type of care that the VA, at least to this point, has delivered in limited cases. Bare also called for a GI Bill with educational benefits similar to those available to World War II vets, under which virtually all college costs were covered.

VA benefits similar to those offered to regular military personnel should also be available to National Guard and Reserve troops summoned to extended active-duty status, said Gen. Allen Tackett, the state’s National Guard adjutant general. “Since the Sept. 11 attacks, 5,500 of West Virginia’s 6,500 Guardsmen have served in a war zone,” Tackett said.

Keith Gwinn, deputy director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs, said that the VA should hire enough personnel to process a huge backlog of eligibility determinations. “There’s no long-range plan to decrease the backlog,” he said, and not enough outreach staff to help veterans file claims. He cited the case of one West Virginia veteran who was initially turned down for assistance because a form was filled out wrong, and within weeks of being told he was ineligible, committed suicide.

State Administration Secretary Robert Ferguson, a 22-year Marine veteran, suggested that the VA reimburse local hospitals for routine health-care matters, saving trips to distant VA facilities.
He added that the Tri-Care health insurance plan offered to military retirees is not honored by specialists in the Charleston area.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., in a letter to the commission read by spokeswoman Ann Barth, said access to VA programs should be expanded to rural areas. “Too often veterans in our state are effectively denied the best health-care options because specialized medical procedures have been consolidated in other states,” Byrd wrote. “Driving five hours to a more distant VA hospital is simply not a realistic solution for many veterans.”

“You make West Virginia more proud than you would recognize,” Gov. Joe Manchin told veterans attending the meeting. “I would hope the federal government would never feel that enough has been done for you.”

The commission, created by the nation’s largest organized veterans groups, is privately funded and not affiliated with the federal government, although it has bipartisan congressional support and the backing of VA Secretary James Nicholson. The commission will release a set of recommendations for improving the VA in spring 2008.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans plans a multistate tour to gather input from veterans, state officials, labor and business leaders and the public. The tour kicks off in Charleston on Tuesday with a town hall-style meeting at the state Capitol.

West Virginia is the first stop because it has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the nation. Other stops include Tampa, Fla., in March and San Diego in May, the commission said.

Issues to be addressed include health care, benefits, transition from military to civilian life, catastrophic disabilities and the needs of National Guard members and reservists. The commission said it will release its long-term plan by the spring of 2008.

“We’re going to hear veterans, we’re going to see veterans , we’re going to see facilities,'’ said Managing Commissioner Harry N. Walters, who served as administrator of the federal veterans agency from 1982 to 1986.

Walters said today’s Department of Veterans Affairs provides high-quality, low-cost health care but is ill-prepared to deal with the needs of 21st century veterans. “They have no vision for the future,'’ Walters said Monday. “This era of veterans has unique calls for medical services and benefits.'’

Iraq veterans, for example, are surviving amputations, head trauma and other catastrophic injuries that their predecessors in the Vietnam War did not, due to improvements in technology. That will strain not only the VA’s health care system but its disability programs, Walters said.

National Guard members and reservists serving in Iraq or other conflicts also will need help returning to civilian life, he said. “They come out of their jobs and businesses, then they get thrust back into it. The system isn’t used to dealing with these people,'’ he said. Public-private partnerships, perhaps dealing with facilities or research, could be part of the solution, he said.

“We need new bold ideas,'’ said Commission Executive Director David Sevier. “The budget won’t allow for the incremental increases that will be needed over the next 20 years.'’ Sevier said several hundred thousand claims for benefits are pending but that simply hiring more claims processors is not the answer. He said a long-term strategy for providing benefits is needed. “It doesn’t need to be adversarial,'’ he said.

The commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, whose members are the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Walters said the commission is independent and those groups do not participate in its discussions.