Duckworth Tapped for VA Assistant Secretary

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has announced his intent to nominate L. Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

As assistant secretary, Duckworth will direct VA’s public affairs, internal communications and intergovernmental relations. She also will oversee programs for homeless Veterans, consumer affairs and special rehabilitative events.

Veterans offered health care help

For veterans struggling financially because of a job loss or decreased income, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers programs that can relieve the costs of health care or provide care at no cost.

Veterans whose previous income was ruled too high for VA health care may be able to enter the system based on a hardship if their current year's income is projected to fall below federal income thresholds because of a job loss, separation from service or some other financial setback. Those eligible due to hardship can avoid co-pays applied to higher-income veterans. Qualifying veterans might be eligible for enrollment and receive health care at no cost.

Also eligible for no-cost VA care are most veterans who recently returned from a combat zone.

Halvorson speaks on veterans' affairs

"I also believe that the veterans' issues are going to be a huge priority for me," Halvorson said, immediately acknowledging concerns. "The last administration has created so many veterans, it's going to be up to us to figure out a way to make sure that they're a top priority and that we are ready for them when they come home…"

"We've got to do whatever we can to take care of that."

America’s Wounded Warriors March on Washington, DC

Responding to President Obama’s call for all Americans to get more involved, America’s Wounded Warriors from across the country will converge on Washington, D.C. the second week of February, 2009 to meet with their Senators and Members of Congress. Their purpose will be to educate their Representatives on the issues of greatest importance to all Veterans, not just those who have been wounded in combat.

Coming by twos and threes from almost every State and Territory, Capitol Hill will be awash in a sea of color as some 100 members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart travel the halls of Congress, their distinctive blue blazers adorned with the medals they were awarded for defending our National freedoms. The most prominent of these will be the Purple Heart Medal worn on their lapel, the symbol of dedicated service to the country.