U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CMV - News Update

Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced he has cosponsored the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, a bill to help expedite immigration proceedings for the children of Filipino World War II veterans who are citizens. This bill will help those children to be more quickly reunited with their families, some of whom have been waiting decades. [From House.gov]

Men in the military are much more likely to go to court-martial than women, according to recently compiled data, and black or Hispanic service members of either gender are more likely to face a trial than their white counterparts. However, once service members get to trial, the likelihood of a conviction is nearly the same across all demographic backgrounds. [From Military Times]

Imagine a scenario in which a patient is at risk for blood clots. His doctor checks the patient’s genetic makeup and decides on a particular blood thinner, one of several available. [From VAntage Point]

As the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s signing of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (the MISSION Act) approaches on June 6, Veterans can expect to have more choices than ever in getting timely, high-quality care. VA is required to implement major parts of the new Veterans Community Care Program under the MISSION Act by June 6, 2019. [From VAntage Point]

In case you missed it, President Trump’s VA Secretary joined us LIVE on our statewide radio show earlier this week. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Robert Wilkie joined Aaron Flint on Tuesday’s Montana Talks. [From FM-95.5/AM-970 (Billings, MT)]

The Department of Veterans Affairs said late last week it’s ready to implement a big piece of the VA MISSION Act on time and without major mishaps. Under the MISSION Act’s new criteria, set to kick off on June 6, roughly 40 percent of the VA population will be eligible now to see a doctor within the community – as opposed to the 8 percent of Veterans who can use the department’s disparate community care programs now. [From Federal News Network]

The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for new members for its committee that advises Secretary Robert Wilkie on issues related to caregivers and family members of Veterans. In a Federal Register notice Wednesday, VA officials said they are seeking nominations for the board, which was established in 2017 to study and provide recommendations on caregiver and family needs, programs, services and benefits. [From Military.com]

The last World War II Mohawk Code Talker, Louis Levi Oakes of the Saint Regis tribe, died Tuesday at the age of 94. Oakes saw action in the South Pacific, New Guinea and Philippines theaters, and was awarded the Silver Star. [From Stars and Stripes]

Sometimes a quick trip to a local walk-in retail health clinic or urgent care facility is a convenient alternative for minor injuries and illnesses. As part of implementing the VA MISSION Act of 2018, VA will offer an urgent care benefit that provides eligible Veterans with greater choice and access to timely, high-quality care. [From VAntage Point]

John Pinto, a Navajo Code Talker in World War II who became one of the nation’s longest serving Native American elected officials as a New Mexico state senator, has died. He was 94. Senate colleague Michael Padilla confirmed Pinto’s death in Gallup on Friday after years of suffering from various illnesses that rarely kept him from his duties. [From Marine Corps Times]

As we honor the 34 heroes who have fallen in support of named overseas operations since the end of May 2018, it is clear Iraq and Afghanistan remain dangerous battlefields for the thousands of service members who deploy there every year. Overall, the 34 service members who died while on deployment for named operations during the past 12 months marked a slight drop compared to the 37 who were killed the year before. [From Military Times]