Congressman
- Thread starter Samalex12
- Start date
In order to be effective it must be a constant campaign of pressure on the politician. They won’t do something just because it’s a good idea or the right thing to do, it has to fit in with other agendas. Sadly, that’s been my experience with trying to get legislation passed. Previous versions of the bill I worked on made it to introduction but Congress recessed and the next session didn’t take it up. I did the leg work of meeting with staffers etc and they promise they’ll look into it but without a political use, it dies.
It depends.
I once had to resort to contacting the office of a senator to resolve an issue with DFAS and the computation of retro VA compensation. Yes, DFAS does not pay VA compensation, but the VA needs the DFAS audit of pay to trigger the payment of retro VA comp for certain retirees (long story).
About two months after I contacted that office, the DFAS released the audit to the VA and I got paid. Sadly, I had to tell the DFAS of the need for the audit in the first place and I got a copy of it but DFAS did not send it to the VA. My copy of the audit with my remarks on it that I sent to the senator was the actual supporting document used by the VA as proved by what they sent to me in conjunction with the retro pay.
Good luck,
Ron
It is not a waste of time. If we want to change, we have to navigate the human terrain, build relationships and work with the players that are on the field, so to speak.
I have personally met with two members of Congress in Ky about the Major Richard Star Act. They are both cosponsors to the bill now. I am currently working with our legislation to add an amendment for our 100% disabled veterans to be granted tax exemption for their personal property. Letters and phone calls are important but in my experience meeting, face to face has a more significant impact.
Thanks everyone. I’m just so tired of getting bullshit answers as to why this process is so behind. My husband moved when my PEBLO said she was submitting y case to help us prepare for our future and transferred his job. That was 6 months ago and hearing my daughter ask for us all back together is breaking my heart. I know I’m not the only one. I’m just over their excuses entirely.
Yes, but it was a phone call. My Congressman immediately put me in touch with another Congressman. He did this because the other Congressman sat on a particular sub-committee and thus had leverage with over VA medical centers. My cause was to help Vet who was terminal. We got action from the VA in under 10 minutes.
Lesson Learned: Find the right Congressional member.
This was the response I got from the PEB after contacting my congressman. I don’t think it’s a waste of time to take action but it’s the same cookie cutter response it seems for everyone.
Yeah I got the same response back as well. I told that to the woman who works for my congressman and she said she figured that's what they do and she said she was not happy with the response they provided and had more questions to ask them. She said she would get back to me. Hopefully something happens but until then...
Complete waste of time
Congressionals are useful for pushing the service for action on humanitarian reassignments, co-location of military spouses, and exceptional family member issues. Congressionals are also useful for pressing various VA Regional Offices to take action on hardship cases that have been languishing after expedited processing is approved. For PEB, BCMR/BCNR, and DRB cases, the response sent to SGT Kashner is the standard response used by all of the armed services, the USPHS, and the NOAA Corps for all such cases prior to final agency action. This response is used to avoid the scenario in which the agency is accused of bias for expediting one case and denying to do so in another case.
Complete waste of time here in MA. I tried that 3 months ago and still waiting