The Senate-amended Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, known as the Honoring our PACT Act. passed the House with a 342–88 vote. The bill must now go back to the Senate for another vote. The VFW thanks all advocates who contacted their members of Congress urging them to support this historic legislation.
VFW Testifies Before Senate
VFW National Legislative Associate Director Kristina Keenan testified at a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing on pending legislation regarding benefits for disability, education, and employment. She highlighted the need for VA to improve governance and oversight of its contract medical examination program regarding insufficient examinations errors that were not corrected prior to final disability rating decisions. “This is very concerning for the VFW and the veterans we represent,” said Keenan. The legislation proposed by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) would restrict bonuses for contractors that do not meet a ninety-five percent examination accuracy rate or higher, establish regular training requirements, and ensure priority processing of claims where errors are discovered.
Veterans Needed for Million Veteran Program
The world’s largest medical research biobank, Million Veteran Program, is seeking veterans to learn how genes, lifestyles, and military exposures affect health and illness. Women veterans are encouraged to participate as they are often underrepresented in biomedical research which can leave gender-specific health questions unanswered. By contributing a blood sample to the biobank, veterans may help ensure that the research is more comprehensive. For more information, go to mvp.va.gov.
POW/MIA Update
Marine Reserve Cpl. Jack S. Brown, 22, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, which was part of the invasion force of the island of Saipan. On July 8, 1944, he was reported as killed in action and posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Following the war, his remains were declared non-recoverable. He will be buried in Norfolk, Virginia, on Aug. 13, 2022.
Navy Fireman 1st Class Beoin H. Corzatt, 24, Arcanum, Ohio, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. He will be buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu on Sep. 21, 2022.
Army Air Forces Sgt. Herald R. Boyd, 25, was assigned to 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. On Feb. 3, 1945, the B-17G Flying Fortress bomber on which Boyd was serving as a gunner was part of a large mission to bomb the Tempelhof marshalling yard in Berlin. The War Department issued a report of death on Jan. 12, 1946. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
