PTSD leaves physical footprints on the brain

House Approves Four Veterans’ Bills   Washington, D.C. — In a late evening session on Thursday, the House of Representatives approved four veterans’ bills by voice vote. The following bills now await action by the Senate:   H.R. 674 would permanently establish the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (ACMV), which is set to expire December 31, 2009. The ACMV was established by Public Law 103-446, and is comprised of veterans who represent their respective minority groups, and are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to their needs. The ACMV’s goal is to: promote the use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs, benefits, and services by minority veterans; make benefits20and services more accessible to minority veterans; and, make recommendations on how VA can better serve minority veterans.   H.R. 4255, as amended, the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Act of 2008, would authorize VA to make a grant to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop, and implement the Paralympic Program for veterans and members of the Armed Forces.   “I am pleased with this bill and the bi-partisan manner in which it moved forward through the Committee,” Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) said. “I am especially pleased that it contains several provisions from my bill, H.R. 1370, the Disabled Veterans Sports and Special Events Promotion Act of 2007. In 2005, VA and the U.S. Olympic Committee agreed to a joint effort to increase disabled veterans’ participation in sports activities. These heroes draw inspiration from the therapeutic outlet offered by sports, and we owe it to them to provide alternative avenues of rehabilitation from their injuries. I am delighted that eleven disabled veterans will participate in the U.S. Paralympics in Beijing, and hope this is the beginning of larger participation in future games.”   H.R. 6221, as amended, the Veteran Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008, was introduced by the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member, John Boozman (R-Ark.). The bill would require VA to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans. It would also require the VA to conduct a five-year pilot program on work-study programs for veterans, and authorize $60 million in fiscal years 2009 through 2018 to create the Military Occupational Specialty Transition program, a modernized version of the Service Members’ Occupational Conversion and Training Act.   H.R. 6225, as amended, the Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008, would improve upon existing Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and Service member's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections for military service members and their spouses. More specifically, it would require judges to give a preliminary hearing to veterans seeking to regain jobs lost due to deployment. Current law makes such hearings optional when a veteran seeks injunctive relief. The bill would also require colleges and universities to provide refunds on tuition and fees for students who are called up for active duty, and it would allow such students to reenter the institution at the same academic status that was held at the time of activation.