Your weekly digest of veterans news from Concerned Veterans for America.  ͏  ͏
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4 June 2024















Politico | Russia warns US of ‘fatal consequences’ over miscalculations in
Ukraine
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The Kremlin on Monday said the U.S. could face “fatal consequences” if it
ignores Moscow’s warnings that Ukraine should not use weapons provided by
Washington to attack Russia.

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Newsweek | Ukraine Gets Air Defense Boost From NATO Ally
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Ukraine will soon be receiving a new NATO air defense system as allies
scramble to fortify Kyiv against Russia's unfolding summer offensive.

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Military Times | House lawmakers moving ahead on defense, VA budget bills
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House officials plan to start floor consideration of their Veterans Affairs
appropriations measure this week while also moving ahead on their Defense
Department funding plans, pushing their Senate colleagues to speed up work on
the budget issues.


Military.com | White House Threatens to Veto VA, Military Construction
Spending Bill over GOP Policies
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The White House is threatening to veto the annual Department of Veterans
Affairs and military construction funding bill over GOP-backed riders that
would undo VA policies on LGBTQ+ veterans and abortion.

‌


Wall Street Journal | Zelensky Says China Is Helping Russia Undermine a Peace
Summit on Ukraine
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of pressuring countries
to boycott a peace conference he is promoting in Switzerland later this month
and warned that Beijing’s support for Russian PresidentVladimir Putin
<[link removed]> will only prolong the war.















Washington Post | U.S. escalation in Ukraine needs a plan
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The Biden administration’s decision to approve Ukraine’s use of U.S. weapons
to attack targets inside Russia
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is, as President Biden
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might say, a big deal. Ukrainians argue that this change will derail the
Kremlin’s offensive in the Kharkiv region and perhaps even turn the tide of the
war
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.

‌


Foreign Policy | The South China Sea Risks a Military Crisis
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The Philippine president drew a red line this week, but mutual restraint from
Manila and Beijing can calm tensions.

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Newsweek | Is China About To Invade Taiwan? Experts Weigh In
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A hypothetical Chinese invasion was again in the spotlight last month with the
People's Liberation Army's drills meant to punish Taiwan after it inaugurated
President Lai Ching-te.

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Washington Post | The B-17 blew apart in an instant. The memory has burned for
80 years.
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Mel Jenner had one of those World War II jobs that no one really tries out
for. Waist gunner in a B-17 bomber was what you’d get if you didn’t draw the
straw to be pilot or navigator.















Associated Press | D-Day vets hailed as heroes as they arrive in Normandy for
anniversary
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“To our forever heroes: Thank you” — those words inscribed by French
schoolchildren on a big poster greeted dozens of U.S. World War II veterans,
many in their 100s, as they arrived on Monday in Normandy to commemorate the
80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.


NPR | As their time runs short, D-Day veterans try to keep their memories
alive for others
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Ken Hay's part in the invasion of Normandy lasted just a few weeks, but he
wants to make sure the experiences of those who fought and died to end the Nazi
grip on Europe live forever.


Roll Call | These veterans in Congress will mark D-Day by jumping out of a
plane
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Unlike commercial skydiving, it’s not a leisurely jaunt with scenic views and
a soft landing. Total time to the earth from the military transport planes,
which were commonly used by Allied forces in World War II, is just over a
minute. And the landing often comes with a jolt to the back and knees,
according to Florida Republican Rep. Michael Waltz.















D-Day and the VA MISSION Act: The 6th of June is an important anniversary for
veterans, military families and freedom-loving patriots. This year, it marks
the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of Normandy during World War
II. As we honor the sacrifices of veterans who took part in the “great crusade
<[link removed]>” to liberate Europe from the
Nazis, it is also worth reflecting on how our nation keeps honors its
obligation to provide access to quality health care for those who served.

‌


That’s particularly true because the 6th of June is also the 6th anniversary
of the passage of the VA MISSION Act, the most important policy win for
veteran’s health care in a generation. The MISSION Act was a response to the
infamousPhoenix VA Wait Time scandal of 2014
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, and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and expanded the
health care options of millions by creating the Veterans Community Care
Program, which empowers veterans to use their VA benefits either at VA-run
facilities or at private, “community care” providers when the travel distance
or wait time for a VA appointment is too high.

‌


This MISSION Act anniversary, CVA is thanking legislators for supporting
expanding veterans’ health care choice while also calling attention to the
ongoing threats
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to these care options from a VA that seeks to limit veterans’ access to
alternatives.


VA Bonus Scandal 2.0: Recent revelations that the VA improperly awarded around
$11 million in unwarranted performance bonuses to senior executives shows why
more oversight and accountability for the VA is essential. A recent VA Office
of Inspector Generalreport
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, covered here byThe Washington Post
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shows us why accountability towards the VA matters.

‌


The VA Undersecretary of Health Shareef Elnahal approved more than 180
undeserved bonuses to senior executives, including at least 10 that reported
directly to him which he lacked authority to give bonuses to. Undersecretary
Elnahal is already notorious for telling VA staff in a training session that
they should steer more veterans to VA facilities and "press the easy button
less with community care
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” despite the MISSION Act’s requirements. When asked about the bonus fiasco,
Elnahal first claimed he had no recollection of approving so many bonuses and
then changed his story to investigators in a follow-up interview, claiming that
he quickly reviewed the bonus list on his phone while travelling and did not
see the whole list.

‌


In either case, these events prove that the officials who approved these
bonuses no longer deserve the trust of the American people, and CVA has called
on them to resign. Read CVA’s statementhere
<[link removed]>.

‌


Today, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough
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will appear before House lawmakers to testify onimproper benefits awarded to
dozens of senior department officials
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as congressional concerns mount regarding the unfolding scandal.

















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