http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#150333 We have been trying for over 7 years to get the dic/sbp offset and what do we have? Just get married after 57 and you can get it!! The only thing that will correct this injustice; a class action law suit by the remaining 54,000 unremarried surviving spouses of the retired military veterans.... 150333@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:16:30 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#148470 An instruction manual on how to screw the government out of money. Thanks a lot.... 148470@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:37:33 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#148337 I can't tell all of you spouses who have not experienced the loss of your loved one how important it is to get to your County Veterans Service Officer. Sit down with your spouse and all the papers he or she has. Make sure the CVSO knows all about your veteran spouse and that he keeps a record of the transactions between the VA and the Veteran spouse. For the suvivor it makes things much easier and things go a lot quicker when all relative material is right at the CVSO office down the road. This is what my spouse did and DIC took less time to receive as well as any thing such as the life insurance my spouse had through the VA.... 148337@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:17:53 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#145946 Just more mewling and whining/ All of you are already receiving far more than you deserve. Scammers and con-artists, all of you.... 145946@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:16:32 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#145654 Karoline I totally agree with you. The needs of our country should be met first. My heart goes out to all the Veterans along with the surviving spouses.... 145654@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:29:33 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#145630 My husband made 7 crossing of the Atlantic during World War 11. He developed tuberculosis caring for our heroic wounded and spent the rest of his life with two lungs that no longer functioned normally. He died of lung cancer which was directly related to the extensive damage done to his lungs from the tuberculosis. Most of the Gold Star Widows receive $1154 a month. How many of our congressman would like to live on that pittance. We can give millions to other countries to build schools, etc. but we let our War Widows and Widowers live in poverty. Where is the justice in that?... 145630@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:01:08 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#145242 And I read somewhere on the internet that none of you deserve anything. You already get more than you deserve. Scammers and con-artists, all of you.... 145242@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:46:47 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#144525 I had read somewhere on the internet that we are getting 40.8% of what our spouses got. That would be a slap on the face, compared to the 55% that spouses of federal workers get. Let's not forget that. Maybe spouses need to start speaking up and make the government take more responsability for a disabled veteran's physical care too. We did more than our part. Now we need their support.... 144525@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:17:39 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#143794 I can't tell you when this bill will go back to the floor. However, I can tell you that a study done by the GAO was completed on Nov, 13 2009. I was a study on the amount of DIC paid and what percentage was paid. Most people fell into the category of 35 to 55% paid to them.... 143794@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:39:15 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#142214 BB, I been asking the same question myself. I believe the bill is not dead. I aasume that it will go back to the floor early next year.... 142214@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:33:02 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#141900 Can anyone tell me when this bill will go back to the floor from committee? Is it on any schedule for any type of action? Or is it going to die for this year?... 141900@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:47:32 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#140900 I pray that this bill will pass for all survivors as well as myself.... 140900@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:36:11 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#139250 I am the spouse of a retired army soldier, and i will not be able to make it if he dies and they take away the survivor benefits, we should get both, we have paid for the survivors benefits, the other is dic, which is for a disability the the army gave my husband. and the compensation he should recieve. thank you. becky p... 139250@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:40:39 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#135975 CINDY-I DO AGREED, IT SEEM LIKE THE GOVERNMENT DO RUNS OUR LIVES. IT IS NOT FAIR. I HOPE THAT CONGRESS PASS THIS BILL.... 135975@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:24:11 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#135787 I too am a widow of a Army soldier. He died in 2001.We had been married for over 19 yrs. I don't agree with the age 57 limit on continuing to collect the DIC. from VA. I am 45 years old. I feel like the government keeps us women from moving on with our lives. When we can find someone that we want to marry, they punish us by taking away the money that we have been receiving and paying our monthly bills with. Not only do we have to make up the difference in the money, we lose our medical care. How is this fair to a woman (or man) that has been married to a soldier, traveled around the world away from their family for almost 20 years, lose that spouse and finally receive something for all they have been through. When they find happiness again, it all gets taken away. The security that they have had for years. It's just not fair to make us choose either to not remarry and be unhappy and alone, or to live immorally and still get the money. What do we do?... 135787@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:16:30 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#127479 I would be interested in hearing from anyone that has lost their full SBP when they began receiving DIC. Please email me at: MedicaidAdvocate@aol.com I may be able to use your stories in Washington. We have been fighting to get this offset repealed for over 7 years and we are closer this year than ever. We can use your help. If it does not affect you personally, maybe you know someone it does. Please let me hear from you.... 127479@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:54:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#122962 Don't potiticans realize that if the spouse wouldn't take care of the Veteran, unfortunately the veteran would end up as a resident at a VA center or at a Nursing home, which would cost a hell of alot more than the $300 increase would per month. Wake up lawmakers!... 122962@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:56:46 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#120744 Corky, That sound great to me, let do it! Someone please correct me if I have this wrong, I believe the increase is still a go. However, the SBP portion of the bill has been turn down so far, is this correct?... 120744@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:06:58 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#120256 Marianne, I am wondering if we could get all write at the same time. As the Legislative officer of the DAVA, I wrote the letter and then made enough copies for everyone to send. I do believe it made a difference, because we sort of bombarded them with the letters. It made them stop and take a look at what we were writting about. I believe it also changed some minds. When a bill is written about by so many at one time, it gives our Senators and Representative something to mull over.... 120256@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:59:11 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#120071 Corky, You are absolutely right, the written/mailed letter is best, however...if we could just get people to sit and type a quick email, it will help. Remember, we are asking our legislators to pass a bill that effects ALL of the surviving spouses, not just the ones in their home state. Therefore, you can write to all of them across the nation. Just send the email to their MLA and not directly to the legislator. In the letter, you will be asking the MLA to ask the representative to please co-sponsor HR 775 and HR 2243. I have personally written to all 400 at least 10 times this year. I have had some wonderful responses, especially from the many who had never heard of an SBP/DIC Offset or what it meant to survivors. Many of the MLA's have a military background and want to help. They have been instrumental in getting their bosses to co-sponsor. Phone calls are a fast and easy way to voice your request. Whatever way you choose to go, please... just do it.... 120071@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:53:12 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#119982 Marianne, I believe you are right. However, I have been e-mailing my senators and representative. They are all on board with the bills. But yes , to get back to writing to your representatives, everyone needs to do this. As the former Legislative officer in a DAV Auxiliary, I used to write the many letters the Chapter as well as Auxiliary had only to sign the letter and mail it in a self addresd envelop I provided. I don't know if this would work, but it sure did when I was the Legislative officer. Many people just are not willing to write and a written letter is what they got. Also we found with the written letter, more people got a response back.... 119982@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:52:59 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#117146 To: I love Elvis, This bill is going to pass, I really believe so. I agreed with Marianne, we all need to write our letters to our congressmans, remmeber 400 house members is the key to win this vote!... 117146@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:49:53 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#117032 Part of the problem in getting HR 775 and HR 2243 passed...along with many others, is the fact that people complain, but do nothing to help. We are closer than ever to winning the repeal of this unjust offset, but we do need all 400 house members...or as close to that number as we can get, to co-sign. Remember, there is safety in numbers. If we have and overwhelming majority of co-sponsor's, then it is very difficult for them not to pass this bill. To date, we have never had as many co-sponsors as we have today. The more we call...and I mean call, email, write letters, the better our chances are. They have only been hearing from the same people for most of this year. We need a mass bombardment of survivors, their families, friends, neighbors and even co-workers, to be heard. It only takes a few minutes to email or call but it needs to be done now. Just do it!... 117032@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:40:58 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#116435 Everyday I check and I see nothing new about this bill. It's getting really frustrating. I can't believe why this bill doesn't get top priority. I just don't know. Don't they realize when servicemen die for our country, it is the widows who are left with so many unpaid bills?? I just don't know anymore. I am so saddened by how anyone would be able to say no to this bill...... 116435@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:58:54 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2243.html#115840 Why can't these bills be put in with another bill that has High priority? It's called an ombinus bill. It was done with the defense bill. I believe it was for hate crimes. Many of the congressmen were upset and said that it didn't belong in with that bill, which it didn't and yet it passed.... 115840@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:05:20 EDT