HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS VETS

House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Smith announced that the White House Office of Management and Budget(OMB)indicated it will end delays in implementing a 1998 law enacted to provide affordable housing for formerly homeless veterans.

The Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 was signed into law on Veterans Day of that year. The program calls for up to 5,000 units of transitional multi-family housing for once-homeless veterans who are becoming productive wage earners. The program combines private-sector expertise with public-sector financial guarantees.

One of the first things Smith did after becoming VA Committee chairman was to repeat the request last December of his predecessor, Rep. Bob Stump (R-AZ), and Ranking Democrat Lane Evans DAILY that OMB end delays in implementing the program. New OMB Director Mitch Daniels met with Smith and agreed to end obstacles to implementation.

OMB later informed Smith that it would grant VA's waiver request to permit a 100 percent loan guaranty to borrowers under the program, thus removing the principle cause of the delays.

OMB promised to meet with VA officials to discuss conditions of the waiver and progress of the program. The program is scheduled to be an oversight topic of the first hearing of the VA Subcommittee on Benefits.

A QUESTION OF RELATIVITY

On February 18th, while racing for fame and fortune, Dale Earnhardt died in the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was surely a tragedy for his family, friends and fans. He was 49 years old with grown children and one who was in the race. He was a winner and earned everything he had. This included more than $41 million in winnings and ten times that from endorsements and souvenir sales. He had a beautiful home and a private jet. He drove the most sophisticated cars allowed and every part was inspected and replaced as soon as there was any evidence of wear.

This is normally fully funded by the car and team sponsors. Today, there is no TV station that does not constantly remind us of his tragic end and the radio already has a song of tribute to this winning driver. Nothing should be taken away from this man, he was a professional and the best in his profession. He was in a very dangerous business but the rewards were great.

Two weeks ago 7 U.S. Army soldiers died in a training accident when two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters collided during night maneuvers in Hawaii. The soldiers were all in their twenties, pilots, crew chiefs and infantrymen. Most of them lived in sub-standard housing. If you add their actual duty hours (in the field, deployed) they probably earn something close to minimum wage. The aircraft they were in were between 15 and 20 years old. Many times parts were not available to keep them in good shape due to funding. They were involved in the extremely dangerous business of flying in the Kuhuku mountains at night. It only gets worse when the weather moves in as it did that night. Most times no one is there with a yellow or red flag to slow things down when it gets critical. Their children where mostly toddlers who will lose all memory of who "Daddy" was as they grow up. They died training to defend our freedom.

We take nothing away from Dale Earnhardt but ask you to perform this simple test. Ask any of your friends if they know who was the NASCAR driver killed on February 18, 2001. Then ask them if they can name one of the seven soldiers who died in Hawaii two weeks ago. On February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the Daytona 500. The nation mourns. Seven soldiers died training to protect our freedom. No one can remember their names and most don't even remember the incident.

MILITARY SERVICE BUY-BACK UPDATED

As previously reported, Governor George E. Pataki signed into law legislation that will make it easier for wartime veterans who work as public employees to increase their retirement pensions.

The legislation improves a 1998 law signed by Governor Pataki that allowed veterans to get retirement credit for the years they served in the military during wartime. The so-called "buyback" law permitted veterans to purchase service credit but was considered too expensive by eligible vets.

This new law makes it affordable for veterans by setting the cost of purchasing service credit within the various public retirement systems at three percent of the veteran's current annual salary for each year of military service, up to a maximum of three years. Individuals who purchased credit under the 1998 law, which required veterans to pay the entire cost of the credit, will receive a refund of the difference between what they paid and what they would have paid under the provisions of this new law.

To be eligible, an employee must have at least five years credited in the retirement system and served during one or more of the following periods:

World War II (December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946)
Korean War (June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955)
Vietnam Era (February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975)

or if you served in one or more of the following military conflicts and received an Armed Forces, Navy or Marine Corps expeditionary medal in connection with this service:

Lebanon (June 1, 1983 - December 1, 1987)
Grenada (October 23, 1983 - November 21, 1983)
Panama (December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990)

Theater of operations including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United rab Emirates, Oman, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and airspace above these locations (August 2, 1990 - present)

Members of the various public retirement systems include State, county, and local government workers and New York City employees, including teachers, firefighters, police officers and corrections officers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
VA BENEFITS PACKAGE UNVEILED | DISABLED PEOPLE LOSE ANOTHER ONE | HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS VETS | A QUESTION OF RELATIVITY | MILITARY SERVICE BUY-BACK UPDATED | GIBNEY TO LAHART TO ROSENSWEIG - - THEY DID IT RIGHT! | DEPARTMENT SECRETARY LAYS DOWN THE LAW | FY 2002 VA BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE INADEQUATE | BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE 107TH CONGRESS

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