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UPDATE: LEGION SAYS "NO" TO OUTSOURCING NEW
G.I. BILL BENEFITS PROGRAM -- "Patients, critics
and
most media all cite the outstanding job the VA is
doing. Outsourcing is not the answer."
First, we learned that the VA wants to outsource
the administration of the New G.I. Bill benefits program. Story
here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/n
fAUG08/nf081808-1.htm
Then we learned that QTC, the company run by
former VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi, is trying to get the contract.
It should be noted that current Secretary Peake was also a top executive
at QTC. Story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nf
AUG08/nf081908-4.htm
Opposition to this is strong... and now the
American Legion has jumped on the "NO" bandwagon.
Latest story here ...
http://www.market
watch.com/news/story/legion-va-outsourcing-no
t-answer/story.aspx?guid={1829A2D0-57D5-4
330-BC3C-53D9A5B65F20}&dist=hppr
Story below:
NOTE: If you wish to post a comment,
go to the end of the story and use our new "Comment"
feature.
-------------------------
Legion to VA: Outsourcing is Not the
Answer
PHOENIX, /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Any plans the Department of
Veterans Affairs has to hire outside contractors to launch a new GI Bill,
or to bring in outside companies to inspect state veterans homes, will
face fierce objection from the world's largest veterans organization. The
American Legion, meeting here for its 90th National Convention, passed
resolutions Monday to head off any intentions VA has to outsource either
the new GI Bill or the inspections.
"Our newest generation of veterans deserve
the benefits administered by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, not outside
contractors," said Marty Conatser, national commander of The
 American
Legion. "Patients, critics and most media all cite the outstanding job the
VA is doing. Outsourcing is not the answer."
Reports are circulating that VA is
planning to hire an outside company to implement the Post 9/11 Veterans
Education Assistance Act - the new GI Bill - which was signed on June 30
and is expected to take effect Aug. 1, 2009. The new bill dramatically
improves education benefits for veterans and their families, eliminates a
$1,200 buy-in now charged to military personnel and expands services for
members of the National Guard and Reserve components.
Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., told
Legionnaires he was surprised and disappointed that VA may be looking to
outsource the GI Bill project. "I just cannot believe that we'd ever allow
this to happen," Mitchell told The American Legion on Saturday. "The level
of service won't be the same."
In the resolution opposing outsourcing the
new GI Bill, The American Legion argued that VA should hire the staff
necessary to fulfill the law's requirements. The Legion, which strongly
opposes the movement toward outsourcing critical services that could be
handled internally at VA, also passed a resolution opposing efforts to
hire outside companies to perform inspections on state veterans homes
which have always been performed by trained VA staff.
SOURCE American Legion
-------------------------
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