Guest allanopie Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 NEWS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS CRAIG'S "CHOICE OF REPRESENTATION" FOR VETERANS BILL PICKS UP SUPPORT -- Legislation seeks to overturn 150 year-old prohibition on hiring lawyers Craig's legislation seeks to change a policy prohibiting attorneys from representing veterans -- a policy which began during the Civil War. Image courtesy the U.S. Social Security Administration June 8, 2006 Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093 (Washington, DC) Legislation to allow veterans to hire an attorney as they seek benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs picked up strong support Thursday. The positive reaction came during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The legislation (S. 2694), sponsored by Chairman Larry Craig (R-Idaho), seeks to overturn a policy begun during the Civil War. Under current law, all 24 million living veterans are prohibited from hiring legal counsel to help them navigate the Veterans Affairs system. It is only after a veteran has spent months and even years exhausting the extensive VA administrative process that the veteran then may retain a lawyer - a process that often takes 3 or more years to complete. "Particularly for veterans of today's All-Volunteer Force, the current paternalistic Civil War-era law is completely outdated. These highly-trained, highly skilled veterans have the ability - and should have the right - to decide for themselves whether to hire a lawyer," Craig said. The Idaho Republican noted that many veterans have written in support of the bill, including one from New Jersey, a decorated disabled military retiree who served in Vietnam. He wrote: "Murderers, rapists and pedophiles can hire an attorney; why are veterans treated as third, yes third class citizens?" Among those who spoke out Thursday in favor of changing the law was former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Donald Ivers, as well as Rick Weidman of the Vietnam Veterans of America and Barton F. Stichman of the National Veterans Legal Services Program. "Freedom to seek counsel of one's choice has long been a hallmark of this nation's system of justice. That those who have given much in defense of that system are denied that freedom in pursuing claims arising out of their service is, at best, highly contradictory," Judge Ivers said. Under current federal laws and court rulings, criminal defendants, illegal aliens, and enemy combatants have the right to have legal counsel. Veterans are the only group which does not enjoy that privilege. "It makes no rational sense to deny them this right," Stichman said. That sentiment was shared by Rick Weidman, who spoke to the committee on behalf of those in his organization. "Vietnam Veterans of America strongly and unreservedly supports S.2694 by convention resolution," Weidman said. "We urge its endorsement by this committee and passage by both houses of Congress." In the House of Representatives, two bills similar to Sen. Craig's have been introduced, one (H.R. 5549) by Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of a subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and (H.R. 4914) Rep. Lane Evans, the top Democrat on that same committee. Despite the strong support Craig's legislation has received, the Department of Veterans Affairs voiced opposition to the bill during the hearing. That drew a strong rebuke from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Craig. Other co-sponsors of the bill include Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). ##### See this story on-line at: http://veterans.senate.gov <http://veterans.senate.gov/> If you want to send Chairman Craig a message, click on: Contact the Veterans' Affairs Committee <http://veterans.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted June 10, 2006 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted June 10, 2006 Maybe the service organizations have to really get their ox gored in order to wake them up and organize veterans. The VSO's have the name recognition and all the ammunition to really fight for some changes, but they have to get off the bar stools first. Maybe is has to get so bad that grassroots groups take some direct action. God knows I can't afford to go to jail. That is what it took for the civil rights workers was people who were ready to go to jail for their ideas. Broken down disabled vets make poor prisoners, but it would be good media to see old vets in wheelchairs and canes being hauled off to jail for demanding a better VA. During the Vietnam era, I know the cops did dump vets in wheelchairs on the ground for protesting the war. The 19th Century Robber Barons said that you could hire half the working class to club the other half. Do you think I could have my pain meds in jail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fla_viking Posted June 10, 2006 Share Posted June 10, 2006 Dear Jhon One man with the right set of facts who gets himself arrested because congress violated our constituton and our civil rights, That one man shows how they pass laws locking the doors to the courts so no redress can be had regarding the criminal activity committed because of the first act suspending our civil and constitutional rights. I will not hessitate to threaten every one again with surrenduring tot a jury trial if the VA ever trys to screw with me again. Terry Higgins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogus Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Terry- I think I have the right set of facts that you mentioned but would like like someone to look over them before I present them to the ACLU. Was wondering if you would mind taking a look if I could e-mail you copies of the info. Got too much to post here on the board. By the way I don't mind being the one to go to jail if it get's my dignity and self-respect back. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted June 11, 2006 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted June 11, 2006 Rogus You still have dignity and respect around this joint, and you too, Terry. The VA can't take that away from you even when they mistreat you. If you won't give it up they cannot take it. The VA can really piss you off and threaten you, but you have your self respect as long as you don't live up to their expectations of veterans. We entered into a contract with the United States nation when we put on the uniform. We would fight or be prepared to fight and they would take care of us if we got hurt. The government has not lived up to their part of the bargain. We were willing to give it all and our fellow citizens should be willing to give up the best of medical care and that they do not do. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fla_viking Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Dear Robert My E mail address is. va_rebel2001@yahoo.com. Terry Higgins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogus Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Terry - Expect an email with a ot of attachments. Thanks Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Guest allanopie
NEWS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
CRAIG'S "CHOICE OF REPRESENTATION" FOR VETERANS BILL PICKS UP SUPPORT --
Legislation seeks to overturn 150 year-old prohibition on hiring lawyers
Craig's legislation seeks to change a policy prohibiting attorneys from
representing veterans -- a policy which began during the Civil War.
Image courtesy the U.S. Social Security Administration
June 8, 2006
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093
(Washington, DC) Legislation to allow veterans to hire an attorney as
they seek benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs picked up
strong support Thursday. The positive reaction came during a hearing of
the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The legislation (S. 2694), sponsored by Chairman Larry Craig (R-Idaho),
seeks to overturn a policy begun during the Civil War.
Under current law, all 24 million living veterans are prohibited from
hiring legal counsel to help them navigate the Veterans Affairs system.
It is only after a veteran has spent months and even years exhausting
the extensive VA administrative process that the veteran then may retain
a lawyer - a process that often takes 3 or more years to complete.
"Particularly for veterans of today's All-Volunteer Force, the current
paternalistic Civil War-era law is completely outdated. These
highly-trained, highly skilled veterans have the ability - and should
have the right - to decide for themselves whether to hire a lawyer,"
Craig said.
The Idaho Republican noted that many veterans have written in support of
the bill, including one from New Jersey, a decorated disabled military
retiree who served in Vietnam. He wrote:
"Murderers, rapists and pedophiles can hire an attorney; why are
veterans treated as third, yes third class citizens?"
Among those who spoke out Thursday in favor of changing the law was
former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims, Donald Ivers, as well as Rick Weidman of the Vietnam Veterans of
America and Barton F. Stichman of the National Veterans Legal Services
Program.
"Freedom to seek counsel of one's choice has long been a hallmark of
this nation's system of justice. That those who have given much in
defense of that system are denied that freedom in pursuing claims
arising out of their service is, at best, highly contradictory," Judge
Ivers said.
Under current federal laws and court rulings, criminal defendants,
illegal aliens, and enemy combatants have the right to have legal
counsel. Veterans are the only group which does not enjoy that
privilege.
"It makes no rational sense to deny them this right," Stichman said.
That sentiment was shared by Rick Weidman, who spoke to the committee on
behalf of those in his organization.
"Vietnam Veterans of America strongly and unreservedly supports S.2694
by convention resolution," Weidman said. "We urge its endorsement by
this committee and passage by both houses of Congress."
In the House of Representatives, two bills similar to Sen. Craig's have
been introduced, one (H.R. 5549) by Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of a
subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and (H.R.
4914) Rep. Lane Evans, the top Democrat on that same committee.
Despite the strong support Craig's legislation has received, the
Department of Veterans Affairs voiced opposition to the bill during the
hearing. That drew a strong rebuke from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who
is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Craig.
Other co-sponsors of the bill include Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX),
who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on the Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
#####
See this story on-line at: http://veterans.senate.gov
<http://veterans.senate.gov/>
If you want to send Chairman Craig a message, click on: Contact the
Veterans' Affairs Committee
<http://veterans.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home>
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