I have incredibly wonderful news to share! I have attached in the appended PDF a copy of the press release from the White House indicating that The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act was signed into law, January 2, 2025.
Click for the White House notice.

For Bob's tale of Christmas letters from children to Santa see https://www.riverdalepress.com/stories/when-cops-and-firefighters-played-santa-claus,55880

Roger's Inurnment will be at the USNA Columbarium at 2pm on Wednesday, December 4th. (It appears that work near the Columbarium on the seawall and Ramsay Road will not be started by the Dec 4). You can park vertically near the Columbarium. I will notify you if there are any changes.

You might have to drive though the cemetery and come in from the playing field (Hospital Point) side. Alternatively, if it is a nice day, you can park near Alumni Hall (or the parking garage) and walk across the bridge to Hospital Point and the Columbarium.

Colette will have a reception at the USNA Club following the ceremony. If you are planning to attend, please let Colette know so she can give the club an accurate number of attendees.

Colette can be reached at email cmehle@mehlelaw.com or phone (202) 255-3187

November 19, 2024

A wide-ranging veterans policy bill that would bolster home caregiver programs and support for homeless veterans, among other areas, was approved by the House on Monday evening after election-season politics stalled the bill for months.

Tweaks were made to the legislation between when it was first introduced over the summer and Monday's vote that got Democrats on board with the bill, allowing it to easily pass the House in a bipartisan 389-9 vote.

But the backbone of the bill -- language aimed at making it easier for aging and disabled veterans to get home- and community-based nursing care -- remained intact in the version of the bill approved Monday.

"For nearly the entire 118th Congress, the House and Senate committees on Veterans Affairs have worked together to develop a bipartisan package of common-sense proposals," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said on the House floor Monday afternoon. "The Dole Act is a result of that work and would enhance, reform and modernize nearly every part of the VA. Specifically, the Dole Act would change the landscape for elderly veterans and finally give them a choice in where they choose to live out their sunset years."

Dubbed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, the marquee provisions in the bill would increase the Department of Veterans Affairs' share of covering home nursing care from 65% to 100% of costs and make several other changes to increase the accessibility of home nursing care for veterans.

The changes have long been sought by caregivers and their advocates who say that veterans should be able to live out their final days at home if they choose.

To see the full report on military.com, https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/11/19/veterans-bill-improvements-caregiver-homelessness-programs-passes-house.html?ESRC=eb_241120.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20241120.

https://cool-grandpa.us/2024/11/07/ep-207-documenting-our-veterans-stories/

Our next luncheon will be Tuesday, December 17th at 11:30am. Future lunches are January 21st and February 18th, 2025, etc. (the 3rd Tuesday of each month)

Comprehensive legislation, H. R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, is under consideration by three separate House Committees: Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources (based on VA home lending to our Native population) and the Armed Services Committee. The bill addresses issues of accountability, ease of access, and transparency. It incorporates all of the language included in The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act which it replaces. If passed, the new bill will provide in-home, 24/7, professionally licensed nursing care to deserving veterans. It includes detailed reference to these aspects of care:

Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
Community care
Mental Health
Access to Dental Care
Provision of Medical Equipment
Ambulance Reimbursement
Suicide Prevention
Educational assistance for veterans and spouses
Commercial Driver Education
Reemployment help
Improved process of Disability Claims
Veterans' Homelessness
Telehealth Services
The VA Home Loan Program
Modernization of Electronic Record keeping

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is supported by a long and growing list of veterans advocacy organizations including The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, and numerous others. I have learned that the national DAV has sent a communication to all of its chapters in the United States containing a "Click Here" letter which allows all chapter members to send letters to their respective United States Senators and House of Representatives members urging passage of this bill.

To review a summary of the bill, click on this link: https://veterans.house.gov/uploadedfiles/section_by_section_of_senator_elizabeth_dole_ac_-_5-13-24_final.pdf

Our class recently lost our 350th graduate classmate. We remember and grieve for all of them.

We have lost 40% of our classmates, leaving 60% still alive. That is well above the average of 50% for males born in 1941 (the year I chose as most representative). Life expectancy for our cohort is about 90 years.

We have on average another six or seven years of life remaining. 75% of us will live another two years and 25% will live at least nine more. Perhaps 14% will hit 100 years.

Naturally our death rate is increasing rapidly.

It took 24 years to reach 50 and that included Vietnam and several aviation accidents.
To reach:
100-26 years
150-9 years
200-4 years
250-4 years
300-2 years
350-2 years

Enjoy every day of every year you have left.

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