VA Bonus Scandal Presents A Rare Case Of Government Fixing A Problem It Created
Ensuring this type of scandal never recurs involves getting rid of the people who put lining their own pockets over serving the public good.Ensuring this type of scandal never recurs involves getting rid of the people who put lining their own pockets over serving the public good.
'Diversity is an operational imperative': Canada's VA holds 2-day seminar to promote 'feminist theory of intersectionality'
Veterans Affairs Canada recently released a report detailing their findings from a two-day event titled the 2023 Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum.
The lengthy event featured hours upon hours of testimony from different veterans and government employees who gave disparaging reviews of the Canadian Armed Forces and their experiences of alleged discrimination within it.
During a six-hour video of the second day of the forum, the Veterans Affairs Executive Equity Officer Jackie Wills noted that the event would focus on "multiple marginalizations," a concept "rooted in the feminist theory of intersectionality," according to the government report.
True North reported that retired service member Kareth Huber, a man who purports to be transgender, suggested that "white male special force" operators have it easier than LGBT members.
"Iâve been a lot of different places for veterans, and thereâs always a miasma in the room of, 'The freak is now taking the stage,'" Huber continued.
"Some of you in the room have seen me get angry because some white male special force operator thinks that he had it bad. Ok, be your white male special force operator, go do your special force operation, and then get the shit beat out of you by your fellow forces because youâre a fag," he added.
Retired Maj. Kathryn Foss explained that she is a bigoted person simply by way of being born in Canada.
"Iâm racist, Iâm sexist. Iâm all of those. I was born in this country. I was born in this culture, so you cannot deny that," she claimed. "My father was a little bit more than I am, I'll say that."
Foss also alluded to a possible thousand-year history regarding racism in the country.
"Unless you look at the culture, and Iâm not talking about yesterday. If you go back a few â a thousand years maybe, even â it tells you a lot. The culture, the ideology, what underpins the racism, the sexism, the transphobia, etc."
Everybody needs to watch this. \n\nVeterans Affairs dedicated an entire conference to disparaging white Canadians in uniform and calling the military racist. \n\nThese activists are driving @VeteransENG_CA policy while veterans can barely access services. \n\nhttps://t.co/lc80dIcrAeâ (@)
The official report on the event explained the goals of the veterans organization in much greater detail. Highlights included quotes such as "diversity is a fact; inclusion is a choice," and "diversity is an operational imperative."
As for their conclusions, the document stated that Department of Defense/Canadian Armed Forces senior leaders were committed to upholding a number of promises.
A dedication to "evolve the culture" of the military was noted, along with continuing the conversation with "equity-deserving and historically marginalized veterans," while sharing "their stories to inform the journey toward equity."
Veterans Affairs also said it will strengthen "story-telling content" and "produce learning materials" in order to create space to recognize diverse needs and honor "diverse histories."
With an 87% approval rate from forum participants, the report closed with a quote citing the need for "safe spaces" for everyone.
The testimonials of the panelists drove the message of inclusion and the need for safe spaces for everyone, especially those marginalized as a result of their gender or race.
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VA expands IVF coverage to single veterans and same-sex couples: 'Equity of access'
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that it will expand in-vitro fertilization coverage to single, unmarried veterans and same-sex couples, according to a department press release.
Previously, only married veterans who could "produce their own sperm [and] eggs" were eligible under the VA's IVF coverage. This week, the department announced that it would expand its fertility treatment coverage to include veterans "using donated sperm or eggs."
"The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will soon be able to provide in vitro fertilization (IVF) to eligible unmarried Veterans and eligible Veterans in same-sex marriages. VA will also be able to provide IVF to Veterans using donated sperm or eggs â a critical step toward helping Veterans who are not able to produce their own sperm or eggs due to service-connected injuries and health conditions," the VA's press release read.
"Under existing law, all Veterans who receive IVF from VA must be unable to procreate without the use of fertility treatment due to a health condition caused by their military service. Before today's expansion of care, VA was only allowed to provide IVF services to Veterans who were legally married and â within that relationship â able to produce their own gametes (both eggs and sperm)," the press release continued. "Under this expansion of care, VA will offer IVF benefits to qualifying Veterans regardless of marital status and â for the first time â allow the use of donor eggs, sperm, and embryos."
The VA anticipates that it will be able to expand IVF coverage "nationwide within the coming weeks."
The Department of Defense announced plans for the expanded coverage in a December court filing following a lawsuit by Yale Law School and the National Organization for Women's New York City chapter, the Military Times reported.
According to Sonia Ossorio, the executive director of NOW-NYC, the lawsuit challenged the DOD and the VA "to remove all discriminatory barriers so that each and every service member and veteran who needs this reproductive care can access it."
Kimberly Lahm, a product director in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs for Health Services Policy and Oversight, stated, "We continue [to] identify ways to lean forward as much as we can in support of equity of access to reproductive health care for our service members."
"We're doing what we can to support our service members in making the reproductive health decisions that align with their family planning goals," she said.
Lahm stated that the IVF coverage expansion was "just one example of how we're supporting" Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's "Taking Care of Our Service Members and Families" campaign, which aims to "make military moves easier, support careers of military spouses, strengthen support for military families and ensure economic stabilization."
VA Secretary Denis McDonough noted that the coverage expansion has been a top priority for the department.
"Raising a family is a wonderful thing, and I'm proud that VA will soon help more Veterans have that opportunity," McDonough said.
"We are working urgently to make sure that eligible unmarried Veterans, Veterans in same-sex marriages, and Veterans who need donors will have access to IVF in every part of the country as soon as possible."
Troops and veterans seeking IVF treatments will still only be covered if their infertility challenges are due to their military service, the press release explained.
Donovan Bendana, a Yale Law School student representing NOW-NYC, called the coverage expansion "substantial progress," despite its failure to fully address the lawsuit, which aimed to open coverage to all regardless of the cause of their infertility issues.
"The onerous requirement of linking infertility to a specific service injury will deny many service members the opportunity to build a family. This is especially arbitrary in light of the military's decades-long disinterest in studying women's health, including the impact of service on fertility," Bendana stated.
NOW-NYC intends to continue forward with its lawsuit.
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New Bill Would Stop VA Bureaucrats From Gaming The System To Grab Veteransâ Guns
Currently, any veteran who is deemed âunable to manageâ their benefits is automatically barred from purchasing or owning guns.Republican presses VA to stop flying Pride flag, requests removal of any 'flags promoting social policy positions or political statements'
Republican Rep. Mike Ezell of Mississippi has taken issue with an LGBT Pride flag being flown at a Mississippi Veterans Affairs facility.
In a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Interim Medical Center Director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Stephanie Repasky, Ezell contended that flags pushing political or social ideology should not be flown on VA premises.
\u201cOur VA facilities should be focused on serving our veterans, not promoting social or political causes. \n\nI take issue with ANY flag flying at a VA facility that promotes an agenda, including the pride flag at the Biloxi VA.\n\nRead the letter I sent to VA Secretary McDonough here\ud83d\udd3d\u201dâ Congressman Mike Ezell (@Congressman Mike Ezell) 1685727996
"It has come to my attention that the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Harrison County, Mississippi (Biloxi VAMC), which is home to the Biloxi National Cemetery, is flying the rainbow pride flag at its front entrance. While I believe everyone should be treated with respect, I take serious issue with any flag flying at a VA facility that promotes social policy positions or political statements," he wrote.
"Our VA facilities should be focused on serving and providing quality care to our veterans, who deserve our utmost respect and admiration. These facilities should not be used as tools to promote any social or political agenda, and only government and military flags, such as POW/MIA flag and flags of the U.S. Armed Forces, should be flown or displayed alongside the American flag on VA property," Ezell declared. He concluded, "I am writing to request that this flag, and any other flags promoting social policy positions or political statements, be removed."
Biloxi VA adds rainbow flag to Pass Road display for Pride Month www.youtube.com
McDonough expressly supports displaying Pride flags at VA facilities. Last year, he authorized flying the controversial flag.
"Last June, I raised the Pride Flag at VA Central Office in Washington, D.C. This year, I authorized all VA-owned facilities to fly it for up to 30 days in June," McDonough tweeted in 2022.
On Friday, McDonough shared a photo of a Pride flag flying on a pole beneath an American flag and another flag. "Happy Pride to LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors! Your service, your sacrifice â even in the face of discrimination â will never be forgotten. Proud to fly the Pride flag over VA, and proud to serve you each and every day," he tweeted.
\u201cHappy Pride to LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors! Your service, your sacrifice \u2013 even in the face of discrimination \u2013 will never be forgotten.\n\nProud to fly the Pride flag over VA, and proud to serve you each and every day.\u201dâ Secretary Denis McDonough (@Secretary Denis McDonough) 1685727657
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Emotional Army veteran expresses frustrations with VA in viral TikTok video: 'I just want some f***ing continuity of care with mental health'
An emotional Army veteran expressed his deep-rooted frustrations with attempting to get consistent mental health from the Department of Veterans Affairs in a TikTok video that went viral.
Retired Army Sgt. Joe Cantasano shared a video on May 17 detailing how the VA failed to provide him with consistent mental health care. Cantasano has had to endure a constant change of mental health providers â which has left him exasperated.
"Seven times over the course of the last f***ing six years dude, the VA has continued to let me down," a tearful Cantasano said on video. "I just want some f***ing continuity of care with mental health providers. What the f***?"
Cantasano said that his doctors "kept quitting" or the health network switched which health care professionals were available.
"And then the one doctor that I really liked, who talked me off of f***ing ledge the last time was refused," he said, noting that the doctor went out of his network.
The Army veteran said he spent the last two years "dealing with my own demons myself and trying to hold it f***ing together." Cantasano said he's been off "all my medications for f***ing two years."
"I've been doing it all on my own, just white-knuckling it," he said.
Cantasano lamented about seeing a new doctor, "Then I gotta open f***ing Pandora's box again because they're gonna want to know everything, and I'm gonna have to live through that for a month."
Cantasano added, "It's not a lot to ask, I just want to be able to talk to the same person, and not have to retell these f***ing stories that torment me."
"I just want some continuity of f***ing care," he said at the end of the video that quickly went viral online.
@averagefloridamanReposting the original video.. i have posted and update, please be sure to watch that, i knew that by sharing my all to common story and allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of the world that i might light a fire of change. Now we have national attention on this epidemic. đđź #Vet #veteran #mentalhealth #veteransoftiktok #veteransaffairs #vets
Fox News host Lawrence Jones saw the viral video, and invited Cantasano to talk about how the VA failed him.
Cantasano said he was forced to go through "five or six providers over the course of 15 months for a multitude of different reasons."
The Army veteran said it can take up to a month to find a local health care provider in his community.
Cantasano noted that there was "a lot of red tape at the VA" as well as in Congress that impedes providing veterans with quality care.
He hopes that his viral video will "get the ball rolling in the right direction."
He continued, "I just feel like, I know that my instance and my experience is not special, it's it happens hundreds of times a day that that, you know, veterans are told that they can't see their primary mental health care provider any longer or are no longer authorized to go back to that individual."
Lawrence said Cantasano's emotional video "got his attention."
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Here's what one veteran has to say about the VA www.youtube.com
VA's new mission statement ditches gendered language
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has updated its mission statement with a new statement that does not include gendered language.
According to a VA press release, the prior mission statement read, "To fulfill President Lincolnâs promise 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americaâs veterans."
The new statement drops the gender-specific terminology and no longer includes the Lincoln quote, though it still references the sixteenth president. The text of the new statement reads, "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nationâs military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."
The VA reported that various demographics of veterans surveyed preferred the new statement.
"In crafting the new mission statement, VA surveyed roughly 30,000 Veterans. Among Veterans surveyed, the new version of VA's mission statement was chosen over the current version by every age group; by men and by women; by LGBTQ+ Veterans; and by white, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans," the press release states. "The new mission statement reflects that VA serves all of the heroes who have served our country, regardless of their race, gender, background, sexual orientation, religion, zip code or identity."
"Whenever any Veteran, family member, caregiver, or survivor walks by a VA facility, we want them to see themselves in the mission statement on the outside of the building," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said, according to the press release. "We are here to serve all Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors â and now, our mission statement reflects exactly that."
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