Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 13, 2015.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today urged Congress to act expeditiously and approve its pending request for fiscal year 2015 budget flexibility. The request, formally transmitted on June 23, seeks the transfer of funds from the Choice Program to continue VA’s efforts to increase Veterans’[Read More…]

Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division during a troop event on Fort Bragg, N.C., July 10, 2015. Carter’s visit to Fort Bragg included a question-and-answer session with soldiers of the XVIII Airborne Corps and demonstrations from airborne and special operations forces. U.S. Army[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 10, 2015.  Today, the Department of Defense released the Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR) for the first quarter of calendar year 2015. The report summarizes confirmed suicide counts for all services and components during the months of January throthere were 57 suicides among service members in the active component,[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)—July 10, 2015. In recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of U.S. ground forces entering Vietnam, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement honoring the service men and women who fought in the Vietnam War, and calling for renewed efforts to provide Vietnam veterans the medical care[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 9, 2015.  The Department of the Army announced today force structure decisions and stationing plans for the reduction of the regular Army from 490,000 to 450,000 soldiers. The reduction of force structure will occur in fiscal years 2016 and 2017; the reduction of 40,000 end strength will be[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 9, 2015.  Yesterday, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) introduced the Military Consumer Protection Act. The legislation would empower the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to defend our Servicemembers from unscrupulous actors in the consumer financial marketplace. The Military Consumer Protection Act was also introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI)[Read More…]

Database Links Genetic, Clinical, Lifestyle and Military Exposure Information WASHINGTON –-(ENEWSPF)–July 7, 2015.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing four new studies that will use genetic and other data from VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) to answer key questions on heart disease, kidney disease, and substance use—high-priority conditions[Read More…]

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian hold a press conference at the Pentagon, July 6, 2015. Earlier, the two defense leaders met to discuss matters of mutual importance. DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–July 6, 2015 – Defense Secretary Ash Carter and French[Read More…]

WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)–July 2, 2015.  A consortium led by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has launched the first brain tissue biorepository (also known as a “brain bank”) – to support research on the causes, progression and treatment of PTSD affecting Veterans. The national[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (ENEWSPF)–July 2, 2015. Following the publication of an article by Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting that documents University of Phoenix’s deceptive marketing practices and its infringement on military trademarks, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) – Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense –[Read More…]