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26 September 2023

NBC News | Biden tells Zelenskyy that U.S. will send Ukraine ATACMS long-range missiles

President Joe Biden has told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that the United States will provide a small number of long-range missiles to aid the war with Russia, three U.S. officials and a congressional official familiar with the discussions told NBC News on Friday.

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The Hill | Congress stares down shutdown deadline

The House and Senate this week are staring down a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government, with a shutdown becoming more and more likely as lawmakers remain unable to reach a deal on keeping the lights on in Washington beyond the end of the month.

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USA Today | Suicide hotline botched veteran’s cry for help. An investigation found critical breakdowns

The independent watchdog's report issued the events leading up to the death in San Antonio in 2021 and "problematic" actions taken by leaders at the crisis line afterward. The investigation found crisis line staff failed to ensure a plan was in place to try and prevent the suicide and to adequately document communication with the veteran. The staff also didn't tell local VA staff in Texas about the death.

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Military.com | 1 in 3 PACT Act claims have received a 0% disability rating, prompting a VA review

Of the total claims, however, 34% have received a 0% disability rating, meaning that affected veterans have at least one service-connected condition under the law that is not disabling -- for example, hypertension, which has been linked to Agent Orange exposure, that is controlled by medication.

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Military Times | VA to recoup nearly $10 million in mistaken bonuses to senior staffers

Veterans Affairs leaders will rescind nearly $9.7 million in incentive pay awards handed out earlier this month to 170 senior executives after a review found the extra money was awarded improperly, department officials announced Friday.

The Hill | Congressional authorizations for military force are ticking time bombs

Unfortunately, the 2001 AUMF approved by Congress on Sept. 18, 2001, which initiated the country’s global war on terrorism, was not limited in time, geographic scope or circumstances. It is still very much alive today, even though the threat it was intended to address has largely dissipated.

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Time | A U.S.-Saudi defense pact is a terrible idea

The question, however, isn’t whether an Israel-Saudi normalization agreement would be a good thing for the U.S.—it’s how high a price Washington is willing to pay to get the deal across the finish line. It’s imperative for the White House to ensure that its desire for a major diplomatic accomplishment doesn’t blind itself to the risks of giving away too much.

The Overwatch | Will presidential candidates talk about veterans health care this time around?

We asked more veterans around the country what they want to hear from candidates about better health care and the Department of Veterans Affairs

Knox News | Medal of Honor recipient Larry Taylor was a leader, even at the University of Tennessee

He was previously given the Silver Star. After his actions were re-examined with the push of supporters, President Joe Biden presented him with the medal during a televised White House ceremony Sept. 5.

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KFYR | This is sort of a tearjerker’: Nearly 50 war veterans honored with recreated homecoming

Nearly 50 veterans have received the homecoming they deserved in Virginia. Honor Flight of Top Virginia took the participating veterans in the Shenandoah Valley to view the memorial walls in Washington, D.C., for the wars they fought in, joined by guides from the organization.

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