New GI Bill Salutes Dedication Of America’s
Troops
Enhances Educational
Benefits for U.S. Armed Forces & Veterans
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley praised the enactment of a
new GI Bill for America’s troops serving since 9/11. The legislation, which
Berkley voted to pass, was signed by the President this morning.
“This is truly a GI Bill for the 21st century
and it salutes the dedication of America’s troops, including the more than
15,000 brave Nevadans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
Included in this package are enhanced educational benefits that will cover the
cost of a four year college education for all those who have served three years
since 9/11. The new GI Bill also extends these important educational benefits
to members of America’s National Guard and Reserve,” said Berkley, who serves on
the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
The GI Bill for the 21st Century increases education
benefits for all those who have served at least three months on active duty
since 9/11, including troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“By covering the cost of a four-year college education for
those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we are giving these men and women the
same opportunity to attend college as those who fought in World War II. This
bill will provide returning members of the armed forces with the tools they need
to succeed in the workplace and will strengthen our economy for the future,”
said Berkley.
Under the new GI Bill , those who have served for three
years or more would qualify for the full educational benefit. Those who have
served between three months and three years of active duty would qualify for a
proportion of the full benefit. The law also allows the transfer of unused
educational benefits to the wives and children of troops who have served for six
years and have signed an additional service agreement of at least four years.
Those supporting modernization of the GI Bill included: The
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS,
Vietnam Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, National Association
of Black Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, Non-Commissioned
Officers Association, National Association for Uniformed Services, and National
Guard Association of the United States.
Berkley Presses For Timetable on Response to
Questions Swirling Around $100 Million No-Bid Contract for Yucca Mountain Law
Firm
Justice Department Seeking
Info on Choice of Morgan Lewis for Work to Open Proposed Nuke Dump 90 Minutes
from Las Vegas
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is calling on the Department
of Justice (DOJ) to set a timetable for resolving issues regarding a conflict of
interest arising from a no-bid $100 million contract awarded to law firm Morgan
Lewis for work on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump 90 minutes
outside Las Vegas. Berkley and members of the Nevada Congressional delegation
continue to raise questions about the firm’s work for the Department of Energy
(DOE) to license Yucca Mountain even as its lawyers seek to collect billions of
dollars in liability costs from U.S. taxpayers on behalf of the nuclear
industry.
“This is a $100 million no-bid contract awarded to a firm
that is suing U.S. taxpayers on behalf of the nuclear industry for billions in
liability costs, while also collecting record sums to help turn Nevada into a
nuclear waste dump. The liability issues raised by this troubling contract
demand immediate attention and I would expect those involved would not drag
their feet in providing answers about the selection of Morgan Lewis by DOE,”
said Berkley.
“The Justice Department has recognized the red flags raised
by this clear conflict of interest and has ordered Morgan Lewis to supply
critical information relating to the no-bid contract awarded to the firm by
DOE. I continue to be amazed at the failure on the part of DOE to consult with
the Justice Department before awarding this $100 million no-bid contract and I
share DOJ’s concerns about how this could impact efforts to shield U.S.
taxpayers from billions of dollars in potential liability costs,” said Berkley.
“The Justice Department should set a firm deadline for information to be
supplied by Morgan Lewis and greater scrutiny should be applied to DOE’s choice
to give this lucrative contract to a law firm with a blatant conflict of
interest, even when another choice was available.”
In a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) Inspector
General dated June 16, the Justice Department civil division outlined concerns
that the choice of Morgan Lewis could impact the outcome of liability suits,
leaving taxpayers facing billions of dollars in potential liability. Despite
the firm’s well known conflict of interest, DOE failed to inform the Justice
Department about the situation. DOJ has also questioned DOE’s authority to
waive conflicts involving Morgan Lewis as they relate to the nuclear industry
suits. Morgan Lewis has been ordered by DOJ to supply information regarding
mitigation plans for addressing the conflict of interest. As of today, the firm
has yet to provide DOJ with a response and the Department has established no
timetable for completing its review.
A scathing report released this past April by the Energy
Department’s own internal watchdog -- the Inspector General -- also found that
DOE did not act in the public's best interest when it knowingly hired a law firm
with clear conflicts of interest to help license the Yucca Mountain Project.
The $100 million no-bid contract was awarded to Morgan Lewis despite the fact it
also represents major utilities in lawsuits against the DOE.
In its report the Inspector General expressed concern that
DOE lowered its own internal standards to allow the Department to award the
contract to Morgan Lewis. The report also found that DOE failed to document how
it justified loosening pervious standards that would have prevented the contract
from being awarded to a firm with a known conflict of interest.
Following the report, Berkley joined with the other members
of Nevada’s congressional delegation in calling on the Energy Department to
recuse the law firm, particularly after learning that one firm seeking to do
business with the DOE was deemed to have no conflict at all. No response has
been provided by DOE to the Nevada delegation’s request.
GOP Senators Block Medicare Fix
Berkley Concerned Patients Will Lose Access to
Doctor Care
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley criticized Senate Republicans
for blocking passage of legislation needed to protect Nevada seniors and
millions of other Americans covered under Medicare. The bill, which failed by
one vote Thursday, would have blocked a mandatory 10% cut in the reimbursement
rates paid to doctors who treat Medicare patients from going into effect on July
1st. Americans covered under Medicare could see access to medical care limited
as a result of the cut going into effect.
“By blocking this important provision, Republicans in the
Senate are threatening the ability of Nevada Medicare patients to see their own
doctors,” said Berkley. “Physicians across the country who serve our nation's
Medicare patients are now going to see a drastic cut in payments as a result of
the actions of a majority of GOP Senators. In many cases, this will push
reimbursements below the cost of providing care. While I am hopeful that we
will succeed in stopping this cut after we return from the 4th of July
observance, the damage will have already begun. Practices will face disruptions
to their billing, payments will be delayed, and in the long run, Medicare
beneficiaries may find it more difficult to see their doctor or access other
healthcare services,” Berkley said.
“We cannot expect our doctors to lose money when they see a
Medicare patient,” said Berkley. “And with the Valley’s rapidly growing senior
population, Las Vegas will be especially hard hit if this drastic cut in
reimbursement rates is not reversed,” said Berkley.
