Veteran Issues Digest Number 1791

[admin]

National Public radio plans to air acinetobacter story Sunday, May 1

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Sat May 10, 2008 6:54 am (PDT)

http://www.npr. org/

<http://www.npr. org/templates/ rundowns/ rundown.php? prgId=10>
http://www.npr. org/templates/ rundowns/ rundown.php? prgId=10 Sunday weekend
edition

find your local station at: times vary by area
http://www.npr. org/templates/ stations/ schedule/ index.php? prgId=10
<http://www.npr. org/templates/ stations/ schedule/ index.php? prgId=10& showNav=1
> &showNav=1

also see story Injured GI's Care Reflects Army's Uneven Progress
http://www.npr. org/templates/ story/story. php?storyId= 90109327

also more info at:
<http://www.acinetob acter.org/> Acinetobacter Baumannii in Iraq
<javascript: void(0)>

Congress as well as Veteran Affairs is not under any special pressure to
deal with MDR Acinetobacter Baumannii as there is no public outcry to deal
with it. ...
www.acinetobacter. org/ -
_____

From: David Schulman [mailto:DSchulman@npr. org]
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 4:01 PM
To: Colonel Dan
Subject: RE: Acinetobacter Infection, New England Journal of Medicine

Hi there Dan ~

Thanks for all your help on the acinetobacter story. Things could change,
but I wanted to let you know that we're now planning to air our piece this
SUNDAY on Weekend Edition with Liane Hansen.

It'll also be on the NPR website after it airs.

Many thanks again!

Best,

-David

_____

From: Colonel Dan [mailto:colonel-dan@ sbcglobal. net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:27 AM
To: David Schulman
Subject: Acinetobacter Infection, New England Journal of Medicine

http://www.pdhealth .mil/admin/ nlAttachments/ DHCC-Uploads/ Acinetobacter_ Infec
tion.pdf

Acinetobacter Infection
<http://www.pdhealth .mil/admin/ nlAttachments/ DHCC-Uploads/ Acinetobacter_ Infe
ction.pdf>
Review Article
Ainetobacter is a gram-negative coccobacillus that during the past three
decades has emerged from an organism of questionable pathogenicity to an
infectious agent of importance to hospitals worldwide.
Source : New England Journal of Medicine Right-click here to download
pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download
of this picture from the Internet.

FULL ARTICLE AT WEB SITE ABOVE

2.
FW: West LA VA: Feinstein Calls for Action on West LA VA facility

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Sat May 10, 2008 6:57 am (PDT)



_____

From: Daley, Trevor (Feinstein)
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 2:45 PM
To: Daley, Trevor (Feinstein)
Subject: West LA VA: Feinstein Calls for Action on West LA VA facility

Senator Feinstein Asks VA Secretary to Move on Long-Term Homeless Housing,
Master Plan for West Los Angeles VA Facility

-Also asks VA to consider housing for families of returning Iraq-Afghanistan
vets-

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today asked James
Peake, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to move forward with
plans for long-term supportive housing for homeless veterans at the West Los
Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus.

In a letter to Secretary Peake, Senator Feinstein also asked the Department
to report on progress on a master plan for the VA facility, and to also
consider creating family housing there for families of returning veterans
wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Legislation by Senator Feinstein, to prohibit commercial development of the
388-acre West Los Angeles VA site, was signed into law by President Bush on
December 26.

Following is the text of Senator Feinstein's letter:

May 9, 2008

The Honorable James Peake

Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Peake:

I write to follow up on three critical issues with regard to the
West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs site.

First, it appears that little progress has been made toward
providing long-term supportive homeless housing at the campus. It has been
three months since our January 31st meeting, and my office has received no
indication on how the VA will proceed on this matter. I would appreciate an
update from you on the VA's efforts to move forward with the McKinney-Vento
process.

Second, I would like an update on the progress made toward
drafting and implementing a master plan for the campus. It is my
understanding that both local and federal officials are investigating
options for the site. Absent a master plan, this could result in a
haphazard and confusing process for managing the campus. The Veterans
Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-368) states that:

"The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the
master plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to the use of
Department lands at the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center, California" and details what that report is to include.

Pursuant to P.L. 105-368, I urge you to move forward quickly and provide me
with your timeline for doing so.

Third, as you consider options for future use of the site, I urge
you to explore the possibility of developing supportive family housing for
veterans returning from combat with multiple amputations, post-traumatic
stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury. Family housing would give
injured veterans and their families access to the services they need, as
well as a supportive network with families facing similar challenges. I
believe the Department should pursue family housing for returning veterans,
and I believe the West Los Angeles VA is well suited for this need.

Thank you for your time. I hope we can work together to determine
appropriate use of this great opportunity to provide services to veterans,
and my staff and I are available to provide any assistance you may need.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein

United States Senator