Kansas, Missouri representatives react to President Biden s address to Congress Share Updated: 10:07 PM CDT Apr 28, 2021 KMBC 9 News Staff Michael Reynolds President Joe Biden speaks to a joint session of Congress Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP) SOURCE: Michael Reynolds Share Updated: 10:07 PM CDT Apr 28, 2021 KMBC 9 News Staff Some elected representatives from Kansas and Missouri are reacting to President Joe Biden s first joint address to Congress.U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri released the following statement: On day one, President Biden promised bipartisanship and unity. Nearly 100 days later, and we’ve seen too little of that. From a bloated COVID “relief” bill that spent less than 9 percent on actual COVID relief to a border crisis only made worse by promises of amnesty and open borders
Sweeping health and benefits changes could come soon for vets suffering toxic exposure ills April 28 A service member watches over a the burn pit in Al Anbar Province of Iraq in May 2007. (Cpl. Samuel D. Corum/Marine Corps) Lawmakers on Wednesday launched their latest effort to piece together comprehensive legislation on veterans’ toxic exposure illnesses with the goal of providing a clear path forward by the start of the summer. At a hearing on the issue before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he wanted to mark up the package “before Memorial Day” and promised a “bold” new approach to getting more medical care and benefits to veterans suffering from illnesses connected to burn pits, chemical exposure and other potential poisoning while on duty.
By NIKKI WENTLING | Stars and Stripes | Published: April 26, 2021 WASHINGTON Tens of thousands fewer veterans are seeking coronavirus vaccines from the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to just two weeks ago, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Monday. Earlier this month, between 50,000 to 75,000 veterans were getting vaccinated every day. As of Friday, distribution dropped to between 25,000 to 30,0000 vaccinations per day, McDonough said. The drop in demand, which is reflective of the rest of the U.S. population, has prompted the department to increase its communication to veterans about the importance of getting vaccinated. “We are seeing demand lag,” McDonough said during a news briefing. “It underscores the importance of us continuing to make the case for vaccination.”
NCAA leader nominated for VA deputy secretary post 22 hours ago In this 2015 file photo, NCAA chief legal officer Donald Remy speaks during an interview in Indianapolis. Remy was nominated by the White House on Friday for the second-highest leadership post at the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Michael Conroy/AP) President Joe Biden has tapped the second-ranking official at the National Collegiate Athletic Association to serve as the second-highest official at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Donald Remy, an Army veteran with long ties to both Biden and former President Barack Obama, was nominated Friday as VA’s deputy secretary. If confirmed, he will be only the second Black veteran to serve in that leadership role. VA Secretary Denis McDonough in recent weeks has promised that his leadership team will underscore the president’s “seriousness about diversity and inclusion” at the department.