Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Introduces Legislation To Help Protect Disabled Vets, Make VA More Transparent

July 26, 2023

Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna introduced legislation Wednesday that would help protect disabled veterans and aim to make the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) more transparent.

The Daily Caller first obtained a copy of the legislation, which is titled the “Send Them Treat Them Act.” The bill would specifically require the VA to update their Disability Claim Form to include information on the value of public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ).

If the bill is passed, the Disability Claim Form will be required to state how veterans have the opportunity to submit the DBQ form, completed by any physician of their choice, as part of their supporting medical evidence.

The form would state how veterans can get access to this form online and offline. The bill also requires the VA to update their website. On the page titled “How to file a disability claim,” the bill requires the VA to include the same information provided on the claim form so veterans can find the information more easily.

“As a veteran myself, the lack of transparency coming from the VA has always been very concerning to me, especially when wounded veterans are trying to file disability claims. Those who have served our nation courageously should be receiving the best care possible and we shouldn’t settle for anything less. My legislation ensures that those who are wounded in the service of our country have access to the highest quality of care which they rightfully deserve,” Luna told the Caller before introducing the bill.

Alabama Republican Rep. Barry Moore is co-sponsoring the bill and it has been endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“The VFW supports the Send Them Treat Them Act that revises laws administered by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to clarify information about the use of Disability Benefits Questionnaire forms and instructions on veterans’ rights when using them to file disability claims. The information provided to veterans on how to file claims should be clear and complete, making it easy for veterans to receive compensation for any disability they have resulting from their service to this country. The VFW thanks Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna for introducing this important piece of legislation,” Quandrea Patterson, the Associate Director of VFW’s National Legislative Service, said in a statement.

The VA was ranked as Americans’ least favorite government agency in a survey conducted in 2018.

https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1684719469657022465

https://dailycaller.com/2023/07/26/anna-paulina-luna-legislation-protect-disabled-veterans-va/

Devastating explosion in fireworks warehouse kills 12 and injures 121 in Thailand

Sun, 30 July 2023 at 3:46 am

A devastating explosion at an unauthorised warehouse in Thailand has claimed 12 lives and left over 100 people injured.

The incident occurred on Saturday at the Muno market in Su-ngai Kolok district, situated in the southern province of Narathiwat, which shares its border with Malaysia.

Authorities had earlier said the death toll was 10, but on Sunday, it was revised at 12.

“There are 10 deaths plus the remains of two unidentified persons, which were sent for DNA checks,” Narathiwat’s governor Sanan Phongaksorn said. “But there should be no more deaths.”

He said 121 people were left injured, with two severely injured, while 111 were discharged from hospital.

More than 200 houses surrounding the warehouse were damaged by the explosion, affecting 365 people. Some 19 people were still staying at a shelter as several families have moved to their relatives’ houses, Mr Sanan said.

Many of the houses and other buildings had collapsed roofs and walls after the explosion.

Videos on social media show a huge plume of smoke over the area and many damaged structures, cars and motorbikes, as well as streets covered with debris.

Police were investigating the cause of the incident, he said, with initial reports suggesting a welding error at the warehouse.

“The fire is under control and police will investigate the cause thoroughly again,” he said.

He told public broadcaster Thai PBS that the explosion was likely triggered by construction work taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode.

Seksan Taesen, an eyewitness who lives 330ft away from the market, told AFP news agency he heard a “loud, thunderous noise and my whole house shook”.

“Then I saw my roof was wide open. I looked outside and I saw house collapsing and people lying on the ground everywhere. It was chaos.”

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/devastating-explosion-fireworks-warehouse-kills-104619925.html

>>19271087

https://youtu.be/rOKElcYVU5k