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![The Capitol in Washington, D.C., is seen Nov. 4, 2022.](jpg/smgktqkvyjbsrkypqip3bog2vm.jpg)
New year brings same government shutdown threats
Congress enters 2024 without a clear plan for federal spending, just a few weeks before another budget deadline.
![A cashier at a Travelex Bureau de Change counts U.S. dollars in February 2004.](jpg/byiiflmomreazdzxcnhsvxnem4-2.jpg)
Pay & Benefits
Junior enlisted pay to be key congressional focus in 2024
House Republicans are already looking at ways to put more money into the wallets of lower-ranking service members.
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Disability payouts help some vets earn more than healthy peers
Veterans with low disability ratings see higher income than non-disabled peers, but individuals with significant health issues lag far behind.
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Homelessness among veterans jumps more than 7%
The rise comes after years of progress in reducing the number of veterans facing stable housing issues.
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Most Americans respect vets but would not recommend enlisting
The new survey from RAND suggests that positive views of veterans are enough to boost military recruitment.
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Black women’s group defends affirmative action at military academies
Lawsuits filed against West Point and the Naval Academy seek to end the use of race as a factor in admissions there.
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$30M military wreath charity buys solely from its founders’ farm
About 60,000 volunteers are expected at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday for this year’s wreath layings.
![U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Piketinal Alou, left, and Airman 1st Class Destiny Story, 502d Comptroller Squadron, hold positive messages of support at base gates during the morning inbound commute as part of their on-going initiative, “We Care,” at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, Sept. 16, 2022. They spent the morning at various gates letting each person know that the simple, yet powerful display allows for everyone to stand together in support of those struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide. (Thomas Coney/Air Force)](jpg/grh65zkhnzektm5hrics6qafim.jpg)
Lawmakers press for more outside help in stopping veteran suicides
Some want to expand a $174 million grant program which funds suicide prevention efforts run by community groups.
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Political fights aren’t discouraging recruits, military recruiters say
Service officials said one of their biggest obstacles is explaining the basics of military service to teenagers who rarely interact with veterans.
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Total number of VA claims lost in online systems tops 120,000
The number of veterans discovered to be affected by the mistakes has grown in recent months.
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Defense authorization deal expected this week
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Dec. 4, 2023.
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Lawmakers press VA for stronger rules against discrimination
Congressional Democrats and outside advocates say updated policies for the department are long overdue.
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VA workers face more mandatory overtime amid record claims processing
The backlog of overdue disability claims is expected to keep rising over the next year.
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VA again found homes for 38K struggling vets in 2023
Department outreach efforts have helped nearly 80,000 veterans since the start of 2022.
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VA delays disputed change in how it pays for veterans’ ambulance trips
New rules were set to go into effect next February but will now be delayed until 2025.
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Concern about military toxic exposure injuries remains high among vets
Roughly four in 10 veterans think they may have been exposed to harmful chemicals or toxic conditions during their time in the service.
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Transgender vets threaten to sue VA over delay in surgery options
VA officials announced plans to provide gender conforming surgeries more than two years ago, but have not moved ahead on the promise.
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