Another PR Victory for VA: According to Government Executive, Veterans Affairs argued before Congress last week that allowing veterans to use lawyers to navigate the VA maze of regulations would simply add unnecessary expense to the VA program—in effect draining dollars from veteran’s benefits. However, others would disagree. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and sponsor of the legislation that would overturn a Civil War-era policy prohibiting veterans from using lawyers, believes that the measure has solid and growing support. He noted among those speaking in favor of the bill was Donald Ivers, a former chief judge for the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III conducted virtual talks on April 16 with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, Beijing's Minister of Defense, marking the first direct talk between defense chiefs of the two nations in close to two years.