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Frank Bergquist
Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214.
Veteran Affairs
2007-05-01 11:08:00
Supplemental bill and its affect
ANSWER: he Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has applauded efforts to add $1.7 billion for veterans health care and services as part of the $100 billion military supplemental spending bill funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Including this much-needed additional money for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the emergency funding measure is an acknowledgement that caring for our nation’s veterans is part of the continuing cost of war,” said DAV National Commander Bradley S. Barton. Barton noted that the supplemental bill is still in the draft stage, but he urged lawmakers to ensure that the additional money for the VA remains in the final version that goes to the President for signature. “We as a nation owe these brave men and women all we can give them to make sure that their life and sacrifice are not ignored or undervalued,” Barton said. “But given the strains already placed on the VA, I am concerned about our veterans’ ability to get quality health care and benefits in a timely manner. If our government continues to under fund VA programs, it will fail to honor America’s commitment to our sick and disabled veterans.” The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is also urging lawmakers to support a recommended $6.6 billion increase in funding for veterans health care and other programs as called for in 2008 budget blueprints being debated in the House and Senate. “The budget recommendations that came out of the House and Senate Budget Committees will make a real difference in the lives of America’s sick and disabled veterans,” said DAV National Commander Bradley S. Barton. “This is especially important as our nation is at war.” Both budget resolutions reported out of committee call for $43.1 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the bulk of which is for veterans health care. That is $6.6 billion above the fiscal 2007 enacted level and $3.5 billion above the President’s request. The congressional budget blueprints do not include user fees and higher prescription co-payments contained in the President’s plan. Commander Barton praised Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-N.C.) for their support of discretionary funding levels in line with recommendations in The Independent Budget authored by the DAV and other veterans service organizations. “This much-needed funding increase will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to better meet the needs of the men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as all veterans who have served in the past,” he said. While the draft budget resolutions call for significant increases in spending for veterans programs in fiscal year 2008, the DAV is concerned about future projected funding levels. “Funding must keep pace with rising health care costs and an expected increase in veterans seeking services from the VA,” Barton said. “The DAV will continue working with Congress to ensure that future budgets meet the needs of our nation’s sick and disabled veterans.”
 
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