From Deseret News archives:
VA now a department not a division
Leader hopes name change will lead to financial benefits
At the Governor's Mansion on Monday, Utah's VA director Terry Schow, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and others participated in the ceremonial signing of a bill that created the change from a division to a department.
"It is really a form of recognizing those who have served and will serve in terms of our state being organized at the highest levels to pay tribute and to offer services that are so richly deserved by so many," Huntsman said in a speech to a roomful of veterans and elected officials.
Known as a division until last week, the VA in Utah for years has been underfunded and understaffed, according to Schow. Along with the name change, however, there is already more state money about $250,000 for outreach among Utah's estimated 160,000 veterans.
Schow said the change will also allow veterans in the Beehive State to have more input on budget and policy matters that impact them.
"We see a light at the end of the tunnel," Schow said in an interview. "This gets us increased emphasis and attention on veterans and veteran programs."
Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said the signing of his bill, HB426, will mean the Guard can focus more on its job.
"They're in the business of training soldiers," Hughes said.
Now the VA department will answer to Huntsman, and Schow will be part of the governor's cabinet. Huntsman said that Schow's first three tasks will be to reach out more to veterans, form a database for veterans looking for information about benefits, and educate state officials and veterans about what federal money and rights are available to vets.
The $250,000 in new funding that came with passage of the bill is supposed to go toward hiring someone for extra outreach about VA programs and benefits available to Utah's estimated 160,000 veterans and about 1,600 homeless vets.
Less than 20 percent of Utah veterans are enrolled in some kind of a health-care program through the VA, according to Schow. Less than 10 percent of vets in this state take advantage of compensation and pension benefits for those with "service connected" disabilities. In states like Maine, however, more veterans take advantage of benefits because better funded outreach programs there do more to inform vets, Schow told the Deseret Morning News earlier this year.
Sitting in a wheelchair with four Purple Heart, two Silver Star and two Bronze Star awards to his name, Vietnam Army veteran Lee Ficarra said Monday that the formerly named Division of Veterans Affairs was overlooked for too long and lacked "prestige" among state leaders. The name change, he said, will give "credence" to the department and put it in the "forefront" of the minds of legislators.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
Comments
- Soccer MVPs know how to win 1:56 a.m.
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009 1:56 a.m.
- High school soccer: Past MVPs 1:37 a.m.
- Senators want food tax restored 1:27 a.m.
- Utah women lag in higher education 1:16 a.m.
- Hatch empathizes with Muslims 1:14 a.m.
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP 1:13 a.m.
- Mitchell seeks to block witnesses 1:12 a.m.
- Party insiders may take on Bennett 1:11 a.m.
- Input sought on nondiscrimination 1:11 a.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
114 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...
I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...
hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...
play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...
I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...
That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...
I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...
I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...
BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...
i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!



You can be the first to comment on this story.