February 2008 Newsletter - Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs

IOWA D EPARTMENT
OF V ETERANS AFFAIRS
Camp Dodge, Bldg. A6A, 7105 NW 70 th Avenue, Johnston, IA 50131
515-242-5331 www.iowava.org
Legislative Update
February - 2008
The 2008 legislative session began in early
January, and bills are starting to be passed in
committee.
Several bills the Department has sponsored are
progressing. Most importantly, a bill that will
create a county veterans office in every county
for a minimum of twenty hours a week, has
passed out of the Senate Veterans Committee
and is headed for the Senate floor. This needed
change to Iowa Code 35B will ensure a minimum
standard throughout the state. On top of
requiring an office in each county, Senate File
2134 will establish job duties and requirements
for county directors and administrators. This
bill was brought to the department by the
County Association.
Another bill that is heading to the Senate Floor
is Senate File 2125. This bill will eliminate a
restricting technicality in the Vietnam Bonus
and allow several Vietnam veterans the
opportunity to receive the new Vietnam Bonus.
Current law requires Vietnam era veterans to
have served at least 120 days during the new
bonus period of July 1, 1973 to May 31, 1975, to
qualify for the funding. In some instances,
veterans did not serve 120 days in the current
bonus, but did serve the needed amount prior to
the new time period. This bill will allow the
department the ability to pay these veterans
their deserved bonus.
Two other bills brought forward by the
department have yet to make it to the full
Senate Veterans Committee. A bill that will
modify the War Orphan Educational Benefits
Program has had a subcommittee hearing and
amendments are being drafted to make changes
that will benefit the children of soldiers killed in
action. The other bill will increase IDVA’s
jurisdiction when property that is
commemorating veterans will be sold, traded,
or transferred.
One bill that was on the fast track is House
File 2065. This piece of legislation was signed
into law on February 14 th . The new law will
allow returning troops to utilize the Attorney
General’s Office when addressing employers
who are not following the US Soldiers and
Sailors Act and providing them with their
original job.
The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs has
also requested a bill to increase the uses of the
Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. Changes to the
Trust Fund found in this bill include travel
reimbursement for visiting spouses of a veteran
receiving follow-up care for a service
connected injury; funding to allow veterans to
remain in their home instead of going to a
nursing facility; funding for hearing, dental,
vision and prescription drug care; assistance
with emergency vehicle repair, emergency
housing repair, and temporary housing; and aid
for the use of emergency room and ambulance
services. This bill has passed Senate and will
be acted on in the House soon.

Page 2
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
Legislative Update Cont’d
The Health and Human Services Budget
Subcommittee has been working hard over the
past month to learn about the Governor’s
recommendations for funding. The subcommittee
plans to have its budget in place
by the end of the month. IDVA and the Iowa
Veterans Home will have an opportunity to
present their budget changes to the
subcommittee in mid February.
The Governor’s recommendation provides for
a slight increase of IDVA’s budget over last
year’s budget. However, the legislature
always has the opportunity to modify those
figures. We look forward to working with the
Legislature and the Governor to make sure
the funding needs of the veteran population
are met.
Look to the April edition of this newsletter for
a final summary of the happenings at the
State Capitol. ~
Iowa Veterans Cemetery
The Iowa Veterans Cemetery construction is
progressing despite the cold and snow.
However, due to the large amount of rain in
the fall and the continuous snow this winter,
the contractors building the cemetery have
extended the completion date from mid June
to July 2 nd . This is beyond the contract date,
and any time beyond June 15 th can result in a
daily fine being assessed to the contractor.
That being said, every attempt is being made
to provide for a dedication ceremony in mid
June. Hopefully a Flag Day memorial will be
possible.
Currently, the cemetery has 563 approved
applications. Of that amount, there are 42
cremated remains waiting to be interred.
The administration building and related
buildings have been bricked and indoor
electrical and plumbing work has begun in
earnest. Soon the insulation and drywall will
be installed.
View from the west of the administration building,
material holding bin, and maintenance building.
The committal shelter is also progressing well,
the central atrium tower has been erected,
and the walls are being bricked. Most of the
granite façade on the exterior is in place.
Also, the potential for placing glass enclosures
at the committal shelter is closer to becoming
a reality, with Architectural Wall Systems
committing to provide the enclosures and the
National Society of Colonial Dames of America
- Des Moines Borough funding the project.
A recent picture of the committal shelter progress.
The cemetery would also like to welcome the
new cemetery foreman, Shane Laycock.
Shane has significant cemetery experience
and will be a tremendous asset to the
facility. Until operations begin, Shane will
be occupied in the monitoring of
construction progress and studying federal
operational protocols.

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
Page 3
As required by law, the cemetery has been
working with Iowa Prison Industry (IPI) for
the construction of some of the office
furniture that will be used in the
administration building. When IPI learned of
the need for a flag holder when interring
cremated remains, they graciously
constructed and donated the stand. ~
(L-R) Roger Baysden, Director of IPI, Ann Baughman
Marketing Assistant with IPI, IDVA Executive Director
Patrick Palmersheim, and Cemetery Director Steve
Young at the presentation of the flag stand.
Veterans Commemorative
Property
IDVA rules relating to Veterans
Commemorative Property went into effect on
January 23, 2008. These rules require
cemeteries wishing to sell, trade, or transfer
a veteran memorial that is at least 75 years
old to seek approval from the department.
Under most circumstances, transaction
approval will be based on whether the new
owner will preserve the integrity of the
memorial and continue to commemorate the
veteran or group of veterans the property was
intended for. ~
Vietnam Bonus
As of February 1 st , IDVA has received and
processed 1151 applications for the second
Vietnam Bonus Program. The average bonus
amount is $122.48, with sixty-seven percent
of received applications having been awarded
a bonus. To date IDVA has distributed
$140,983. ~
Veterans Trust Fund
The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund is currently
accepting applications for assistance.
Qualifying applicants can request funding
for assistance back to July 1, 2007.
Veterans requesting assistance are asked to
visit their county veterans affairs office to
assist them in filling out the form. This will
ensure the veteran will be introduced to all
the benefits they may be entitled to, as well
as accessing the Trust Fund. Also, the
county office can verify and summarize the
application and act as a point of contact for
the department. Once the application is
sent to IDVA, the Iowa Veterans Commission
has bi-weekly conference calls to review the
pending requests. IDVA and the Commission
are making every effort to expedite these
claims.
Areas of Trust Fund assistance include:
• Travel expenses for wounded veterans
directly related to follow-up medical
care;
• Job training or college tuition
assistance;
• Unemployment assistance during a
period of unemployment due to
prolonged physical or mental illness or
disability resulting from military
service;
• Dental, vision, and hearing assistance
for veterans living in a long term care
facility or under a home health care
contract (further asset limits apply);
• Benefits for a child or children of a
disabled or deceased veteran
following September 11, 2001; and
• Individual or family counseling
programs (further asset limits apply).

Page 4
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Trust Fund Cont’d
Honor Guard reimbursements and funding for
family and children support groups are also
available. Honor Guard reimbursements have
been a very popular portion of the Trust
Fund, with veteran organizations being
reimbursed $50 dollars for honor guard
services that include a firing detail and $25
for basic honors. The maximum any
organization can receive in a 12 month period
is $500.
If you have questions about the Iowa Veterans
Trust Fund, call Kent Hartwig at 515-242-0031
or by email at kent.hartwig@iowa.gov. ~
IDVA Website Redesign
Progress is being made on the new
department website. A new banner for the
top of the page and the homepage style has
been selected. IDVA is currently working with
the Department of Administrative Services to
identify the needed content while Iowa
Interactive is developing the remaining pages
and inputting the already agreed upon
content.
Hopefully, the new website will be online in
early April. ~
County Grant
The 2008 County Grant Program for Veterans
is still accepting applications until mid-May.
This matching grant should be used to
increase services for veterans and counties
are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to
ensure time to spend the funding.
Many counties have applied already, and
grant funding is still available. Some counties
have used the funding to increase office
hours, provide more outreach through
advertising, or increasing their budget for
general assistance to needy veterans. ~
If you are interested in applying for a grant,
or have questions, call Missy Miller at 515-
242-0027 or by email at
missy.miller@iowa.gov. ~
County Spring School of
Instruction
IDVA is excited for the next County School
of Instruction. This school will be held April
8 – 10 th at the Holiday Inn on Merle Hay
Road.
The current agenda for the school will
include an overview of the Veterans Trust
Fund, Iowa legislative activities, and
Commissioner training on Iowa Code
Chapter 35B. There will be VARO
representatives present to discuss recent
Federal law changes, the appeals process,
DIC, and compensation and pension
information. Also, medical information will
be presented including, contract nursing
home information, aid and attendance,
prescription/pharmacy protocols, and
traumatic brain injury (TBI). ~
Benefits Needs Study
The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs
and IDVA are proud to announce that State
Public Policy Group (SPPG) was selected as
the vender to complete the Veterans
Benefits Needs Study as required by the
2007 General Assembly.
SPPG will be convening a Task Force and
holding several focus groups throughout the
state to hear from veterans. The results of
this process will be presented in October
and will contain a strategic plan of what
Iowa needs to do to increase veteran
benefits and services.
The department and commission are excited
for this new partnership and eagerly
anticipating the results of the report. ~

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Page 4
IDVA Staff Contact Information
Patrick J. Palmersheim
Executive Director
Patrick.Palmersheim@iowa.gov
515-242-5333
Mari Mielke
Executive Secretary to the Director
Mari.Mielke@iowa.gov
515-242-0021
Bob Steben
Executive Officer 1
Bob.Steben@iowa.gov
515-242-0153
Kent Hartwig
Executive Officer 1
Kent.Hartwig@iowa.gov
515-242-0031
John Halstead
Veterans Benefits Specialist
John.Halstead@iowa.gov
515-242-5327
David Heim
Veterans Benefits Specialist
David.Heim@iowa.gov
515-242-5329
Jill Joseph
Administrative Assistant
Jill.Joseph@iowa.gov
515-242-0033
Missy Miller
Administrative Assistant
Missy.Miller@iowa.gov
515-242-0027
Bob Betz
Clerk Specialist
Bob.Betz@iowa.gov
515-242-0160
Jeanna Hampel
Receptionist
Jeanna.Hampel@iowa.gov
515-242-5276
--CEMETERY STAFF—
Steve Young
Cemetery Director
Steve.Young2@iowa.gov
515-242-5338
Mindy McGregor
Cemetery Representative
Melinda.McGregor@iowa.gov
515-242-5276
Keith Blum
Cemetery Superintendent
Keith.Blum@iowa.gov
515-242-5338
Shane Laycock
Cemetery Foreman
Shane.Laycock@iowa.gov