FederalDaily.com >Health Reassessments for Soldiers

FederalDaily - November 8, 2005

Health Reassessments for Soldiers

Servicemembers returning from deployments will now participate in a post-deployment health reassessment program that all the services are instituting, defense officials said Nov. 4. This new program will assess the health—both physical and mental—of servicemembers some 90 to 120 days after they have redeployed. “We know from research that health concerns are identified even several months after returning from operational deployments," said Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. This new program is in addition to the routine post-deployment health screening that all servicemembers go through upon return to the U.S. from a deployment. More than 900,000 servicemembers have already gone through that program. The reassessment program is designed to find servicemembers whose symptoms don't show up immediately. Winkenwerder said active-duty and reserve-component personnel will be treated the same.

NPS Rule Change Proposal Draws Concern

Proposed changes to the National Park Service (NPS) Management Policy have drawn concern from politicians and interest groups that fear the new rules may threaten natural resources. Critics’ biggest concern is the deletion of language instructing NPS to place conservation as a priority. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo. said of the proposal, “I am deeply troubled by the sweeping and fundamental nature of these proposed changes to the Park Service’s Management Policies, which have stood the test of time. I am not convinced that there is a compelling reason for these changes.” Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, supported the plan, stating that “managers on the ground need modern guidance” to fulfill their mission. The NPS is currently considering a request to extend the public comment period for the rules changes an additional 30 days.

IRS Enforcement Highlights for Last Year

IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson on Nov. 3 noted agency highlights for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 th, including:

Enforcement revenues (the monies from collection, examination and document matching activities) increased by 10 percent to a record $47.3 billion.

Total individual returns audited increased by more than 20 percent to from 2004. The number completed is back to a level last achieved in 1998.

Audits of individuals with incomes over $100,000 surpassed 221,000, the highest figure in 10 years. The coverage rate in this category is still too low, Everson said, but at 1.58 percent is double what it was four years ago.

Audits of small businesses organized as corporations increased after years of decline. In 2004, 7,294 were completed; in 2005 17,867 audits were completed.

Audits of larger corporations also increased, up 14 percent from a year ago.

DOJ Appropriations Approved

Conferees recently approved appropriations for the Department of Justice for FY 2006, including:

$5.8 billion for the FBI, an increase of $547 million above FY 2005 and $15 million above the president’s request. The appropriations bill provides funding to enhance training and information technology management, and provide additional staff (agents, analysts, translators) to improve counterterrorism and counterintelligence capabilities, while continuing to fight white-collar and gang crime.

$1.7 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, an increase of $48 million above FY 2005 and $8 million below the president’s request.

$802 million for the United States Marshals Service, an increase of $42 million above FY 2005 and $12 million above the president’s request, to enhance judicial protection and fugitive apprehension activities.

$924 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an increase of $41 million above FY 2005 and the same as the president’s request.