FederalDaily - March 2, 2006

Getting Healthy, Combating Diabetes

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced two meetings for next month: the HealthierFeds Working Group meeting and another meeting titled Tobacco Cessation in the Workplace. Both meetings are in Alexandria, Va., on March 15. For more information, visit www.opm.gov/healthierfeds/. In other health news, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that they have joined in a new initiative called HealthierUS Veterans to educate veterans, their families, and communities about the health risks of obesity and diabetes. HHS said that veterans are nearly three times as likely as the general population to have diabetes, one of the major complications associated with being overweight. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 7 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes. Among veterans receiving VA health care, the rate is 20 percent. VA Secretary R. James Nicholson said, “Obesity and diabetes are major threats to the health and lifestyles of our veterans, who are deserving of a robust campaign to educate them on healthy habits.”

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Federal Employee Award Deadline Extended

The Partnership for Public Service (PPS) and Atlantic Media Company extended the deadline for nominations for the 2006 Service to America Medals (Sammies) to March 8. The awards acknowledge exemplary achievement by federal employees across the country, based on commitment, innovation and the impact of the employee’s work. Awards are available in the following categories:

• Federal Employee of the Year,
• Career Achievement,
• Call to Service,
• Homeland Security,
• National Security,
• Citizen Services,
• Science and Environment,
• Justice and Law Enforcement, and
• International Affairs.

Sammies include cash prizes ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. For information on the nomination process, visit www.servicetoamericamedals.org.

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Soldiers Seeking Treatment for Stress

A significant portion of soldiers are utilizing mental health services available to treat combat-related stress and help them avoid more serious mental conditions, according to the Army. A study by Army health officials, published in the latest issue of the “Journal of the American Medical Association,” found that 19 percent of Army and Marine Corps troops returning from Iraq sought assistance for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, while 4 percent received medical referrals for treatment. Approximately half of the 4 percent referred for treatment received follow-up care. Col. Charles W. Hoge, director of the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, said, “I think a large portion of this falls in the category of prevention. We’re trying to get help to people early so long-term conditions do not develop.”

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Eight Senators Want More DoD Funding

Calling the Department of Defense (DoD) budget inadequate, Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., a member of the Armed Services Committee, requested a significant increase in military spending. In a letter, Talent and eight senators asked Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., for an increase in top-line funding for DoD. “We request that the department’s budget top-line be increased to at least $443 billion, the administration’s projected funding level for fiscal year 2007 as of last spring,” the letter stated. In addition to Talent, the letter was signed by Sens. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Trent Lott, R-Miss., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Susan Collins, R-Maine, James Inhofe, R-Okla., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Thune, R-S.D.

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