Washington, D.C. -  Today, Congressmen Joe Donnelly and Mark Souder announced further details of the worker transition workshops they are organizing in Elkhart and Wakarusa for displaced workers and those who will be affected when Monaco Coach closes three of its plants in September.

“Congressman Souder and I are encouraged, but not surprised, by the number of positive responses we’ve received from the area organizations we’ve asked to participate in the workshops,” Donnelly said. “Their eagerness to participate just shows that Hoosiers are quick to lend a hand to their neighbors when times are tough. I am hopeful that all who attend will be helped in some way.”

“Until workers find new jobs, families throughout Elkhart County need to know what services are available to help them through a tough time,” Souder said.  “With these workshops, Joe and I are providing unemployed Hoosiers with one stop where they can go to find out what community and government assistance is available.”

The first workshop will take place at the Elkhart Career Center on behalf of Elkhart Community Schools located at 2424 California Road in Elkhart in A111 (Large Group Room) and A128 (Blue Room) on August 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The second workshop will take place at Wakarusa Missionary Church located at 202 West Waterford Street in Wakarusa in the main foyer on August 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some of the organizations that have already agreed to be involved include: WorkOne, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, Small Business Development Center, Real Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ivy Tech, Elkhart Community Schools, Goshen Housing Authority and United Way.

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Washington, D.C. -  This morning, Congressman Joe Donnelly praised congressional efforts to provide new property tax relief to homeowners who do not itemize their tax returns. The property tax provision is part of the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which was signed into law today by the president.

“I’ve been working for over a year to get Hoosiers additional property tax relief,” Donnelly said. “In these trying economic times, in which many Hoosiers are struggling to make ends meet, Congress has an obligation to do whatever it can to help.”

Last year, Donnelly helped to introduce the property tax legislation that was signed into law today.  The House version of the bill was authored by Representative Baron Hill of Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District and its Senate companion was authored by Senator Evan Bayh.

In past years, the 30 million homeowners who do not itemize their tax returns were unable to deduct any of their property tax bills from their federal taxes. The housing bill that was signed into law today creates a new standard deduction for property taxes of up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families.

An estimated one million Hoosier homeowners, and 30 million Americans nationwide, will be eligible for relief in the 2008 tax year.

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Washington, D.C. -Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly lauded the unanimous passage of H.R. 5892, The Veterans Disability Benefits Modernization Act, which would modernize and improve the Department of Veterans (VA)’s outdated disability claims process. It also includes a provision which would make mandatory the partial ratings and eligibility for temporary disability benefits for severely injured soldiers. The legislation is based on Donnelly-introduced legislation, H.R. 4219, The Immediate Benefits for Wounded Warriors Act.

“I am pleased that Congress took steps to ensure that our veterans are receiving the care they deserve,” Donnelly said. “This legislation would reform the disability claims process so it is more efficient and better serves our men and women who have fought to protect our country.”

Under the current system, veterans must wait for the VA to assign them a disability rating in order to receive their disability benefits. As of now, it takes an average of six months for a veteran to receive a decision on his or her claim. If the disability claims process is not reformed, it is expected that the wait would grow even longer as tens of thousands of new veterans apply for their benefits.

H.R. 5892 would make mandatory the partial ratings and eligibility for temporary disability benefits for severely injured soldiers.  As a result, severely injured soldiers would be able to receive their benefits immediately rather than having to wait for the VA to initialize a partial rating or for their claims to be processed.

Last November, Donnelly introduced The Immediate Benefits for Wounded Warriors Act, which aims to guarantee that temporary disability benefits are given immediately to service members seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds whose combat-relatedness are not in doubt. 

Donnelly also sent a letter to House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chairman John Hall and Ranking Member Doug Lamborn this past April calling on them to include in upcoming veterans disability legislation a requirement that the VA provide temporary or partial disability ratings immediately to seriously-injured combat-disabled veterans.

“Since I came to Congress, I have been working to improve the way in which we treat our veterans. These men and women have fought and sacrificed for our nation and we likewise owe them our greatest effort to ensure that they receive their disability benefits in a timely fashion. “

H.R 5892 now moves to the Senate for that chamber’s consideration.

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Washington, D.C. -  Today, Congressmen Joe Donnelly and Mark Souder announced their intention to organize worker transition workshops for the Monaco Coach employees who will be affected when the company closes its plants in Wakarusa, Nappanee, and Elkhart this September.

During a meeting with representatives from the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Donnelly and Souder talked about their plan to host two workshops—one in Wakarusa and one in Elkhart—to pair up Monaco Coach employees with representatives from federal agencies and local community service organizations in order to provide them with resources as they transition out of their current jobs and begin looking for new ones.

“The employees of Monaco Coach are worried about their families, homes, and futures,” Donnelly said. “My goal is to leave no stone unturned in trying to provide them with new opportunities, resources, and opportunities to ask questions. To this end, the workshops will concentrate as much help as we’re able to pull together in one place at one time.”

“Countless families are feeling the effect of Monaco Coach’s decision to relocate, and I remain distressed about the loss of so many jobs,” Souder said.  “Joe and I are fully committed to helping these hardworking Hoosiers find good jobs, and these workshops represent part of our effort.”

Donnelly and Souder will announce the dates of the events, along with a list of participating governmental and community service organizations, in the coming weeks.

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Peru, IN—Last week, Congressmen Joe Donnelly and Dan Burton were informed that Peru/Miami County has been selected by the Northern Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs as the site for a new community-based outpatient clinic. The new clinic will provide primary care and mental health services to area veterans and is expected to open in 2009.

“I am thrilled that Miami County will soon be home to a new VA clinic,” said Donnelly. “Our veterans deserve superior medical care that is accessible, and this clinic will provide that to our veterans in Miami County and surrounding counties, such as Fulton, Cass, and Howard. Congressman Burton and I fought to get this clinic approved, and I am glad to see it has finally happened.”

“I have always worked hard to ensure that this Nation repays the debt we owe to the fighting men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Burton. “The new VA clinic in Peru will make it much easier for our veterans in north-central Indiana to get the care they need. I am proud to have worked with Congressman Donnelly to bring this clinic to Miami County.”

“I want to thank Congressmen Burton and Donnelly for their support in getting the new clinic approved,” said Cathi Spivey-Paul, FACHE, Director of the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System.  “Because of their efforts, veterans in our area will get the care they need and deserve.”

The Peru clinic is one of 44 clinics recently announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve access to health care for veterans.

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South Bend, IN—Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly presented eleven medals to World War II Army veteran Frank Firtl, 92, of South Bend.  Mr. Firtl’s three children, also of South Bend, were in attendance as well.

“It is a great honor to present these medals to Mr. Firtl,” said Donnelly. “While we can never fully repay our debt to heroes like Mr. Firtl, these medals represent our gratitude for the service he gave to our country.”

Mr. Firtl contacted Donnelly’s office in March to inquire about receiving his medals so he can pass them on to his children. Donnelly contacted the National Personnel Records Center, and within a month, they authorized the shipment of Mr. Firtl’s military decorations.  

In an undated Chicago Tribune article from the 1940s, Mr. Firtl is described as one of four men left overnight in Houffalize, Belgium to protect the town from a German sniper and German forces outside the town.

Mr. Firtl will receive the following medals:
o Bronze Star Medal
o Purple Heart
o Good Conduct Medal
o American Campaign Medal
o European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal & Bronze Star Attachment
o World War II Victory Medal
o Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award
o Expert Infantryman Badge
o Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
o Expert Badge & Carbine Bar
o Sharpshooter Badge & Rifle Bar

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Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Reps. Mark Souder (IN-03) and Joe Donnelly (IN-02) announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the contract to run the new community-based outpatient clinic in Goshen to Ambulatory Care Solutions.

Based in Indiana, Ambulatory Care Solutions is a veteran-owned employer currently operating community-based outpatient clinics for the VA in South Bend, Terre Haute, and Bloomington.

“We are about to realize our long-fought goal of opening a new veterans’ outpatient clinic in Goshen,” Souder said. “Veterans in Elkhart and Kosciusko Counties, as well as western Noble and LaGrange Counties, desperately need this clinic, which will open in just a few months. It has been a true pleasure to work on this issue with Joe Donnelly and, previously, Chris Chocola, and today’s announcement demonstrates what can be achieved with sustained cooperation and bipartisanship. John Earnest and Ambulatory Care Solutions have a proven track record running veterans’ outpatient clinics, and I congratulate them on winning the award.”

“I am happy to be one step closer to opening up the much-needed community-based veterans’ outpatient clinic in Goshen,” said Donnelly.  “In my very first meeting with the VA, I highlighted the importance of this clinic, and I have consistently advocated for it since that time.  During this process, I have enjoyed a partnership with Congressman Souder to achieve our common goal to help our veterans.”

Although an independent VA commission mentioned Elkhart County as a priority location for a new outpatient clinic in its draft plan, the panel’s final recommendations to the VA Secretary in 2004 did not include the Goshen clinic.  Immediately, Souder and then-U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola (IN-02) pressured the VA to adhere to the commission’s draft plan and open the new Goshen outpatient clinic.  Since he came to Congress, Donnelly and Souder have worked together closely on this project.

Ambulatory Care Solutions is currently expected to open the new Goshen clinic by around October 1, 2008.  The location will be 2014 Lincolnway East, Goshen, Indiana.

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Argos, IN—Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly notified the Argos Fire Department that they will be receiving the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Facility Grant to be used toward purchasing a new fire truck. Donnelly wrote a letter in support of the grant application.

“I was pleased to learn that the Argos Fire Department has been awarded the USDA Community Facility Grant, so they can purchase a new fire truck,” Donnelly said. “Right now the department is using an outdated truck, and a new truck will allow them to better perform their duties to protect the citizens of Argos and the surrounding areas.”

The Argos Fire Department is the first responder for the town of Argos and both Walnut and Green Townships, a 60 square mile region.  Approval has recently been acquired for the construction of an ethanol plant in Argos which will place increased demands on the fire department due to hazards inherent in production, increased population, and economic development. 

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