McNerney

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, will serve as the ranking Democratic Party member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

In a quote provided by his office, McNerney said, “I’m honored to serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. This subcommittee is responsible for overseeing most benefits for our veterans, such as disability and pension benefits. I’m committed to improving care for the men and women who have served our country and, as ranking member of this important subcommittee I will continue my work in this area.”

Like most members of Congress, McNerney has developed an strong policy interest in a particular arena. McNerney focuses heavily on veterans issues and has sat on the committee since 2007. Many Democrats lost their favored committee assignments after the GOP took majority control of the House. The Republican leaders also reduced committee sizes, which further reduced the Democrats’ assignments.

According to McNerney’s office: The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs oversees the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits for veterans, including disability, pension, life insurance and burial benefits. The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs is also responsible for overseeing the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims. These bodies review and issue decisions for benefit claims determinations made by local veterans offices.

Jessica and Sean on their wedding day, 2005

Let’s take a much deserved break from politics.

I have posted below a flyer for an Oct. 30 pancake breakfast fundraiser in Pittsburg to benefit a special young woman, Gold Star wife Jessica Langevin, whose husband, Sean, was killed in 2007 while serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

Click here to read my colleague Rick Radin’s story about why people are raising money for Jessica right now. The link also includes information about an account set up to accept donations.

In the interests of full disclosure, I confess utter and total bias. I call Jessica my “bonus” daughter. It’s a little complicated (blended families usually are) but Jessica is the step-sister of my three step-children, and my husband, Joe, and I, love her as though she were our own. (All total, between his, mine and our exes, Joe & I have claims of one variety or another on seven wonderful children and seven beautiful grandchildren.)

It has been a rough three years for Jessica. She was 7 months pregnant when Sean was killed. But she has been working hard. She used Sean’s death benefit money and bought a new house in Pittsburg where she began setting up an in-home daycare center. She wanted a job that would allow her to stay at home with their little girl, Zoe, and build a new life for them both.

The back yard was nothing but a dirt hillside and to obtain a childcare license, she needed a safe and secure place for the kids to play. She hired a contractor, who took her money and didn’t finish the job. The hill kept slumping and sliding.

I mentioned Jessica’ predicament to Spike Schau, the California State Coordinator of the Warriors’ Watch Riders, a motorcycle group that escorts fallen soldiers. Spike had helped escort Sean to his resting place in Queen of Heaven cemetery in Pleasant Hill. I met Spike again, while working as a reporter, a few times at veterans events.

I can’t say exactly what triggered my call to Spike, although Jessica believes it was God answering her prayers. But I’m glad I did. It was as though I had unleashed a tornado. Spike took a hold of Jessica’s dilemma and tapped into the vast and often unheralded support system for our military families. He called it a team effort and he is right.  Rick’s story details the names and details of just some of the wonderful people who have volunteered their time, money and skills just in the past week.

Sean’s death was and remains a source of terrible loss and sadness for Jessica, a void that those of us who love her cannot fill. But watching the community sweep this young woman into their arms and give her the help and support she needs sure goes a long way.

So, come on over to the pancake breakfast in Pittsburg on Saturday. It will fill your stomach and your heart. And if you are anything like me, you’ll shed a few tears, too.

UPDATE: Spike says what the project needs most is a donation of 38 cubic yards of concrete or the money to help pay for it. So, eat pancakes!

Rep. Jerry McNerney

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, introduced a bill today that will boost payments to the families of soldiers who have been killed in action.

H.R. 5921 would increase the death benefit by an amount equal to the service member’s total contributions to the Social Security system. These benefits would be made available to the families of military personnel killed on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Read the full news release below:

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Watch video of Rep. Jerry McNerney’s ceremony in Dublin this morning, where veterans placed ceremonial signatures on newly passed legislation that will increase federal attention on treatments for traumatic brain injury.

See the full story here. Watch the video below.