My DH and I watched director Steven Spielberg’s movie, Lincoln, last night. It tells the story of how the Thirteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was narrowly passed.  We found it to be a fine and inspiring movie and we were pleased that it ended with the words excerpted in this post’s title.

The trailer, cast, and synopsis is here: http://www.thelincolnmovie.com/

The VA says that Lincoln’s words are its motto.  Like all human institutions, the VA is deeply flawed.  But it is important to reflect on Lincoln’s acknowledgement that war casualties include family members with special solicitude towards widows and orphans.

In March (2012) Under Secretary Allison Hickey addressed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee about the VA’s “transformation” in benefits processing.  Before readers all howl about the baloney in her answers, I am convinced that she is interested in helping pension widows through legislation based on her testimony. (See text, page 25.) 

Today, I know a lot about our pension recipients.

I know they are most – they are in some of the most dire
circumstances because there is a means‐tested  environment.  I
know when that pension person – when that pension veteran dies, today I am required to, by law, to make that pension widow send me a claim to do and go back through their process to validate that  pension.  I don’t  get that one.  These are for the most part, poverty level widows that I ought to just be able to continue that pension, pay those pension widows in a very difficult time in their life, and then go back and audit them, just to make sure that we’re  okay.  I ought to have a period of time where I can do that.  We’re looking at that issue. I’d need legislation to do that issue.

This unfair situation is a relatively simple matter to fix.  If anyone knows the status of this proposed legislation which Sec. Hickey asked Sen. Sanders and Sen. Burr for, please post it in comments or email Nod.

Her testimony regarding this begins around 1:19:50.

http://www.senate.gov/isvp/?type=live&comm=vetaff&filename=vetaff031313&stt=9:18