VFW URGES CONGRESS TO FINISH STRONG FOR VETERANS
The VFW urges the 112th Congress to finish strong for veterans before it adjourns
September 10, 2012
WASHINGTON (September 10, 2012) — The national
legislative committee of America’s largest and oldest major combat veterans’
organization convenes in Washington this week to urge the 112th Congress to
finish strong for veterans before it adjourns later this month until after the
November elections.
Seventy committee members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the U.S. will meet with their elected officials about four key issue areas that
are important to veterans, service members and their families. The issue areas
are:
Budget: Should sequestration occur, the
impact across-the-board cuts could have on Department of Veterans Affairs
administrative accounts, and Defense Department readiness and Quality of Life
programs.
Healthcare: Combating military and
veteran suicides, ensuring the VA continues to improve access and services to
women veterans, and stopping the Pentagon from arbitrarily raising TRICARE fees
and copayments on military families and retirees.
Benefits Delivery: Creating a fully
electronic claims and evaluation system that is based more on quality rating
decisions than quantity.
Education and Employment: Enhancing and
protecting the GI Bill, transition assistance, licensing and certification
portability, employer tax credits, enforcing Guard and Reservist reemployment
rights, veteran employment and training, and federal contracting with
veteran-owned businesses.
Also joining the legislative committee will be VFW National
Commander John Hamilton from Florida, Senior Vice Commander Bill Thien from
Indiana and Junior Vice Commander John Stroud from Nevada. Their agenda also includes
meetings and briefings at the VA, the Defense POW/MIA Office, the Marine Corps
Wounded Warrior Regiment at Quantico, Army Reserve Affairs, the Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserves, and with the Student Veterans of America
organization.
Learn more about how Congress can finish strong for veterans
at http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/2012OutstandingIssues.pdf.
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