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The VFW's legislative initiatives center on quality of life and health initiatives for all the nation's veterans, past and present. The list below details the VFW's 2008 legislative goals:
VA Budget
The VFW calls on Congress to pass a sufficient budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs to properly care for the health care demands of all veterans, especially the thousands of young service members accessing their earned benefits for the first time.
The VFW urges an assured funding mechanism for the Department of Veterans Affairs that guarantees a full, timely and predictable funding stream for veterans’ health care that is provided consistently on time year after year.
Congress must ensure that the unique health care and benefits needs of OEF/OIF veterans are met, to include increasing funding for research into Traumatic Brain Injuries and other related disabilities, as well as improved access to care, especially for those veterans suffering from mental illnesses.
VA Benefits and Compensation
The VFW calls on Congress to provide adequate resources to enable the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reduce the current backlog of claims. VBA is the gateway to all VA benefits and health care.
We must ensure that the disability compensation program is fully funded and preserved in its current form to protect the needs of current and future veterans. The VFW opposes any changes to the current definition of “line of duty,” structural changes to the programs for disability and survivors’ benefits, or curtailment of veterans’ or beneficiaries’ rights of entitlement, or to appeal benefit decisions.
Education
The VFW calls on Congress to enact a comprehensive GI Bill for the 21st Century in the spirit of the original WWII GI Bill, covering the total cost of education including tuition, books, fees and living expenses for attendance at any educational institution.
The VFW supports legislation that invests in the future of our nation’s veterans, promotes national security as strong military recruiting tool, and recognizes the burdens of war carried by our National Guard, Active Reserve, and Active Duty Forces.
Congress must weigh the short term and long term gains for such a comprehensive earned benefit. A high quality military force is a direct result of offering potential recruits a robust benefits package and the best training in the world. A GI Bill for the 21st Century is an investment in our nation, our military, and the individual lives of veterans.
Military Quality of Life
The VFW calls on Congress to fully fund all programs that enable our troops to succeed in their mission. We must ensure our active duty, guard and reserve members are provided increase pay, affordable health care, and adequate housing and work facilities for themselves and their families.
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