 |
|
|
Imagine no GI Bill of Rights, no health care, no disability compensation, no service-connection rating for victims of Agent Orange or radiation exposure, no educational retraining for disabled veterans, no home-loan guarantees. Worse, imagine no one cared.
For more than 100 years, the VFW has cared when no one else did, making the non-profit veterans' organization the veteran's greatest advocate. Thanks to grassroots efforts by its milion-member membership and supporters, when the VFW charges up Capitol Hill, senators and representatives listen and legislatiion is born.
Here are the following principles guiding VFW in its legislative initiatives:
Veterans must not have to wait for benefits to which they are entitled.
Veterans must be ensured access to high-quality medical care.
Veterans must be guaranteed timely access to the full continuum of health-care services,including long-term care.
Veterans must be assured burial in state or national cemeteries in every state.
Specialized care must remain the focus of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
VA’s mission to support the military medical system in time of war or national
emergency is essential to the nation’s security.
VA’s mission to conduct medical and prosthetic research in areas of veterans’ special needs is critical to the integrity of the veterans health-care system and to the
advancement of American medicine.
VA’s mission to support health professional education is vital to the health of all Americans.
In 2005, the VFW was instrumental in making a reality, the passage of Capitol Hill initiatives aimed in improving healthcare for veterans, as well as increasing VA benefits for deserving veterans. The following list details some of VFW's accomplishments:
Stopping the review of 72,000 cases of severely disabled veterans suffering from PTSD. While we are supportive of eliminating fraud, VA’s sole intent was to reduce compensation of certain veterans under the guise of ‘fraud’.
VA’s review was curtailed, thanks to grassroots efforts and the thousands of phone calls and e-mails to VA and Congress. Congress even put language in the appropriations bills preventing VA from undertaking any future review. Your efforts protected veterans.
Earmarks $82.4 billion in emergency funding for DOD and Tsunami relief efforts.
Increases the maximum benefit under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance program from $250,000 to $400,000, and military death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000.
Grants a special death gratuity of up to $150,000 for combat operations.
Provides an additional death gratuity of $238,000 for deaths that occur before the enactment of this Act in combat operations, in a combat zone, or in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.
Offers additional supplemental traumatic injury insurance with a payment of up to $100,000 if the member sustains a traumatic injury.
Passage of the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment of about 4.1% in the rates of disability compensation, clothing allowance and DIC.
Passage of Fiscal Year 2006 Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations. Included in the provision:
·$82.6 billion in funding for Department of VA and Military Construction.
·$70.2 billion in funding for VA of which $37.2 billion goes to Veterans Benefit Administration and $33 billion for Veteran Health Administration.
·$1.2 billion in emergency funding to address budget shortfalls in health care.
·Earmarks $607 million for major construction projects, and $198.9 for minor construction projects.
·$412 million for medical and prosthetic research.
·$85 million for long-term care facilities.
·$6.2 billion for military construction with $4 billion for family housing.
·Funds $1.8 billion to implement 2005 base closures and realignment (BRAC).
Passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, which:
·Grants a 3.1% pay raise for servicemembers, offers 20 types of bonus and special pays, and increases incentive and hardship duty pays.
·Extends TRICARE health coverage to reservists and family members as they continue service.
·Increases TRICARE benefits for surviving children of members who die on active duty.
·Increases death gratuity payments to $100,000 – retroactive payments given to survivors of those who died on or after Oct 7, 2001.
·Permanently increases Servicemembers Group Life Insurance to $400,000.
·Provides $60 million in additional funds to child care and family assistance services to active duty and reserve families.
·Accelerates phase-in to 2009 of full concurrent receipt for military retirees who are rated 100% IU by VA.
·Creates a task force on mental health and the armed forces.
|
|
|
|
|
