VFW Action Corps Weekly
VFW Keeps Pressure on Congress to Protect Disability Compensation: The VFW is keeping pressure on Congress to remove Section 108 of H.R.9237 / S.4744, Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, following its recent removal from House floor consideration. This legislation remains active, and the VFW asks members of both the House and Senate to remove Section 108 from each of their versions of this bill in its continuing efforts to protect the disability compensation of future veterans. The VFW supports many of its provisions but cannot accept the unprecedented pay-for that would revise VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus for any future claimants. Many VFW Action Corps members have made their voices heard on this issue through emails and phone calls to Congress over the past few weeks. VFW leadership and staff strongly encourage all grassroots advocates to continue to keep pressure on their representatives and senators to oppose Section 108. Take action now.
Washington Office Directors Discuss TCAVA at VFW National Convention: VFW Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci and National Legislative Service Director Kristina Keenan discussed the VFW’s successful advocacy efforts opposing Section 108 of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) during a live session at the VFW 127th National Convention. The presentation explained why the VFW opposes using reductions to future disability compensation for sleep apnea and tinnitus as a funding mechanism for other veterans’ legislation, warning that such a move would set a dangerous precedent for Congress to pay for new benefits by cutting earned disability compensation. Gallucci and Keenan also highlighted the grassroots efforts of more than 100 VFW advocates who traveled on short notice to Washington, D.C., to educate lawmakers, which helped influence the bill’s temporary removal from a House floor vote. They reaffirmed the VFW’s longstanding commitment to protecting earned benefits for current and future generations of veterans, emphasizing that the organization will continue fighting to improve veterans’ benefits without sacrificing the earned entitlements of current service members. Watch the discussion.
Staff Provide Legislative Priorities Update: VFW National Legislative Service staff briefed attendees at the 127th VFW National Convention on the 2026 legislative priorities, including protecting earned veterans’ benefits, reforming community care, improving VA brain health care, strengthening education and transition programs, unaddressed toxic exposures and combating Claim Sharks. The presentation also celebrated recent legislative victories, including enactment of the VFW-supported ACES Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-32) and successful grassroots advocacy of more than 60,000 messages sent to Congress that helped prevent the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act from advancing further for now. VFW members were encouraged to stay engaged through the VFW Action Corps and to help recruit applicants for the upcoming VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program.
Grassroots Advocacy Leader Urges Representation and Storytelling: VFW National Legislative Service Deputy Director Gabby Kubinyi addressed attendees at the VFW Auxiliary’s 113th National Convention in Reno, Nevada, which coincided with the VFW’s convention. She discussed the role advocacy plays in our representative government and emphasized that Congress can only effectively represent veterans, service members, military families, caregivers and survivors when it understands their lived experiences. Kubinyi noted that those personal experiences help lawmakers better understand the real-world impact of veterans' legislation and why every story is an important part of effective advocacy. Later, she also led a separate interactive storytelling workshop for all VFW and Auxiliary members that helped attendees turn their personal experiences into effective advocacy. Within both sessions, Kubinyi encouraged all to ensure their voices are available when they are needed most by contributing their stories to the VFW’s Story Bank. Share your story and help ensure lawmakers hear directly from those affected by the policies they create. VFW Installs New National Commander: Cory L. Geisler, an Army veteran of the Iraq War and Life member of VFW Post 721 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, was elected to lead the VFW as the 118th Commander-in-Chief for the 2026 – 2027 year. In his acceptance speech, Geisler called on VFW members to remain united in defending veterans, service members and military families while building on the organization's strong legacy of advocacy. He emphasized protecting earned benefits, strengthening the VFW's voice on Capitol Hill and ensuring the organization continues to meet the needs of future generations of veterans. Watch or read Geisler’s full acceptance speech.