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May 1, 2012

According to the VFW Washington Weekly, the following Legislative information is provided:

1. VFW Testifies on Disability Claims Process - This week, the VFW testified as part of a panel of experts on the role of veterans' representatives throughout the VA disability claims process. Speaking before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, our remarks centered on the importance of having a claim representative help veterans obtain benefits from VA. Currently, VFW has 1,300 accredited individuals providing assistance to veterans and survivors.
   We also spoke about our VA accredited training program and the critical need for a thorough understanding of the complexities of the disability claims process and rating system.
   Other panelists included DAV, the American Legion, VA and a local law firm that does litigation on behalf of veterans. To learn more about the hearing, click here.
2. VFW Testifies on Veterans' Health Bills - On Monday, VFW testified before the House Subcommittee on Health on an array of veterans health care related bills. The Committee appeared most interested in H.R. 3279, legislation which clarifies a serious illness as being eligible for caregiver benefits and H.R. 1460, which would direct VA to automatically enroll service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan into the VA health care system. The VFW also testified on H.R. 3016, which requires VA and DOD to operate a joint Federal Recovery Coordination Program, H.R. 3337, which establishes a burn pit registry for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who may have been exposed to toxins overseas and others.
3. House Subcommittee Clears Vets' Bills - The House VA Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs cleared several VFW- supported bills out of committee. They now move to the full committee for a vote. They included:
   H.R. 4142, which would automatically adjust the cost-of-living increase for veterans to the same percentage as social security COLA, thereby eliminating the need for legislation every year.
   H.R. 2051, which provides burials for unclaimed veteran remains identified by the Missing in America project. For a listing of all of the bills, visit the House VA Committee website.
4. VFW Salutes New GI Bill Protection - The VFW saluted the President for signing an executive order today to better protect the military and veterans' communities from the predatory recruiting an financial loan practices of some colleges who fail to deliver on their educational promises. The VFW has been a leading voice on improving student-veteran consumer education and played an integral role in drafting some of the provisions in the executive order. For more information, click here.
5. House Advances VETS Bill and Other Legislation - Earlier today, the House VA Committee voted to move the Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service, or VETS, under the jurisdiction of VA. The bill, H.R. 4072, would transfer all veterans' job training, counseling and rehabilitation as well as homeless reintegration programs under VA. Other VFW-supported legislation that cleared the committee included:
   H.R. 4114 would provide a cost-of-living adjustment for veterans' benefits in FY 2013
   H.R. 3670, legislation that closes a long overdue loophole in rehiring compliance within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
   H.R. 4482 which improves VA's home loan guaranty programs regarding adjustable rate mortgages and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages.
   H.R. 4201, The Service member Family Protection Act, which would protect deployed service members in child custody suits
   The VFW was one of the leading voices on Capitol Hill advocating to move VETS under VA. To learn more about VFW's support to this bill and to read our testimony on it, click here.
6. VA Exempt From Budget Cuts - After months of inquiries from the VFW, VSO's and Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) finally released a letter stating that VA health care programs would be exempt from mandatory budget cuts should sequestration occur at the end of this year. VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard L. DeNoyer praised the outcome, "Today's decision means the healthcare plans and programs the VA currently provides to millions of disabled veterans will continue unabated, as will claims processing and veterans' burial benefits." He said. Mandatory budget cuts were put in place after Congress failed to reach an agreement on spending cuts and deficit reduction. To read more, click here.
   
7. FY 2013 NDAA Update - This week, The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel approved its portion of the FY 2013 NDAA, and the Senate Armed Service Committee held another hearing to discuss matters related to personnel. The House subcommittee voted against increasing fees in the Tricare system and cleared a 1.7 percent across-the-board pay raise for service members. The House proposal also included a VFW-supported provision that would require DOD to provide Congress with frequent briefings on allegations of sexual assault and harassment in the military. The VFW will continue to monitor both Committees' as they move the bill through the process.

February 12, 2012

There is a lot of information to pass on the Commander Task Force 2012 Legislative Agenda and the 2012 Priority Goals, so take a look at the scanned copies and let me know if you have any questions.

August 21, 2011

Resolution #202, Veterans Day Off for Veterans, was presented by myself to the General Resolutions Committee and passed, the General Membership approved and Resolution #202 now goes to the National Convention for approval.

Resolution #202

February 22, 2010
Welcome to the 8th District VFW 's new Legislative website. I'm Jack Lund, the 8th District's Legislative Chairman. For those of you that don't know me, I'm the Past 8th District Commander for years 2003 - 2004, and Past Allstate Commander for Post #8510 in 1999 - 2000.

My goal with the website is to keep you current on the VFW's Legislative news both Nationally and State (Department)

Let's get started...

I. Priority VFW Goals for 2010

At the District Business Meeting in Gilbert on 2/21/10 I passed out a detailed handout of the goals.
Here's a brief summary:

Listed are the VFW's official positions on Veterans and National Security issues for 2010

1. VA Health Care.
2. VA Benefits and Compensation.
3. Seamless transition for Vets transferring from DoD to VA.
4. Military Quality of Life.
5. Veterans Employment.
6. Defense and Homeland Security.
7. Military Affairs.
8. POW/MIA.

Want a Complete Detailed copy of the above positions, come to the next 8th District Business meeting for your copy.

Support today's Veterans and Military, help us ensure that an adequate VA system will be there for the millions of current and future Veterans.

II. Legislative Day at the Capitol

Date: March 23, 2010 at the State Capitol - Great Hall

This informational bulletin was also handed out to all comrades attending the 2/21/10 Business Meeting. This bus trip is open to ALL who wish to attend, you do not have to be a Post or Auxiliary member. This bus trip is being coordinated by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Social hour is 0830 and the meeting will begin at 0930 with closing at 1200 hours.

The Schedule:

Bus: LCS Coachers
Start point: Cloquet
Time:    0545 - Cloquet Super One Store
              0645 - Hinckley, Tobies
              0745 - Forest Lake, Home Depot
Cost:    $5.00 per person round trip (What a Deal!!)

To reserve seats, call the Cloquet VFW #3979 at 218-879-2447.

That's it for now, see you at the next District meeting in Cook, VFW Post #1757 for Loyalty Days - April 30, May 1 and 2.