VFW Commander-in-Chief Brings Veteran’s Voices To Congress
Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander William “Doc” Schmitz called for “accountability for failure to grant benefits to Vietnam and post-9/11 veterans suffering from toxic exposures” during a special joint hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans Affairs. The VFW expressed its frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ lack of urgency in providing benefits to individuals who suffer from conditions associated with toxic exposure, especially when there is science to back-up veterans claims.
“The VFW proposes a permanent, comprehensive and evidence-based framework of granting presumptive benefits for toxic exposure,” Schmitz said. “Veterans who were exposed to burn pits and now suffer from pulmonary conditions and rare cancers should not have to wait decades for benefits—like Vietnam veterans did.”
Legislation Introduced To Modernize Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance
Last Friday, Representatives Mike Bost and Kathleen Rice introduced VFW-supported H.R. 6013, the Veteran Families Financial Support Act. This important legislation would increase the maximum payment under the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) program from $10,000 to $40,000 and extend eligibility beyond the current two-year period after a veteran receives notification of a new service-connected disability.
“The current payment amount of $10,000 under the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance program does not cover the rising cost of end-of-life expenses,” said VFW National Legislative Service Associate Director Matthew Doyle. “The VFW thanks Representatives Bost and Rice for introducing this legislation and for their efforts to expand disability benefit for veterans.”
Health Record Delay Means More Capabilities For Veterans
House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held a hearing recently to discuss the root causes of the delay in the implementation of the VA’s electronic health record modernization. VA officials indicated a lack of confidence in a seamless implementation as the core reason for delaying the go-live from March to July. The delay means veterans will be able to continue to request prescription refills through online portal, like they do today through www.myhealth.va.gov, which would not have been included if VA kept the March go-live rollout.
Registration Open For 2020 National Veterans Summer Sport Clinic
Applications are now open for veterans interested in participating in the 2020 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic from Sept. 20-25 in San Diego, CA. The National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic offers adventure sports and recreational activities such as sailing, surfing, kayaking and cycling for veterans with disabilities. Participants will develop sports skills and take part in a variety of adaptive sports workshops. The deadline to submit an application is May 1. Apply online.
First All-Women Senior Veteran Flight
Operation Her Story is working with Honor Flight Chicago, Daughters of the American Revolution, Illinois Joining Forces and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs to create the first all-women senior veterans flight from Illinois to Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2020. The women will have the opportunity to visit the Women in Military Service for America Memorial and the Vietnam Women’s memorial. The memorials were built to honor the service of female service members.
