Congress Listens And Keeps Agent Orange Provisions In DNAA
The Senate passed the final version of the NDAA which included the GENT Orange presumptive conditions, already passed by the house, which now heads to the president for signature. The VFW wishes to thank our members and advocates who responded to the VFW Action Alert last month (you read it here) and contacted their members of Congress regarding this very important provision. “The VFW commends the Senate and House Armed Services Committees conferees of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA) for including Senate Amendment 1972 in the final version of the bill. We thank Senator tester for introducing this important amendment which will finally add bladder, hypothyroidism, and parkinsonism to the list of Department of Veterans Affairs presumptive conditions for herbicide exposure,” VFW National Commander Hal Roesch said. “We urge President Trump to sign the NDAA into law and provide our Vietnam veterans the long-awaited care and benefits they deserve.”
VA Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan
The VA has announced publication of the VA COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. The VA began vaccinating veterans and front-line employees last week after the authorization was given for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The plan includes prioritization for identifying those who are highest risk and addresses vaccinations for veterans staff and other federal partners in the U.S,, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories where the VA provides health care to veterans.
VA Launches New Single Access Phone Numbers
VA announced a new phone number to access all VA services. 1-800-MYVA411 (1-800-698-2411) is available 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year, to serve veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. Callers have the option of pressing “0” immediately to be connected with a customer service agent. The Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8522) and the White House VA Hotline (1-855-948-2311) will still be available at their current numbers.
AT&T Added To VA Video Connect Telehealth Program
Veterans using the VA Video Connect app on their mobile phones through AT&T’s cellular network will no longer incur data charges when using this video telehealth technology. AT&T joins T-Mobile, TracFone by Safelink and Verizon in allowing veterans the ability to video conference with their VA care providers on their Smartphones, tablets or computer from any location with an Internet connection. The agreement is part of the VA’s Anywhere to Anywhere initiative ensuring veterans have the best telecare experiences.
Online Christmas Concert For World War II Veterans
The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from the German occupation during World War II. Ninety young singers of the Haarlem Choir School in the Netherlands intended to travel to the United States during their spring break on a Thank You Tour to honor U.S. veterans for their role in the liberation. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour cannot take place. In an effort to still show appreciation, a special online Christmas concert was streamed from the Cathedral of Saint Bavo in Haarlem, including the entire Cathedral Choir to honor U.S. veterans. This unique and short program was viewed on YouTube on Sunday, Dec. 20.
ATTENTION!: Members of VFW Post 516 and I wish and hope you had a very Happy New Year.
