News Flash
Thank you - The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 becomes law. Vietnam Veterans of America Legislative Update December 23, 2016 The 114th Congress has recessed for the year. On behalf of John Rowan, VVA National President and the Board of Directors we would like to thank you for all of your grassroots advocacy support over the past year. With that said, on December 16, 2016, the President of the United States provides VVA with a tremendous victory when he signed into law H.R. 6416, the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016. The new law in Subtitle C-Toxic Exposure, includes S.901 the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 an issue that VVA has been working on for the past eight years. Go to Congress.gov and type in H.R. 6416 to view the new law. The bill would not have passed into law without your grassroots support and VVA shares this victory with you. Have a safe and wonderful holiday and VVA look forward to working with you in the upcoming 115th Congress on legislative issues that will enhance the lives of veterans and their families. The Government Affairs Team Rick, Bernie, Sharon, Kris, Tom, Carl, Jim, and Joe "Vietnam Veterans of America is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans' service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Vietnam Veterans of America supports H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-21)
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2017
Mokie Porter
mporter@vva.org
VVA Applauds Introduction of New Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Act
(Washington, DC) --"For over a decade, Vietnam Veterans of America has sought legislation to restore presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to members of the Armed Forces who served in the territorial waters of Vietnam," said John Rowan, VVA National President. "We applaud Congressman David Valadao (CA-21) and the original cosponsors of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, and we will work with them to pass this much-needed bill.
"We could not agree more with Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-15), that 'there is absolutely no reason those veterans who served in the waters off the coast of Vietnam and currently suffer from diseases related to Agent Orange exposure should not qualify for current VA care,' " Rowan said.
"Presumption of service connection exists for Vietnam veterans who served in country, on land and inland waterways. Enactment of H.R. 299 will bring a modicum of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They no longer will have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant," Rowan said.
"VVA fully endorses the sentiments expressed by Congressman Tim Walz (MN-1): 'When Congress allowed the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to expire, the need for this legislation became absolutely critical. Our nation must exhaust every effort to identify, prevent, and heal the injuries, illnesses, and wounds our military service personnel received during their service.' "
Dr. David Shulkin sworn in today as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs
 
Vietnam Veterans of America
February 14, 2017
As reported by CQ Roll Call today, Vice President Mike Pence swore in David Shulkin as the new secretary of the Department of Veterans affairs Tuesday afternoon, following Shulkin's unanimous confirmation vote in the Senate Monday night.
The top four veterans' program authorizers in Congress attended Shulkin's swearing-in ceremony: Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and the committee's top Democrat Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, as well as House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Phil Roe, R- Tenn., and the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota.
"I know President Trump and I have full faith that you will honor this service," Pence said, shortly before administering the oath of office.
Shulkin was President Donald Trump's first nominee to receive a 100-0 vote on confirmation, which Pence noted. Shulkin was the first non-veteran the Senate has confirmed to lead the VA since the top job became a Cabinet-level position in 1989.
The show of broad support for Shulkin provided a rare moment for lawmakers to come together during a deeply partisan confirmation process for most of Trump's Cabinet. Shulkin previously was appointed to the top role at the Veterans Health Administration by President Barack Obama in 2015 and was confirmed to that post by the full Senate on a voice vote.
VVA 432 all rights reserved 2017
VVA present annual Legislative Priorities and Policy Agenda before the 115th Congress
Vietnam Veterans of America March 6, 2017 On Thursday, March 9, 2017, VVA National President John Rowan will testify before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees, regarding our Legislative Priorities and Policy Initiatives for the 115 th Congress. PVA, AUSN, AMVETS, NCOA, GSW, NASDVA, WWP and NGAUS will also be testifying. The public hearing begins at 10:00 am in room G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 The hearing will also be broadcast live at https://www.veterans.senate.gov/ Click on the link below to view members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee https://www.veterans.senate.gov/about/members Click on the link below to view members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee https://veterans.house.gov/about/membership
New VA Complaint Hotline Open for Business
On June 1, 2017, President Trump’s promised White House VA Veterans’ Complaint Hotline went live. The hotline is intended to provide veterans with an avenue to report problems with and complaints about the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
.
VA
Secretary David Shulkin said that the initial soft launch of the hotline will only have live operators to take some of the calls at first, with a pledge to provide continuous 24/7 live coverage by August 15, 2017.
All calls made to the hotline will be confidential. However, depending on the issues involved, some may need to be referred to the appropriate
department immediately and some information may need to be shared with those departments in order for specific complaints to be addressed.
 
If you have an issue or a complaint about any
VAMC
,
CBOC
,
Vet Center
,
Regional Office
or other
VA
facility and want to report the issue to the White House, you may call the new hotline Monday - Friday, from 8:00 a.m .to 5:00 p.m. EST at
1-855-948-2311
.
Here it is
ADDRESS Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 432 P.O. Box 10363 Phoenix, Arizona 85064
CONTACT Mail: Lilsarge@mindspring.com Phone: 602-264-4320
NAVIGATION
Social
ORGANIZATION: Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only national Vietnam Veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax exempt under section 501 (c) (19) of the Internal Revenue Service code. Vietnam Veterans of America is a national service organization with 650 Chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, The Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico, and only 48 state councils. GOALS: VVA’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to the Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. About Us Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 432 represents a very active group of Veterans and assisting Veterans and their families in need, providing a helping hand to fellow vets and honoring Veterans of all wars. Our members help at the Veterans Hospital and provide an honor guard to parades, schools, holidays and events celebrating military history. Our mission and philosophy is simple: we honor, we represent, we serve, we share all in the name of Freedom. VVA 432 will never forget the sacrifice and duty of veterans for our blessed Nation, the United States of America! The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial consists of ten columns of black granite etched with the names of Arizonans killed or missing in action. A bronze sculpture entitled "The Fallen Warrior" by Jasper D'Ambrosi portrays young soldiers as war's victims as much as its heroes.
VVA 432 all rights reserved 2017
SOCIAL
ADDRESS Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 432 P.O. Box 10363 Phoenix, Arizona 85064
CONTACT Mail: Lilsarge@mindspring.com Phone: 602-264-4320
NAVIGATION
Veteran Issues

Links

Sign Up Here
VETERANS HELPING VETERANS
VETERANS HELPING VETERANS
VETERANS HELPING VETERANS