Legislative: Mid-Term Elections Are Over, Our Work is Not!

Mid-Term Elections Are Over, Our Work is Not!

Thank you all for your enthusiasm for the Legislative program. Your strength and the hard work you have invested is producing big dividends! You continue to amaze me.

My sincere hope is that you will continue to inspire others while fighting for the earned benefits that our veterans and active-duty service members deserve. Remember, it is up to us to hold our elected officials accountable. Just because the elections are over does not mean our work is finished! Stay informed and read the VFW Action Corps for ways you can engage with your legislators. I look forward to seeing what you will do next!

VFW Priority Goals—

Health Care

To ensure that veterans receive timely access to high quality, comprehensive, and veteran-centric care at no added cost to veterans, Congress, the VA and DOD must:

• Consolidate VA’s community care programs into a single, integrated system.
• Modernize VA’s health IT systems.
• Expand current caregiver benefits to veterans of all eras.
• Strengthen VA and DOD health care and research for mental health and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Further expand gender-specific programs and competencies.
• Provide care and benefits to veterans and family members impacted by toxic exposures.
• Prevent the increase of pharmaceutical copayments.
• Conduct medical research on the benefits of medical cannabis.
• Extend telehealth services.
• Make nursing home eligibility part of the VA health care benefits package.

As an informed citizen advocate, be consistent in asking your delegation to support an improved healthcare system for our veterans. We speak on their behalf and it is vital that we are persistent in our lobbying.

Student Education and Community Outreach –

More ideas for reaching out:

• Invite a legislator that represents the area of your Post to speak at a Veterans Day event. A newly elected candidate might love the opportunity to speak on the importance of celebrating our military and veterans.
• Sponsor a contest using coloring sheets and award prizes for younger students. Make sure every participant gets a small award or certificate. Keep the art and enclose one when sending correspondence to your legislators to let them see that children care about our veterans, too!
• Organize a trivia night, inviting the surrounding community. Use questions that focus on military history, veterans’ issues and the legislative process. Ask local companies to donate snacks and prizes!

Please note –

You should report your activity during the election process. What can you report?

• Working the polls
• Using or distributing our “I Vote in Honor of a Veteran” stickers
• Driving others to the polling place
• Participating or organizing a candidate forum
• VOTING!!

There may be other ways you have served as part of the election process! Please contact your Department Chairman should you require assistance with reporting your activity. Send pictures to me with any great “out of the box” ideas that put our program into action and you may be featured in my next program promotion in the Share Wonderful Auxiliary Projects (SWAP) corner!

As we prepare to celebrate a time of Thanksgiving, please remember why we have the freedoms that we do! I am thankful for each of you and all you have done and continue to do in support of the VFW and the Auxiliary and genuinely appreciate all the time and effort spent in service to others. May God richly bless you all during this season for your devotion to helping veterans!