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| English: VFW logo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| RENO, NV - JULY 23: Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars look on as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the 113th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on July 23, 2012 in Reno, Nevada. President Obama addressed the 113th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars one day after visiting families of shooting victims in Aurora, Colorado. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) |
The Senate worked into the early hours last Saturday to clear a six-month continuing resolution. The measure, cleared by the House earlier this month, extends funding through March 27, 2013, with a 0.6 percent increase for most programs and agencies. With the beginning of the fiscal year looming (October 1) and all 11 appropriations bills still awaiting passage, the must-pass funding bill was the last item on the agenda for those congressional members hoping to get back to the campaign trail. The President is expected to sign the bill soon.
House Discusses New Transition Programs
Last week, the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hosted a hearing to discuss the implementation of the military’s new Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Your VFW, which has been highly critical of TAP over the years, was on hand to hear from the departments responsible for the new program’s implementation, including Department of Defense, Department of Labor and VA. To learn more about the hearing and to read VFW’s reaction, click here.
Absentee Voting Begins
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) encourages service members, spouses, voting-age dependents and overseas civilians who want to vote to visit FVAP.gov to register and request their absentee ballots. If voters do not receive their ballot by October 6, FVAP recommends they complete and mail the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to their local election office. If, after submitting the FWAB, they receive their State absentee ballot, they should also vote and return it. If both ballots are received by the deadline, only the State ballot will be counted. It is also very important that election officials have your correct current address. Of the 67,000 ballots received at overseas APO/FPOs for the 2010 election, 20,000 were redirected to another address and 13,000 were returned to sender.
New Web Address for VFW Capitol Hill Blog
Last month, the VFW’s Capitol Hill blog experienced technical difficulties, during which time our registration for the name “vfwonthehill.org” expired, only to be scooped up by a cybersquatting company. The technical issues have been resolved, and VFW’s blog is now back at its old address.
Field Report: North Carolina Advocates Storm the Hill
VFW National Legislative Committee members Elree Smith and Jonathan Schoolcraft of North Carolina met with many of their representatives and senators as part of VFW’s Fall Conference on Capitol Hill, telling the 112th Congress to “Finish Strong For Veterans.” Smith and Schoolcraft spent their days highlighting VFW's priorities and outstanding issues to members of the North Carolina congressional delegation and soliciting support for pending legislation and oversight issues like: looming defense budget cuts, mental healthcare and veterans’ benefits-delivery. To learn more about their visit, visit the VFW Capitol Hill blog.
Send Us Your Campaign Season Stories
Campaign season is in full swing, and hosting or attending Town Hall meetings or visiting with your members in their district offices is strong grassroots advocacy in action. This is why VFW wants to highlight your advocacy work on our Capitol Hill blog. It is the work you do in the community that has helped stop bad legislation and advance good bills to improve programs and services for service members, veterans and their families. VFW’s sustained voice in Washington is only as strong as the voice of VFW members and our advocates around the country. With your support, the VFW helped bring about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, traumatic injury insurance, hiring preferences, advance healthcare appropriations, and family caregiver benefits, among many other accomplishments. Help us publicize your local success stories. Click here to submit your story or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.
Two MIAs IdentifiedThe Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced the identification of two servicemen who were missing in action from World War II and Korea. Returned home are:
- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Samuel E. Lunday, 20, of Marianna, Fla. On April 24, 1943, Lunday and four other U.S. servicemen were flying a C-87 Liberator Express aircraft from China over the Himalayan mountains to their home base in India. Radio communications were lost following take-off and the crew was never heard from again. Eleven aerial search missions were unable to locate the aircraft or crew.
- Marine Pfc. Richard S. Gzik, 19, of Toledo, Ohio. On Dec. 2, 1950, Gzik and the other Marines of M Battery, 11th Artillery Regiment, 1st Marine Division, came under attack on the west side of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Gzik was killed in action and buried. The fighting withdrawal of U.N. forces later that month prevented the recovery of his remains.
Tomorrow ... Happy 113th Birthday to VFW!
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