VFW Action Corps Weekly
Subcommittee Hearing on Military Quality of Life: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on military quality of life. Senior enlisted leaders from five of the armed services emphasized that quality of life is directly tied to readiness. Testimony underscored persistent challenges with privatized housing, limited child care access and family stability, all of which affect retention more than recruiting. Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about accountability in housing contracts and the impact of hiring freezes on oversight and support programs. The witnesses also warned that without consistent funding infrastructure backlogs will continue to grow, stressing the need for sustained investment in military families. Watch the hearing.
Fort McClellan Epidemiological Study Update: As directed in Section 801 of Public Law 117-168, Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, VA contracted with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct an epidemiological study of personnel who served at Fort McClellan, Alabama, from 1979 to 1999. NASEM commenced the study in February 2026 with a multidisciplinary panel of scientific experts and is soliciting perspectives from individuals stationed there during the study timeframe. VA and NASEM anticipate publicly releasing the study’s results in the fall of 2028 after a rigorous external peer-review process. Read more and share your experience.
GI Bill Update: VA has announced it is taking steps to help the estimated more than two million eligible veterans maximize use of their GI Bill education benefits following the Supreme Court ruling in Rudisill v. McDonough and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ruling in Perkins v. Collins. VA will automatically assess veterans’ eligibility, prioritize reviews for current or recently enrolled students with less than three months of remaining benefits, and update its adjudication systems to fully apply the Perkins decision. The rulings may allow qualifying veterans to receive up to 48 months of combined benefits under the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills. Prior to VA’s announcement, the VFW joined with other parties in ongoing litigation to ensure that the law is applied correctly and that veterans are not denied benefits due to restrictive interpretations inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Announcements and internal guidance, while meaningful, do not resolve whether all affected veterans are receiving the benefits to which they are entitled, and do not, by themselves, eliminate the need for judicial review. The VFW will continue to monitor implementation closely and remains committed to ensuring that veterans receive the full measure of education benefits provided under the law.
MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced no identifications or burial updates this week.