Armed with the VFW’s new report on the state of VA health care, entitled “Hurry Up and Wait,” VFW leaders once again converge on our Nation’s Capitol this week for the 2014 VFW Fall Legislative Conference.
More than 70 VFW advocates will be out in force on Capitol Hill this week, planning to visit with every Congressional office, pressing legislators on critical issues like improving veterans’ health care access and ending budget sequestration.
In an effort to bring you up-to-the-minute highlights of this week's meetings, our advocates will be uploading photos and comments on Twitter via the hashtag #VFWHill2014.
Some of the major issues the VFW is calling on Congress to address before the end of the year include:
•End the irresponsible policy of budget sequestration that threatens to gut military readiness.
•Ensure proper implementation of the recently-passed Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act to help veterans receive the care they need.
•Work to implement the VFW’s 11 additional recommendations from the “Hurry Up and Wait” report to improve timeliness and quality of veterans’ health care.
•Update the VFW’s Congressional Charter to accurately reflect the significant contributions women veterans have long made to the VFW and the veterans’ community.
VFW advocates will also explain in detail the VFW’s stance on a variety of veterans’ issues outlined in the VFW 2014 Legislative Priority Goals like VA benefits access, mental health, education, employment and military quality-of-life.
As always, we are also looking for in-depth stories and updates from Capitol Hill visits to post on our legislative blog. To submit your story for consideration, simply fill out our online form here, or send photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.