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Government Affairs COMMITTEE REPORT
BY JOHN MITERKO, CHAIR
The Government Affairs Committee, as well as the Government
Affairs staff, has been working diligently since the 2007
National Convention on the twelve Resolutions assigned to
the committee.
G-1-03 VETERANS VOTE! Campaign: In preparation
for the fall campaign, Patrick Welch, the vice chair of
VVA’s Government
Affairs Committee, in concert with the Government Affairs
staff, will develop a multifaceted program geared to get
veterans out to vote.
G-2-95 Legislative Coordinator Network:
State Council Government Affairs Chairs Talklist, Advocates,
was introduced in August 2006 to enhance communications
and legislative efforts between VVA National and VVA State
Council presidents, their Government Affairs chairs, and
their State Council counterparts. This is an ongoing process.
G-4-97
VVA urges the President of the U.S. by executive order to
extend the eligibility date for an award of the Vietnam Service
Medal or an appropriate Expeditionary Medal to May 30, 1975,
and urges Congress to amend the Vietnam Disengagement Act
of 1973 to extend the ending date for the Vietnam Conflict
as well as the Vietnam era to May 30, 1975: Bernie Edelman,
VVA’s deputy director for policy and government affairs,
reports that the rationale for extending the dates of eligibility
for the Vietnam Service Medal has been brought to the attention
of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Changing the dates
requires legislation, which requires several co-sponsors,
none of whom have been identified or stepped forward. The
best course of action is grassroots lobbying by VVA members
interested in bringing this to their members of Congress.
G-5-03
VVA urges that eligibility under Public Law 104-275 should
be extended to permit Vietnam-era veterans to continue to
remain eligible for Vet Center services: No bills remotely
similar are being considered in Congress. The recommended
course is to propose one bill to cover all generations of
veterans.
G-7-99 VVA urges Congress to pass legislation to
establish hepatitis C as a presumptive disability: Hepatitis
C guidelines should be based on existing guidelines as defined
by the American Liver Foundation. VVA likely will provide
a link on its website.
Connie Christensen, VVA Government
Affairs Committee member, submitted a detailed report in
January on emergency room conditions in Vietnam that might
have caused patients to contract hepatitis C. Unfortunately,
there is no obvious culprit here, despite questions about
the use of air guns for inoculations and exposure to the
blood of combat. It will be challenging to make a solid case
on these environmental conditions alone.
G-9-03 VVA supports
the efforts of veterans and veterans’ service
organizations that seek to change the regulations that have
prevented the issuance of the Combat Medevac Badge to those
who served as aero-medical crewmembers during and after the
Vietnam War: Alaska State Council President Ric Davidge is
gathering information on the number of aero-medic crewmembers
that would be affected, and he is actively looking for congressional
sponsorship.
G-10-07 Endorsement of legislation to create
minimum private-sector health-care coverage for uninsured
and underinsured veterans and their families: Board member
Joe Jenkins is investigating how to move this Resolution
forward. As many as 45 million Americans may be uninsured
or underinsured, including 1.5 to 1.8 million veterans. Currently,
nine legislative proposals are being considered that would
have a positive impact on health care for veterans and their
families. In the private sector, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
AARP, and many Fortune 500 companies are working to get the
more than 45 million Americans who lack insurance covered.
VVA is an active participant in the health-care initiative
committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is providing input
to the insurance efforts of the USCC, and is an active member
of the Executive Committee of the Small Business Council
of the USCC.
G-11-07 Philippine Veterans: Issue: Individual
members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
who served with the active or guerrilla forces in support
of U.S. military operations against hostile forces in World
War II are not currently considered veterans for purposes
of VA disability benefits. VVA supports legislation that
would recognize service in the military organizations and
forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during the
liberation of the Philippines in the same manner as if the
veterans had served in U.S. forces, thereby making them eligible
for benefits administered by the VA.
Jerry Yamamoto (VVA Board
of Directors) reports that this issue will not find congressional
support because it would validate the benefits claims of
South Vietnamese who served in their government’s armed
forces during the Vietnam War.
G-12-07 Establishment of a
new National Cemetery in Valley Forge National Park: AVVA
President Mary Miller reported that on November 9, 2007,
the VA and Dolington Land LP, a subsidiary of real estate
developer Toll Brothers, Inc., and the owner of a 205-acre
site in Bucks County, Pa., signed an offer-to-sell agreement
under which the VA will purchase for $10.5 million the site
for the construction of a new national cemetery. Once the
purchase is finalized and the cemetery design is complete,
construction will begin in mid 2008. Burials at the new national
cemetery, which will serve more than 580,000 veterans and
their families who live in the area, are expected to begin
in late 2008. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, the nearest
open national cemetery in Pennsylvania, is 120 miles from
the new site.
G-13-07 Cessation and prohibition of the utilization
of U.S. Military Personnel as non-consensual participants
in the testing by the U.S. Government of vaccines and other
medical treatments: Sandie Wilson, Government Affairs Committee
member, reports that this issue has gone before Congress
in the past. This practice is in violation of U.S. regulations
for human research. Following House debate, the proposal
lost in favor of the War Powers Act. Congressional supporters
and friends of veterans advise that to enact legislation
preventing non-consensual participation in government vaccine
testing is an untenable objective. The result is that military
members will continue to suffer from the residual effects
of the vaccines.
The resolution remains an issue for VVA.
VVA will monitor scientific reports, meet with congressional
leaders, and keep this issue in the forefront with the objective
of terminating non-consensual vaccinations and medical treatments
for military personnel.
G-14-07 State Veterans Homes: Missouri
State Council President George Newell provided a plan of
action: work with CSCP to determine the status of veteran
homes in each state, work with state legislatures to ensure
that veterans homes are properly funded, work with the National
Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, the National
Association of State Veterans Homes, and the National Governors
Association, and then determine if legislation should be
recommended to increase VA support for state veterans homes.
P-9-05 “In
Memory Plaque”: Status report from
Mary Miller and Board member John Margowski: Various paints
are being tested for durability and longevity. Margowski
has corresponded with Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wisc.)
describing the poor placement and condition of the Plaque.
Feingold has conveyed his support for elevating and encircling
the Plaque with a chain to the National Park Service. The
NPS replied to Sen. Feingold that they are exploring “other
options, including a change in color or finish of the plaque
or a raised elevation that complies with accessibility standards
and harmonizes with the existing Memorial setting.” Margowski
reports that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) was told that the original
group that planned the Memorial has to recommend changes.
In
order to move this issue out of a bureaucratic maze, a strong,
well-coordinated grass-roots effort is essential. The Government
Affairs Committee recommends a letter-writing campaign to
Congress by VVA members, and an article in The VVA Veteran.
Committee members: John Miterko, Chair; Tom Insley and Patrick
Welch, Vice Chairs; Tom Berger, Pat Bessigano, Connie Christensen,
Ric Davidge, Marsha Four, Alan Gibson, Joe Jenkins, Gary
Jones, Terry Hubert, Keith King, Jerry Klein, Dennis Koehler,
Bob Maras, Darrel Martin, Bill Meeks, Jr., Sandy Miller,
Wayne Miller, Marshall Mudge, George Newell, William “Buzz” Sawyer,
Dave Simmons, Jerry Yamamoto, Sandie Wilson; Special Advisers:
Mary Miller and Nancy Switzer; Staff Liaisons: Bernie Edelman,
Sharon Hodge, Rick Weidman.
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©2006-
2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
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