Action Corps Weekly Hero 2021

VFW Action Corps Weekly

June 30, 2025

 

* The next edition of Action Corps Weekly will be on Monday, July 14, 2025. *

* We wish you a wonderful July 4th! *

 

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VFW Roundtable June 2025

VFW Speaks at Roundtable with House Leaders: VFW National Legislative Director Kristina Keenan participated in a veterans organization roundtable hosted by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39). When asked what members of Congress could do to better understand the issues that veterans face, Keenan replied they should host town hall meetings during the August congressional recess to hear directly from veterans in their districts. Leader Jeffries committed to communicating to his caucus that every member should hold at least one veteran town hall this summer. Keenan also encouraged the House leaders to include Veterans Service Organizations in upcoming congressional hearings on VA's budget. The VFW, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) have analyzed the budget needs through our annual report, The Independent Budget, and would like to have an opportunity to comment in a public forum.

House Veteran Affairs Committee

VFW Testimony on Subcommittee Pending Legislation: VFW National Legislative Associate Director Nancy Springer submitted a statement for the record for a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing on pending legislation. The hearing reviewed 12 bills addressing issues including burial and survivor benefits, an annual report on veterans’ causes of death, enhanced access to benefits for rural veterans, hiring preferences for Veterans Law Judges, and improvements to the VA claims and appeals processes. A key piece of legislation that includes provisions that the VFW has asked for and commented on in previous testimony is H.R. 3983, Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2025. It would enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of the claims and appeals processes through data-driven training initiatives and strengthened quality assurance protocols. Read the testimony or watch the hearing, which begins at the 12:38 mark.

Gold Star spouses visit VFW Washington Office June 2025

VFW and Gold Star Spouses Champion Survivor Benefits:VFW National Legislative Associate Director Nancy Springer joined Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc. members on Capitol Hill during their inaugural legislative fly-in to advocate for critical improvements to survivor benefits. During her meetings, Springer advocated for H.R. 2055/S. 611, Caring for Survivors Act of 2025, a top legislative priority for the VFW. This proposal would seek to increase the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rate from 43 to 55 percent of the compensation awarded to a veteran rated 100 percent disabled by VA, which would make it on par with other federal survivor benefits programs. Except for standard cost-of-living adjustments, the amount of DIC has not increased appreciably since the program’s 1993 inception.

VFW and Takano Roundtable June 2025

VFW Joins Roundtable on VA Home Loan Program:House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano convened a roundtable with veteran organizations and industry groups to discuss the VA Home Loan Guaranty program. Experts explained the program's health, its functions, and its future outlook. VFW National Legislative Director Kristina Keenan emphasized the importance of VA communicating changes to the program in advance, allowing veterans the opportunity to be informed of their options. VA ended the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program in May, which was a last-resort loss mitigation option to prevent foreclosures. The VFW supports Rep. Van Orden's legislation, H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, to provide VA the authority to stand up a partial claim program. The VFW sees this as a useful tool that could help veterans avoid foreclosure.

Afghanistan War Commission

Commission Seeking Input from Afghanistan War Veterans: The Afghanistan War Commission is a bipartisan entity established by Congress in 2021 with the mandate to examine the strategic, diplomatic, and operational decisions made during the war in Afghanistan. The commission is seeking input from veterans who served there between June 2001 and August 2021. The information and views you share will be considered in recommendations to Congress and policymakers for shaping future decisions regarding national security. Read more or submit your comments.

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