Announcements 

As of 09/16/2020

 

Attention All Veterans, the VA is holding a Veterans Drive Thru Resource Fair, at the Cardiff VFW Post, 3029 Spruce Ave. Egg Harbor Twp., on Saturday, Sept. 19th., from 10 AM to 3 PM. This is a community event that is being put on by Veterans, for Veterans and their families. The Veteran Resource Fair is a community  partnership between various veteran owned agencies, nonprofits, federal, state, and local county agencies whose aim is to provide an annual and reliable place and event where Atlantic County Veterans and their families can obtain direct connections and information on many different types of veteran specific programs and resources. Please plan to take advantage of this outstanding program.

As we get closer to Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 3rd. We want to remind all Veterans to get out and vote. When voting, please make sure you vote YES for the Veterans Tax Benefit.

 

 

========================================================

From District 16 Commander 

 

 

August 14, 2020                                                                                                              

Greetings,

 

We hope you enjoy this week’s National Council Weekly Update on the pertinent happenings of your VFW departments.

 

National Legislative Service

 

• NLS is working to secure the inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

 

• On Wednesday, the Senate passed VFW-supported S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, which would support VA as it continues to make improvements to veterans’ mental health care. The bill covers a strategic plan for veterans transitioning from active duty, pilot programs integrating alternative therapies, establishing a VA and DOD clinical provider treatment toolkit, improving care and services for women veterans, and expanding the mental health medical workforce. 

 

• On Wednesday, Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced VFW-supported S. 4412, to improve the ability of veterans to access and submit disability benefit questionnaire forms. This important legislation would require VA to publish Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) on a public website. DBQs were introduced in 2010 to streamline the collection of medical evidence in support of disability benefits claims. Until recently, both VA and private medical physicians were permitted to use DBQs.

 

• On Wednesday, Reps. T.J. Cox (D-CA) and Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced VFW-supported H.R. 7926, to allow for the electronic request of certain records. This legislation would require VA to permit veterans to request copies of their entire disability claims file online.

 

• The VFW currently supports 157 pieces of legislation pending before the 116th Congress.

 

Contact: VFW National Legislative Service Director Patrick Murray, PMurray@vfw.org.

 

 

Communications and Public Affairs

 

• Completed recording of all interviews for Episode 001 of The VFW Podcast. Post-production team now editing the show scheduled to be released Oct. 7.

 

• Received confirmation of the 2020 Presidential Virtual Town Hall Q&A with Trump and Biden campaigns. Awaiting scheduling of the town hall for publishing to all VSO Facebook sites.  

 

• Attended the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Weekly COVID-19 Briefing for VSOs.

 

Contact: VFW Communications and Public Affairs Director, D.C. office, Terrence Hayes, THayes@vfw.org.

 

 

Operations

 

• The overall veteran unemployment rate has been trending downward for the last three months, which is a positive sign. The month of July reported the rate at 7.9% which translates to approximately 700,000 unemployed veterans.

 

Contact: VFW Operations Director Tony Lowe, ALowe@vfw.org.

 

 

National Veterans Service

 

• National Veterans Service hosted the final meeting of the NVS Restricted Grant Review Committee. The committee prepared its final report which will be delivered to the VFW National Council of Administration later this month.

 

• NVS leadership participated in several meetings with Veterans Benefits Administration this week to discuss ongoing changes in the VA benefits process. On Friday, the VFW raised continued concerns about VA’s proposal to change how it provides notification of VA decision to veterans’ representatives.

 

• VFW’s Pre-Discharge representatives continued to provide virtual transition briefings to separating service members, explaining the VA benefits process. This week, VFW provided briefings to the U.S. Naval Academy and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

 

Contact: VFW National Veterans Service Director Ryan Gallucci, RGallucci@vfw.org.

 

 

National Security & Foreign Affairs

 

• VFW and other VSOs have spent the past month talking with DOD leadership and members of Congress about the need to expand and improve child care services for military families. I am pleased to report that the advocacy has paid off this week as Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Monday that The Department of Defense is providing an additional way for military parents to find child care solutions for hourly care. Military OneSource will expand its offerings through a national online service that enables families to find, hire, and pay for care. The new offering provides access to a monthly subscription service with a secure, searchable network of care providers. This is the first of several issues DOD has promised to address regarding military child care and Congress has proposed expanding funding in the 2021 NDAA.

 

• Speaking of NDAA, we’re still making the virtual rounds with Congress regarding the progress of the NDAA. Specifically, we’re still pushing for approval of about 15 amendments included in either House or Senate versions that will address a myriad of issues, including reforms to Military Treatment Facilities, TRICARE Pharmacy copays, Military Sexual Assault, and other Military Health Care reforms.

 

• I have changed the look and information in the daily COVID-19 Situation Report that I provide to leadership. The new version provides more in-depth information regarding the pandemic and what is being done to defeat the coronavirus. I am providing inputs from the CDC, WHO, John Hopkins University, Stanford University, George Washington University, Maryland University, University of Washington, and Department of Defense, which includes studies, graphs, and peer reviewed research.

 

=====================================================================

 

 

Brigantine Memorial Post is Now Open, with Outside Seating only, weather permitting, in the Rear of the Post.

 

We will be following Social Distancing Between Individuals and Groups.

All Parties are Required to Wear a Mask when Entering through the Hall entrance on 31st. Street, to Place Their Order at the Bar, and then Leave Immediately and Proceed to the Outside Seating Area and Sign In.

When Signing In, You will take a Pen from the Clean Pen Cup, Sign In, and  then Place the Pen into the Used Pen Cup. You will then proceed to your table. 

 

================================================ 

 Members: Post 6964's Meeting Starting Time Has Changed.

The New Starting Time is 19:00

==================================================

 

VETERANS Benefits Information &

Va CLAIMs Assistance

Every 3^rd. Saturday

                          From 09:00 – Noon                      

                  VFW Post # 9462                     

433 White Horse Pike 

Absecon, N.J. 08201

 Walk-ins Welcomed, Appointments Encouraged

 Contact Dan Wine: 

Mobile: 609-802-5217

                               Email: Daniel.Wine@va.gov                     

Assistance provided by a VFW Certified and VA Accredited Service Officer

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------