Reach Out For Veterans - VFW District 2 PRIORITIES 2010.pdfladies auxiliary in the garden state * * * for more informa non contact veterans of foreign wars of the u.s. department ofnew

Mission StatementThe mission of the NJVFW State LegislativeCommittee is to represent the VFW position onvarious issues that come before the New JerseyLegislature and United States Congress. TheLegislative Committee works to ensure that veter-ans are provided all the care, entitlements, andcompensation they have earned through their ser-vice and sacrifice in defense of our nation; and toensure that our nation maintains a strong militarywhich provides for the well-being and quality oflife for those men and women in uniform.

WE SUPPORT ALL LEGISLATJVE PRIORITIESTHAT ARE THERESULT OF RESOLUTlONSADOPTED BY THE DELEGATES TOTHE NJVFW STATE CONVENTro~ [NJUNE 2009 AND THE

VFW N ATlONAL CONVENTlON IN AUGUST 2009

Legislative CommitteeAlbert J Bucchi

ChairmanLegislative Director

603 Greenwood Ave, Delran 08075F56-764-5127

[email protected] National Legislative Committee

HankAdams5 BuckRd,

Yardville 08620609-58/-3522

[email protected]. Nat'l Legis Comm.

Otto Gollon340 LaSalle Ave.,Wenonah,[email protected]

856-468-4911

Donald E. Marsha]] Jr.45 Locker StreetBayville 08721

[email protected]

Bill Thomson560 Hoover Ave,

Washington Twp, [email protected]

201-358-1382

Bob McNulty103 Florida Ave., EggHarbor Twp. NJ 08234

[email protected]

Thomas Farrell14-19th Street

Burlington, NJ 080 l6609-386-6284

[email protected]

Hazel Radcliff304 Haverford Ave.Wenonah,08090

[email protected]

Donald DeVore4 Rowe PI.

Franklin, NJ 07416973-827-4517Donandnan

@embarqmail.com

Commander's MessageComrades and Sisters,

As We begin our 90th year our LegislativePolicy will still be to ensure all veterans

receive the entitlements and benefits they haveearned though their service to our Great

Nation. and New Jersey. Our goal is to "ReachOut For Veterans" and their families. To

welcome home our "Heroes' and provide thebest support possible from a friendly smileand hand shake to State and Federallegisla-tion ensuring ALL VETERANS ISSUES areknown and the proper legislation is introduced

and passed in Trenton and Washington.

Jack Shiverdaker, State Commander

REPRESENTING OVER70,000 MEMBERS OF THE

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARSAND

LADIES AUXILIARYIN THE

GARDEN STATE

* * *FOR MORE INFORMA nON CONTACT

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U.S.DEPARTMENT OF NEW JERSEY

L35WEST HANOVER STREETTRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08618-4823

609-393-1929

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARSOF THE

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF NEW JERSEY

2010PRIQ

LEGISLATIVE POLICYSTATEMENT

Reach Out For Veterans

Jack ShiverdakerState Commander

Iris Jean GeorgeState President Ladies Auxiliary

Albert BucchiState Legislative Director

2010 PRIORITY LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENTState and National Issues of Immediate Concern to the New Jersey-Veterans of Foreign Wars

VETERANS STATUSThe VFW supports legislation that will expand thequalifications that determine eligibility for "veterans'status" in New Jersey. We urge the State Legislatureand Governor to enact legislation that will broadeneligibility for veterans benefits.

DMAVA BUDGETThe VFW encourages the Legislature and Governorto meet the growing needs of veterans and theirfamilies to continue fully funding the Department ofMilitary and Veterans Affairs to include:

=> ensuring that our state nursing homes are fullystaffed to provide maximum bed space

=> the necessary capital improvements to the statenursing homes

=> all staffing, maintenance and operating needs of

=> increased funding for veterans transportationneeds and PTSD workshops

HOMELESS VETERANSThe VFW urges the Governor and State Legislatureto fund programs to identify and support homelessveterans and their families.

HOME HEALTH CAREThe VFW supports the need for home health careservices for veterans, as an alternative to in-residentcare. We strongly urge the State Legislature to pro-vide adequate funding for a Home Health Care Pro-gram.

VETERANS HEALTH CAREThe VFW supports the need for in-resident healthcare services for veterans in Central and SouthernNew Jersey. We strongly urge the State Legislatureand the Federal Representatives to work together toprovide adequate funding and locations for in-resident Veterans Health Care Facilities in Centraland Southern New Jersey.

RETURNING HEROESWe encourage the Legislature and Governor to en-sure that all the needs of the returning heroes are

met by all agencies and programs.

U.S. FLAGThe VFW opposes the physical desecration of theUnited States Flag and supports the need forcongressional action to protect our national symbol.

VA FUNDINGThe VFW calls upon Congress and the Administra-tion to:• We urge Congress and the President to change

VA's medical care aooronriation to an AD-VANCE APPROPRIATION, which would providefunding for veterans health care one year in ad-vance.

• Ensure that sufficient funding is consistently providedand appropriated for the Veterans Health Care Ad-ministration so that it can fulfill its obligation to care forall of our nation's sick and disabled veterans.

Ensure that VA has a proper funding mechanismthatmatches funding with demands so that the Departmentof Veterans Affairs receives the appropriate levelof fund-ing to adequately care for all our nations veterans in atimely manner.• Ensure no veteran will ever be denied or have

delayed any benefit, entitlement, or medical treat-ment for which he or she is eligible

• provide New Jersey with its fair share of resourcesto care for the specific needs of an older veteranspopulation, and Type II Diabetes , Hepatitis C,PTSD and TBI concerns

• place WWII veterans in priority category 6

VA BENEFITS AND COMPENSATIONThe VFW asks Congress to provide adequate resourcesto enable the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) toreduce the current back log of claims

FEMALE VETERANSThe VFW urges Congress and the New JerseyLegislature to provide suificient funding for thererespective departments to identify and meet theneeds of womens specific services, especially in thearea of health care.

DEFENSf/SSUESThe VFW calls for increased defense spending toimprove the readiness, modernization, recruiting,retention and quality-of-life of our armed forces.• We totally support our troops in the war on

terrorism and call upon Congress to provide allthe resources necessary to win

• We support ongoing eiforts to complete our na-tional missile defense system

• We support lowering the retirement pay eligibilityace from 60 to 55 for Reserve Comoonent mem-bers

• We oppose the closure of any New Jerseymilitary installations and any further draw downof our active, Guard or Reserve forces

POW/MIAThe VFW urges Congress and th Department of De-fense to continue all efforts to achieve the fullestpossible accounting of all Armed Forces personnelfrom all foreign conflicts and wars.

MILITARY RETIREESThe VFW insists that Congress and the President:

• authorize and fully appropriate funding to allow alldisabled military retirees to receive both theirmilitary retired pay and VA disability compensationwithout offset

• keep America's promise to provide free lifetimehealth care for all retired military beneficiaries

SEAMLESS TRANSITIONThe VFW demands a truly seamless transition for thosemen and women serving in uniform who are transferringfrom Departmentof Defenseto the Departmentof Veter-ans Affairs