The Continuing Commitment to Shape National Policy and Support Veterans

BY BILL PATON, CHAIR, and James McCormick, Executive Director of Government Affairs

During the spring and summer Vietnam Veterans of America’s Government Affairs Department has continued expanding its influence in Congress, at the White House, the VA, and beyond, averaging more than 115 interactions per week. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, its pace and the scope of our activities demonstrate the organization’s commitment to shaping national policy while also supporting individual veterans and their families.

Issues we have recently addressed include toxic exposure, Gulf War Illness, homelessness, suicide prevention, POW/MIA accountability, and the modernization of veterans healthcare, including the use of physician assistants as mental health providers in VA hospitals and clinics. VVA representatives have participated in meetings with the National Academy of Medicine, congressional staff, and federal officials while maintaining a near-daily presence on Capitol Hill.

VVA also has demonstrated the strength of our grassroots advocacy network through our online Legislative Action Center. In May alone, VVA supporters sent more than 2,300 messages through vva.org to Congress supporting legislation tied to toxic exposure, incarcerated veterans, severely disabled veterans, and efforts to bring America’s missing service members home.

At the same time, the Government Affairs team continued direct support for veterans seeking military award upgrades, Purple Hearts, Combat Action Badges, and corrections to military records. Efforts are underway to standardize and strengthen those support systems so veterans can receive more consistent assistance navigating often-complicated review systems.

The department also remains deeply engaged in toxic exposure and Gulf War Illness advocacy, including research initiatives involving biological descendants of exposed veterans and efforts to improve federal recognition of Gulf War Illness.

The Government Affairs Department also has helped evaluate the best way to position VVA for long-term strength while preserving the advocacy and persistence that makes the organization unique.

Much of that discussion centers on the importance of maintaining VVA’s 501(c)(19) veterans service organization structure while strengthening our partnership with AVVA and its 501(c)(3) charitable capabilities. As a congressionally chartered 501(c)(19) veterans service organization, VVA maintains strong advocacy authority and credibility in Washington, allowing the organization to engage in legislative advocacy, lobbying, and direct representation before Congress and federal agencies. Much of VVA’s ability to advocate independently for veterans comes directly from that designation and the membership base behind it.

At the same time, today’s nonprofit environment increasingly rewards organizations that are able to compete for grants, charitable donations, educational initiatives, and research partnerships. That is where collaboration with AVVA creates major advantages.

Rather than viewing the two organizations as separate or competing models, we see them working best together, leveraging each other’s complementary strengths. VVA’s VSO structure provides strong advocacy and grassroots influence, while AVVA’s charitable structure creates opportunities for fundraising, community programs, education, research support, and expanded veteran-assistance initiatives that may otherwise be limited. Together, these complementary strengths create what many leaders have described as a “1 + 1 = 3” effect: pairing VVA’s independent advocacy voice with AVVA’s expanded charitable and programmatic reach.

Continuing to strengthen VVA, maintain our congressional charter, build closer cooperation with AVVA, and expand opportunities for future generations of veterans and supporters should be our clear and ongoing focus. That work remains rooted in VVA’s Founding Principle: “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

VVA Government Affairs Chief Legislative Officer Michael Fimmano and Toxic Wounds Consultant Ronald Brown conducted a series of meetings on Capitol Hill in May to address the Department of Veterans Affairs’ failure to implement Public Law 114315.

Public Law 114315 mandates the creation of a Federal Advisory Committee to review and assess research related to toxic-exposed servicemembers, veterans, and their biological descendants. Despite the law’s passage, the VA has yet to establish the committee.

Meetings with members and staff of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs were productive. Each congressional office committed to sending a letter to the VA seeking an explanation as to why the Federal Advisory Committee has not been created.

The establishment of this committee has long been a VVA legislative priority, as it is essential to ensuring oversight, accountability, and progress in toxic-exposure research affecting veterans and their families.

Following discussions about the committee, VVA Government Affairs staff addressed ongoing concerns regarding Gulf War research, including the addition of Gulf War Illness to 38 CFR § 3.317, and the development of a new Schedule of Ratings for Gulf War Illness by the Veterans Benefits Administration.

At a meeting with Sen. Jim Banks’ (R-Ind.) staff, they requested additional information on these issues, which VVA has provided.

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