VFW Testifies Before House Committees
VFW National Legislative Service Director Patrick Murray testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and technology Modernization regarding VA’s IT needs. Murray spoke about the need for proper funding for VA’s office of Education Services to make sure valuable benefits like the GI Bill are delivered on time to the veterans who earned these benefits. “It’s not time for an IT upgrade, it’s time for an IT Overhaul,” Murray said of the VA’s IT systems. The VFW supports fully funding VA’s IT needs to ensure prompt delivery of VA benefits to all veterans, families and survivors.
Medal Of Honor Recipient Chats With VFW National Commander
Medal of Honor recipient Army Sgt. Maj. Thomas Patrick Payne chatted with Harold “Hal” Roesch II on September 16 during a VFW-hosted Facebook LIVE Event. Roesch thanked Sgt. Maj. Payne for his heroism and courage during the extremely difficult and challenging mission on Oct. 22, 2015, that resulted in the rescue of more than 70 Iraqi hostages from ISIS fighters.
VA Debt Relief For Disaster-Impacted Veteran
VA announced that it will be extending debt relief to veterans who have ben impacted by natural disasters. “Veterans and their families should be focused on their health and safety during natural disasters,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “VA is taking action to give those with pending debts greater flexibility during these challenging times.” The VA can suspend debt collection action for up to 90 days or extend repayment terms on pre-existing debts. To request financial relief, veterans should contact VA Debt Management at 1-800-827-0648.
House Holds Hearing On VA Supply Chain
Last Wednesday, members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee conducted a hearing on modernizing VA’s medical supply chain and lessons learned from the pandemic. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) gave insight to a report due to be released at the end of the month, which will outline VA’s inefficient supply chain process and GAO’s recommendations. In response to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, VA Regional Readiness Centers will be nationwide and house six months’ worth of supplies, including gloves, gowns and masks. Three centers are up and running and the remaining centers will be ready by July 2021.
VA Notifies Veterans Of Compromise Data
The VA Office of Management announced on September 14 that there had been a personal information data breach of approximately 46,000 veterans. The VA’s Financial Services Center (FSC) is alerting the affected individuals, including the next-of-kin of those who are deceased. The department is also offering access to credit monitoring services at no cost, to those whose social security numbers may have been compromised. Veterans are advised to follow the instructions in the letter from FSC to protect their data. There is no action needed from veterans if they did not receive an alert by mail, as their personal information was not involved in the incident. Any questions should be directed to FSC Customer Help Desk at VAFSCYVeteransSupport@va.gov. or by mail to the VA FSC Help Desk, Attn: Customer Engagement Center, P.O. Box 149971, Austin, TX 78714-9971.
Attention, Attention
Next month, October is the 100th anniversary of our VFW Post 516. There will be more information to follow. Keeping watching for it.
