NDAA Becomes Law And New Agent Orange Conditions Added
Last week, the House and Senate passed H.R.6395, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), over a presidential veto. This law will add bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the VA’s list of presumptive conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange. The VFW wishes to thank our members and advocates who contacted their members of Congress regarding this very important provision. We also thank the members of Congress who voted to expand care and benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. If you need help filing a VA claim for disability compensation, please contact a VFW Service Officer in your state. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many VFW service officers remain in a tele-work capacity, but the VFW’s network of services have the capability to continue assisting our veterans safely without face-to-face contact.
VFW, VSA Announce 2021 Student Veteran Fellowship Class
Five Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members and student Veterans of America (SVA) leaders have been selected to participate in the 2021 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship. The fellowship is a semester-long academic experience where students submit a policy proposal to address an issue related to student veteran success on campus and beyond, improving veterans’ health care and benefits, transitioning from military to civilian life and challenges for service members and their families. The fellows will participate in the VFW Virtual Legislative Conference, during which they will be paired with their VFW Department (state) delegation and join with them in virtual meetings with their members of Congress to advocate for their policy proposals. The five student veterans of the 2021 class are: Cameron Zbikowski, Navy veteran, (Grand Valley State University); Brandon Angel, Army veteran, (Liberty University); EL’ona Kearney, Army veteran, (Evergreen State College); Eric Sowers, Army Veteran, (Ohio State University); John Davis, Army veteran (Harvard University).
COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance For VA Patients
The VA’s COVID-19 vaccine phased plan is a Collaborative effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners. VA health care personnel and veterans living in VA long-term care facilities are the first two groups who are slated to receive the vaccine. The next group to be vaccinated will be veterans with high-risk factors for severe illness or death from COVID-19, such as age or pre-existing health problems. Your VA health care team will contact you if you are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Latest VFW Podcast Available
The latest episode of the VFW Podcast entitled, Working As a team to Support Those in Need, has been released. In this episode, Medal of Honor Recipient Army Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne discusses his service to the nation, leading soldiers in today’s Army and events that resulted in his becoming our newest Medal of Honor Recipient. Jesse James Dupree chats about joining forces with the VFW and the Unmet Needs program to help raise money for veterans and service members facing financial hardships. Army Col. (Ret.) George W. shares his personal story of ruin, resilience and redemption as a recovering alcoholic.
