Highlights from Speaker Pelosi's Roundable on Vets' Issues

Yesterday, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof joined House leadership and the nation's top veterans' advocates for a roundtable discussion on veterans' issues.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hosted the roundtable, which brought many majority members of the House to the table to hear from the nation's leading veterans' advocates.

The afternoon's discussion centered around the VA claims backlog (AMVETS' top legislative priority for 2010), Post-9/11 G.I. Bill updates, and veterans' unemployment.

Veterans' groups were given the opportunity to candidly discuss each of the issues, receiving critical feedback on potential next steps from Congressional leaders.

Joe Violante from the Independent Budget partner DAV laid out three potential ideas to help alleviate the claims backlog.

Among the afternoon's attendees were Congressional Silver Helmet Award recipients, Reps. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) and Tim Walz (D-Minn), House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.).

Each of AMVETS' other partners on the Independent Budget--Paralyzed Veterans of America and VFW--also participated in the discussion, which included other noteworthy groups such as the American Legion, IAVA, Wounded Warrior Project, and Gold Star Wives.

(Image: AMVETS' Christina Roof participates in yesterday's roundtable on veterans' issues, hosted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS Joins House Speaker Pelosi and Other Top Military Advocates for Roundtable

This afternoon, AMVETS joined many of the nation's other top military and veterans' organizations for a roundtable discussion with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic Congressional leaders.

Among the topics of discussion were hot-button issues like Dependence and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offsets for military widows who also collect Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments, persistent implementation and inequity issues with the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, transition issues, and military mental health.

AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof took the opportunity to explain AMVETS' legislative agenda for FY2010, which will be available to the public on Veterans Day.

Some participants took the opportunity to voice their continued concerns over the Obama Administration's plans for Afghanistan and the potential impact on warfighters and military families .

Participants in the discussion also took the time to thank the Congressional panel for their proactive roles in recent significant victories for the military and veterans' communities such as the signing of VA advance appropriations for health care and the recent passage of a bill that will allow military spouses to keep their residency regardless of mandatory military moves. AMVETS was one of the few veterans' organizations to speak out in support of the military spouses residency bill.

Many significant Congressional leaders were on hand for the roundtable, including Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), VA Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman and AMVETS Silver Helmet recipient Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas), Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and chairman of the new military families caucus Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.).

Though the roundtable was largely ceremonial, it provided a critical opportunity for many organizations to voice their concerns directly to key decision-makers.

To read AMVETS' official statement from today's roundtable, Click Here.

(Photo: AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof looks on as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivers her opening remarks at this afternoon's roundtable. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

AMVETS Honor Rep. Chet Edwards with Silver Helmet

AMVETS presented Texas Congressman Chet Edwards with its Congressional Silver Helmet Award during a reception in the Rayburn House Office Building last night in Washington.

"They can have their Oscar, I'll take this," said Edwards, as he accepted the award, commonly referred to as the "Veterans' Oscar."

Edwards, who chairs the Congressional subcomittee responsible for funding the VA, seized the opportunity to thank AMVETS for its hard work pushing Congress to properly care for our veterans.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was on hand to congratulate Edwards, whose district includes Ft. Hood in Killeen, Texas. Shinseki commanded the First Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood from 1994-1995.

The secretary also took the opportunity to personally address AMVETS' leaders for the first time since his appointment by President Barack Obama.

"Let me just say thank you very much for what you do for all our veterans and for the VA," said Shinseki. "For us, this partnership is an important one. I look forward to strengthening it and getting to know you personally as I get out and move amongst the communities where you live and work."

Representatives from DAV, VFW, and Congressional offices also joined AMVETS to honor Edwards.

As the busy week draws to a close for AMVETS, be sure to check back with American Veteran Online for further coverage of the weekend's executive committee meeting and the 55th annual Silver Helmet Awards banquet.



(Photos, Top: Rep. Edwards discusses why the work of VSOs such as AMVETS is vitally important to his mission in Congress. Bottom: AMVETS National Commander John C. Hapner speaks with Edwards and VA Secretary Shinseki prior to the reception on Capitol Hill. Photos by Jay Agg)

Blogging from the Silver Helmet & NEC

It's once again time for the spring meeting of the AMVETS National Executive Committee, and next week is going to be a busy one for AMVETS. It all starts on Tuesday with Legislative Director Ray Kelley's testimony before the House and Senate on the VA budget process for FY2010. On Thursday, National Commander John Chad Hapner will testify before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees, outlining AMVETS' legislative agenda for the year. Later on Thursday, AMVETS will honor Texas Congressman Chet Edwards with a special Silver Helmet reception on Capitol Hill. Spring NEC preliminary business starts on Friday, with the full committee session on Saturday, followed by the 55th annual Silver Helmet Amwards banquet Saturday night. American Veteran magazine will be on hand to cover all of the events, with updates from Capitol Hill, the banquet, and the floor of then NEC.

In addition to the special award for Rep. Edwards, AMVETS will honor four more remarkable individuals during the black tie banquet for their contributions to the veterans' community: Danny Devine, Tammy Duckworth, Cathy Hargrave, and "E J" Knapick. To learn more about each recipient, visit the official Silver Helmet Awards page. This year's Silver Helmet Awards banquet and spring NEC will take place at the BWI Hilton in Linthicum, Md.

American Veteran magazine is going to hit the ground running on Tuesday, with comprehensive coverage of all the week's activities. Be sure to check in regularly at americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com, and be on the look out of the spring issue of American Veteran magazine, with more photos and highlights from this exciting week.

-Ryan

(Photos, Top: Guests gather last spring for the 54 Annual Silver Helmet Awards at the Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. Photo courtesy of AMVETS. Center: Past National Commander JP Brown III testifies before the special joint veterans affairs committee in spring 2008. Photo by Isaac Pacheco.)