I am asking everyone to call these two senators and implore them to pass this bill. The attachment has all the information needed, their names and phone numbers. Please help to encourage them to move this bill through as soon as possible, like tomorrow.

I am calling in support of HR 299 “ The Blue Water Navy Veterans Act of 2017”

(Leave Your Name and Phone Number) This Bill has been Hot Lined by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

And is currently on hold by the senator. I respectfully request that senator lift his hold on this bill so that 90,000 Blue Water Veterans can get the benefits they are entitled to receive.

Thank you,
SENATOR MIKE ENZI, WYOMING (R) 202-224-3424, 888-250-1879
SENATOR MIKE LEE, UTAH (R) 202-224-5444

– For More Information

Sep 21 – Legislative Alert

Aug 27 – “Vietnam Veterans of America calls on the U.S. Senate to honor Vietnam War hero and Navy veteran John S. McCain by passing H.R. 299, The Blue Water Navy Act, and renaming this critical bill in his honor,” said John Rowan, VVA National President.

Aug 7 – Department of Veterans Affairs Opposes Enactment of H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

Jul 30 – The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act Legislative Hearing Will Be Held by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on August 1, 2018

May 4 – Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, H.R. 299 is scheduled for mark-up by the House Veterans Affairs Committee Next Week – Vietnam Veterans of America Legislative Update

Nov 3 – “We, at Vietnam Veterans of America, felt a crushing blow of disappointment when H.R. 299, legislation designed to restore eligibility for VA health care and disability compensation for some 90,000 Blue Water Navy veterans, was put on hold yesterday in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,” said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America.

“We maintain that the service of sailors and other personnel in Yankee and Dixie Stations should be equated with the service of boots-on-the-ground troops in Vietnam,” said Rowan. “While we appreciate the ‘pay-for’ rules Congress imposed on itself, we have long opposed any effort to take funding from one veterans program to pay for another.”

While it is the role of the veterans service organizations to make the case for funding programs and initiatives to meet the legitimate needs of veterans, it is up to Congress to figure out how to pay for these efforts. It is an egregious failure of will to, yet again, pass over the demonstrated need of thousands of veterans who are suffering from the same health conditions as their in-country comrades.

“Caring for veterans is part of the continuing cost of the national defense,” Rowan added. “Regrettably, Congress has fallen down on its responsibility to tens of thousands of Navy veterans and their families. Despite this setback, VVA and our fellow VSOs will continue the fight to make the case and work with Congress to find a satisfactory funding mechanism to pay for the anticipated costs of this very necessary legislation.”

Blue Water Navy Bill Goest Before Full HVAC Committee for Markup

Vietnam Veterans of America Legislative Update

Nov 1 – House Veterans Affairs Committee votes on passage of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

Thanks to your grassroots advocacy on November 2, 2017, at 10:00 am H.R.299, the Blue Water Navy Veteran Act of 2017, will be marked up by the House Veterans Affairs full committee. If, the full committee approves the bill, it will then proceed to the House where the bill will be placed on the Calendar for a schedule floor vote.

Great work everyone!

VVA Government Relations Department

Nov 1 – VA Secretary Shulkin Makes Commitment on Blue Water Navy

We have been working behind the scenes with the Secretary and the Committee for months. We met with the Secretary last Tuesday and he confirmed his support. The bill is being marked up tomorrow. Please have our people call the Committee members and ask them to support. Once marked up and sent to the floor, THEN a general call-in might be helpful.

Commander J. B. Wells U. S. Navy (Retired)
Attorney at Law
Executive Director
Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc.
P. O. Box 5235
Slidell, LA 70469-5235
985-641-1855
985-290-6940 (direct)

For more information on Military-Veterans Advocacy go to www.militaryveteransadvocacy.org

Please support Military-Veterans Advocacy through the Combined Federal Campaign. Our CFC number is 59905

Amazon Shoppers: you can support Military-Veterans Advocacy by going to “Amazon Smile” for your shopping. The prices are the same but Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-3890520 and support us every time you shop.

Oct 27 – As a result of your advocacy on behalf of our Navy veterans, 314 members of the House have cosponsored H.R. 299 and 43 Senators have cosponsored the companion bill S. 422.

We ask that you continue to join our Call to Action every month on behalf of our Blue Water Navy veterans, especially to members of Congress who have not cosponsored the bills. With your support, we will get this bill passed into law.

Congress can never get enough of hearing from their constituents. Go to the VVA Capwiz and send the prepared message in support of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, and please follow up on your letter with a call to your representatives’ district/state offices, using the talking points for the bills.

Thank you very much.

VVA Government Relations Department

Sep 29 – Thank you for contacting your Member of Congress in support of passage of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valado (CA-R-21) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

As a result of your advocacy on behalf of our Navy veterans, 304 members of the House have cosponsored H.R. 299 and 43 Senators have cosponsored the companion bill S. 422.

Thank you very much.

VVA Government Relations Department

Sep 15 – Thank you for contacting your Member of Congress in support of passage of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valado (CA-R-21) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

As a result of your advocacy on behalf of our Navy veterans, on September 11, 2017, Congress received hundreds of calls and over 400 letters in support of passage of the bills, and they took notice. The house bill has 300 cosponsors and the Senate bill has 43 cosponsors.

We ask that you continue to join our Call to Action every month on behalf of our Blue Water Navy veterans. With your support, we will get this bill passed into law.

Congress can never get enough of hearing from their constituents. Go to the VVA Capwiz site at http://www.capwiz.com/vva/home/, and send the prepared message in support of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, and please follow up on your letter with a call to your representatives’ district/state offices, using the talking points for the bills.

Again, thank you very much for a job well done,

VVA Government Relations Department

Congress Heard Your Voices, 304 Member of Congress Now Support The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act

Blue Water Navy Bill Goest Before Full HVAC Committee for Markup

Nov 1 – VA Secretary Shulkin Makes Commitment on Blue Water Navy

Oct 27 – As a result of your advocacy on behalf of our Navy veterans, 314 members of the House have cosponsored H.R. 299 and 43 Senators have cosponsored the companion bill S. 422.

Sep 29 – Thank you for contacting your Member of Congress in support of passage of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valado (CA-R-21) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Sep 15 – Thank you for contacting your Member of Congress in support of passage of H.R. 299 and S.422, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valado (CA-R-21) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council 559 West Ninth Avenue Roselle, NJ 07203-2450 908-298-1588

Vietnam Veterans of America
New Jersey State Council
559 West Ninth Avenue
Roselle, NJ 07203-2450
908-298-1588