Vietnam Veterans of America – Call In Alert
September 7, 2017 – Vietnam Veterans of America – Call In Alert
Passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017
H.R. 299 and S.422 on September 11, 2017 at 9:00am
Call 202-224-3121
The solidarity of our membership at all levels of Vietnam Veterans of America has been the key to our legislative victories—it is because of your actions that we have made headway in achieving any justice for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Our work is not done. We must right a 15-year wrong.
In February 2002, the DVA changed its rules, abruptly terminating benefits to the 534,300+ Blue Water U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and FMF Marine veterans, thereby limiting the scope of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to those veterans who could provide proof of “boots on the ground” in Vietnam. Without warning, in March 2002, offshore veterans stopped receiving VA health care and disability compensation.
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, H.R. 299, introduced in the House by Congressman David Valadao (CA-R-21), and companion bill S.422, introduced in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would right this wrong, and partially restore coverage to those aggrieved veterans who suffer from illnesses considered presumptive for exposure to Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides.
We must lift our voices in unison to right this wrong and demand from our leaders that our Blue Water veterans receive the care and benefits they have justly earned in defense of our Armed Forces.
Make the Call
Let your politicians know that you are watching and that you care, make the call on September 11, 2017 at 9:00 am; ask to speak to your Representatives and Senators requesting their support for passage of The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, also, thank your member if they have already signed onto the bill.
Ask your family, friends and colleagues who support this issue to join you and make the call too.
Telephone scripts for H.R. 299 and S.422
If you cannot call please go to 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
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Hodge, Deputy Director for Policy/Government Affairs in our National Office, 1-800-882-1316, Ext. 111.
Hit me back on September 11, at Shodge@vva.org and say I made the call.
Vietnam Veterans of America; A Not-for-Profit Veterans Service Organization Chartered by the United States Congress