VFW Priority Goals 2007
The VFW's legislative initiatives center on quality of life and health initiatives for all the nation's veterans, past and
present. The list below details the VFW's 2007 legislative goals:
VA Budget
Ensure full, timely funding for VA health care to meet the growing demand for services, particularly as more vets
return from overseas.
Establish a new funding mechanism that matches dollars with demand and arrives on time, unimpeded by political
conflict.
VA Benefits and Compensation
Ensure that the VA disability compensation program is preserved in its current form to protect the needs of current
and future veterans.
Oppose any change to current definitions of "line of duty" "programs for disability and survivors benefits."
Oppose fee-for-service attorneys at the initial level of claim processing.
Education
Secure authority and full funding for a GI Bill for the 21st century that covers the full cost tuition, fees and living
expenses for attendance at any educational institution for which the veteran is eligible.
Military Retirees
Ensure that Congress authorizes and fully funds a law that allows all disabled military retirees to immediately receive
their full military retirement pay and full disability compensation without offset.
Veterans employment
Oppose attempts to reduce or circumvent veterans preference in government hiring.
Support an effective and efficient Veterans Employment and Training Service.
Urge national standardization of licensing and certification.
Support programs that ensure National Guard and Reserve members and their families have access to education and
training to provide opportunities in the occupation of their choice.
Support reauthorization and full funding for the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act program.
Support expansion of the Defense Department’s Pre-separation Counseling and the Labor Department’s Transition
Assistance Program.
Homeless Veterans
Fully fund all homeless vet programs and enhance community-based efforts.
Require that federally funded homeless vet programs offer a full continuum of services, including outreach, medical
rehabilitation services, sheltered transitional housing and employment assistance.
War on Terrorism/Homeland Security
Support U.S. troops fighting the Iraq War.
Call for increased resources to fight and win the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Support U.S. government efforts to take decisive and offensive action in the global war on terror.
Secure U.S. borders, shorelines and all ports of entry.
Halt the flow of illegal immigration.
Defense/Foreign Affairs
Increase defense spending to fund all needed weapons’ programs, personnel initiatives and troop end-strength
requirements.
Urge the continued development of a ballistic missile defense system.
Monitor the activities and halt the development and/or proliferation of nuclear weapons or materiel by North Korea.
Secure Europe through the continued expansion of NATO.
Military Affairs
Seek to improve the quality of life for all active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members and their families.
Increase military base pay to equal that of private-sector workers.
Provide affordable health insurance coverage for all members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Support efforts to lower National Guard and Reserve retirement pay age to 55.
POWs/MIAs
Achieve the fullest possible accounting of all U.S. POWs/MIAs from all wars.
Ensure the U.S. government keeps the POW/MIA issue elevated as a national priority.
Urge the President and Congress to fully fund the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command through a dedicated single-
line item appropriation in the Defense Department budget.
Support all POW/MIA public awareness initiatives.