Veterans' Legislation: What's Pending?
Attendees: NC Larry Schulman NY; Jerry Alperstein NY; PNC Bernie Becker MA; Mel Brody SW; PNC Warren S. Dolny NY; Jesse Gersten SW; Joe Kraut SE; Greg Lee CA; PNC Norman Rosenshein; Richard Rosenzweig DC; Tom Shaw MN; Sidney Wolff MO
Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; Larry Richardson; Mrs. Bailor; Cheryl Waldman
Subject: Veterans' Legislation: What's Pending?
- JWV works with other veterans' groups to support legislation
- Very little legislation besides changes in naming veterans' facilities has been passed
- Legislators seem more interested in attacking each other than passing legislation
- Some legislation has passed the House but can't get through the Senate
- NED Rosenbleeth and representatives of other VSO's met recently with House Veterans Committee Chairman Bob Filner to discuss Dole-Shalala report
- Most VSO's, including JWV, are concerned about provisions in Dole-Shalala giving more benefits to veterans of current wars than previous wars
- Important not to create two classes of veterans
- JWV is working with Commission on the Future for American Veterans, but work of the Commission seems to have stalled
- NC Schulman will testify on JWV legislative priorities on Thursday, March 6, 2008, before Joint Veterans Affairs Committees
- There is currently no proposed legislation for mandatory funding before Congress, but JWV members can never give up the fight
- Importance greater than ever of meeting with Representatives on Capitol Hill Action Day, March 5-6, 2008, and pushing for JWV legislative priorities
- NC Schulman attended local hearing on VA issues convened by Rep. John Hall (D-NY); JWV members should attend any local hearings in their area
- Possible march of Muslims in Detroit area against Jews was discussed; Department of MI was contacted subsequent to teleconference and assured JWV National Headquarters that story has no basis in fact
- PNC Paul Bernstein is scheduled to testify before Senate Homeland Security Committee on ways to combat terrorism in late January
