2008 State Legislative Goals
Expansion of Health Care
Nursing home facilities, assisted living facilities and in-home care increases are needed to keep pace with both our aging veteran’s population and the almost quantum leap in the numbers severely disabled veterans from our most recent wars.
Homeless Veterans
There have been conflicting headlines regarding the issue of homeless veterans. Whatever the number the needs of these individuals are unique. Efforts must be made to address the chronically homeless, the hardest population to assist. However Local and state agencies that deal with homeless must be adequately trained and educated to the special needs of homeless veterans.
Veteran’s Real Property Tax Exemption:
Legislation must be passed to enhance and expand this entitlement. A program such
as the “Star Program” that impacts the tax bill on town, county and school taxes must
be enacted to help those members of society who have made extraordinary sacrifices
our nation.
Service Officers Training
There are an ever increasing number of veterans from our current wars seeking the
expertise of Service Officers. This is becoming a daunting task at all levels of
government involved in providing assistance to these veterans. The long wait for
adequate number of Service Officers. The VFW is a Veterans Service Organization.
The burden we have in funding our regional offices is equally daunting. New York
should fund these regional offices and help in the training of Veteran Service
Officers.
The Flag Amendment
This issue has been a constant part of our Legislative Agenda for several years.
To reiterate the flag is the very foundation of what we, as veterans, fought and died for.
We must protect the American Flag at all cost. We also encourage flag and patriotic
instruction in our schools, keeping God in the Pledge and further urge the state to
refrain from purchasing American Flags that are not made in the USA.
We thank the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, the NYS Senate and
Assembly, their Veterans Affairs Committees for their cooperation in the past and
ask the continued support. We ask our members to support our legislators who have
promoted our program.
The Department of New York, VFW is an active member of the NYS Council of
Veterans Organizations. We are proud to cooperate with the council in meaningful
llegislation that will benefit all veterans in New York State.
Federal Legislative Goals
VA Funding
Ensure needed funding is authorized and appropriated for the continuing operation and enhancement of the entire Veterans Health Administration.
Secure an assured funding structure to guarantee adequate dollars as well as proper planning options for VA.
Allow VA to collect and retain Medicare dollars for the treatment of non-service connected Medicare-eligible patients.
Acquire adequate funds for the Veterans Benefits Administration to help reduce the current claims backlog and improve the overall benefits claims process.
Obtain funding for expansion and maintenance of the Veterans Cemetery Administration.
Military Retirees
Ensure Congress authorized and fully appropriates funding to allow all disabled military retirees to receive both their military retirement and VA compensation.
A New GI Bill for the 21st Century
Secure authority and funding to establish a comprehensive GI Bill for the 21st Century that provides full tuition, books, fees and living expenses at any institution to which the veteran is accepted.
Military Quality of Life
Increase active-duty armed forces’ pay to equal that of their private-sector counterparts.
Obtain adequate funding to improve active-duty housing and work facilities.
Acquire full funding for the Defense Health Program to ensure that all active-duty, Guard and Reserve personnel and their dependents are provided affordable, quality health care.
Defense Readiness
Increase the strengths of each military service consistent with their long term missions to fulfill national military strategy.
Ensure an approximate match between National Guard and Reserve force strengths and equipment for their missions.
Support ongoing efforts to complete our national missile defense system.
Continue to invest in new equipment and weapons systems to retain the technological edge in the war on terrorism.