Legislative Report #1
September 17, 2007 at 11:47 AM
by NC VFW Legislative
VFW National Legislative Committee Members In ActionVFW National Legislative Committee Members from across the nation visited with members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representative September 10-12, 2007. VFW National Legislative Committee Member Elree T. Smith visited the offices of Senator Elizabeth Dole and House of Representatives members; Walter Jones (3), David Price (4), Howard Coble (6), Mike McIntrye (7), Melvin Watt (12) and Brad Miller (13). Elree met with Senator Dole, Representatives Walter Jones and David Price to present and discuss the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 2008 Legislative Priority Goals. Elree also met with the Legislative Assistant(s) or Administrative(s) Assistant responsible for veterans and military issues for Representatives Coble, McIntyre, Watt and Miller.
The Organization’s 2008 Legislative Priority Goals are:
VA Budget - The VFW calls on Congress to pass a sufficient budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs to properly care for the health care demands of all veterans, especially the thousands of young service members accessing their earned benefits for the first time. The VFW also urges Congress to pass an on-time VA Budget before the fiscal year ends on September 31, 2007.
VA Benefits and Compensation - The VFW calls on Congress to provide adequate resources to enable the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) to reduce the current backlog of claims. VBA is the gateway to all VA benefits and health care.
Education - The VFW calls on Congress to enact a compensation GI Bill for the 21st Century in the spirit of the original WWII GI Bill, covering the total cost of higher education including tuition, books, fees and living expenses for attendance at any institution. Senate Bill S.22 and House Bill HR-2702 are bills currently before Congress that will meet the VFW education goal.
Military Quality of Life - The VFW calls on Congress to fully fund all programs that enable our troops to succeed in their mission. We must ensure our active duty; guard and reserve members are provided increased pay, affordable health care and adequate housing and work facilities for themselves and their families.
The member of Congress or their staffs that Elree met with are all supportive of the VFW 2008 Priority Goals. The only concern voiced was passage of the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget before the end of the current fiscal year. Senator Dole and Representative Price indicated that because of the broad based support for the VA Budget, Congress will pass the approbations bill. The only problem will be in limiting the number of ear marks attached to the approbations legislation.
VFW members of the Department of North Carolina are encourage to establish and maintain contact with member is Congress both in Washington, DC and their home Congressional District. The best time to contact a Senator or Congressman is when they are visiting one of their local offices. Most members of Congress are in their home state each weekend. To set up an appointment with one of the local offices, consult the blue pages of you local telephone book for the office nearest to your home address. You may also contact the offices listed below. The best method to contact your local Congressional office will be by telephone. The best method to contact your Congressional office in Washington, DC is by e-mail, fax or telephone.
Senator Elizabeth Dole
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 224-6342
Fax: (202) 224-1100
Lindsey R. Neas, Military Legislative Assistant
Telephone: (202) 224-6342
Email: lindsey_neas@dole.senate.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Raleigh (919) 856-4630
Salisbury (704) 633-5011
Hendersonville (828) 698-3747
Greenville (252) 329-1093
Representative Walter Jones (3rd Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-3415
Fax: (202) 225-3286
Josh Bowlen, Legislative Director
Telephone: (202) 225-3415
Email: josh.bowlen@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Office:
Greenville (252) 931-1003
Representative David Price (4th Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-1784
Fax: (202) 225-2014
Thomas W. Ross, Jr., Legislative Assistant
Telephone: (202) 225-1784
Email: Tommy.Ross@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Raleigh (919) 859-5999
Chapel Hill (919) 967-7924
Durham (919) 688-3004
Representative Howard Coble (6th Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-3065
Fax: (202) 225-8611
John Mautz, Legislative Director
Telephone: (202) 225-3065
Email: john.mautz@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Greensboro (336) 333-5005
Asheboro (336) 626-3060
High Point (336) 886-5106
Salisbury (704) 645-8082
Graham (336) 229-0159
Representative Mike McIntyre (7th Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-2731
Fax: (202) 225-5773
Kate Fox, Staff Assistant
Telephone: (202) 225-2731
Email: kate.fox@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Fayetteville (910) 323-0260
Wilmington (910) 815-4959
Lumberton (910) 735-0610
Representative Melvin L. Watt (12th Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-1510
Fax: (202) 225-1512
Corey Little, Communications/Legislative Assistant
Telephone: (202) 225-1510
Email: Corey.Little@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Charlotte (704) 344-9950
Greensboro (336) 275-9950
Representative Brad Miller (13th Congressional District)
Washington, DC Office
Telephone: (202) 225-3032
Fax: (202) 225-0181
Michael J. Canning, Legislative Assistant
Telephone: (202) 225-3032
Email: michael.canning@mail.house.gov
North Carolina Offices:
Raleigh (919) 836-1313
Greensboro (336) 574-2909
NOTE: The Washington, DC Congressional Staff are changed from time to time. The contact names listed above may change but the job titles may remain the same.
Raymond J. Yamrus, the other member of North Carolina’s VFW National Legislative Committee Team is responsible for maintaining a close relationship with Senator Richard Burr, Representatives G. K. Butterfield (1), Bob Etheridge (2), Virginia Fox (5), Robin Hayes (8), Sue Myrick (9), Patrick McHenry (10) and Heath Shuler (11).
VFW members of the Department of North Carolina are urged to monitor legislation of interest to veterans via the VFW Washington Office web site at www.vfw.org and sign-up to receive our e-newsletter at http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.
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