VFW PA Post 7374

1. President Signs TRICARE Protections: The President signed into law this week H.R. 4887 (P.L. 111-159) to recognize all Defense Department TRICARE and nonappropriated fund healthcare programs as meeting minimum essential coverage standards under the new national healthcare law.  VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr. thanked the President and Congress for protecting the healthcare programs of more than 9 million beneficiaries, but said "Getting H.R. 4887 signed into law is just half the fight.  Now we need the House to pass the legislation so that all VA care provided to eligible veterans, widows and children will also be recognized and protected."  The VFW asks you to take Action today by contacting your legislators on this critical issue.  To send a message to your legislators, go to http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=14936976.  For the VFW press release, go to http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5452.

2. Mojave Desert Memorial Update: After seven months of deliberation, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court ruling to tear down a cross-shaped veterans memorial in the middle of the Mojave Desert that VFW members built in 1934 to honor the fallen of World War I.  But there's still work to be done, according to VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr.  "Their ruling was a strong step forward, but the 5-4 split decision only protects the memorial today and doesn't yet allow the congressional approved land transfer to occur or remove the plywood box that currently encases it," he said.  The Supreme Court decision sends the case back to the lower court.  To read the VFW press release, go to http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5457.  To read the ruling and justices' opinions, go to http://www.supremecourt.gov/.  The case is Salazar v. Buono.

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