Veterans Corner

Last week, First Lady Jill Biden announced the priorities of the recently relaunched Joining Forces initiative. The focus will be on military spouse unemployment and…

Due to the American Rescue Plan Act and other COVID-19-related legislation recently passed into law, FEMA will be able to provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related…

On Wednesday, President Biden signed into law VFW-supported H.R. 1276, Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse (SAVE LIVES)…

National Vietnam Veterans Day is a commemorative holiday in the United States which recognizes the sacrifice veterans and their families made during the Vietnam War….

On Thursday, President Biden signed into law H.R.1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This legislative package addresses the economic and health issues facing…

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Daniel Meuser (R-PA) and David Trone (D-MD) introduced legislation to improve the VA adaptive automobile…

Last Monday, House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chairwoman Elaine Luria hosted a virtual event on compensation and pension (C&P) exam delays….

Last week, VFW Post 7842 in Linesville became the second VFW Project Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ALTAS) location, allowing veterans and their families…

Last week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted 87-7 to confirm, Denis R. McDonough for the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “The VFW…

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), have released two reports, which are The Independent…

Last Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a confirmation hearing to consider Denis R. McDonough for the position of Secretary of the Department…

This month marked the beginning of the 117th Congress. The 2021 VFW Priority Goals focus on budget; health care; disability assistance and memorial affairs; education,…

Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, marked the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. The operation lasted 43 days from Jan. 17 – Feb. 28, 1991, and…

Last week, the House and Senate passed H.R. 6395, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), over a presidential veto. This law will…

The COVID-19 vaccine gives us a shot of hope for a better 2021. Who at the VA will be offered the vaccine first? The initial…

With 2020 drawing to a close, I would like to extend the warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season to all of our nation’s veterans,…

The Corona Virus, has effected every one. Especially donations that are given to the Erie VA Medical Center that come from the various organizations around…

On Tuesday, VFW National Legislative Service Director Patrick Murray testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. The hearing was held to discuss…

Last Wednesday, the final text of S.4049 the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA) was released, which includes a provision to add…

Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced VFW-supported S. 4900, the Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember…

Congressional conference committee members are deciding which provisions will remain in the final version of S.409 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year…

Last week, the Senate passed VFW-supported H.R. 8247, the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment (COMPACT) Act, which passed the House in September…

The VA National Cemetery Administration has launched a “Find A Veteran, Post A Tribute” campaign to increase awareness of the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM). VLM…

Last week, the VFW-supported H.R. 1812, the Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act, was signed into law. This law expands Vet Center counseling and related mental…

There was a full military funeral Saturday for Army PFC Harold K. Knight. Knight was born in Oil City on June 20, 1930. He enlisted…

Veterans whose VA health appointments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic can contact VA to reschedule by calling or messaging their care team. Primary…

The VA announced the reopening of in-person benefit services in select locations. Currently, 11 regional offices are open to the public. The reopening of other…

Last week, VFW National Legislative Service Director Patrick Murray testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding patient wait times and VA’s payment…

Last Wednesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing to discuss airborne hazards in the Southwest Asia theater…

On Wednesday, members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee conducted a hearing on modernizing VA’s medical supply chain and lessons…

On Thursday, VFW National Legislative Service Director Pat Murray testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the important subjects of mental health and veteran…

VA announced a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform, an electronic Virtual Assistant (e-VA), for veterans in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. The new…

VFW National Legislative Service Deputy Director Matthew Doyle participated in a virtual press conference hosted by Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA). The purpose was to urge…

Last week, the VA explained that approximately 90 percent of Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) packages are shipped to veterans by the USPS. CMOP has…

Last week, the president signed into law VFW-supported H.R. 3504, the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019. The new…

On Wednesday, the Senate passed VFW-supported S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, which would support VA…

Last week, the Senate passed S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA). This legislation includes a VFW-supported provision to add…

Hal Roesch II, of Hampton, Virginia, was installed as the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 112th national commander today during a change of command ceremony at…

A list of items needed by veterans using the Erie VA was recently released. One of the most asked for items is gas cards. Some…

Reps. Colin Allred (D-TX) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) introduced VFW-supported H.R.7443, the Veterans Claims Transparency Act. This important legislation would reinstate VA’s former policy of…

Last Wednesday, members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee and Women Veterans Task Force conducted a hearing on veterans’ access to reproductive…

VFW members of the 28th District mark your calendars for this very important district meeting. The meeting will be held at VFW Post 2006, 1045…

Last Wednesday, VFW National Legislative Service Deputy Director Matthew Doyle participated in a round-table hosted by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The purpose of the…

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it will resume in-person compensation and pension (C&P) examinations at 20 locations across the U.S. VA…

The Veterans Miracle Center Erie (VMCE) is holding a fundraising event. It is an auction because of the COVID-19 virus. This is VMCE’s way to…

Last week, the House unanimously passed three veterans bills: H.R. 6168, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020; S. 3414, Major Medical Facility Authorization Act…

Last week, VA reopened 20 medical centers as part of a three-phase timeline. The speed of the phases will depend upon the VA medical center’s…

Last Wednesday, the Senate passed S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. This legislation would designate 9-8-8 as the telephone number for…

Last week, the VFW Washington Office Executive Director B.J. Lawrence met virtually with the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) to discuss…

Victory in Europe, generally known as VE Day, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s…