VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento testified before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The VFW delivered its top legislative priorities of cracking down on predatory claims companies, improving VA benefits data sharing for suicide prevention, including accredited claims representatives in transition assistance programs, and removing offsets from concurrent receipt policies. Sarmiento stated the VFW strongly supports the GUARD VA Benefits Act to reinstate penalties for charging veterans unauthorized fees for submitting VA claims, and explained that claim sharks are spending millions of dollars to lobby against this bill, which is stalling a federal fix. “It’s distasteful that these claim sharks take money from veterans. But it’s disgusting that they take money from survivors,” Sarmiento said.
Major Richard Star Act Press Conference
VFW Department of Montana Adjutant/Quartermaster Tim Peters spoke at a press conference on H.R. 1282/S. 344, Major Richard Star Act, alongside Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tonya Star, the widow of Major Richard Star, and other veteran advocates. “Our veterans cannot afford to continue losing their full earned military retirement pay because Congress insists on saving money at their expense,” said Peters. “It is time to stop talking about this bill and get it done!” With consistent and overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support, this legislation would permit combat injured and medically retired veterans with less than 20 years of service to receive their full earned retirement pay and disability compensation without reduction.
Representative Levin Receives VFW Congressional Award
The VFW presented its 2024 Congressional Award to Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) for his outstanding service and years of unwavering support of veterans, service members, their families and survivors. “I am honored to present this award to such a staunch advocate for our military and veteran communities,” said VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento. “Representative Levin exemplifies the values of service and advocacy that we at the VFW strive to live every day. His propensity for and track record of working across the aisle to deliver results is remarkable.” Levin is a staunch proponent of the GUARD VA Benefits Act that would protect veterans by eliminating predatory claims practices, which is one of the VFW’s top legislative priorities.
VFW Department of New Jersey Accepts Award
The VFW presented its 2023-24 National Legislative Service Award to VFW Department of New Jersey. The criteria for the award includes quality reporting of legislative activity, advocacy actions taken and resulting accomplishments. The department was instrumental in the passage of a state law that makes it a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act for individuals to receive unlawful compensation for advising or assisting with veterans’ benefits. This legislation safeguards veterans from fraud and claim sharks. VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento presented the award to National Legislative Committee members Bill Thomson and Luddie Austin who accepted the award on behalf of the Department of New Jersey.
Career Fair
Erie Veterans Career Fair will be held Friday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Intermodal Building, 208 East Bayfront Parkway, in Erie. Register by emailing Stephen Craker at crakers@vlpwpa.org. Acquisition teams from Erie County, Interim health care and National Fuel, among others, will be attending.
POW/MIA Update
Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Lawrence J. Overley, 21, of Los Angeles, California, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. He will be buried on March 27, 2024, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Honolulu, Hawaii.*Army Pvt. James B. McCartney, 22, of Ridgeway, Colorado, was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action on March 1, 1945. He will be buried on March 30, 2024, in Bakersfield, California.
Till next week, praying for all veterans.
– Charles Castelluccio
