The national commander of the country’s largest and oldest major combat veterans organization is asking his 2 million members and all their friends and families to urge their elected officials to not break faith with the nation’s military and veterans’ communities.

The VFW national commander’s call to action is the result of three letters sent last Friday by the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee and both House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The letters support or suggest possible ways to eliminate or reduce quality of life programs and benefits in order to avoid more drastic budget cuts should a deficit reduction deal fail to pass by Thanksgiving Day.

The joint VA committee letter was short on specifics, since the four signers believe existing laws exempt all VA programs from sequestration — forced reductions without discussion or modification — but they did provide an eight-page summary of cost-saving acts that Congress considered in the past to reduce, modify or extend VA programs ranging from disability compensation to educational assistance. Another attachment was a one-page list of current proposals to tighten income verification requirements, slow GI Bill tuition expenditures, reaffirm VA pensions to significantly disabled veterans, and round down annual cost of living adjustments to the nearest dollar, while delaying payment for one month.

The president also wants to increase pharmacy copayments for military dependents and retirees of all ages, but both senators suggested the proposal needs further DOD review.

To read more, visit http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/VFW-Call-to-Action

Click here to contact your legislators: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=54813711