The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Legislative News
October 2009
Blinded Veterans Association is asking all of our BVA members, contacts, and friends to contact there United States Senator office today and ask them to move and vote on the floor Senate bill S 801 now. In addition to the important issue of providing support for the caregivers of our nations wounded service members and veterans, there are two other sections of this same bill that directly impact blinded veterans.
The bill contains a section that would provide scholarship funding for students in university programs with a degree as either blind instructors or Orientation and Mobility specialists in completing there degrees. In return these students would then enter into work at a VA Blind Center or VA clinic for three years helping us all in recruiting these individuals.
The second section of importance is elimination of the in-patient co-payments for those disabled veterans who are catastrophically disabled which again BVA has been working on for two years and is close to having these co-payments eliminated.
Three good reasons to call, email, and write to your two state senate members, provide help for the caregivers who take care of there family members who have returned from war severely injured, and provide the scholarship program for BROS, and remove the co-payments for severely disabled veterans who need rehabilitative services…
Wounded Warriors and Caregivers need your HELP today!
Advocacy Alert: Wounded Warriors and Caregivers need your HELP Today!
YOUR ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR SENATE TO PASS A STRONG BILL TO HELP OUR MOST SEVERELY WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) top priority is getting desperately needed legislation passed by Congress to provide critical support to family caregivers of severely wounded warriors including those with catastrophic injuries such as severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury, and others.
Over the past 4 years, WWP has listened to the needs and concerns directly from family caregivers of critically injured service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Respite care, mental health counseling, technical assistance, health care coverage and a modest stipend, can make the difference between a warrior being able to receive the care and services they need in their own homes and communities rather than in institutional or nursing home settings.
A bi-partisan bill, (S.801) is currently awaiting action in the United States Senate. This bill acknowledges and fully supports the vital role of the family caregiver for the warrior’s well-being and will provide long –term support and services for our severely wounded warriors and their family caregivers.
With your help, progress has been made but more is needed. To date, 24 Senators co-sponsored this legislation – we need all 100. This country owes it to our service members to take care of those who care for them.
You have the opportunity to help and make a life changing impact on our wounded warriors and their families.
ACTION NEEDED:
1) Contact your Senators NOW to let them know how strongly you support the Caregiver and Veterans Health Services Act of 2009 (S. 801) and its supports and stipend for family caregivers.
To do so, please call the US Capitol Switchboard, at 202-224-3121, and ask to speak with the Senator from your state.
Please call NOW or send emails to your Senator today asking them to move S 801 now, and encourage other veterans to do the same. Your grassroots action can make the difference!
Tom Zampieri
Director Government Relations BVA
Washington DC
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