Posted on Jul 23, 2016
Trump and Clinton to discuss VA reform at VFW convention
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In between political conventions, both major party presidential candidates will appear at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention next week to discuss their campaigns and priorities for Veterans Affairs reform if they become commander in chief.
The event, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, is expected to bring together almost 12,000 veteran leaders of the group from around the country. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak Monday morning, while Republican nominee Donald Trump will speak on Tuesday.
In a statement, VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki Jr. called the appearances a chance to advance the national political conversation on military and veterans issues.
“What we hope to hear from both candidates is how they will fight our enemies while keeping America safe through strong national defense and homeland security programs,” he said.
“We also want to know how they will create, enhance and protect veteran and military health care programs and quality-of-life initiatives, such as educational benefits, job training and employment programs, as well as hear a renewed commitment to return our fallen from their battlefields.”
The VFW convention has become a regular stop for presidential candidates during their national campaigns. In 2012, both President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney visited the event, with Obama discussing his administration’s veterans outreach programs and Romney focusing largely on national security issues.
Veterans have become a major friction point for Trump and Clinton in this year’s race, with both sides arguing over patient access to non-VA medical care. Republicans have pushed for a massive expansion of those choices, while Democrats have accused them of trying to privatize the VA system.
Trump mentioned his veterans proposals during his acceptance speech at the Republican convention in Cleveland on Thursday. The Democratic convention begins in Philadelphia on Monday, with Clinton expected to deliver her acceptance speech Thursday.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at [login to see] .
The event, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, is expected to bring together almost 12,000 veteran leaders of the group from around the country. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak Monday morning, while Republican nominee Donald Trump will speak on Tuesday.
In a statement, VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki Jr. called the appearances a chance to advance the national political conversation on military and veterans issues.
“What we hope to hear from both candidates is how they will fight our enemies while keeping America safe through strong national defense and homeland security programs,” he said.
“We also want to know how they will create, enhance and protect veteran and military health care programs and quality-of-life initiatives, such as educational benefits, job training and employment programs, as well as hear a renewed commitment to return our fallen from their battlefields.”
The VFW convention has become a regular stop for presidential candidates during their national campaigns. In 2012, both President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney visited the event, with Obama discussing his administration’s veterans outreach programs and Romney focusing largely on national security issues.
Veterans have become a major friction point for Trump and Clinton in this year’s race, with both sides arguing over patient access to non-VA medical care. Republicans have pushed for a massive expansion of those choices, while Democrats have accused them of trying to privatize the VA system.
Trump mentioned his veterans proposals during his acceptance speech at the Republican convention in Cleveland on Thursday. The Democratic convention begins in Philadelphia on Monday, with Clinton expected to deliver her acceptance speech Thursday.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at [login to see] .
Trump and Clinton to discuss VA reform at VFW convention
Posted from armytimes.com
Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
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That is interesting news SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL.
It is interesting that there apparently are "12,000 veteran leaders."
I hope that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will present high-level plans, objectives and what they see as the way ahead for support to veterans. Donald Trump alluded to a ten-point plan in his acceptance speech. Here is his 10-pont plan:
1. Appoint a Secretary of Veterans Affairs who will make it his or her personal mission to clean up the VA.
2. Use every lawful authority to remove and discipline federal employees or managers who fail our Veterans or breach the public trust.
3. Ask Congress to pass legislation that ensures the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has the authority to remove or discipline any employee who risks the health, safety or well-being of any veteran.
4. Appoint a commission to investigate all the wrongdoing at the VA and then present those findings to Congress as the basis for bold legislative reform.
5. Make sure the honest and dedicated people in the VA have their jobs protected, and are put in line for promotions.
6. Create a private White House Hotline—that is answered by a real person 24 hours a day—to ensure that no valid complaint about VA wrongdoing falls through the cracks.
7. Stop giving bonuses to people for wasting money, and start giving bonuses to people for improving service, saving lives and cutting waste.
8. Reform our visa programs to ensure American Veterans are in the front, not back, of the line.
9. Increase the number of mental health care professionals, and increase outreach to Veterans outside of the system.
10. Ensure every Veteran in America has the choice to seek care at the VA, or to seek private medical care paid for by our government.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. COL Jean (John) F. B. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 Charlie Poulton CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert Hawks SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SPC (Join to see)
It is interesting that there apparently are "12,000 veteran leaders."
I hope that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will present high-level plans, objectives and what they see as the way ahead for support to veterans. Donald Trump alluded to a ten-point plan in his acceptance speech. Here is his 10-pont plan:
1. Appoint a Secretary of Veterans Affairs who will make it his or her personal mission to clean up the VA.
2. Use every lawful authority to remove and discipline federal employees or managers who fail our Veterans or breach the public trust.
3. Ask Congress to pass legislation that ensures the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has the authority to remove or discipline any employee who risks the health, safety or well-being of any veteran.
4. Appoint a commission to investigate all the wrongdoing at the VA and then present those findings to Congress as the basis for bold legislative reform.
5. Make sure the honest and dedicated people in the VA have their jobs protected, and are put in line for promotions.
6. Create a private White House Hotline—that is answered by a real person 24 hours a day—to ensure that no valid complaint about VA wrongdoing falls through the cracks.
7. Stop giving bonuses to people for wasting money, and start giving bonuses to people for improving service, saving lives and cutting waste.
8. Reform our visa programs to ensure American Veterans are in the front, not back, of the line.
9. Increase the number of mental health care professionals, and increase outreach to Veterans outside of the system.
10. Ensure every Veteran in America has the choice to seek care at the VA, or to seek private medical care paid for by our government.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. COL Jean (John) F. B. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 Charlie Poulton CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert Hawks SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SPC (Join to see)
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