The Disabled American Veterans both on a National and State level are always concerned about Legislation that will affect the lives and well being of veterans in general and especially disabled veterans. We are providing links below which will give you information that is pending with our Federal and State Governments.

http://www.dav.org/voters/index.html	http://www.mass.gov/legis/j31.htm

·         Support a realistic increase in VA disability compensation rates to improve the standard of living of disabled veterans and their families.

·         Match certain entitlements to vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits under Chapter 31 with those of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program under Chapter 33.

·         Support screening and adequate treatment for mental health care, especially post traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury.

·         Support training, counseling and financial assistance for family caregivers.

·         Support legislation to remove the prohibition against concurrent receipt of Survivor Benefit Plan payments and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

·         Support legislation to remove the prohibition against concurrent receipt of military longevity retirement pay and VA disability compensation for all affected veterans.

·         Increase the face value of Service Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (SDVI).

·         Authorize VA to revise its premium schedule for SDVI to reflect current mortality tables.

·         Support additional increases in grants for automobiles or other conveyances available to certain disabled veterans, and provide for automobile annual adjustments based upon the increase in the cost of living.

·         Provide an additional increase in the specially adapted housing grants.

·         Support the fullest possible accounting of our POW/MIAs from all wars and conflicts.

·         Extend commissary and exchange privileges to service-connected disabled veterans.

·         Extend space-available air travel aboard military aircraft to 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans.

·         Allow an extension of Vocational Rehabilitation in excess of 12-year limitation.

·         Support an expansion of POW presumptions.

·         Support legislation to repeal the prohibition against service connection for tobacco-related illnesses.  

As the legislative chairman, I cannot urge all of our members enough to continue contacting our federal legislatures to let them know that consideration and passage of these issues are imperative to those who have served and are serving this country currently.  If we can’t take care of those that are presently deserving, what type of message does that send to the next and future generations of men and women who will be called upon to serve our great nation.  Please contact me if you have any questions