Our Congressional Delegation is reaching out to our Veteran community and requesting that if anyone feels that their experiences with the VA healthcare and benefits have been negatively affected by the firings within the VA system, to let them know. Of course, it is hard to know what might have caused your experiences but if you have any thoughts about what is happening, they want to know. Senators Collins and King, as well as Congresswoman Pingree and Congressman Golden have been very proactive on this issue with the Administration.  All of them have issued press releases that address the actions they have taken and are taking. I encourage you to go to their websites and read them.  

On the bright side, there are over 150 bills that have been introduced thus far in the 119th Congress that have been assigned to the House or Senate Armed Services or Veterans Affairs Committees.  Why is this the “bright side?”  Well, the vast majority of them are sponsored by both the Republicans and the Democrats. Seems like within the House and Senate office buildings around the Capital Building, there is bi-partisan cooperation. Of course introducing a bill is only the first step and the road to the President’s desk is a long one. Very few of them actually make it.  But, we have good news on the Committee Front as well!  Senator King is on both the Senate Armed Services and the Veteran Affairs Committees. Once a bill navigates its way through the Committees they are assigned to, they have to be approved by the full House and Senate. Once that happens, since House version and the Senate version will differ, they have to be negotiated. If it is a large bill or has requires funding, and assuming that both the House and the Senate have agreed, then it goes to Appropriations where the bill that the House and the Senate have “Authorized” will get funded ... or not. So, more good news, Senator Collins is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Congresswomen Pingree is on the House Appropriations Committee!   So, our ninth least-populous state has a very powerful voice in Washington. It is important that we let our delegation know how we feel!  On April 9, I will be meeting with our Delegation in Washington representing Maine’s Military Officer’s Association (MOAA) at the annual “Advocacy in Action” event. This is another opportunity for me to get your thoughts directly to our delegation.My message is, complaining to family, friends or anyone who listen,won’t make things happen. Write them down and send them to the delegation, orsend to me and I will. 

Vietnam era veterans,don’t forget SSG Travis Mills USA (Ret) Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Breakfast on Wednesday, March 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. And then on Friday, March 28 at 1 p.m., the annual Vietnam Veteran Recognition Ceremony at the Capital in the Hall of Flags.