Recently several members of the E. F. Gilmore DAV traveled to Washington, DC to attend the DAV mid-winter conference. This annual event brings close to 1,000 DAV members from across the country for a series of seminars and workshops to improve their delivery of services to veterans in their community. The highlight of the conference was the appearance of VA Secretary Denis R. McDonough, who thanked the DAV for their assistance in passing the PACT ACT. He also outlined the VA goals for 2024 and beyond.
The members of the E. F. Gilmore also heard from the Legislation Committee on upcoming legislation affecting veterans. On Monday members of the DAV traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators. The members of the E. F. Gilmore DAV met with Congressman Seth Moulton. Congressman Moulton thanked the members for their commitment to the veterans of Swampscott and Lynn He also thanked them for their commitment to veterans’ mental health. The members presented Congressman Moulton the DAV Critical Goals for 2024.
These goals are:
- Correct inequities for veterans receiving compensation benefits and provide parity in benefits for survivors.
- Ensure the faithful implementation of the PACT Act and address gaps in toxic-exposure benefits.
- Establish equity in VA care, services and benefits for women, LGBTQ+ and minority veterans
- Provide a full spectrum of long-term care options for service-disabled and aging veterans
- Bolster mental health resources to ensure reduction of veteran suicides
- Expand the VA’s capacity to deliver timely, high-quality care to veterans
At the conclusion of the meeting Department of Massachusetts 1st Jr. Commander, Andrea Gayle Bennett presented a DAV Challenge Coin to Representative Moulton in appreciation of all he has done for the veterans of Essex County
Any Swampscott veteran or survivor needing assistance can contact E. F. Gilmore DAV Commander Jeffrey Blonder at e_f_gilmore_dav_chapter64@yahoo.com.
PICTURED ABOVE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bob Lennon, Andrea Gayle-Bennett, Congressman Seth Moulton, Jeffrey Blonder, Cindy Blonder
The above information was submitted to us by E. F. Gilmore DAV.
If you have a news story that you would like to share, please contact us via email or call 781-780-9460.
LCTV News | May 17, 2024 – Full broadcast
This week on LCTV News we cover some of the big headlines of the past week including the graduation...