The Mt Vernon Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and its 618 members are a part of the Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (JLC) which has a combined membership of over 250,000 members in the 23 veterans service organizations (VSOs) throughout the Commonwealth. The JLC is organized by Virginia statute to represent the concerns of all 786,000 veterans in Virginia.
The mission of the JLC is to provide advice and assistance to the Governor and the Department of Veterans Services on matters of concern to the veterans community, and provides a conduit of information to and from the veterans service organizations on policy and legislation, pending and enacted, as well as information on existing services.
As the voice of Virginia’s veterans, the JLC identifies issues of concern to veterans, their spouses, orphans, and dependents, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Each year, the JLC presents a list of prioritized key legislative objectives for the Governor’s consideration. So, when you ask, “what are Virginia’s veterans’ issues,” these are the top issues.
A full presentation of the JLC can be found at http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/jlc.htm.
The JLC adopted the following legislative objectives for 2008 on August 8, 2007. These are the top JLC legislative objectives for the Virginia General Assembly which convened on January 9, 2008. They are listed are listed in priority order.
1. Fully fund the Department of Veterans Services Budget and Strategic Plan as outlined in Executive Order 19.
2. Support the Virginia National Guard.
3. Establish and fund a Wounded Warrior Mental Health Care Program.
4. Modify and release approved funds for the new Virginia War Memorial Education Wing.
5. Provide authority for real estate tax relief for 100% disabled veterans.
6. Provide Tax Relief for Virginia Citizen Soldiers called to Active Duty.
7. Permit Virginia Resident Service Members to place a “Freeze: on their Credit Files.
These issues are fully discussed at http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/jlc_2008_legislative_obj.htm.
Members of the Mt. Vernon Chapter will visit delegates and senators from our local districts in the Virginia General Assembly on January 28, 2008 to seek full support for these objectives.