Chairman Takano Announces 4 New VSOs that Advocate for Minority Veterans will Join this Year’s Legislative Presentations
Press Contact
Jenni Geurink (202-819-4684)
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced that four new Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) will be invited to this year’s VSO legislative presentations. Following Chairman Takano’s push, representatives from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) will join the VSO legislative presentations this year to help inform the Committee’s work to care and support all veterans—regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or housing status. See full details on the Committee’s legislative presentations starting next week here.
“This week, I announced that our Committee will prioritize creating a welcoming VA and building equity for all veterans. Our greatest chance at making progress on this goal is to ensure that VSOs that have made diversity, equity, and inclusion their top priority have a seat at the table,” said Chairman Mark Takano. “Our yearly legislative presentations provide critical insight into VSOs’ priorities and the needs of their members, but for too long, VSOs that specifically advocate for minority veterans have been excluded. As our veterans population continues to grow, with more women, LGBTQ+, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Native veterans than ever before, we have to ensure that the VSOs that advocate on their behalf are a part of the conversation. I’m so pleased that the National Congress of American Indians, the National Association for Black Veterans, Minority Veterans of America, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans will join us this year and share their invaluable perspectives. This is a small first step towards truly building equity, but a crucial one as the Committee reaffirms its commitment to addressing inequities across VA. All veterans should know they have a place at VA and feel safe and welcomed walking through its doors.”
More details below:
WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021
JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE VSO LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION — FULLY VIRTUAL
“Legislative Presentation of DAV and Multi-VSOs”
First Panel: Disabled American Veterans
Second Panel: Multi-VSOs – Student Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, Military Officers Association of America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Minority Veterans of America, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
10:00 AM EST; YouTube, Facebook
THURSDAY, March 4, 2021
JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE VSO LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION — FULLY VIRTUAL
“Legislative Presentation of TAL and Multi-VSOs”
First Panel: The American Legion
Second Panel: Multi-VSOs – Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Wounded Warriors Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
10:00 AM EST; YouTube, Facebook
THURSDAY, March 18, 2021
JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE VSO LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION — FULLY VIRTUAL
“Legislative Presentation of VFW and Multi-VSOs”
First Panel: Veterans of Foreign Wars
Second Panel: Multi-VSOs – American Veterans, Fleet Reserve Association, Gold Star Wives, National Congress of American Indians, National Association for Black Veterans
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