New York State Council

January 8, 2021

Please note, once proposed legislation has been signed into law, the Executive Branch is responsible for implementing it. VVA will work with Congress and the Department of Veteran Affairs to ensure that these new bills are fully implemented.

On January 1, 2021, H.R. 6395--the FY 2021 NDAA, containing the Tester/Harder Amendment—was passed into law. At long last, Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange who have been diagnosed with Parkinsonism, Bladder cancer, and/or Hypothyroidism will be deemed service-connected and be eligible for healthcare and compensation:

Title XCI—Veterans Affairs Matters, Section 9109 reads as follows: Additional Diseases Associated with Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents for Which There is a Presumption of Service Connection for Veterans Who Served in the Republic of Vietnam. Section 1116(a) (2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2020

No. 20-12

Contact:
Mokie Pratt Porter
301-996-0901

VVA Calls for VA Secretary Wilkie to Step Down Over of Handling Sexual Assault

(Washington, D.C.) "In light of the recent findings of the government audit regarding the handling of an incident in which a veteran was sexually assaulted, Vietnam Veterans of America calls upon VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to step down immediately,” said VVA National President John Rowan.

The audit’s findings showed that Sec. Wilkie repeatedly sought to discredit Andrea Goldstein, who was assaulted by

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2020

No. 20-10

Contact:
Mokie Pratt Porter
301-996-0901

VVA Responds to Ft. Hood Independent Review Committee Report

(Washington, D.C.) "We, the women veterans of Vietnam Veterans of America, read with deep disappointment and ire, the recent 'Ft. Hood Independent Review Committee Report,' directed at sexual assault, sexual harassment, and high crimes in the aftermath of the murder of Vanessa Guillen," said Kate O'Hare Palmer, chair of the VVA Women Veterans Committee. "We have read reports like this for the past forty years. This is not new information. Military Sexual Trauma and Sexual Harassment are not treated as crimes and adjudicated at full force within the military. There are no consequences, no accountability, and no laws that are enacted and