Recently, several members of the E. F. Gilmore Disabled American Veterans traveled to Washington, D.C. 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 its assistance in passing the PACT Act. He also outlined the VA’s 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. 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 Moulton the DAV Critical Goals for 2024. These goals are:
1. Correct inequities for veterans receiving compensation benefits and provide parity in benefits for survivors.
2. Ensure the faithful implementation of the PACT Act and address gaps in toxic-exposure benefits.
3. Establish equity in VA care, services, and benefits for women, LGBTQ+ and minority veterans.
4. Provide a full spectrum of long-term care options for service-disabled and aging veterans.
5. Bolster mental health resources to ensure reduction of veteran suicides.
6. Expand the VA’s capacity to deliver timely, high-quality care to veterans.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Department of Massachusetts 1st Jr. Cmdr. Andrea Gayle Bennett presented a DAV Challenge Coin to 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 Cmdr. Jeffrey Blonder at [email protected]
