Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida

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Department of Florida Veterans of Foreign
Wars Legislative Program School of
Instruction 2008 Dave Harris Commander
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(No Transcript)
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• AGENDA
• Rules of Engagement, VFW policies on political
  activity and Political Action Committee.
• Florida VFW Action Corps
• Suggestions for Post and District Legislative
  Committees.
• Knowledge is power, study the issues and VFWs
  Legislative Priorities.
• State Legislative Priorities for 2008.

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• Why have a legislative program?
• The purpose of this corporation shall be
  fraternal, patriotic,historical, charitable and
  educationalassist worthy comradesand their
  widows and children
• ( 36 USCA 230102, VFW By-Laws, Sec. 4).
• The veterans and survivors benefits we have
  today are the result of legislative activities
  conducted by posts and districts.

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• Rules of Engagement
• No officer or member of the Veterans of Foreign
  Wars of the United States shall in any manner use
  the Veterans of Foreign Wars for partisan
  politicsnor shall any nominations,
  recommendations or endorsements for political
  office be made VFW By-Laws Sec. 702
• However!!!! Participation in activities
  supporting or opposing legislation or
  administration of laws for veterans welfare or
  relating to other matters pertaining to the
  purposes of the organizations shall be
  permitted. VFW By-Laws Sec. 702. We encourage
  these activities!!!

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Rules of Engagement

• Candidates will approach you for time with your
  members. You cant open your post to one
  candidate and exclude another.
• The best solution is a Candidates Night or
  Forum.
• Publicize these events. Show the community that
  the VFW cares about the electoral process.

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Why a Political Action Committee?

• A PAC is the only legal way that the VFW can take
  an
• active role in the Federal electoral process
  through endors-
• ing candidates.
• There is fiscal firewall between the VFW and VFW
  PAC.
• The Federal Elections Commission strictly
  monitors the
• activities and contributions of PACs.
  Contributions to the PAC directly support VFWs
  Agenda!!!!
• PAC endorsements are based on the voting records
  and
• statements of candidates. The PAC educates the
  public.

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• Floridas VFW wants you to become part of the
  Departments Action Corps.
• The FLVFW Action Corps mission is to educate The
  U.S. Congress, Floridas Legislature, city and
  county official and the general public about our
  legislative agenda.

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• What is the Action Corps?
• It is the grassroots lobbying network of the Dept
  of Florida VFW and its Auxiliaries patterned
  after the National Action Corps. Shock Troops,
  QRF, Hot Issues.
• Commanders at all levels need to involve the
  Ladies and Mens Auxiliary.
• FLVFW Action Corps Members will, call, write,
  email their elected officials to educate them on
  the VFWs national, state and local legislative
  initiatives.
• The FLVFW Action Corps accomplishes its mission
  by establishing an on-going relationship with
  members of Congress, the State Legislature.

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• Why must we have an Action Corps?
• Honor the dead, by helping the living.
• This creed is the underpinning of legislative
  activism.
• It is our moral compass.
• We compete with varying vested interests in
  Washington, Tallahassee, County Court Houses and
  City Halls.
• All the effective organizations have Action Corps
  in one form or another.
• Each preceding generation of veterans have given
  succeeding generations benefits packages.

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The benefits enjoyed by veterans and their
families are are the result of years of work of
generations of VFW members. 1918-Vocation
Rehabilitation Act 1930-Creation of the Veterans
Administration 1931-World War I Bonus
Certifications 1944-GI Bill of Rights
1952-Korean War GI Bill 1962 Cold War GI
Bill 1972-Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment
Assistance Act 1984 Montgomery GI Bill
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• 1991-Agent Orange Act
• 1996-Veterans Health Care Reform Act
• 1999-Veterans Millenium Health Care Act
• 2002-Combat Related Special Compensation
• 2003-Concurrent Retired Disability Pay
• 2004-Veterans Benefits Act of 2004
• 2007-Wounded Warrior Act
• 2007-Chap 61, CRSC
• 2008-Post 9-11 GI Bill

Just as we have carried our injured comrades from
harms way and to their last resting places, we
must fight for the benefits they earned while
fighting for this great country.
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• Action Corps WorkLobbying
• Lobbying is nothing more then telling a Member of
  Congress or the Florida Legislature or staff
  member that you care about how this country and
  state treats its Warriors.

• We advocate for changes in public policy
  impacting active, reserve, military retirees and
  veterans and their families.
• We support a wide range of quality of life
  issues, e.g. health care, just compensation,
  adequate housing etc.

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• Who is the Action Corps???
• Director-Lee F. Kichen
• Assistant Directors-
• Gene Leshore, W. Benny Bachand
• Jack McDermott, Gene Manfrey, Gene Hall
• Committee-Ed Valenjevick, Harvey Eckhoff, Wayne
  Carrigan, and Tony Armbrister.
• District and Post Commanders
• 83,000 members of the VFW and the Ladies and
  Mens Auxiliaries.

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• Before Meeting the Honorable
• Study the VFWs National and State Legislative
  Priorities.
• Ask us for fact sheets and talking points, advise
  of your meeting in advance!!!
• Practice what you are going to say so you sound
  natural and comfortable with the subject
  material. You never want to come across sounding
  like you are reading from a script.
• There are no second first impressions, dress for
  success. Wear your VFW cap.

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• What to Expect in Washington, DC, Tallahassee and
  in the District Offices.
• Most offices are small unless the Member is very
  senior.
• Most office staffs are very young.
• Members of Congress, State Legislatures and local
  officials are busy.
• Leave a fact sheet.

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• Make the meeting a positive event!!!
• Use the 4Bs
• Be accurate, dont bluff, dont over sell
  yourself and your case.
• Be brief, elected officials and their staffs are
  busy.
• Be courteous.
• Be specific, dont talk around the issue.

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• Action Corpsmen and women build relationships
  with the elected officials and the staff.
• Offer the services of the VFW Legislative
  Committee as the staffers expert on veterans
  issues.
• Dont play partisan politics, the VFW is a
  non-partisan organization, we dont endorse, we
  inform and educate.
• Regardless of our own personal politics, we want
  to do what is right for service members,
  veterans, retirees and their families.

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• Action Corps Meetings with the Honorables
• Every time Congress is in recess, make an
  appointment with your local representative.
• When your Congressman is in DC or your State
  Legislator is in Tallahassee meet with local
  staffers.
• Become an invaluable aide and expert on
  veterans legislation.
• Bring coins, pins, certificates of appreciation
  and camera.

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• Follow-up, then follow-up, and, follow-up
  again!!! Lets us know what transpired!!!!
• Always conclude your meeting, phone, call letter
  and email by letting them know that youll get
  back to them.
• Vary your technique, phone, email, fax or email.
  Always convey thanks and make in personal.l
• .Make the follow-up substantive. Fact sheets are
  great ways to answer unanswered questions.
• Invite the official to a post function, town hall
  meeting or VA facility and offer to go with him.

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• Town Hall Meetings
• Politicians love ready made audiences. The
  Congressional Office will probably do the
  publicity work.
• Work with other veterans and organizations to
  sponsor Town Hall meetings with your Congressman,
  State Representative and Senator.
• Schedule them close to Memorial and Veterans
  Days. Use the Town Hall Meeting Guide on the
  Departments Web Site

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• Political Activism is a Team Sport
• A successful Action Corps is a partnership with
  the Ladies and Mens Auxiliaries
• Join with other veterans organizations and
  military associations on common issues.
• Form local Veterans Councils and Commissions.
• Every team needs a Captain, seek energetic and
  knowledgeable members to be your Action Corps,
  Legislative and PAC chairmen.

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• VFWs State Legislative Priorities
• Legislation requiring the Department of Education
  to repay student loans outstanding after a waiver
  has been granted to combat veterans if the loan
  was certified by a post secondary institution
  before receipt of combat qualifying badge or
  ribbon e.g. Army Combat Infantryman Badge or
  Combat Medic Badge or Combat Action Badge, Air
  Force Combat Action Medal or Navy/Marine Corps/
  Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon.

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VFWs State Legislative Priorities

• Legislation establishing a cash bonus for
  veterans who entered active duty from Florida and
  received the Global War on Terrorism
  Expeditionary Medal or the Iraqi Campaign Medal
  or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
• Legislation granting a tuition exemption at
  community colleges and state universities to
  honorably discharged veterans who received a
  campaign or service medal denoting service in a
  GWOT theatre of operations.
• Legislation granting equal treatment for wartime
  veterans in the state retirement system.

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VFWs State Legislative Priorities

• Legislation placing a referendum before the
  people to amend Article II of the Florida
  Constitution eliminating the requirement that the
  disabled veteran must be over age 65 and must
  have entered active duty from Florida to be
  eligible for the Combat Related Ad Valorem.
• Legislation placing a referendum before the
  people to amend Article VII of the Florida
  Constitution granting a 100 Ad Valorem tax
  exemption for members of the Armed Forces
  deployed and participating in support of the
  Global War on Terrorism.
• Legislation providing for the sale of Veterans
  Service Organization distinctive license plates
  with the proceed of sales being split between the
  VSO and FDVA.

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VFWs State Legislative Priorities
Legislation granting exemptions from the
Solicitations and Contributions Act to
Congressionally Chartered Veterans Service
Organizations. County and City Ordinances
providing preferences to DV owned businesses
seeking contracts with local entities.
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• Knowledge is Power
• Know the issues, know our priorities
• www.myfloridavfw.org/legislative_updates/Legislati
  velinks-1htm
• www.vfw.org
• www.house.gov
• www.senate.gov
• www.myflorida.com