November Meeting After Action,
Keeping You in the Know!
Greetings! this is a follow-up to the topics and issues discussed at our recent Chapter 10 Meeting on Saturday, November 16th. We want to ensure we keep everyone in the know. Please check out all of the information below.

As a reminder, we will not be meeting in December, however, we will have our annual Holiday Banquet on Sunday December 8th. Our next meeting is January 18, 2020.
On-Line Chapter 10 Benefits Information Series Wednesday
On Wednesday November 20th at 7 pm, Chapter 10 will continue our Online Benefits Information Series. Our Service Officers, with 55 years of experience, will be discussing "Establishing Service Connection for PTSD and Mental Health Conditions." They will discuss the 5 different ways to service connect PTSD. Please sign up and we will send you the log-in information for this on-line event via Go To Meeting. To register, Click Here ! We will send out the link on Wednesday morning.
Possible Homeless Veterans Stand-Down in Northern Virginia
Chapter 10 is coordinating with Chapter 7 Fredericksburg, Chapter 11 Alexandria, Chapter 15 Manassas, and Chapter 48 Woodbridge to plan a possible homeless veterans stand-down for September 2020. Currently, they are discussing potential locations. We will keep you posted as we will need many volunteers and Chapter 10 members to assist with committees and logistics. This would be the first homeless veterans stand-down in Northern Virginia.
Chapter 10 Annual Holiday Banquet December 8th
We want you to join us on Sunday, December 8th for Chapter 10's Annual Holiday Banquet. It will be held at American Legion Post 177, 3939 Oak St, Fairfax, VA. We will be honoring our volunteers, collecting clothing donations to the Washington DC VAMC Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand-Down, conducting a silent auction and presenting the John Maki Distinguished Service Award. Tickets are $20.00 per person or $10.00 per person if you bring a clothing donation for the Washington DC VAMC Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand-Down. To learn more and to RSVP, Click Here!  
Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand-down January 25, 2020
The Washington DC VAMC Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand-Down will be Saturday, January 25, 2020, from 8 am to 1 pm. It will be held at the Washington DC VAMC located at 50 Irving St., Washington DC, 20422. This year's stand-down is expected to serve more than 800 veterans and families. For a list of items needed for veterans at the Stand-Down, Click Here!

If you are interested in being a volunteer, Click Here! Volunteers are requested to be there from 7 am to 4 pm. The deadline for volunteer application submission is December 14, 2019.
Service Officer Report-Agent Orange Presumptive Diseases
On Friday November 15, 2019, DAV and 19 VSOs sent a letter to VA Secretary Wilkie in reference to adding the four pending diseases recommended by the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine, to the Agent Orange presumptive disease list. Some of these diseases have been pending for over three years. We call on Secretary Wilkie to end the wait by adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, “Parkinson-like symptoms” and hypertension to the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions for disability benefits immediately. To read the letter, Click Here!
BPTL Report-Veterans Legislation Passes House
Just one day after Veterans Day, the House of Representatives passed nine bipartisan bills brought to the floor. This Congress, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs has held over 30 hearings and passed 33 bills. Full list of passed legislation:
  • H.R.4625, Protect the GI Bill Act
  • H.R.4477, Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act
  • H.R. 4771, VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act
  • H.R. 4360, VA Overpayment Accountability Act
  • H.R. 4356, Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act
  • H.R. 4162, GI Bill Planning Act of 2019
  • H.R. 3996, VA Design-Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019
  • H.R. 1424, Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act
  • H.R. 3224, Deborah Sampson Act

The next step is getting these passed in the Senate. To search and review each bill by number, Click Here!
Women Veterans Committee-Deborah Sampson Act
What could be the biggest, most significant bill for women veterans so far this Congress passed out of the House Tuesday and is headed to the Senate.  H.R. 3224, the Deborah Sampson Act is an omnibus bill intended to remove barriers and improve women veterans' care and is in major part the effort of the recently-formed House Women Veterans Task Force. The Deborah Sampson Act includes measures to:
  • Provide gender-specific healthcare equipment such as mammography machines at each VA;
  • Mandate a VA-wide sexual harassment and assault policy, including training for employees;
  • Ensure women veterans' primary care is available during regular VA business hours;
  • Establish an Office of Women's Health;
  • Improve communications of women veterans' services;
  • Establish and improve care standards;
  • Provide more funding for women veteran programs;
  • Permanently authorize PTSD counseling for women veterans in retreat settings;
  • Expand eligibility for military sexual trauma counseling;
  • Provide extended care for newborns;
  • Require reporting on women veterans' services and benefits.

The Deborah Sampson Act now moves on to the Senate for a vote. To learn more about Women Veterans issues and DAV's commitment, Click Here!
Chapter Commander Tom Wendel
On behalf of Chapter 10, thank you to everyone that attended our Meeting Saturday. It was great to have so many new faces visiting Chapter 10 for the first time.

As you can tell, Chapter 10 is very committed to keeping the promise to the men and women who served. Please consider joining us on December 8th for our annual Holiday Banquet. 

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