National Adjutant Message
Barry A. Jesinoski, National Adjutant
DAV’s 2024 congressional goals and how to get involved
Our million-plus members are an engine powering transformational change. This change includes the crafting and passage of historic pieces of legislation that have empowered veterans to thrive. And while I could go on about our history of congressional achievements, DAV keeps our eyes on the horizon to uncover the challenges veterans face and opportunities to make life easier for those who put their lives on the line for our country.
This Congress, we are focused on supporting legislation on six essential areas that we hope to send to the president’s desk.
The scourge of veteran suicide must be eliminated, and DAV is concentrating our efforts on reducing this epidemic. We continue to learn more about this tragic and complex phenomenon and are pushing Congress to examine how the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide prevention efforts interact with a veteran’s benefits usage.
Additionally, we know that the majority of veteran suicides involve a firearm, and DAV calls on Congress to fully fund the VA’s lethal-means safety campaign. This campaign promotes the safe storage of guns and bolsters efforts to recruit and retain quality VA psychiatrists and psychologists.
When service members become ill or injured, the VA recognizes that their future earning potential is cut short. However, for military retirees with a 40% VA disability rating or lower, their retirement pay is offset for every dollar of disability compensation received. DAV strongly believes no veteran should have to fund their full VA compensation with any of their retirement pay, and we call on this inequitable offset to be repealed.
Although the Honoring our PACT Act is a watershed law for veterans exposed to toxic substances, more work must be done. Veterans exposed to burn pits, radiation and Agent Orange are already benefiting from the law, but not those exposed to PFAS—so-called “forever chemicals.” These veterans have waited long enough, and we’re throwing our weight behind bills to unlock VA benefits for those living with the pernicious effects of such substances.
We can be heartened that nearly all of our critical policy goals have legislation already introduced. But that’s when the real work of our membership starts. At our recent mid-winter conference, I saw DAV and Auxiliary members motivated to advocate for one another with their members of Congress. However, you don’t have to travel to Washington to have your voices heard.
Every DAV member and supporter should register for DAV CAN, our Commander’s Action Network , where you can view all of the bills we support and add your support to them by sending a message to your members of Congress, urging them to act.
No one of us is as strong as all of us, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.
If you want to find out more about the National Adjutant, you can find his biography here.