Observing DAV members in Las Vegas for the 2025 national convention always serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring sacrifices of those who have served. Seeing veterans—who bear the visible and invisible wounds of war—navigate the exhibit hall and seminars, engaging with and learning from one another, truly illustrates the mission of our organization.

But the convention is not just a gathering; it’s a critical platform that sets the stage for our organization’s legislative priorities, advocating on Capitol Hill and ensuring the issues most important to veterans are heard. The presence of so many service-disabled veterans from different backgrounds, branches and generations highlights the evolving needs of this community.

Our annual resolution process is the backbone of DAV’s advocacy. Resolutions are critical for making policy decisions, officially defining our positions on various issues and uniting our members in a common direction.

In 2025, over two-thirds of state departments submitted at least one resolution for consideration at the national convention. This grassroots approach ensures that DAV’s legislative priorities remain directly informed by the real-world experiences and needs of veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors. Thank you to all the departments that sent in resolutions this year and to members who served on convention committees.

This year, we adopted several powerful new resolutions aimed at expanding toxic-exposure locations; strengthening the coordination of care between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicare and Medicaid; providing vouchers or free meals at VA facilities to veterans experiencing homelessness; and expanding caregiver benefits, just to name a few.

While resolutions are adopted annually, many of DAV’s legislative priorities are long-standing. This commitment allows for sustained advocacy on complex issues that often take years to address through legislation. If you’re a DAV member unfamiliar with the resolution process, we’re here to support you and encourage you to learn how you can help. Online training is available at dav.org/about-dav/legislation/legislative-webinars, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this article. Beyond shaping policy through our resolutions, it’s vital that we continue to demonstrate our collective strength to elected officials. The simplest way to stay informed about veterans issues and to take action is through DAV CAN (Commander’s Action Network). Anyone can join at davcan.org; you don’t need to be a DAV member to participate.

The work fueled by these resolutions, amplified by the collective strength of DAV CAN, continues to underscore our unwavering commitment to those who have served. Under this powerful, unified voice, we’ll continue to drive change and keep our promise to America’s veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors.