GARDEN GROVE, CA – As founder and president of Veterans-For-Change, an advocacy group for Veterans rights, benefits, and treatment, my co-members and I continually bring to the attention of all 535 members of Congress the more serious problems affecting veterans and their families every day.
President Barack Obama addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona on August 17, 2009. He stated “Whether you left the service in 2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits and care that you earned. That’s why I’ve pledged to build nothing less than a 21st-century VA.”
Perhaps they’re still not aware or care about the problems affiliated with the VA and Veterans Benefits. Veterans-For-Change has addressed the following problems/issues in their current letters.
TCE/PCE and other Chemical Contaminants on Military bases:
For months now there have been media outlets such as CNN, Salem News, VT and countless local newspapers in each region of our nation telling stories of active duty military, veterans and their families all being diagnosed with many unexplained illnesses.
Studies have shown, and evidence presented by several sources showing TCE (chemical degreaser) and PCE (chemical dry cleaning solution) have been used on almost [if not all] military bases throughout the Continental United States dating back to the mid 1950’s and disposed by simply dumping waste into the grounds. Both chemicals are carcinogens.
Most recently TCE has been heavily addressed surrounding the Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune, North Carolina where there was a Male Breast Cancer Cluster. According to a recent report, Camp LeJeune is where at least 40 men reported a cancer cluster in this location, all related to exposure at Camp LeJeune, according to the St. Petersburg Times. According to the report published, “A Marine Corps spokesman declined to comment on the cancer cluster, saying epidemiologists were better qualified, but the spokesman noted the Marine Corps had spent approximately 14.5 million on research initiatives regarding health issues…” Perhaps it would be of interest to you to get to the bottom of this so our military will be better protected, able to fight wars, and our Veterans will live a healthier life, proud of their military service and the actions they took to preserve and protect the freedom of American citizens, such as yourself.
Tests have proven the drinking water not only on this base but other bases were contaminated thus contaminating military and their families as well as civilian personnel who worked on the bases.
Clear Cell Carcinoma, liver & kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer in men and women, children with Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma are just some of the illnesses veterans and their families suffer from exposure to these contaminants. Many of these cancers, such as esophageal cancer are terminal, with only a 5% survival rate!
Veterans-For-Change has drafted a bill and we are actively gathering petition signatures to get any member of Congress to sign and present to the floor for a vote, passage and give the benefits to these families who are so desperately in need!
Veterans-For-Change would like to know, will you be the one who steps up to the plate and will sign and present this bill?
Dental Health:
Dental Health Care for all veterans is a major concern. Sometimes taking months to get an appointment, or VAMC’s not even having facilities to care and meet their needs or the needs of their dependent children.
Countless thousands of veterans and their dependent children often go without proper dental care and treatment for lack of services provided at a VAMC or lack of funds to pay for privately. As you probably know, healthy dental care is crucial for a healthy body and a healthy lifestyle. Many Veterans who do not have medical coverage, or cannot afford the dental health checkups will have their health deteriorate, all because of the lack of medical coverage for dental health.
You as a member of Congress can change this! You can draft legislation to correct this problem and help not only your veteran constituents, but also veterans nationwide.
Veterans-For-Change would like to know what we can do to help you make these decisions?
Agent Orange Korean Vets & CONUS:
Every day, thousands of veterans who served in Korea, on the DMZ, and CONUS are denied benefits they should be entitled to for exposure to dioxin’s from Agent Orange.
In both S.E. Asia and CONUS Agent Orange was used as a defoliant. In S.E. Asia to protect our troops and prevent the enemy from hiding in the foliage to kill many more of our fighting men and women.
In the CONUS was used to keep surroundings of various military buildings free from unwanted vegetation growth and keep it clean and neat looking.
Veterans who served in Korea and on the DMZ are being denied benefits due to erroneous reports there is a “shelf life” of Agent Orange Dioxin’s which if were true then why are we in Viet Nam helping the Vietnamese government to clean up the land that was contaminated some 40 years ago.
Many are also denied as the missions they served on were and still to this day remain classified by the DoD even though former President Clinton signed executive order 13292 on March 28, 2003 directing classified missions beyond 25 years be declassified. As an advocacy group for Veterans-For-Change, it is our mission to broadcast and inform all veterans about their rights concerning Agent Orange, regardless of when and where the military veteran was exposed. You, the legislators of our proud, and courage country owe a debt of gratitude and benefits and care to our veterans. Please take a stand and help us to provide the best care for our veterans. Take action today!
Veterans-For-Change expects members of Congress to uphold the promises of decades to care for those who fought to defend our Country, draft, sign, and present legislation to correct this wrong of more than 40 years.
President Obama has said: “We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America, a commitment that begins with enlistment and must never end.”
If our nation rescinds its promises and ignores its obligation to those who have fought to preserve freedom throughout the world, we compromise the right to ask our men and women to serve and defend our national principals. The choice is theirs!
Jim Davis is the son of USMC MGySgt. Lesley Davis (Ret.) who passed away on April 24, 2006, from ALS caused by Agent Orange. His dad’s mission before he passed on was to ensure all veterans, spouses, children, and widows all received the benefits, medical care and attention, and proper facilities from the VA.
Because of the promise made to his dad to carry on the mission, in May 2006 Davis began as a one-man show sending out 535 letters every single week to all members of Congress requesting and politely demanding the fulfill their promises made over the past decades to care for life those who wore the uniform and their families.
Veterans-For-Change was born in August 2006 with a very small membership of 25 people composed of veterans, spouses, widows, family members, and friends and to date continues to grow.
ATTENTION READERS
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