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FOXX HOSTS FIRST VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS

Winston-Salem, NC, August 10, 2005
Military veteran leaders from 12 counties in Northwest North Carolina came together today for the first set of Fifth District Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) meetings hosted by U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Auth
202-225-2071

Military veteran leaders from 12 counties in Northwest North Carolina came together today for the first set of Fifth District Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) meetings hosted by U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5).

Rep. Foxx created the advisory council to facilitate communication between her office and the veteran community in the Fifth District. The VAC will meet with Rep. Foxx periodically to discuss important issues facing veterans. The council is made up of veteran service officers and representatives of all of the veterans’ organizations in the Fifth District.

“Once of our most solemn responsibilities as a nation is to take care of our veterans,” said Rep. Foxx. “The Veterans Advisory Council will help me keep the lines of communication open with the veterans in the Fifth District.”

The VAC discussed a number of topics at today’s meetings including access to health care and benefits. “The information and advice I received today will be invaluable as I go back to work in Washington,” said Rep. Foxx.

During the meetings, Rep. Foxx discussed the steps she is taking to help veterans. She noted that she is either supporting or co-sponsoring several bills including:

  • H.R. 303 to provide for all military retirees, not just those 50 percent disabled
  • H.R. 1366 to expand eligibility for combat-related special compensation to permit certain additional retired members who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the DVA for that disability and combat-related special compensation by reason of that disability
  • H.R. 783 to lower the retirement age for National Guard and Reserve members from 60 to 55.
  • H.R. 808 to repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as dependency and indemnity compensation
  • H.R. 968 to change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan from October 1, 2008 to October 1, 2005
  • H.R. 602 to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services instead of turning them over to Medicare

“Our veterans risked their lives to protect the freedoms we all cherish. Thus, I am absolutely committed to ensuring they receive the benefits they rightfully earned and look forward to our future advisory council meetings,” said Rep. Foxx.

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