VFW Advocacy

1. VFW Action Alert: Tell Congress - Protect veterans' benefits, Pass the Major Richard Star Act

   Protect Veterans' Benefits. Pass the Major Richard Star Act.

   On November 9-10, VFW and VFW Auxiliary advocates will be on Capitol Hill fighting for veterans' earned benefits. Americans across the country can stand with them by sending a message directly to Congress.

   Congress has two important decisions to make: protect future veterans from cuts to VA disability compensation and pass legislation to help combat-injured military retirees receive the full benefits they earned.

   Tell Congress to vote NO on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) and

   YES to pass the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act.

   Stop Cuts to Veterans' Disability Benefits

   The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) includes provisions that would help veterans. But Section 108 would change how VA rates certain disabilities, including tinnitus and sleep apnea, resulting in lower disability compensation for some future veterans.

   These cuts would help pay for other provisions in the bill. But Section 108 goes further by putting changes to disability ratings into law instead of allowing VA to make those changes through its normal process. That would make the changes harder to reverse, even if new evidence shows they should be reconsidered.

   It could also set a precedent for Congress to cut compensation for other service-connected disabilities in the future simply to save money.

   Veterans who already receive compensation would be protected from reductions under this provision, but future veterans could receive less for the same disabilities.

   The benefits of the other provisions do not outweigh the long-term consequences of Section 108. Congress should not improve benefits for some veterans by cutting benefits for others.

   Pass the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act

   Under current law, some service members who are medically retired because of combat-related injuries cannot receive their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation at the same time.

   The stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act would change that, allowing eligible combat-injured military retirees to receive both benefits without having their retirement pay reduced.

   These veterans should not have to give up one earned benefit to receive another.

   Make Your Voice Heard

   As Veterans Day approaches and the 119th Congress draws to a close, make sure your members of Congress know where you stand.

   Tell your members of Congress to:

   Vote NO on TCAVA because Section 108 would cut disability compensation for some future veterans, make those changes harder to reverse, and set a concerning precedent for future cuts.

   Vote YES on the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Actto help combat-injured military retirees receive their full earned benefits.

   Honor the Contract.

   Send a message to your elected representatives here.

2. VFW Petition: Make Your Voice Heard

   Add your name to the VFW's Honor the Contract petition and stand with America's veterans.

   On November 9-10, VFW and VFW Auxiliary advocates from across the country will head to Capitol Hill, carrying the voices of Americans who believe our nation must keep its promises to those who served.

   Sign the petition today. Your name will be counted among those VFW advocates bring to Congress.

   As Veterans Day approaches and the 119th Congress draws to a close, time is running out for Congress to act.

   The VFW is calling on Congress to:
   
   Vote NO on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA)because Section 108 would cut VA disability compensation for future disabled veterans.

   Vote YES to pass the standalone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act.

   Congress should be correcting past injustices, not creating new ones.

   You can't honor today's veterans by taking from tomorrow's.

   Every signature strengthens the record of public support VFW advocates will present to congressional offices. After signing, please share the petition with your family, friends, coworkers, and community. Americans don't have to wear the uniform to care about how our nation treats those who do.

   Click here to sign the petition to stand with veterans and make your voice heard.

3. Newest VFW-SVA Fellowship Participants Announced

   WASHINGTON -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Student Veterans of America (SVA) are proud to name the selectees for the 2026-2027 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program. Through the nearly semester-long experience, cohort members will be equipped with leadership and advocacy training, which they will apply to a federal policy issue impacting student veterans.

   "Leading as a veteran comes in many forms, and mentoring fellow veterans in advocacy can be a powerful way for them to realize their leadership potential outside the military," said VFW National Commander Cory Geisler. "Through the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program, student veterans learn to take a policy issue and lead the development and execution of an advocacy campaign that reaches not only their home community but the halls of Congress. I couldn't be more excited for this year's fellows, and I look forward to meeting and congratulating each of them in March."

   The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship is an immersive experience wherein fellows receive advocacy training and mentorship from each organization's professional staff, create community outreach plans and actively engage community and national leaders on a policy priority of mutual interest for the VFW and SVA. To qualify for the fellowship, student veterans must be a VFW member, be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university program, write an essay conveying the importance of veteran advocacy, submit a video detailing why they are a good fit for the program, and complete an interview.

   "The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship continues to demonstrate the incredible potential of student veterans to shape the policies that impact their communities," said SVA President and Chief Executive Officer Cory Boatwright. "As we welcome the 2026-2027 cohort, we are excited to see these exceptional individuals bring their unique experiences, perspectives and commitment to service into the policymaking process. Through mentorship, hands-on advocacy and direct engagement with lawmakers, these fellows will develop the skills, relationships and confidence to become effective advocates for veterans and military-connected students. Together with the VFW, we are proud to invest in the next generation of leaders who will ensure the voices of those who have served continue to be heard and represented in the halls of Congress and beyond."

   Each fellowship class is comprised of six veterans. The 2026-2027 selectees are:

   • Andres Ruiz Grijalva, Marine Corps veteran, Princeton University
   • Raymond Eberle, Air Force veteran, University of Southern California
   • Shaun Paris, Army veteran, Dartmouth College
   • Joshua Missouri, Army veteran, Northwestern University
   • Anna Guerrero, Army veteran, Florida International University
   • Sheryl Torres, Air Force veteran, California Baptist University

   Fellows will attend the 19th annual SVA National Conference (NatCon) in Grapevine, Texas, Jan. 4 - 6, 2027, before traveling to Washington, D.C., for the VFW Washington Conference at the end of February, where they will join more than 500 VFW advocates to bring veterans' priorities directly to Capitol Hill. While on Capitol Hill, they will be paired with VFW delegations from their respective home states to employ the skills they learned throughout the program to advocate directly to lawmakers and their legislative staff on the shared VFW-SVA policy priority.

   Now in its 13th year, the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program develops leaders in the veteran advocacy space and beyond, many of whom have made, or continue to make, meaningful contributions in their communities and at the national level. Past fellows have gone on to work for the VFW, SVA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. The program endures as a lasting commitment between two organizations to uplift and serve veterans.

   To interview any of the selected fellows, contact VFW National Legislative Service Deputy Director, Gabby Kubinyi, at gkubinyi@vfw.org.

   -vfw-

   About Student Veterans of America: Student Veterans of America® (SVA) empowers student veterans and military-affiliated students through a national network of campus chapters and mission-driven advocacy that supports success to, through, and beyond higher education. Founded by veterans in 2008, SVA is led by veterans and dedicated to veteran success. For more information, visit studentveterans.org.

4. The VFW Enters 127th Year Continuing the Fight for Veterans

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -On Sept. 29 the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) proudly commemorates VFW Day, marking 127 years of unwavering service to America's veterans, service members, their families and communities. Founded on Sept. 29, 1899, the VFW has stood as the nation's most established major war veterans' service organization, built on the conviction that service to country doesn't end when the uniform comes off.

   What began with a small group of Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection veterans has grown into a network of more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary. Today, that network carries forward two enduring commitments: fighting in Washington, D.C., for the benefits veterans have earned and showing up in communities across the country and around the world to give back. For 127 years, the VFW has been a voice for veterans and a force for good. Together we strengthen our communities and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

   That advocacy is on full display this year as Congress considers the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA), a hastily-constructed veterans' omnibus package that includes a dangerous provision to cut future veterans' benefits. While the VFW has supported many of the bill's provisions in the past, the VFW has strongly and publicly opposed a measure that would offset new spending by cutting disability compensation and reducing VA disability ratings for conditions such as tinnitus and sleep apnea. VA estimates that these changes could cost veterans $57 billion over the next decade and affect as many as 1.5 million future veterans. More than 100 VFW advocates from 31 states converged on Washington this summer and worked to have the bill pulled from the House floor. Then, VFW advocates came to Washington again in the fall, successfully pushing the Major Richard Star Act discharge petition forward. The VFW and its advocates won't give up until Congress strips this offset provision from TCAVA and funds the Major Richard Star Act in full from a source that does not come at veterans' expense.

   That same resolve carries into VFW Posts and Auxiliaries nationwide through Still Serving, the organization's year-round reminder that combat boots are not required to serve one's community. In fiscal year 2026 alone, VFW Day of Service brought veterans together for more than 2,570 community service events across all 50 states and 15 countries and territories - a 543% increase in participation since the program began in 2022. From building beds for children in need to preserving historic battlefields and hosting free clinics for military families, veterans are proving daily that their commitment to service continues long after receiving their DD-214.

   The VFW's legacy of advocacy - from helping to establish the Department of Veterans Affairs to championing the GI Bill and expanding VA health care - is what fuels today's fight to ensure veterans transition successfully into civilian life, gain timely access to VA care and are never asked to shoulder the cost of their own earned benefits. As the VFW marks this milestone, Posts and Auxiliaries worldwide are honoring VFW Day with ceremonies, open houses and community service projects, reaffirming a mission that has never changed: to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with every generation of America's veterans for the next 127 years and beyond.

5. 'Honor the Contract' T-Shirt

   Stand for those who stood for our freedom. Honor the contract.

   When the uniform comes off, the mission is not over. The Grunt Style "Honor the Contract" T-Shirt is a declaration of loyalty to those who served. This shirt represents accountability, respect and action, because the debt to our veterans does not come with an expiration date.

   This shirt is a reminder to push back against legislation and budgets that reduce compensation for veterans. Oppose predatory "claim sharks" who charge veterans for assistance with VA claims. And promote transition assistance programs and mental health resources.

   You can support the advocacy initiative by purchasing the "Honor the Contract" T-shirt from the VFW Store.
   
   To shop for other items online, go to vfwstore.org. Need help with an order? Call the MSC at 1.833.839.8387.

   This article is featured in the 2026 September issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.