VFW Action Corps Weekly
VFW Joins Camp Lejeune Rally on Capitol Hill: The VFW stood united with Camp Lejeune veterans and their families as part of a two-day rally on Capitol Hill calling for congressional action on H.R. 4145, the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025. VFW General Counsel John Muckelbauer shared the powerful story of his brother, Matt, a fellow Marine who died of cancer resulting from exposure to toxic water while stationed on Camp LeJeune. His personal and poignant testimony underscored the human cost of the decades-long contamination and the VFW’s urgent call for justice. Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci and National Legislative Committee Chairman Jason Johns also spoke in support of Camp LeJeune victims and urged Congress to act. Although Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2022, fewer than 1% of the more than 408,000 claims filed by victims of toxic water exposure have resulted in compensation. Watch their remarks.
VFW Discusses Priorities with White House: VFW National Legislative Committee Chairman Jason Johns joined Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci and National Legislative Service Director Kristina Keenan at the White House for a meeting to discuss the VFW’s priority goals. The delegation provided Trump Administration staff with updates on its major policy priorities for the year, like the Major Richard Star Act, improving military transition, justice for victims of Camp LeJeune toxic water, safer prescribing of psychiatric medication, and the President’s recent executive order on alternative treatments for mental health. Johns also left behind his challenge coin from his term as VFW Wisconsin state commander for the White House’s military and public service challenge coin display in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Dental Care for Veterans Hill Day: The VFW joined the Oral Health Progress & Equity Network (OPEN) Hill Day 2026 advocating for veteran oral health. Of the more than 9 million veterans eligible for medical care through VA, only 26% are also eligible for dental care. During the event, advocates met with House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Julia Brownley to illustrate the connection between consistent access to dental services and a veteran’s overall health. “Dental care is health care that can impact well-being and quality of life. The VFW supports efforts like H.R. 210, Dental Care for Veterans Act, to make dental care a standard benefit for all veterans enrolled in VA,” commented VFW National Legislative Service Associate Director Meggan Coleman, who leads the VFW’s VA health care legislative efforts.
Nevada VFW Members Participate in Radiation Exposure Roundtable: VFW Department of Nevada Commander Candace Lopez and National Legislative Committee Member Daniel Sanders participated in a roundtable at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas organized by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano. Sanders presented input from VFW members including that veterans exposed to radiation in the United States are not currently covered by the PACT Act. He reminded attendees that contaminated areas were left open to winds and spread beyond the local sites. He also noted that the Department of Energy publicly acknowledged certain contaminations and has taken care of affected people, while the Department of Defense still has not acknowledged that people worked at these same locations.
VFW-pushed Foreclosure Avoidance Program Available Soon: Coming just weeks after VFW National Legislative Service Associate Director Joe Grassi urged its implementation, VA has introduced a Partial Claim program in accordance with the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act (Public Law 119-31). This VFW-supported legislation provides a new option to help veterans who are at least three months delinquent on mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure. The program is a part of the VA Loss Mitigation Waterfall process in which a loan manager or lending institution may advance funds to bring a loan current with VA reimbursing that amount. The remaining balance is repaid interest free when the loan is paid off, sold or transferred. Veterans must complete a three-month trial payment plan to demonstrate they can resume payments before receiving assistance. Applications for the program will open on June 15, 2026. Learn more.
Strategies for Grassroots to Grasstops Advocacy: VFW National Legislative Service Associate Director Gabriella Kubinyi presented the VFW’s viewpoints during the 2026 Buzz Advocacy Summit in Annapolis, Md., highlighting how strong advocacy organizations are built through long-term investment in people, relationships and local leadership. During the session on developing strategies for grassroots advocates to engage at a higher grasstops level, Kubinyi explained how the VFW develops trusted community advocates who are equipped to build lasting relationships with lawmakers and congressional staff. Drawing on the VFW’s nationwide advocacy structure and member-driven approach, she emphasized that meaningful influence is built over years of consistent engagement, training and credibility within local communities.
VA Streamlines Prosthetic Limb Delivery for Veterans: VA has taken steps to speed up the delivery of prosthetic limbs for veterans by implementing a new policy announced by VA Secretary Doug Collins. Previously, all prosthetic limb purchases required a review by a contracting officer, delaying the process. Under the new policy, about 95% of prosthetic limb orders no longer need contracting officer reviews while some purchases by local purchasing agents can now be made directly with local suppliers. VA reports these changes have already reduced wait times by 10 days. Once the new process is fully implemented across VA facilities, average delivery times are expected to drop from 94 days to 54 days. Annually, more than 45,000 veterans with major limb loss rely on VA prosthetic care. This new process aims to ensure they receive the high-quality prosthetic care they need as quickly as possible. Learn more. MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced no identifications or burial updates.