Veterans Fight for Health and Energy

A group of Texas Veterans joined a national contingent that flew to Washington last week to visit with members of Congress to urge passage of two very important bills that affect Veterans and their families.

Support of the Veterans Mental Health Outreach and Access Act of 2007 S.38 was on the group’s agenda.

This bill will require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program for the provision of readjustment and mental health services to veterans who serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and for other related purposes.

This is a special program for veterans who served in such operations while in the National Guard and reserves and include:

• Peer outreach and support services;

• readjustment counseling and related services; and metal health services. 

• It directs the Secretary to also provide to immediate family members of veterans during the five-year period following the return of the veterans from such a deployment education support counseling and mental health services to assist in readjustment to civilian life; recovery from an injury or illness incurred during such deployment and readjustment of family following the veterans return.

S.38 was co-sponsored by Senators Domenici (R-NM) and Obama (D-Il) and is co-sponsored by prominent members of both parties.

While in Washington the group visited with several members of both houses from both sides of the aisle. 

Most congressional members reacted favorably with the concerns of the group. In cases where the legislator was on the floor the delegation visited with chiefs-of-staff and other high ranking legislators’ staff members.

“Our concern for veteran’s health issues stems from us not wanting to forget what happened to many of those who served in Viet-Nam.  This is an issue that will cost billions of dollars if not looked at and treated now” Texas State Commander Paul Herrera stated.

Ten leaders of the American GI Forum (AGIF) from several states led by National Commander Antonio G. Morales went to Washington D.C. to convince members of both houses to pass important legislation to set aside partisanship and besides the Veterans Health Bill to pass an energy bill that would make us less dependent on foreign oil make our automobiles more efficient and environmentally friendly and to do away with the billions in taxes on oil supplies that take away and limit increase supplies that are important to bringing prices down.

To take away existing tax incentives also limits our increase by refineries and drives overseas the production of oil when we penalize our companies with these billions of dollars in taxes.

The group was there to urge lawmakers to do something that will increase our energy supply and will bring prices down. They hope to keep the CAFE standards and the incentives for renewable energy and clean energy technology. 

They also discussed clean energy solar power wind power biofuels; and corn-based ethanol urging Congress to keep a reasonable solution available. The big issue is to keep us independent from foreign energy while keeping our prices down and our environment clean.

“We’re for all forms of energy that will keep us energy independent that will increase refinery capacity stimulate production and will bring the cost down to our citizens” said AGIF National Commander Tony Morales of Fort Worth.

Joining National Commander Antonio Morales were AGIF Operations Officer Rolando Esparza AGIF Public Policy Advisor Richard Stone Colorado State Commander Albert Gonzales New Mexico State Commander Angelo Vega Kansas Vice-commander David Muro Texas State Commander Paul Herrera Texas Vice-Commander Humberto Aguirre and Texas State Executive Secretary Gil Rodriguez.