Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New Jersey
171 Jersey Street Bldg 5, Trenton, N.J. 08611 (609) 393-1929

PRESS RELEASE

This year’s 2020 Legislative Conference was held in Washington, D.C., March 1-5, 2020.
Since 1949, the VFW’s annual Legislative Conference has provided an opportunity for VFW leaders from each state to personally lobby their respective lawmakers and watch as the VFW’s current Commander-in-Chief testifies on Capitol Hill before the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees on behalf of veterans.

New Jersey’s State Commander, Barbara Kim-Hagemann, led a team of 16 VFW and Auxiliary members on the hill visiting New Jersey’s Congressional members, fighting for critical veterans’ issues in our state and communities, and asking them to take action on the VFW’s priority goals which include: toxic exposures and other environmental hazards, VA appeals modernization, MISSION Act Community Care, POW/MIA accounting mission, women veterans concerns, mental health treatment and suicide prevention measures, and military sexual trauma efforts. Hagemann called for “putting American veterans first” and fully funding the Veterans Administration Health Care System and transition programs.

VFW National Commander William “Doc” Schmitz delivered testimony focused on the VFW’s Priority Goals for 2020 before a special joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. Schmitz called for “accountability for failure to grant benefits to Vietnam and Post-9/11 veterans suffering from toxic exposures” while expressing the VFW’s frustration with the VA’s lack of urgency in providing benefits to individuals who suffer from conditions associated with toxic exposures.
Questions can be addressed to the State Adjutant 609 393-1929 or adjutant@njvfw.com

About the VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally-chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.6 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in 6,200 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.