The Independence Fund - Advocacy - DC Office

03/24/2022

To channel my old Navy days, BZ, Senator Jon Tester, for telling The Independence Fund's CEO Sarah Verardo, "Thank you, Sarah, for putting this back on us, putting this back on Congress, putting this back on this Committee. We have responsibility here too."

We are ready to work this, work this hard, and work this quick. To go back to my Navy stuff, "Anchors Aweigh, my girls and boys, Anchors Aweigh!"

03/23/2022

The Independence Fund's CEO Sarah Verardo testifying before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on the program.

"The Independence Fund, and many of the other organizations who joined with us, warned the VA, Congress, even this Committee, that exactly [these problems with the Caregiver program] would happen" because of this poorly written regulation.

03/23/2022

The Independence Fund is here at Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman's hearing on the program. Our CEO, Sarah Verardo will be testifying on the second panel.

Senators Senator Jon Tester and Senator Jerry Moran speak about how this new regulation "is far more restrictive than Congress ever intended."

While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announcement yesterday to suspend disenrollments and discharges of Legacy Caregivers is a good first step, it doesn't do anything (yet) for the 84,000 new Caregiver applicants who have already been denied, nor does it change the fundamental problems with the regulation.

The Independence Fund - Advocacy - DC Office will continue to fight to get this fixed, and will demand these changes happen in weeks, not years as the VA implied yesterday.

yesterday

03/22/2022

This afternoon U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Remy announces VA is suspending Caregiver program discharges and demotions for "Legacy" Caregivers. About time. Check out our Twitter account (below) where you can see ALL the communications The Independence Fund's had with the VA about this issue.

And the VA is going to reevaluate the regulation, as the VA now admits Veterans are being disenrolled from the program when they shouldn't. Good that they finally got on board.

But then, when asked how long this will take, the VA says "It could take a year, it could take more." What?!?!?!?! Gimme a break. They turned around review of more than 200 comments on the new regulation in weeks. They can get this done THIS SUMMER.

All these Legacy Veterans and Caregivers are scheduled to be disenrolled this October 1st! And nothing is said about the new applicants where at least 85,000 have already been denied these benefits! This needs to be fixed this summer. Otherwise, we will work to get Congress to do so by legislation and the VA can just live with the new law.

Yes, good on VA for taking the high road here and admitting the Caregiver regulation is deeply flawed. But they have to operate on a MUCH faster timeline.

“. Remy just announced they will suspend kicking out & demoting Legacy Caregivers. Following are the comms we've had w/Congress & VA on this exact issue. We're cautiously optimistic, and we won't relax, but this is great start. 's 1st letter.”

02/24/2022

Independence Fund's own Representative, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD, is hosting this Small Business Forum as part of Black History Month. Given veterans are more likely to own their own business and be entrepreneurs, as well as the opportunity this presents for Caregivers and veteran families, this can be very helpful for starting a business.

CHARLOTTE – On Friday, February 25 at 12:00 Noon, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) will host a Virtual Black History Month Small Business Forum on Zoom. Interested parties can register here, or at adams.house.gov/small-business. The Small Business Administration, The Institute, The Women's Busines...

02/08/2022

"We just want clean drinking water."

Jamie Simic, Navy Spouse and Pearl Harbor base housing resident exposed to the Red Hill fuel spill into the drinking water, at the Reserve Organization of America building on Capitol Hill, talking about the exposed families and the need for immediate testing and remediation.

Jamie and her Amanda Feindt met with nine Congressional offices to get relief.

Toxic exposure takes many forms, and this is just one of those on which The Independence Fund - Advocacy - DC Office fights for every day.

Amand Feindt described how her kids ended up in the hospital with this poisoning.



The Independence Fund

01/26/2022

And now, for something a little lighter - Duffel Blog never lets you down:

The so*******ch actually did it!

12/20/2021

Why is satire often so funny? Because it makes fun of an underlying truth.

And the underlying truth is that VA medical care has systemic problems. Now, the Duffel Blog satirizes this with the great gallows humor of, "VA to offer free cup of coffee while you wait in line to die."

Ouch.

But the satirists at Duffel Blog link to the REAL VA Inspector General report that found these problems, "...demonstrate a systemic failure of leadership and indicate a need to accelerate the VA's efforts to overhaul its health care culture".

No, these failures aren't one-offs; they are not the exception. What the Inspector General is saying is that these failures are the rule, and are, "...due in large part to the actions and, even more often, inactions, of leaders" and that, "Changes to [Veterans Health Affairs'] patient safety approaches are necessary and overdue, but impossible without the dedication of strong leaders who recognize that a cultural transformation is required to support meaningful and sustainable change."

So next time someone tells you, "Oh, VA health care is great! Nothing needs to change. In fact, let's make it bigger and MORE centralized," just remember, VA hospitals have been around as for 100 years, and the Veterans Health Administration turned 75 this year. Yeah, we think that's enough time to get their "stuff" into one sock.

TYFYS.

12/09/2021

’s service to America began as a soldier in WWII. Now, you can honor his life and legacy at the very memorial he worked so hard to establish. His proudest moments were when he united our nation. So let’s come together, once again, in his honor and show our appreciation for his lessons in leadership, love of country, and service.

Join Dole Institute of Politics and Elizabeth Dole Foundation on Friday, December 10th at the National World War II Memorial at 11am EST, alongside General Mark A. Milley, Tom Hanks, Savannah Guthrie, The United States Army Band, and others to celebrate the remarkable life of Senator Bob.

This event is open to all who wish to attend and is accessible for those with disabilities. For people not located in the DC metropolitan area, you can tune in to the event virtually via Facebook Live.

Details at https://robertdole.org/events/.

Senator Dole will lie in state in the United States Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, December 9. At 10 a.m., a private ceremony will be held with President Joe Biden, Congressional leadership, Senator Elizabeth Dole and Robin Dole in the Rotunda. This event will be broadcast for the public.   

12/05/2021

Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Elizabeth Dole Foundation family on Senator Dole’s passing early this morning.

The Nation has lost a true American hero, statesman, and just really great man.

Rest in Peace, Brave Soldier. You most certainly earned it.

It is with heavy hearts we announce that Senator Robert Joseph Dole died early this morning in his sleep. At his death, at age 98, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years. More information coming soon.

11/23/2021

Excuse us why we here at the DC offices break our arms patting ourselves on the back.

But seriously, this is just plain wrong - disenrolling 6,700 Veterans from the Caregiver program. That's more than the number of Sailors on an aircraft carrier or all the people in the US Public Health Service. It's more than 35% of all the legacy Caregivers before the program got expanded.

We like to say here in DC that The Independence Fund - Advocacy - DC Office team likes a good trench fight, but we like a deal that fixes the problem more. We know there are already people in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who are hearing this, and we will not let up until we resolve this.

More to come! Stay tuned!

The Independence Fund
Healing Household 6
Heroes Athletic Association
Coast Guard Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association (CWOA)
Sea Service Family, Foundation
Armed Forces Retirees Association
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.
Blinded Veterans Association
Non Commissioned Officers Association
Vietnam Veterans of America
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
Fleet Reserve Association National Headquarters
Save Our Allies
Association of the United States Navy
Military Order of the Purple Heart, USA
Catholic War Veterans of US
Reserve Organization of America
Japanese American Veterans Association
Naval Enlisted Reserve Association - NERA
Veteran Warriors
Veteran Warriors: Caregiver Support Group

11/23/2021

The Independence Fund understands the unique challenges our and families face. In this difficult time, we want you to know resources are available.

Our partners at Cohen Veterans Network have created a new, online educational course to help Veteran and Military families reduce stress and worry in their lives. "Tools for Managing Stress and Worry" is , self-paced, and in small segments that can easily fit into a busy schedule.

https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/toolsforstress/