​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
 
CONTACTS:
Adam Webb (Tillis)
Liam McCaffery (Blumenthal)
Abbey Schieffer (Cramer)
Caty Payette (Heinrich)
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist them in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans. The legislation builds on the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act that was introduced by Senator Tillis and signed into law.
 

​https://share.sender.net/campaigns/5LO8/coast-guard-parity-act-hr-2693

​Apr 25, 2023
Dear Congressional Colleague, On behalf of the organizations listed below and the millions of veterans, caregivers, and survivors we represent, many of whom rely on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits, we write to express our grave concerns with The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and urge Congress not to pass this legislation unless it includes protections for VA funding. 

Over the past few years, VA has seen significant advancements in veteran healthcare and benefits. If enacted, the proposed legislation would dramatically reduce total federal discretionary spending and could endanger funding for VA and veterans’ programs. Without specific language to explicitly protect VA from the impact of the proposed budget reductions, it would leave many veteran resources open to cuts, potentially undoing years of progress VA has made for those that have earned it. If the proposed budget reductions were applied across-the-board, the impacts would significantly affect the delivery of care and benefits to veterans. According to VA, cuts of this magnitude, would mean 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, leaving veterans unable to get appointments for care, including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment. Additionally, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) would eliminate more than 6,000 staff, increasing the disability claims backlog by an estimated 134,000 claims and forcing Veterans and their surviving loved ones to wait longer for the benefits they have earned, including pensions, life insurance, GI Bill educational support, and employment services. Our nation’s veterans, caregivers, and survivors have already sacrificed too much. Our country must keep our promises and provide them with the best healthcare and benefits possible. The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 does not spell out the necessary protections and puts these benefits at risk. We strongly urge Congress to not pass The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and request that protections to VA funding be added to “To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.” 1 Sincerely, Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) AMSUS Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Easterseals, Inc. 1https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5867#:~:text=The%20new%20mission%20statem ent%20is,%2C%20caregivers%2C%20and%20survivors.%E2%80%9D Easterseals DC MD VA Hope For The Warriors The Gold Standard Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Jewish War Veterans of the USA Minority Veterans of America National Military Family Association (NMFA) Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society The Pink Berets Psycharmor Sea Service Family, Foundation Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) Secure Families Initiative Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO UNITED THROUGH READING U.S. Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce VoteVets

​The USCG Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development (CWO-PD) Class 05-23 has recently come to a close, and it has been an incredibly successful and memorable experience for all involved. The class was led by CWO-4 Jeff Timberlake, who has been a fixture in the USCG for 30 years. This was his last class as the lead instructor, and it was an honor to be a part of such a ​tremendous career, he brought it to a “hole ‘nutha level” (HNL).

With most professions, one’s career ends with retirement, but when it comes to service to one’s country, the legacy of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bruce E. Matlock Sr. continues through the historical significance of three generations of his family serving in the Coast Guard.  And if that is not impressive enough, his youngest son LCPL Christian Matlock is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps.  

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We are pleased to offer the membership directory, which will allow our members to connect with their old shipmates. 

​Force Readiness Command completes its official pilot Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development Class; building on its MODERNIZED READY LEARNING strategy.  CWO class 08-22 started the blended course on 6 June 2022 on the TEAMS remote learning platform which provided a unique opportunity for 20 CWOs to become TEAMS professionals.  Upon arrival to the in-person training the CWOs quickly became familiarized with each other and the fun really got underway.   They were eager to discover where they fell on the DiSC grid, continue their team building, and master the basics of communication and management.  As these CWOs return home, they will take the information they learned and add it to their leadership toolbox and respective wardrooms. They also developed an extensive network of 20 hard-charging CWO’s that will always be there to help them out when tough situations arise.  The effort the class put in towards growing as leaders, Chief Warrant Officers, and individuals will strengthen the Coast Guards workforce for years to come.   Thank you CWO Timberlake and CWO Baldueza for your exceptional direction and training throughout the course.  Much appreciation to Mrs. Baldueza for the MOST delicious baked goods.