March 08, 2023

Duckworth Meets With VFW Members, AMVETS to Discuss Veterans Issues

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders and constituents from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Illinois, as well as members of American Veterans (AMVETS), to discuss both organizations’ legislative priorities and her efforts on important issues impacting Veterans in Illinois and across the nation, including VA recruitment, healthcare access for Veterans and benefits modernization. Duckworth today met VFW Department of Illinois Legislative Director Jay Hoffman, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Central Region Supervisor Kim Fuiten, VFW Department of Illinois Senior Vice Commander Brett Nila and other Illinois VFW members, as well as AMVETS Illinois State Commander Richard Shea, Jr. A photo from today’s AMVETS meeting is available here, and a photo from the VFW Department of Illinois meeting is available here.

“Tour after tour, time after time, Veterans sacrificed for the rest of us—putting country over self and showing what true selflessness looks like,” Duckworth said. “I’m glad I got to meet with these hardworking advocates today, and I’ll keep working to make sure those who dedicated their careers to keep our nation strong and our loved ones safe receive the support they deserve when they hang up their uniform.”

Duckworth has been a fierce supporter of and an effective legislator for our Veterans. Last year she helped pass the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, historic legislation that was signed into law to overhaul the VA’s processes for toxic-exposed Veterans to include presumptions for several illnesses associated with burn pits and Agent Orange exposures to help deliver long-overdue VA healthcare and benefits across all generations of Veterans. Duckworth’s bipartisan Protecting Moms Who Served Act was signed into law to help address the maternal mortality crisis among women Veterans by helping improve care at VA facilities and shed light on the scope of this crisis, particularly among women of color. 

Duckworth is the former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 

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