Free Republic

The White House race between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain came back to Colorado this week as Democratic veterans credited Obama with supporting broad increases in veteran benefits while Republicans countered that McCain was the best man on gun-owner rights and Western issues. Colorado is viewed as one of the key "swing" states in the November election, which is why the television channels are full of Obama and McCain advertising. Obama's campaign pulled together a conference call of veterans backing the Illinois senator Wednesday, while the GOP got Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., to tell...

Friday, November 18, 2005 ON CAPITOL HILL Vets' group feels cut out of budget process Date change for congressional testimony seen as detrimental Posted: November 18, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Jon Dougherty © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com The head of the nation's largest veterans' group says the decision by a House committee chairman to move forward by several months the traditional date such organizations give budget testimony will likely lead to less, not more, influence in the process. Thomas Bock, the national commander of the American Legion, says a recent decision by House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind., to...

VA Contacts “Project SHAD” Veterans WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun to contact veterans (since 2002) who participated in certain military tests involving biological and chemical warfare materials during the 1960s about medical care and benefits to which they may be entitled. “We are committed to helping every veteran who took part in these tests,” said Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “If we find any medical problems or disabilities we can attribute to Project SHAD, we’ll ensure these veterans receive the benefits they deserve.” From 1963 through 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) conducted...