February 2025 |
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★ Next VMF Meeting: February 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM ET on Webex.★
*VMF meetings are open to all DA members, and all VMF members are encouraged to attend.*
Message from the Chair
Fellow Democrats:
So much has been happening! From our caucus calling out Trump’s misguided priorities to Democrats electing new officers on the national level to everything in between, VMF continues to stay in tune with politics and policies. We’re fighting on several fronts: needed reforms to VA’s Foreign Medical Program, pushing for ABMC cemeteries to create online profiles for each service member buried/interred abroad, repatriating our nation’s deported veterans, calling for stronger congressional oversight of Pershing Hall in Paris, France, and more. We’ve been talking to congressional offices about veterans-related legislation, we’ve been meeting to discuss Democratic state and local candidates running in 2025, we’re in the beginning stages of drafting a resolution for the 2025 DA AGM, and we’ll soon be meeting with a documentary filmmaker who’s highlighted veterans struggling with PTSD.
We’re also continuing to honor Democrats Abroad members who are veterans and/or military family members by highlighting them in our VMF Virtual Museum. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the Federal Post Card Application at VoteFromAbroad.org first and foremost to take the most impactful action you can make as a U.S. citizen living abroad, then contact us on how you can become more involved in volunteering with VMF. And as always, reach out to us if you would like to see VMF address a particular issue or if you have questions concerning this newsletter or any other item of VMF business.
Always onward,
Michael Ramos
Upcoming Holidays and Events
Event (2/5/2025): Black History Month - Opening Celebration, "African Americans and Labor"
Webinar (2/6/2025): What is the New Residency Based Taxation Proposal and How Would It Benefit US Expats?
VMF Meeting (2/8/2025): Dems Abroad Global VMF Caucus meeting (please message us at [email protected] if you would like to attend)
Film Screening: DA Global Black Caucus Black History Month Film Screening "I Am Not Your Negro" documentary
Webinar (2/10/2025): Join Ms. Susan Mitchell, Executive Director, Armed Forces Tax Council as she provides insights into key military tax-related provisions and 2025 tax updates pertinent for service providers and counselors who assist these military families
Webinar (2/11/2025): Flexible Job Options for Military Spouses
Event (2/11/2025): Remote work options for military spouses
Event (2/12/2025): Learn about VA’s Veteran Readiness and Employment program (Chapter 31)
Event (2/12/2025): VA Virtual Art Class: A chance for veterans to use creative processes, such as drawing and painting to explore your emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve self-esteem.
Event (2/12/2025): The U.S. Embassy’s American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit and representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will visit Dumaguete, Philippines to provide remote services to U.S. citizens
Event (2/13/2025): Social Security Disability 101
Valentine’s Day (2/14/2025)
Presidents’ Day (2/17/2025)
Upcoming webinar (2/21/2025): DoD Survivor Symposium
Webinar (2/25/2025): VMF meeting with filmmaker Frances Causey (will be recorded and made available afterwards)
VMF Meeting (3/8/2025): Dems Abroad Global VMF Caucus meeting (please message us at [email protected] if you would like to attend)
Event (3/10/2025): Moral Injury and Recovery: What Can We Do?
Special General Election: Florida’s 1st Congressional District and 6th Congressional District -- Service members, eligible family members, and overseas citizens can register to vote up until (postmarked by) March 3, 2025. Voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote, request a ballot, and update any contact information. FL-1 and FL-6 voters must return their voted absentee ballot by April 1st either by mail or fax to their local election office.
Event (5/31/2025): Women Veterans Engage Conference 2025 ($25)
What Have Americans Been Voicing Lately?
Opinion: The Secret to Recruiting
Opinion: National Guard troops deserve equal GI Bill eligibility
Opinion: Veterans don’t devalue service
Opinion: Military Families Need the Same Legal Protections as Service Members
VMF Member Opinion: U.S. Disabled Vets Living Abroad Often Feel Abandoned By The VA
Opinion: Editorial: We must address extremism
Op-Ed: K2 Disabled Veterans Finally Receive Justice
Opinion: Will Trump Try to Shaft a Million Veterans Out of Billions in Educational Benefits?
Op-Ed: Hegseth’s track record falls short of military standards: Dem senators
Press Release: DNC: NC Candidate Who Previously Voted Absentee While in the Military Now Tries To Toss Military Ballots To Overturn the Election He Lost
Opinion: I’ve served my country overseas for decades. Now Griffin wants to toss my NC vote?
Opinion: Can the Military Afford Pete Hegseth’s Toxic Leadership on Sexual Violence?
Op-Ed: Stop double-taxing Americans living abroad
Recent News of VMF Interest
Press Release: DNC Statement on Black History Month
Article: VA extends visit to USAG Wiesbaden, explores recurring visits in future
Article: VMF Movie Recommendations for Black History Month
Quiz: Got 2 minutes? Take VMF's challenging and fun quiz!
Article: 'Lawless' felons pardoned by Trump could unleash wave of 'vigilante violence': ex-prosecutor
Press Release: Ken Martin Elected as New DNC Chair, Commits to Build Democratic Party to Win, to Expand, and to Last
Press Release: VFW Leaders Kick Off New Year With Troop Visits Abroad
VA Update: VA releases “2025 VA Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers”
Article: Extremism in US military is ‘sleeping danger’ says author of Pentagon report
Article: VA expands access to Veterans Legacy Memorial for living veterans
Dissertation: Congressional Oversight of the Military Health System: Lessons Learned from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Scandal
Press Release: Rebuking late-night purge of inspectors general, House Democratic ranking members demand President Trump comply with the law
Press Release: Blumenthal Statement on Trump Firing VA's Top Watchdog Official
Article: Trump order blocks families of US troops from leaving Afghanistan
Press Release: DeLauro, McCollum Statement on Restrictions to Servicemembers and Their Families’ Reproductive Freedom
Article: USPS offers up to $15K in early retirement buyouts to cut employees in ‘overstaffed’ facilities
Article: Trump signs order to revise Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops
Article: U.S. Rep. Castor Demands Action to Repair Housing at MacDill Air Force Base
Article: Sen. Jon Ossoff demands answers for mail delays affecting Georgia veterans
Press Release: At Hearing, Blumenthal Slams Trump Administration's Freeze of Federal Aid for Critical Veteran Programs
Article: Overseas military pharmacies are moving to interactive phone-in refills
Press Release: Airman Accounted For From World War II (Bays, Donald E.)
Press Release: Trump’s Inauguration Features Neo-Nazis and Hitler Salutes from Top Ally
Journal article: One's Health Versus One's Right to Vote: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Legal Landscape of Absentee/Mail-in Voting in the United States from the 2020-2024 Election Cycles
Article: Veterans’ advocates in Mexico lead fight to expand healthcare access abroad
Scam Alert: Text Messages Impersonating the IRS
Article: Trump bans transgender service members from U.S. armed forces
Video: Movers worried DOD change will cause problems for military families
Article: The Battle Over Veterans’ Health Care: How the Republican Majority Hopes to Reshape VA
Press Release: Farewell Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
Article: ‘A rude awakening’: US expats reveal hopes and fears as inauguration looms
VA Update from VA: Current VA health care copay rates
DoD update: Confidential non-medical counseling available for Active Duty/Reserve/Guard servicemembers and their immediate family members, and survivors of servicemembers
Article: VA exempts 300,000 health care positions from government-wide hiring freeze
Press Release: Ranking Members Takano and Brownly Demand Answers About the Abrupt Removal of Two Key VA Officials
Article: Two new [congressional staff] hires were fake electors in 2020
VA Update: GI Bill payments not part of M-25-13 [Trump Executive Order]
Resources: The National Veterans Memorial and Museum recognizes Black History Month
Article: Hegseth Confirmed as Defense Secretary After Republicans Dismiss Misconduct Allegations
Article: Trump and Musk Are Trying to Purge Veterans From the Government
Article: Federal military spouse workers ‘should’ be able to continue remotely
Article: Trump's 'Two Sexes' Order Could Cause Major Issues For Passports
Press Release: DNC: Pete Hegseth Faces Bipartisan Opposition As the “Least Experienced Defense Secretary” in U.S. History
Are you following us on social media?
Also be sure to check out VMF’s our podcast and movie recommendations! And if you haven’t checked it out already, make sure to swing by our Virtual Museum (QR Code shown below). Simply click on each “display” and swipe through each one to view additional pages.
Questions/Comments/Suggestions?
For matters concerning the VMF newsletter: [email protected]
For reaching the VMF Caucus chair: [email protected]
For all other matters: [email protected]
★★★
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- CONUS: Call 988 and Press 1 or go to https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
- In Europe: +1 844-702-5495 or DSN 988
- In the Pacific: +1 844-702-5493 or DSN 988
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- Chat: Text with a crisis line responder. Send a text to 838255 or through https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/chat
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