★★ Next VMF Meeting: June 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM ET on Webex.★★

Link to join here; password: dems

*VMF meetings are open to all DA members, and all VMF members are encouraged to attend.*

Message from the Chair

Dear Democrats—

There’s been no shortage of activity within the Veterans & Military Families (VMF) Caucus lately. Here are a few of our most important recent and ongoing actions:

• Sent out a survey to our 1,300 members with the purpose of better understanding VMF’s membership. Be sure to check our “News” section on the Democrats Abroad website to see a summary of the survey results. 
• Closely scrutinized several pending congressional and state bills– such as SB 16 in Texas and HB 1381 in Florida, two voter suppression bills which would negatively impact military and overseas voters–and stated our position on them on our social media channels. 
• Added two highly-decorated veterans to our VMF Virtual Museum. 
• Submitted a resolution for consideration by DPCA voting representatives which calls for the facility known as Pershing Hall in Paris, France to be returned to veterans' purposes, and recommended its inclusion in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. 
• We’re keeping a close eye on how we can best support 2026 races which feature Democratic candidates who identify as veterans or military family members.
• And we continue to refuse normalizing the President’s behavior and unethical – and often illegal – actions.

Stay in touch! Our Caucus needs you and welcomes all other allies in the ongoing fight to reject extremism in our democracy. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful upcoming Memorial Day,

Michael Ramos, DA Global VMF Chair, Military Family Member, and Service-Connected Disabled Veteran

VMF Volunteer of the Month: Lucia J. Perez Crespo-Hernansaiz, DA Spain

The DA Global VMF Caucus is pleased to recognize Lucia Perez, a Democrats Abroad Spain member living in Madrid. Lucia has been working tirelessly in helping organize a DA Spain VMF Caucus. Lucia comes from a proud lineage of service members who have defended the United States with courage and honor, and she’s been heavily involved with community-based initiatives focused on military families. “These efforts have offered me a clear window into the enduring challenges our Veteran community has faced across generations. Their stories, sacrifices, and unmet needs remain at the forefront of my mission,” Lucia stated. “Together, we must defend the gains we have achieved and push forward—honoring those who continue to serve and those who have served with distinction.” The need to engage and support the military-connected community in Spain has never been more urgent. The U.S. presence there is significant—and growing. Having a country-level VMF Caucus in Spain will help tremendously with advocacy and outreach to military voters at Morón, Rota, and other in-country military installations. The Global VMF Caucus salutes Lucia and is proud to support her and DA Spain’s efforts in establishing a VMF Caucus.

Recent News of VMF Interest

*** To view recent statements, news articles and opinions pertaining to the VMF community, please see here.

Guest Piece from VMF Member and Chair of the Global Disability Caucus, Marnie Delaney

The VMF Caucus and The Global Disability Caucus face lots of similar issues, particularly the 5 million disabled U.S. veterans, 61+ million adults with disabilities in the U.S. and the 15% of children enrolled in public schools who have disabilities. Not to mention their families and the caregivers who seek to provide them with the care they deserve. 

• Lifelines like the ADA, ACA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Rule from 1965, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Veterans’ disability benefits, and all things Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) are at risk. 
• Large, seemingly random staffing cuts in Federal government departments including (but not limited to) Education, Health & Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Defense have had a disproportionate impact on the high percentage of veterans and people with disabilities working in these jobs. It's estimated that 10% of federal employees are disabled and 1 in 4 are veterans. Further jobs have been lost due to strict "return to work" mandates, with which many disabled workers are unable to comply. 
• Trump and his Education Secretary have laid off half the department staff. They’ve ordered the elimination of DEIA efforts and suggested special education efforts be tucked into another larger department.
• 35% of people with disabilities rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, more benefit from the ACA. Threats of substantial cuts will devastate people who are already financially- and/or health challenged.  

Efforts to suppress votes and make it more difficult to obtain benefits (including Social Security) are in the works, like requiring in-person interactions with the government.

We could sit in shock and let these assaults put us out of action, but that’s not something we can afford. No longer dare we say “it can’t get worse.” That’s proven wrong every day. Rather, we choose to believe “it CAN get better.” Not immediately, not easily, not without fighting the good fight. But, autocrats and dictators have had power wrested from them before, and we can do it again.

Bottom line: Stay tuned in to the protests and other forms of resistance and try to participate in those - in lieu of worrying. Better to be angry and determined than distraught and defeated. Let’s use that fuel to fight together for a country truly governed for the well-being of all, not the enrichment of the few.

Legislative Advocacy

H.R. 22, the so-called “SAVE Act,” passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 220 - 208. As a reminder, this is one of the biggest voter suppression bills in U.S. history, and it’s especially damaging to military and overseas voters. Members of Congress who voted in favor of this need to be reminded that this was a key vote that *will be remembered* on Election Day.

Up next: It is absolutely necessary to email and/or call your two U.S. Senators and demand they vote NO on the two SAVE Act bills both now pending in the Senate, H.R. 22 and S. 128. 

Are you a U.S. veteran (or veteran dependent) living abroad? Don't hesitate to get your *earned* VA benefits. You signed up to defend our nation, our Constitution, and our freedom. In exchange, our federal government promised to get you the VA benefits and health care you deserved. If you need help getting in touch with a VA-accredited veteran service officer, guidance on getting enrolled in VA Health Care, or anything else, do not hesitate to reach out. Get that VA disability claim in NOW before 83,000 VA employees are pink-slipped by the most anti-veteran Administration in U.S. history. 

Upcoming Holidays and Events

Democrats Abroad Event: Memorial Day Gathering in München 

Democrats Abroad France Event: Memorial Day 2025 at the Normandy American Cemetery, Sunday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. Paris time. Don’t forget to RSVP!

Democrats Abroad France Event (multiple locations): Memorial Day – In Honor and Remembrance of the Fallen

Democrats Abroad Global Meeting (June 6-8, 2-25) in Washington, DC and on Webex

Democrats Abroad VMF Meeting (June 14, 2025), 7:00 AM ET, Webex password: dems

Are you following us on social media?

Also be sure to check out VMF’s 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]

★★★

Are you following the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans & Military Families (VMF) Caucus on social media?

• VMF Caucus on the Signal app
• VMF X (formerly Twitter)
• VMF Facebook
• VMF LinkedIn
• VMF Instagram

• 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
• In Southwest Asia: +1 855-422-7719 or DSN 988
• Chat: Text with a crisis line responder. Send a text to 838255 or through https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/chat

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