For the first time in more than 50 years, "veterans service organizations will no longer have the opportunity to present testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees." This according to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN).
The announcement, coming right before Veteran's day, has groups like Disabled American Veterans(DAV) and the VFW, undertandably upset.
"We think it’s an absolutely abhorrent idea. These things were initiated somewhere around 1950, and they represent a crowning moment for our grassroots membership," said Dennis Cullinan, national legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
"The right to fully participate in the democratic process is a cornerstone of our nation," said Commander Jackson. "Eliminating these joint hearings is an insult to the men and women who have fought, sacrificed and died to protect our Constitutional rights, including the right to petition the government." DAV National Commander Paul W. Jackson.
That's what I call supporting the troops!