Many National Guard deployed to NOLA ineligible for VA health care

[katinmn]

Forwarded by a friend and member of Veterans for Common Sense.

Perhaps we can add a little encouragement to the Pretzeldent to "federalize" the NG while they are in NOLA so they have health coverage! They are going to be exposed to some very hazardous contaminants over the next couple years.

September 8, 2005

Dear Gerald:

According to the latest press reports, as many as 60,000 active-duty, reserve and national guard service members have been deployed in support of relief operations in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. Many of them expect to spend months in and around New Orleans, potentially exposed to a toxic soup of heavy metals, bacteriological contamination, petroleum products and many more unknown toxic exposures.

Long after the civilians have been evacuated, the troops expect to remain.

Did you know that if they get sick as a result of these exposures, many of them will not be eligible for VA health care for those illnesses? That's because the National Guard units activated in this extraordinary situation are under state, rather than federal control. In order to be eligible for VA health care and compensation benefits, the veteran must have been discharged from active federal service.

This morning, Veterans for Common Sense wrote the President of the United States and key members of the House and Senate, requesting that the President federalize those National Guard units which are currently assisting with humanitarian operations in New Orleans, as well as a number of other steps to ensure that their health is properly monitored. You can read the full text of the letter here (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader):

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/files/vcs/President_katrina_letter.pdf

Our press release regarding the letter is online here: http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm?Page=Article&ID=4811

Now we'd like to ask for your help in pressuring the President to do the right thing for the service members who are deployed in and around the Gulf Coast. Contact your Senator today to ask them to pressure the President to take these critical steps. You can do so online, at:

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/katrina

We'll continue to track this issue, and other issues related to the fallout of the hurricane, in the coming weeks. We also ask you to remember that the work of VCS costs money -- your support helps keep us going. Consider making a donation today, or you can be even more effective in supporting our mission by making small monthly donations with your credit card. Find out how at:

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/donate.htm

As always, thanks for your support of Veterans for Common Sense.

With highest regards,

Charles Sheehan-Miles
Executive Director