Taking Action at Home

Since our founding over 100 years ago, DAV has been responsible for the promotion of meaningful, reasonable and responsible public policy for wartime service-disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors. It has always been an integral part of who we are.

To ensure we continue this fight on behalf of those who put everything on the line, we are dedicated to keeping political leaders informed of the challenges facing veterans and their families. Because of you, we can work toward our critical policy goals, which will help:

  • Correct inequities for veterans receiving compensation benefits and provide parity in benefits for survivors
  • Ensure the faithful implementation of the PACT Act and address gaps in toxic-exposure benefits
  • Establish equity in VA care, services and benefits for women, LGBTQ+ and minority veterans
  • Provide a full spectrum of long-term care options for service disabled and aging veterans
  • Bolster mental health resources to ensure reduction of veteran suicides
  • Expand the VA's capacity to deliver timely, high-quality health care to veterans

  • Join the Fight to Enhance Benefits for Service-Disabled Veterans’ Survivors

    Spouses and survivors of veterans who die due to a service-connected condition are eligible for a number of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, including monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments and education benefits. However, the current value of DIC benefits is insufficient to provide meaningful support to survivors of severely disabled veterans, and some eligibility rules have limited the number of deserving recipients.

    We must urge Congress to enhance benefits for service-disabled veterans’ survivors.

  • Join the Fight to Strengthen the Capacity to Deliver Timely, High-Quality Care to Veterans

    The VA MISSION Act of 2018 set in motion major reforms to the VA health care system intended to ensure veterans have timely access to high-quality care, particularly veterans with service-connected conditions who rely on the VA for all or most of their care. Although the pandemic disrupted and delayed implementation of some parts of the law, the VA has made significant changes to its community care program and is currently engaged in the mandated Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) that will play out over the next couple of years.

    To ensure the best health outcomes for veterans, the VA must remain the primary provider and coordinator of care, which will require new investments to rebuild its health care infrastructure and modernize IT systems. As demonstrated during the pandemic, the VA plays an essential federal role during national emergencies, not just for veterans but for all Americans.