For Immediate Release                                                                       Contact:  Doug Elmets 

July 13, 2026                                                                                                                  (916) 329-9180 

Sacramento, CA – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California today urged Congress to revise H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, to protect earned disability benefits for future disabled veterans while preserving the legislation’s many positive reforms.

Standing with the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Department of California supports efforts to strengthen health care, expand services, and improve benefits for veterans and their families. However, it opposes provisions that would finance those improvements by changing disability compensation for future veterans with service-connected conditions such as tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea.

"As veterans, we understand that caring for those who served is a solemn obligation, not a budget exercise,” said Paula Jansen, State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California. "We support improving benefits and services for veterans, but Congress should not ask one generation of veterans to pay for another. Veterans earned these benefits through their service and sacrifice.”

California is home to nearly 1.5 million veterans, one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. The Department of California said the legislation should be revised to ensure that expanding veterans’ programs does not come at the expense of future disabled veterans. 

"The VFW has always believed that a grateful nation honors its commitments to those who have served,” said Jansen. "Congress can strengthen benefits for veterans without asking future disabled veterans to bear the cost. That’s the solution we urge our elected leaders to pursue.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California encourages California’s congressional delegation to work with veterans service organizations to advance legislation that expands care and benefits while protecting the disability compensation veterans have earned through their military service.

For more information about the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California, please visit vfwca.org.  

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is a nonprofit veterans' service organization composed of combat veterans and those who currently serve on active duty or in the Guard and Reserves. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is the nation's largest organization of war veterans and is one of its oldest veterans' organizations. With 2.1 million members located in 7,700 VFW Posts worldwide, the VFW and its Auxiliaries are dedicated to "honor the dead by helping the living" through veterans service, legislative initiatives, youth scholarships, Buddy Poppy and national military service programs.  Annually, the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 11 million hours of community service to the nation. 

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                                                  Serving as Commander of VFW Post 9657 is an honor rooted in my commitment to every veteran who calls this community home. My vision is simple and unwavering: to make VFW Post 9657 a strong, reliable community resource — a place where veterans find support, connection, and purpose.

This year, my goals focus on strengthening the foundation of our Post and expanding the ways we serve:

- Post readiness — reinforcing the essential operations of our facility and building a stable, engaged membership that keeps our Post strong and sustainable.

- Community‑facing engagement — increasing events, outreach, and partnerships that connect veterans with real resources. By working with local organizations and hosting meaningful activities, we create opportunities for veterans to engage, heal, and thrive.

- Mission‑driven membership — fostering a culture of service, partnership, and purpose that reflects the heart of the VFW mission. Membership is more than numbers; it is the strength behind every effort we undertake.

I say this often because it guides everything I do: "I will not sit by and let another veteran go without the support they need.” That promise is the foundation of my leadership and the direction of our Post.

Together, we will continue building a Post that stands ready, stands united, and stands for veterans — always.

- Post Commander Marci Juris

 A Strong Community Resource — Every Veteran. Every Time.