Contact the Governor ASAP, support CVSO funding!

[boardman]

VVA-CSC members: The Legislature approved the $3 million increase for County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO's). Your calls, faxes, and e-mails to legislators helped them to make the right decision!

There is still one step left. That is to convince the Governor that he needs to approve the $3 million increase. The Governor will probably sign the budget sometime before June 17 (Monday). Therefore, we need one last push to get this increase approved.

We need as many veterans to phone, fax, or e-mail the Governor ASAP:

phone: 916-445-2841
fax: 916-558-3160
e-mail: Use the e-mail system on the Governor's web-site: http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php

Message:
"I'm a veteran and I belong to the Vietnam Veterans of America. Please approve the $3 million increase in local assistance funding for County Veterans Service Officers, for a total of $5.6 million. Give CVSO's the funds they need so they can help our veterans."

(If they ask, the issue item in the budget is 8955-101-0001)

Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations
1107 9th Street, Suite 530
Sacramento, CA 95814
o- (916) 492-0550
f- (916) 492-8957
c- (916) 804-0222
www.peteconaty.com

[boardman]

We have it on reliable authority that the Governor is still deciding on the increased funding for County Veterans Service Officers in the budget and will not decide until June 30th. We have 5 more days to contact his office. If you have not done so, please do so ASAP! See below for Governor's contact info and the message you can say.

Please pass this on to all of your e-mail lists.
Immediate action alert!

Your calls, faxes, and e-mails to legislators helped them to make the right decision!
We need as many veterans to phone, fax, or e-mail the Governor ASAP:
phone: 916-445-2841
fax: 916-558-3160
e-mail: Use the e-mail system on the Governor's web-site: http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php
Message:
"I'm a veteran and I belong to the (state your organization). Please approve the $3 million increase in local assistance funding for County Veterans Service Officers, for a total of $5.6 million. Give CVSO's the funds they need so they can help our veterans."


Thank you,
Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations
1107 9th Street, Suite 530
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.peteconaty.com

[boardman]

Veterans: The Governor has signed the budget. Thanks to your help, the increased funding for CVSO's and the VA backlog strike teams was approved! Your calls, e-mails, and faxes to the Governor showed the strong support from the veterans community for this issue.

The CVSO's will see an increase of $3 million in Local Assistance funding. The CVSO's had only been receiving $2.6 million from the state prior to this budget. They will now receive $5.6 million.

There is also $3 million for Veterans Claims Strike Teams, which will work to eliminate the VA backlog of claims to ensure veterans receive the federal benefits for which they are eligible.

The Governor also approved a loan of $1.5 million to start construction of the Fort Ord veterans cemetery.


• County Veterans Service Officers — A one time increase of $3 million General Fund

for County Veterans Service Officers to better provide veterans free USDVA claims

assistance and information and referral to local, state, and federal programs.

• Veterans Claims Strike Teams — An increase of $3 million General Fund and

36 positions to form Strike Teams in each of the United States Department of

Veterans Affairs (USDVA) Regional Offices. These resources will assist the USDVA

in its efforts to eliminate the backlog of claims to ensure veterans receive the federal

benefits for which they are eligible.

• Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord —A loan of $1.5 million to start

construction of the state veterans cemetery at Fort Ord.

Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations
1107 9th Street, Suite 530
Sacramento, CA 95814
o- (916) 492-0550
f- (916) 492-8957
c- (916) 804-0222
http://www.peteconaty.com