NAACP Support our Nation's Veterans

WHEREAS, the brave men and women who have sacrificed to keep this nation free for the last 237 years have earned our respect and the right to be treated with the utmost care and dignity; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of the people who have dedicated their lives to serving the needs of our nation's Veterans are dedicated, competent, and deeply committed to the men and women they serve; and

WHEREAS, sadly, since early May, 2014, there have been several news reports alleging that Veterans were being underserved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and specifically the Veterans' Health Administration; and

WHEREAS, in response to the allegations of long waiting periods for appointments at some VA Hospitals, some of which may have resulted in the untimely deaths of patients, on May 16, 2014, the Veterans Health Administration's top health official, Robert Petzel, M.D., retired early; and

WHEREAS, on May 30, 2014, General Eric Shinseki (Ret.) resigned from the office of the U.S. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs amid the fallout from the controversy; and

WHEREAS, according to Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson, the Department of Veterans Affairs is requesting $17.6 billion to hire 10,000 doctors, nurses and other health care providers and make other reforms in order to meet the needs of a growing number of Veterans and reduce long waiting times for health care; and

WHEREAS, as a result of these allegations, President Obama ordered an investigation, and the resulting report found "significant and chronic system failures" and a "corrosive culture" inside the Veterans Health Administration; and

WHEREAS, there are currently more than 21 million Veterans in the U.S. today.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP calls on Congress and the Administration to provide adequate funding, direction, and leadership to address the myriad of physical and mental health challenges faced by our Veterans of all ages; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP, working through its Veterans Affairs Task Force, shall continue to monitor the efforts of the Veterans Administration to adequately serve all Veterans, throughout our Nation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP Veterans Affairs Task Force will continue to work with state conferences and branches to refer Veterans to local services.