VFW Action Corps Weekly

Columbus Welcomes VFW National Convention: The 126th VFW National Convention is taking place Aug 9 – 13, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. Every year, thousands of VFW and Auxiliary delegates gather to represent the organization’s more than 1.4 million combined membership. The focus while there is to elect new VFW leadership and approve resolutions to guide our priorities in Washington, D.C., as we advocate for our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families. Be sure to search #VFWConvention on social media, view vfw.org, and download the VFW Events App for helpful information and convention news.

VA Home Loan Program Reform Act Now Law: The president has signed VFW-supported H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, into law. Introduced by VFW member and House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Derrick Van Orden, this law will establish a permanent partial claim program to assist veterans using the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program who are facing foreclosure by covering missed mortgage payments and helping them remain in their homes. Thanks to everyone who responded to the VFW Action Alert to advocate for this law that passed both the House and Senate unanimously. Please send a message to your members of Congress and the president to say thank you for passing this legislation.

Major Richard Star Act Filed as Amendment to Senate FY26 NDAA: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT), Mike Crapo (R‑ID), and Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA) have filed the bipartisan S. 1032, Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the Senate’s draft version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. If adopted, the amendment would eliminate the dollar‑for‑dollar offset that currently denies more than 50,000 medically retired combat veterans –– many with fewer than 20 years of service or disability ratings below 50% –– their full DOD retirement and VA disability compensation. The bill was named in honor of Major Richard A. Star and addresses an enduring inequity in veterans benefits. The amendment to the FY26 NDAA is currently attracting bipartisan cosponsors. Read more.

VFW-Supported Legislation Advances: Just before the August recess, the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs held markup sessions and advanced dozens of pieces of legislation. Many of these bills are VFW-supported, including H.R. 740/S. 275, Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025, to improve the delivery of VA community care and address coordination needs within VA's Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program; S. 1245, Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025, to improve the VA disability claims process and health care access for survivors of military sexual trauma; and  H.R. 2605, Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act, to create a five-year pilot program for VA to provide grants to nonprofit organizations to furnish eligible veterans with service dogs and veterinary insurance. The VFW encourages veterans and advocates to attend town hall meetings held by members of Congress in their districts in August, and make your voices heard by advocating for these and other VFW legislative priorities.

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced nine identifications and five burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Identifications:

-- World War II Navy Reserve Ensign Howard A. Holding

-- World War II Navy Reserve Ensign Delbert L. Martin

-- World War II Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Woody T. Owen

-- World War II Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Robert A. Keuchel

-- World War II Army Cpl. William H. Diekmann

-- World War II Army Pfc. Lawrence R. Beard

-- World War II Army Staff Sgt. Paul A. Gregg

-- World War II Navy Reserve Lt. j.g. Ralph C. Dupont

-- Korean War Army Cpl. George T. Hill

Updates:

-- Korean War Army 1st Lt. William H. Hott, Ohio

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Edwin C. Martin, Ohio

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Oscar L. Sprague, Maine

-- Vietnam War Air Force Staff Sgt. Henry G. Gish, Kentucky

-- World War II Army Pvt. Leonard R. J. Jackson, Virginia

The VFW is not responsible for third-party content material that may be misleading, incomplete, erroneous, offensive, indecent or otherwise objectionable.

Click here to sign up new veterans’ advocates.

Click here to view VFW-supported bills in the 119th Congress. 

As always, we want to hear your advocacy stories. To share your stories or photos with us, simply email them directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

View current and archived editions of the Action Corps Weekly.