We are the military survivors and disabled veteran dependents of Virginia.  We call upon our elected officials to preserve the integrity of the Commonwealth’s Compact with Virginia’s Veterans by restoring our Commissioner of Veteran Services’ authorities as the true administrator of the Virginia Military Survivor & Dependent Education Program (VMSDEP) and associated Fund.

Recent legislative proposals, such as seen in the current HB30 Budget Amendments, demonstrate an abandonment of core veteran advocate principles and an intolerable encroachment upon the long-standing relationship of shared values and trust between the Virginia veteran community and the Department of Veteran Services.

What's next?  Virginia Values Veterans (V3) is part of the Compact.  Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) is part of the Compact.  Military Medics & Corpsmen Program (MMAC) is part of the the Compact.  DVS has many responsibilities in its Compact with Virginia's Veterans, but it has only one Compact. 

Break one part of the Compact and the Compact is broken.  Are Virginia veteran health care centers next?  Are Virginia veteran cemeteries next?

Enough is enough.

We rebuke attempts to compel military survivors and disabled veterans to seek financial assistance and incur debt. We reject any notion of categorizing veteran benefits as needs-based aid. We oppose third-party assumption of authority or responsibility that handcuffs the Commissioner’s abilities to fulfill DVS duties to Virginia veterans and their family members under the Compact with Virginia’s Veterans.

Other states including California, Texas, Louisiana, Washington and Kentucky all have education programs for military survivors and disabled veteran dependents.  The Departments of Veteran Affairs for each of these states are in charge of their respective programs because the people of their states recognize the unique relationship between veteran agencies and the veteran families under their care.

The Commonwealth of Virginia, as the most veteran friendly state in the nation, can do no less.  Our Compact demands it.

We call upon our Virginia elected leaders to recommit their full support for the Compact with Virginia’s Veterans and accordingly amend VMSDEP-governing statutes to:

• Associate VMSDEP waivers and funds with the Compact with Virginia Veterans as express instruments intended to serve the Compact’s goal to make Virginia the most veteran friendly state in the nation.
• Establish complete authority of the Commissioner of Veteran Services over VMSDEP waivers, funds and administration to ensure the Commissioner is fully empowered to fulfill obligations under the Compact with Virginia's Veterans.
• Eliminate any and all reference or implication that VMSDEP waivers and funds are needs-based financial assistance, and clarify that VMSDEP funds are instead non-needs-based stipends in recognition of proven past service and sacrifice by Virginia veterans and their families.
• Codify that applications by military survivors and disabled veteran dependents for federal or state financial assistance are voluntary and shall not be mandated.

An illustrative example of these changes may be viewed at the Friends of VMSDEP website.

The Commissioner’s Compact with Virginia’s Veterans was established to serve as the foundation for Virginia to become America's most veteran-friendly state.  Without that foundation properly laid, Virginia cannot earn the complete the trust of its Veterans to realize that goal.  All veterans from their days in uniform understand you cannot have accountability and responsibility without authority.  VMSDEP must be preserved under an empowered Department of Veteran Services fully capable of delivering on the purpose and promise of the Compact with Virginia’s Veterans.

CALL TO ACTION! 

1. Sign this petition and make sure you check the box to receive any petition updates! 
2. Share this petition with other military survivors and disabled veteran dependents, and with the rest of your veteran community contacts;
3. Go to Virginia Who's My Legislator to find out contact email addresses for your state delegate and senator; write your own personal email with information from this petition or use the template;
4. Copy info@vmsdepfriends.org to emails to your legislators!  Use #VMSDEPCompact in your social media posts!
5. Subscribe to vmsdepfriends.org for updates and soon to be released features, such as surveys, personal stories, legislator feedback, and more!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  

DELIVER ON THE COMPACT.  

MAKE VIRGINIA THE MOST VETERAN FRIENDLY STATE.  

EMPOWER OUR COMMISSIONER.