Senior leaders at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Southern Arizona VA Health Care System seek to permanently silence dissenting opinions from those they purport to serve.

The VA Online Services Terms of Use abridges and infringes on the freedom of speech and petition by limiting the who, what, where, when, why, and how permitted for messaging. Constitutitional and codified rights were completely overlooked and intentionally slighted. The restrictions are arbitrary, employee centered, and based on feelings and perception rather than actual established legal standards.

VA Secretary Doug Collins further abridges and infringes on the freedom of speech and petition by refusing to acknowledge receipt of, consider, and respond to, petitions for a redress of grievances; petitions for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule; and petitions for the withdrawal or modification of a guidance document. VA staff offices, including OAWP​,  OGC​, OIG​, ORM​, ORPM, and VEO, refuse to provide advocacy or assistance of any kind.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." First Amendment.

"Each agency shall give an interested person the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule." 5 USC 533(e).

"Advocacy. VA employees will be truly veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of veterans and other beneficiaries." 38 CFR 0.601(c).

"Each guidance document must clearly and prominently state that it does not bind the public." 38 CFR 5.15(a).

"A member of the public wishing to petition for withdrawal or modification of a guidance document may submit such petition via email to: OEIDMO@va.gov. VA will provide a response to a petition within 90 days of receipt of the request." 38 CFR 5.20(a).

"The agency shall take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with applicants, participants, personnel of other Federal entities, and members of the public." 38 CFR 15.160(a).

"Patient grievances. Each patient has the right to present any matter to staff members at the facility in which the patient is receiving care and other VA officials without fear of reprisal." 38 CFR 17.33(g).

"Other rights. The rights described in this section are in addition to and not in derogation of any statutory, constitutional or other legal rights." 38 CFR 17.33(i).

"Agencies may impose legally binding requirements on the public only through regulations." Executive Order 13891.

"It is the policy of the United States to ensure that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen." Executive Order 14149.

"The First Amendment greatly curtails enforcement of restrictions on free speech by a governmental entity." VA Handbook 8502.

Go to https://www.va.gov/terms-of-use/. Under General Disclaimer:

"Unauthorized or prohibited use includes these actions" are not binding rules vetted by the public under the Administrative Procedure Act, specifically 5 USC 553. They are agency guidance documents subject to the provisions of 38 CFR 5.15 and Executive Order 13891. Therefore, they are improperly identified and unlawfully enforced on the public.

Delete the following text which is not permitted by the Government:

"Using messaging to promote your personal agenda, for solicitation, to transmit prohibited material, or for disruptive and/or threatening behavior. (Note: You may use messaging only to communicate with your VA health care team about your health care and VA benefits and services, and with VA staff about your privacy rights.)

Sending material that infringes on the patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, privacy, or publicity rights of others.

Transmitting material that is excessive, illegal, offensive, intimidating, harmful, or threatening to any person (including VA staff) or entity as we determine using our discretion."

Add the following text:

"The people may petition for a redress of VA grievances by email to CustomerCare@va.gov.

Any interested person  may petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a VA rule by email to VACO00REG@va.gov. 

Any member of the public may petition for the withdrawal or modification of a VA guidance document by email to OEIDMO@va.gov.

These are the only lawful terms of use for all VA communications, regardless of frequency, method, recipient, sender, or subject, are as follows--No others are authorized!

U.S. Constitution: Freedom of Speech and Petition.

Executive Order 14149: Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.

5 USC 553: Petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule.

38 CFR ​0: Core Values, Characteristics, and Customer Experience Principles of the Department.

38 CFR 5: Petition for the withdrawal or modification of a guidance document.

38 CFR 15: Communications.

38 CFR 17: Patient's rights."

Please sign, share, and support this petition.

Report to the VA Office of Inspector General.

Report to the Office of Special Counsel.

Contact VA oversight. VAEmailRep_@VetAff.senate.gov​, VAEmailDem_@VetAff.senate.gov​, HVAC.Republicans@mail.house.gov​, HVAC.Democrats@mail.house.gov

Contact your congressional delegation. 

Contact the White House.

Thank you!