The Vietnam Veterans of America and the Association of the U.S. Navy endorsed Rep. Vern Buchanan’s (R-FL) Veteran’s ID Card Act yesterday.
The legislation, which allows all veterans to obtain an ID card through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has already received support from AMVETS, Veterans for Common Sense and 31 bipartisan members of Congress.
“I am very excited that momentum is building for this important legislation to help our nation’s veterans,” Buchanan said. “The VSOs and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle recognize that this is a straight-forward, cost-neutral bill that will make it easier for veterans to provide proof of their service.”
The Veteran’s ID Card Act is budget neutral; the veteran would pay for the small fee for the ID card. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary of the VA to review and assess costs every five years and change the fee structure to cover all ID costs under the bill.
“In an age of increased scrutiny in regards to the military service of individuals, every veteran who has served our nation honorably should be able to obtain a VA card if they wish to have one,” Edgar Rodriguez, director of government relations for the Association of the U.S. Navy, said. “These cards empower veterans by allowing them to conveniently carry evidence of their military service, making their lives easier in a variety of ways.”