Vet­er­ans of For­eign Wars and National Guard Asso­ci­a­tion of the US endorse AMVETS Anti-Discrimination Ini­tia­tive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vet­er­ans of For­eign Wars and National Guard Asso­ci­a­tion of the US endorse AMVETS Anti-Discrimination Ini­tia­tive to pro­tect vet­er­ans in hous­ing and employment

WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2013—Today AMVETS National Com­man­der Cleve Geer announced two major vet­er­ans ser­vice orga­ni­za­tions have endorsed the Amer­i­can Vet­er­ans Anti-Discrimination ini­tia­tive, a national leg­isla­tive effort to pro­tect vet­er­ans from unfair treat­ment in employ­ment, hous­ing and all areas of pub­lic life.

Cur­rently, Sen­a­tor Richard Blu­men­thal (D-CT) and Rep­re­sen­ta­tive Derek Kilmer (D-WA6) are in dis­cus­sions with AMVETS about prospec­tive vet­eran anti-discrimination bills for the Sen­ate and House of Rep­re­sen­ta­tives (respec­tively). Geer antic­i­pates the sup­port from the 1.4 mil­lion member-strong VFW andNGAUS, the nation’s old­est orga­ni­za­tion lob­by­ing on behalf of the National Guard, will cre­ate momen­tum for AMVETS’ Anti-Discrimination Initiative.

“The Amer­i­can Vet­eran Anti-Discrimination Ini­tia­tive is an impor­tant leg­isla­tive pri­or­ity for AMVETS and our com­mu­nity,” said Geer. “The added sup­port of VFW and NGAUS gives us the momen­tum we need for action on Capi­tol Hill and to pro­tect our tran­si­tion­ing veterans.”

“The value of mil­i­tary ser­vice has eroded to the point that being a vet­eran is seen as a lia­bil­ity to many employ­ers,” said VFW Exec­u­tive Direc­tor Bob Wal­lace. “That is why the VFW sup­ports AMVETS in their effort to pro­tect vet­er­ans from employ­ment discrimination.”

“NGAUS strongly sup­ports this AMVETS effort,” said Maj. Gen. Gus L. Har­gett, Jr., (Ret.) pres­i­dent of the National Guard Asso­ci­a­tion of the United States. “Lead­er­ship and tech­ni­cal expe­ri­ence gained from mil­i­tary ser­vices can bring great value to the civil­ian work­place. Our vet­er­ans deserve full and fair con­sid­er­a­tion for employ­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties as they arise.”

The Amer­i­can Vet­er­ans Anti-Discrimination Ini­tia­tive will: raise aware­ness among employ­ers of vet­er­ans and vet­er­ans’ issues; give vet­er­ans expe­ri­enc­ing employ­ment and hous­ing dis­crim­i­na­tion legal recourse to pur­sue their claims; ensure that an individual’s mil­i­tary or vet­eran sta­tus will not be used against them in seek­ing employ­ment, hous­ing, or edu­ca­tional oppor­tu­ni­ties. No one who has served and sac­ri­ficed for this coun­try should be penal­ized for it.

For more infor­ma­tion about the Amer­i­can Vet­er­ans Anti-Discrimination Ini­tia­tive, visitwww.amvets.org/legislative.

About AMVETS:
A leader since 1944 in pre­serv­ing the free­doms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS pro­vides sup­port for vet­er­ans and the active mil­i­tary in procur­ing their earned enti­tle­ments, as well as com­mu­nity ser­vice and leg­isla­tive reform that enhances the qual­ity of life for this nation’s cit­i­zens and vet­er­ans alike.AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered vet­er­ans’ ser­vice orga­ni­za­tions in the United States, and includes mem­bers from each branch of the mil­i­tary, includ­ing the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.