Sen. Webb to Chair ‘Veterans for Deeds’

Jul 11, 2009
RICHMOND - Sen. Creigh Deeds announced Saturday that U.S. Senator Jim Webb, a combat Marine and former Secretary of the Navy, will serve as the Chair of "Veterans for Deeds," a policy steering committee composed of Virginians from every part of the Commonwealth and representative of every branch of the armed services.

At the American Legion Department of Virginia’s 2009 Convention in Richmond on Saturday, Deeds will discuss a new veterans policy plan, entitled “Honoring Virginians Who Serve Our Country.” The plan calls for expanded job opportunities for Virginia’s veterans, a world-class support network for veterans treatment, and continued support of Virginia’s Wounded Warrior program.

Deeds's veterans plan is available at: http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/veterans

“Veterans for Deeds,” headed by Webb, will work with Sen. Deeds to discuss these and other policy proposals. Webb, the sponsor of the 21st Century GI Bill, has a lifetime of accomplishment as an advocate and voice for veterans in Virginia and across the nation.
 
Other notable members of Veterans for Deeds include:

    * U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (Army; National Guard):  Congressman Scott served in the Massachusetts National Guard and the United States Army Reserve

    * Sgt. Robert Slaughter  (U.S. Army):  Founder and Chair of the National D-Day Memorial

    * Lt. Gen. Alonzo E. Short (U.S. Army):  Former Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency

    * Cmdr. Carlos Del Toro (U.S. Navy):  Served 26 years in the U.S. Navy; small business owner in Stafford County

    * Lt. Col. Kate Wilder (U.S. Army):  The first female Green Beret in the U.S. Army

    * Capt. Terron Sims (U.S. Army): Co-Director, Virginia Veterans for Obama

    * Capt. Joseph Bouchard (U.S. Navy):  Delegate Bouchard served 27 years in the Navy and commanded Naval Station Norfolk.

A full list can be found at www.deedsforvirginia.com

“When our nation has called, generations of young Virginia men and women answered,” Deeds said. “I’m proud to have leaders like these behind me as we bring Virginians together to make sure that we honor our commitments to brave men and women who defend our freedom.  I’m especially happy that Jim Webb has agreed to lead this effort.  His experience, character, and lifetime of service to Veterans – and all Virginians – is a tremendous advantage to me as work to keep moving Virginia forward.”
 
In the coming months, Deeds will be consulting these community leaders as he brings together leaders of the military, business, and education communities to design a plan to take Virginia’s veterans services into the next generation.
 
On Saturday, at the Convention of the American Legion in Richmond, Sen. Deeds will speak to members about his plan for keeping our promises to Virginia veterans, welcoming our returning heroes and making service attractive to the next generation of Virginians.
Deeds’s commitments to veterans include:

    * Expanding Job Opportunities for Virginia Veterans:  Creating jobs and restoring Virginia’s economy will be the top priority for the next Governor.  Creigh Deeds will fight to make it easier for veterans to participate in education and job training programs. 

    * Supporting Virginia’s Wounded Warrior Program: Creigh is proud to have supported the creation of the Wounded Warrior program, an initiative to ensure that supplemental behavioral health, rehabilitation services are readily available to veterans and their families in all areas of the state.  As Governor, Creigh will make sure that adequate funding is available for this important program.

    * Building a World-Class Support Network for Veterans Treatment: Virginia can and should do more to help our men and women returning from the battlefield.  As governor, Creigh will create a “No Wrong Door” approach to the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injury, and polytrauma—conditions that too often go unnoticed and untreated.

Details of Deeds’ plan can be found at http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/veterans
 
Deeds has a strong record of standing up for Virginia’s veterans. In 2002, he stood behind Governor Mark Warner’s efforts to consolidate and improve Virginia’s veterans services system. Two years later, he fought to pass a budget providing an unprecedented $1.3 million increase in support for the newly formed Department of Veterans Services.
 
Most recently, Deeds worked to establish a Wounded Warrior program that provides supplementary medical services to veterans of the Global War on Terror. He was also proud to support the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, a multi-state agreement designed to ensure that children in military families are able to graduate on time after moving from another state. Deeds has also been a supporter of the priorities of the American Legion, including the Flag Desecration Amendment.