Page 3 - Desert Oracle Feburary 2019

Presidents Report,

Happy February to all my PVA Brothers and Sisters
Part of PVA’s mission says we will use our expertise to be the leading advocate for:

• Quality health care for our members

• Research and education addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction

• Benefits available as a result of our members’ military service

• Civil rights and opportunities that maximize the independence of our members

In March I (Leonard Smith) and Matthew Jansen will go to the 2019 Advocacy Legislative Seminar
held in Washington DC to use our expertise to advocate for our members as we speak to our Arizona
Congressmen and Congresswomen about issues such as:

• Air Carrier Access Act

• Caregiver Expansion

• Long Term Services And Supports

• Specialty Adapt Housing Program

• Rehabilitation And Prosthetics Services
and others.

This January marks the start of the 116th Congress. Arizona has 6 new Congressmen and
Congresswoman, along with new Senators. Our National President David Zurfluh wants us to
educate them all about the issues listed above

In 2019, PVA will prioritize legislation that ensures veterans continue to have access to high quality,
comprehensive, and veteran-centric health care as well as timely and accurate delivery of all earned
benefits. One of our top areas of focus will be ensuring proper congressional oversight of the VA
MISSION Act (Public Law 115-182).

People are usually surprised to know that the U. S. government and the Department of Veterans
Affairs do not provide for all the needs of veterans, even those who have been disabled or paralyzed.
In fact, many of those services that are provided did not exist until Veterans Service Organization;
such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America, worked with Congress and the VA to put those
services into place. We continue every day trying to make those services work better while adapting
to all the changing needs. PVA will continue advocating making sure that its members as well as
other Veterans are provided with services to better their lives. This is the purpose of the Legislative
Seminars.

Leonard Smith
AZPVA President