Cold War Veterans Blog

NH: National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition endorses Sununu

LONDONDERRY — United States Senator John Sununu today, received the endorsement of the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition. The Coalition is comprised of over 80 veterans organizations and advocacy groups which represent over 250,000 veterans and 2 million family members nationwide.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition and look forward to working with its members to continue fighting for the issues that are important to our nation’s 65 million service members and 25 million veterans,” said Senator John Sununu. “In the Senate, I have worked to secure a new veterans center in Berlin, wrote legislation that improves access to veterans housing, and continue to work on expanding benefits for the families of the brave men and women who have served our country.”

At a press conference in Londonderry announcing the endorsement, the Senator was joined by John Molloy, the Chairman of the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition.

“It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to announce that the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition has unanimously agreed to endorse Senator Sununu on his re-election to the United States Senate,” said Chairman John Molloy. “Senator Sununu should be commended for his vigorous efforts to restore full services to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Manchester.”

Also in attendance was State Representative Frank Emiro (R-Londonderry), a National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Board Member, who praised Senator Sununu for his strong support for Granite State veterans and efforts to expand veteran services in New Hampshire.

“Senator Sununu has always been a strong advocate for members of our armed forces that have served today and in the past,” said Representative Frank Emiro. “When there is an injustice affecting a veteran, Senator Sununu comes through like the Calvary.”

Senator Sununu’s Record to Improve and Expand Veteran Services

Helped to secure in-state radiation services for veterans at non-VA facilities in New Hampshire.

Worked with Senator Judd Gregg to open the VA Veterans Center in Berlin to provide counseling and outreach services in the North Country.

Advocated strongly for the location of a VA Veterans Center in Keene to provide services to veterans in the Southwestern area of the state.

Wrote and guided to passage an amendment to the “Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act” to update eligibility criteria for housing assistance grants for younger disabled veterans, and also cosponsored an amendment to increase the grants’ value.

Supported legislation in the United States Senate to modify and update the education incentives in the GI Bill and increase the monthly benefit for college costs.

Supported concurrent receipt legislation to permanently end the dollar-for-dollar reduction of retirement pay by disability benefit payments received by military retirees.

Supported legislation to create and fund a comprehensive outreach program to assist members of the National Guard with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as they return from combat.

Urged the VA to designate Greenfield, New Hampshire's Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center as a satellite to the Veterans Administration polytrauma-level care centers for war-related injuries.

Secured funding for the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton and Buckingham Place, a veterans’ transitional housing development in Nashua. Fought for funding for Liberty House veterans’ homeless shelter in Manchester.

Announced new Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Grants to provide rental vouchers for homeless veterans with disabilities in New Hampshire.