H.R. 1917 RESOLUTION FOR AMERICAN DISABLED VETERANS USAGE TO MWR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

H.R. 1917 RESOLUTION
VA LONG BEACH MENTAL HEALTH
CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL
Page 1 of 2

Whereas, H.R. 1917 2000 to 2004 Sponsored Legislation should have never been dropped from House Floor by the Veterans Affairs Committee without a vote. H.R. 1917 would restore disabled veterans access to MWR facilities for rehabilitation of PTSD. MWR is short for Morale Welfare and Recreation Facilities located on military bases worldwide: and

Whereas, the United States Congress allowed all U.S. veterans access to Department of Defense Morale Welfare and Recreation lands and programs up until 1974 and authorizes which patrons are eligible to access these lands: and

Whereas, military retirees, reservists and the 165,252 disabled veterans with 100\% service-connected disability are granted use of MWR lands: and

Whereas, civilian employees and their families on military bases are entitled to enjoy use of MWR lands and military base commanders allow selected community base groups such as Devil Pups, Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts of America access to MWR lands: and

Whereas, Section 2813 of Public Law 105-261 of the Sikes Act 16 USC Section 670c known as the American Disabled Sportsman Act also specifically states that veterans disabled as a result of military service connected injuries were to have access to rehabilitate on these MWR lands: and

Whereas, DOD has willfully and purposely interpreted the term disabled veteran listed in the Sikes Act to mean disabled veterans with 100\% service-connected disabilities only: and

Whereas, some 2.3 million disabled veterans, rated with up to 90\% service-connected injuries by the U.S Veterans Administration are not currently eligible under present policy and/or DOD rules and regulations which has resulted in violation of civil rights for the majority of Americans disabled veterans who are in effect banned from usage of these MWR lands when they come home from war: and



H.R. 1917 RESOLUTION
VA LONG BEACH MENTAL HEALTH
CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL
Page 2 of 2

Whereas, the Sikes Act, also known as the American Sportsman Act allows over 30,000 disabled civilians access to MWR Recreation Facilities. Mr. Victor Vasquez of Family Support Division at the Pentagon suggests that disabled veterans could seek access to MWR under these conditions as long as they do not let the military know that they are disabled veterans with service-connected injuries: and

Whereas, the nations 2.3 million disabled veterans have surely earned the right to utilize those MWR land over any civilian groups: now

Therefore, be it resolved that the VA Long Beach Mental Health Consumer Advisory Council supports federal legislation that will give this nations 2.3 million disabled veterans highest priority before granting any other group usage of MWR lands

Full Story and Documentation located in Story Documents of www.vfvs.com

APPROVED by the VA Long Beach Mental Health Consumer Advisory Council
Subscribed this 31st day of March 2006

THE UNDERSIGNED SUPPORT THE VA Long Beach Mental Health Consumer Advisory Council Position on the H.R. 1917 RESOULTION: