Include a Director of Veterans Affairs Office in 2014 City Budget

Whereas, on December 12, 2007, Senate Bill 915, PN 1436 was signed into law as Act 66 of 2007. The goals of the (Act 66) legislation are to enhance service delivery to veterans, increase the number of Pennsylvania veteran claims for service-related disability or pensions filed with the VA, develop methods to increase rates of recovery paid by the VA to Pennsylvania veterans, expand training opportunities for designated Veteran Service Officers, and increase either the number or percentage of Philadelphia veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, and

Whereas, there are approximately 88,855 U.S. Armed Forces Veterans living in the County/City of Philadelphia, and

Whereas, there is no Director of Veterans Office in the County/City of Philadelphia, and

Whereas, on September 11, 2012, the Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Public Safety and Committee on Housing Neighborhood Development and the Homeless held joint hearings on the City’s preparedness for the influx of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, and

Whereas, Pointman Soldiers Heart Ministry, declared a “ State of Emergency” for veterans in Philadelphia during the 911 hearing because there is no Director of Veterans Affairs Office, and

Therefore, this petition is to demands Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Council President, Darrell L Clarke to establish a Director of Veterans Affairs Office in the County/City of Philadelphia, forthwith, to increase rates of recovery paid by the VA to Pennsylvania veterans, expand training opportunities for designated Veteran Service Officers, and increase either the number or percentage of Philadelphia veterans and spouses receiving their earned benefits and preferences.