FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (31)

March 28, 2008

OFFE to Carry Message from Millions of Americans to DC in April

In military terms, ‘firing for effect’ means bringing all of your weapons to bear on a single target and firing in rapid succession for maximum effect. This term has now been adopted by a grassroots organization focused on the future funding of veteran’s healthcare, but instead of bullets, Operation Firing For Effect (OFFE) is using a barrage of voices to accomplish the maximum effect on the single issue of Full Mandatory Funding of Veteran’s Healthcare and related services.

Over the past two years, OFFE has aggressively gathered support for the mandated veteran’s healthcare funding concept, and now they plan to fire for effect in Washington DC.

On April 15, 2008, a delegation from Operation Firing For Effect will meet with Congressional leaders in Room 334 of the Cannon House Building. The OFFE group will be armed with the voices of millions of Americans supporting Full Funding of Veteran’s Healthcare and Services.

OFFE offers several factors to support their claim that they represent the voices of several million Americans.

First factor, on ‘Super Tuesday’, February 5th, registered voters in Illinois saw the following ‘yes or no’ question on their primary ballots. The ballot question was authored by OFFE Public Relations Director, [Name Omitted], and appeared on primary election ballots in 23 Illinois counties.

“Shall the federal government be required to adopt full mandatory funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of ensuring that all eligible honorably discharged U.S. veterans receive quality and accessible healthcare and services?”

 The combined county vote tabulation, not including early votes and absentee votes was; 1,137,735 YES votes, to 77,519 NO votes, or an overwhelming 93.6 percent approval.

Second factor, in addition to the 1.1 million Illinois voter voices, OFFE has gained the support of a number of labor unions, such as; AFL/CIO Sheet Metal Workers (Local 137), AFL/CIO Sheet Metal Workers (Local 46), New York State Sheet Metal Workers Council, American Federation of Government Employees (Local 3306), Chemung/Schuyler County Labor Assembly, Rochester Building & Construction Trades Council, and Steuben/Livingston County Labor Council. All of whom have publicly endorsed and signed OFFE’s Resolution for Full Mandatory Funding of Veteran’s Healthcare.

Celebrities Willie Nelson, Bill Cosby, and NFL star Doug Craft have also voiced their support for mandated funding of veteran’s healthcare. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson have both signed OFFE’s Resolution for Full Mandatory Funding of Veteran’s Healthcare as well.

Third factor, here is a brief list of other endorsements OFFE has acquired; Senator Charles Schumer, Oregon Governor Kulongoski, New York Senator Joseph Robach, New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish, New York Senator Michael Nozzolio, New York State Senate, Brighton Township New York, City of Chicago Illinois, Cook County Illinois Board of Commissioners, Monroe County New York, Philadelphia City Council, City of Canadice New York, City of Hamlin New York, City of Irondequoit New York, City of Rochester New York, City of Bosque Farms New Mexico, City of Albuquerque New Mexico, New York State Assembly, 29 Chicago Illinois Aldermen, Constitution Party of New York, DAV Roll of Honor (Chapter 120), AMVETS (Post 84), California Veterans Board, American Legion (Post 857), California Paralyzed Veterans, Huntington Beach California City Council, Seal Beach California City Council, Illinois Coalition of Veterans Organizations, and over 10,000 individual signatures of support.

According to Operation Firing For Effect National Chairman Gene Simes the combined support of all these factors represents several million Americans that support full mandated funding of veteran’s healthcare. And it is these voices we will be taking to Washington DC with us next month.  

OFFE’s Resolution for Full Mandatory Funding of Veteran’s Healthcare is not a new idea. The concept has been around for the past two decades. However, what is new is the focused grassroots tactics used by OFFE to capture nationwide public approval in an effort to pressure Congress into passing full mandated funding for the VA into law. Thus far, no other national veterans’ service organization has conquered as much ground or gained as much public support on the issue as Operation Firing For Effect has. And Gene Simes and the OFFE Team do not appear to be letting-up on accomplishing their objectives anytime soon.

Operation Firing For Effect is convinced that the timing of the Washington DC meeting is critical. The time to walk the walk is now! The time to stand up for the healthcare needs of our troops is here! We must send a message to our politicians and legislators that regardless of who wins the November general elections, the American people expect veteran’s healthcare funding to take priority over special interest, and the citizens of this great country demand veteran’s healthcare be fully funded and mandated.

If you would like to add your voice to OFFE’s united show of solidarity for full mandatory funding of veteran’s healthcare in Washington DC on April 15^th, you are invited to attend OFFE’s press conference on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building at 1200 hours. Together we will secure the future funding of our veteran’s healthcare needs.

[Operation Firing For Effect (OFFE) is a bi-partisan veterans advocacy group, and subsidiary of Veterans For Veteran Connection, Inc., a non-profit corporation devoted to the protection and improvement of entitlements and services earned by our men and women in uniform. OFFE does not endorse political candidates running for office. OFFE does report on issues of importance to our former military personnel and their families and that includes ‘News’ from both sides of the aisle. OFFE will grant equal time to any candidate (regardless of political affiliation) who wishes to share and explain their position(s) on the future funding of veteran’s healthcare and services.]