WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 22, 2015 – President Barack Obama today saluted the service and sacrifices of America’s military members — past and present — and proclaimed Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, “as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of[Read More…]

Springfield –-(ENEWSPF)–May 22, 2015.   “On Monday, May 25, people across Illinois will observe Memorial Day – a time when we remember those who died while serving in the military and we honor their service and sacrifice,” said Erica Jeffries, Army veteran and Director, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  “Memorial[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, DC –(ENEWSPF)–May 21, 2015.  United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) seeking information about its long-delayed investigation into charges of systematic[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, DC—(ENEWSPF)–May 21, 2015.  Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald made the following statement regarding the apparent compromise legislation moving through Congress that would prevent a shutdown of the construction of the Denver Replacement Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado: “I am pleased that Congress has taken action to ensure[Read More…]

First Time Senate Has Voted on Marijuana Law Reform; Amendment Would Allow VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Their Patients in States Where It’s Legal Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—May 21, 2015. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan amendment today, 18 to 12, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical[Read More…]

New London, Connecticut–(ENEWSPF)–May 20, 2015 – 11:42 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Everybody, please have a seat.  Class of 2015 — ahoy! AUDIENCE:  Ahoy! THE PRESIDENT:  There are now fewer days to go until the Class of 2015 graduates than — never mind.  (Laughter.) [Read More…]

Makes Reforms to VA and Meets Veterans’ Care Needs Nationwide; Protects VA Whistleblowers, Reforms VA Construction Funding and Enhances Military Strategic Defenses for Poland and Hungary WASHINGTON –-(ENEWSPF)–May 19, 2015.  U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today applauded the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon/VA) passage of the fiscal[Read More…]

Washington, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)—May 19, 2015. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement in response to the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the lawsuit filed by Oregon guardsmen against KBR alleging they were exposed to toxic chemicals in Iraq: “The latest development in[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 18, 2015.  The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. soldier, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Francis D. Knobel of La Crosse,[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—May 18, 2015. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Petty Officer 3rd Class Devon J. Doyle, 21, of Alamosa, Colorado, died May 16, in Manama, Bahrain, of a non-combat related incident while on liberty. The incident is under[Read More…]