Field Report: New Mexico VFW Hosts Congressional Town Hall

Members of Congress are home in their districts this week, and VFW advocates have taken the opportunity to meet directly with their leaders on veterans’ issues.

On Tuesday, March 13, VFW Post 7686 in Alamogordo, N.M., hosted a veterans’ town hall forum where post members and area veterans had an opportunity to meet with Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and State Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogordo, to candidly discuss a variety of veterans’ issues like VA benefits-delivery and health care.

VFW National Legislative Committee Vice-Chairman B.J. Lawrence, who helped to organize the event, was able to utilize the forum as a follow-up visit with Pearce, after meeting with him on Capitol Hill during last week’s VFW National Legislative Conference.

Pearce reiterated that he was opposed to any cuts to our nation’s active duty military and would continue to support legislation in favor of both the military and veterans.

The congressman also co-hosted a veterans’ job fair on Tuesday in Alamogordo, where employers were prepared to offer approximately 3,000 jobs to veterans. Veterans from the area and from neighboring states came out to participate in the event.

To submit your Field Reports for consideration on the VFW’s Capitol Hill blog, simply fill out our online form here, or send photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

(Images: Top: Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., fields questions from veterans during the recent veterans’ town hall meeting at VFW Post 7686 in Alamogordo, N.M. Bottom: VFW National Legislative Committee Vice-Chairman B.J. Lawrence and Congressman Pearce commended U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Priscilla Chavez for her service in Iraq during the recent veterans’ town hall at VFW Post 7686. Chavez currently serves in the 49th Maintenance Squadron at Hollman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Story and photos courtesy of B.J. Lawrence.)