VSOs/MSOs SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR VISION TRAUMA RESEARCH IN LETTER TO CONGRESS

(Washington, D.C.) Today, NAEVR Member Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) released a letter it has sent to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittees requesting $10 million for the Department of Defense’s Vision Trauma Research Program (VTRP) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Defense Appropriations bill.

BVA was joined by signatories Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart USA, Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, the National Association of Uniformed Services, AMVETS, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, and the Association of the United States Navy. The American Legion also sent its own letter. Combined, the groups represent over 5 million veterans.

“NAEVR deeply appreciates the support of the VSOs and MSOs in our efforts to increase defense vision research funding, especially since we face a challenging FY2015 budget cycle,” said NAEVR Executive Director James Jorkasky.

Earlier this year, the FY2015 edition of the VSO/MSO Independent Budget—an annual set of recommendations to Congress regarding Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding which is developed by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and supported by 53 other Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and Military Service Organizations (MSOs), including NAEVR—recommended that Congress provide $10 million in funding for the VTRP.

The National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) is a 501(c)4 non-profit advocacy coalition comprised of 55 professional, consumer, and industry organizations involved in eye and vision research. Visit the Web site at www.eyeresearch.org.