Following a presentation to the mid-winter meeting of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), Harry N. Walters, former US Veterans’ Administrator and now Managing Commissioner of the independent Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans (www.future4vets.org), said that "State Veterans' Departments are critical to ensuring benefits and services can be provided to veterans in the future."

"The VA of today cannot survive Washington's deadly budget battles much longer," Walters said. "Only by bringing about dramatically new ideas and more robust partnerships with States and other entities can we provide what our veterans have earned and will desperately need in the future," he said.

"Our independent, non-governmental and non-partisan Commission is charged with establishing a visionary, critically-needed plan to ensure that our veterans will have the resources and assistance they require when returning from the hazards of war," said Walters.

"There is an economic train wreck looming that could seriously jeopardize VA's ability to provide for veterans within a few short years. The Commission is looking at new models that could align state governments and other important partners to provide efficient veterans services in collaboration with the federal government to save the system for our veterans," Walters said.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Commission with State Directors and particularly pleased by their thoughtful input and interest in supporting the Commission's work." Walters said.

Fellow Commissioner Ray Boland, a former State Director from Wisconsin and Past President of NASDVA, introduced Walters, pointing out that the Commission enjoys strong interest from congressional and government leaders and is the only national entity addressing the serious challenges facing veterans’ services for the future.

Many NASDVA members, including President John Garcia from New Mexico, pledged support for the Commission as it visits cities around the country. State Directors LeRoy Collins from Florida and Tom Johnson from California offered support for the Commission's upcoming meetings in Tampa, Florida in March, and San Diego, California in May.

The Commission is currently engaged in a multi-state tour "Conversations on the Future for America's Veterans", actively seeking input from military veterans, veterans' experts, and other Americans interested in supporting veterans. The "Conversations" tour began at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia in January and will continue with another National Town Hall meeting on March 14 in Tampa. That meeting will also be simulcast over the Web as a 'virtual' town hall meeting.

The Commission on the Future for America's Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how the government can meet those needs. Over the next 15 months, the Commission will hold meetings and conduct independent research to develop and deliver their recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008. The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization founded by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and AMVETS.