Petition to #SaveMyVA from AIR Commission Closures

President Biden, U.S. Senators and Representatives

On March 14th, VA Secretary Denis McDonough issued recommendations destined for review by the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission, a board created by the 2018 VA MISSION Act, a bill designed to promote vast privatization of VA healthcare. If approved, Sec. McDonough's recommendations would:

- Close large segments of the VA health care system, including at least 17 integrated VA medical centers around the country

- Destroy tens of thousands of union jobs in communities across the country

- Deny veterans their preferred choice in health care providers

- Force our nation’s heroes to find their own care from a patchwork of for-profit providers

VA leadership in Washington D.C. claims it has no choice but to follow the MISSION Act. This legislation dictates that they must close dozens of VA medical centers, clinics, treatment centers and nursing homes and drastically cut outpatient & inpatient services at hundreds of additional locations. It's time for VA workers, veterans, and all Americans to demand that our local, state, and national leaders put a stop to this assault on veterans’ care. It’s time to let the air out of the AIR Commission, halt the Senate confirmation of AIR commissioners, and repeal Title 2 of the MISSION Act. Closing VA facilities must be entirely off the table. Our promise to veterans will not be broken and this closure commission must be stopped.

Here are the facts:

  1. Over one-third of all veterans’ medical visits have already been sent outside of the VA system

  2. And more than 25% of VA healthcare dollars have already been diverted to the private, for-profit sector as a result of the VA MISSION Act.

  3. One-third of the union jobs at the VA that the AIR commission would destroy are held by veterans themselves.

If the closure recommendations take effect, millions of veterans needing surgery, intensive care, emergency care, substance abuse treatment, skilled nursing home care and inpatient mental health care will be forced to rely on private, for-profit hospitals that have little to no specialized experience in meeting the unique needs of America's veterans.

***Note: Make sure to use your personal email address to sign the petition.

Sponsored by
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AFGE Activists
Washington, DC

To: President Biden, U.S. Senators and Representatives
From: [Your Name]

On March 14th, VA Secretary Denis McDonough issued recommendations destined for review by the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission, a board created by the 2018 VA MISSION Act, a bill designed to promote vast privatization of VA healthcare. If approved, Sec. McDonough's recommendations would:
- Close large segments of the VA health care system, including at least 17 integrated VA medical centers around the country
- Destroy tens of thousands of union jobs in communities across the country
- Deny veterans their preferred choice in health care providers
- Force our nation’s heroes to find their own care from a patchwork of for-profit providers

VA leadership in Washington D.C. claims it has no choice but to follow the MISSION Act. This legislation dictates that they must close dozens of VA medical centers, clinics, treatment centers and nursing homes and drastically cut outpatient & inpatient services at hundreds of additional locations.

*** It's time for VA workers, veterans, and all Americans to demand that our local, state, and national leaders put a stop to this assault on veterans’ care. It’s time to let the air out of the AIR Commission, halt the Senate confirmation of AIR commissioners, and repeal Title 2 of the MISSION Act. Closing VA facilities must be entirely off the table. Our promise to veterans will not be broken and this closure commission must be stopped. ***

Here are the facts:
1. Over one-third of all veterans’ medical visits have already been sent outside of the VA system
2. And more than 25% of VA healthcare dollars have already been diverted to the private, for-profit sector as a result of the VA MISSION Act.
3. One third of the union jobs at the VA that the AIR commission would destroy are held by veterans themselves.

If the closure recommendations take effect, millions of veterans needing surgery, intensive care, emergency care, substance abuse treatment, skilled nursing home care and inpatient mental health care will be forced to rely on private, for-profit hospitals that have little to no specialized experience in meeting the unique needs of America's veterans.