Veteran's I.D. Card Update -Veterans Affairs

On July 20, 2015 President Obama signed into law H.R. 91 The Veteran's I.D. Card Act of 2015.

This directs the VA to issue an ID card to those who served honorably in the Armed Forces.

This is just for identification and to prove you are actually a veteran. It does not grant any VA benefits
or access to military bases.

For the many business and private enterprises that offer discounts to veterans and service members, most of whom require proof of service, this should make things easier. It will be a federal issued
ID, and you will no longer have to carry a copy of your DD-214.

The bill as written said that VA could begin to issue the card in 60 days. VA will have to make sure
that all plans are in place and they are ready to go. It might take a little longer than that

For some reason it appears that the VFW was against this idea, claiming it would further burden
the VA. The American Legion while not against the ID Card stated some of the same things as
the VFW.

There was also a member of the VA who spoke against the card in a Congressional meeting. So
that might make things a little more difficult.

To obtain the ID Card you will have to go to the VA with copy of your DD-214 and pay a small
fee, which has yet to be determined. So this makes it cost neutral to the government.

As more plans are finalized the VA should publish information on availability and procedures needed,
places to obtain this card.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996