Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Processes Used to Screen Veterans’ Organizations Questioned

May 26, 2010 - U.S. Senator Jim Webb (VA) wrote a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki. The focus of the letter was the U.S. Navy Veterans Association and the investigation launched into them. More specifically, Sen. Webb wants the VA to explain the screen processes they employ into veterans' services organizations (VSOs) that end up on the VA website.

The U.S. Navy Veterans Association may soon be able to ask for donations in Virginia. This presents a real problem as both the organization and its former director, Bobby Thompson, have been in question since the St. Petersburg Times launched an investigation into them. The investigation centered on: 

• Their fundraising;
• Their expenditures; and
• The existence of it's national and state directors

 Thompson's donation of $67,500 to Virginia candidates and incumbents right before the group began asking for legislation that would allow the U.S. Navy Veterans Association to collect funds without having to annually register with Virginia's Office of Consumer Affairs. Some of those who received contributions from the U.S. Navy Veterans Association are giving those donations to other veterans' organizations and some will not return the funds until they are told they must.

Sen. Webb is very concerned for veterans visiting the VA's Directory of Veterans Service Organizations and seeing the U.S. Navy Veterans Association listed there as being endorsed by the VA as being a credible organization. Webb's letter also asked the VA to explain what measures they have in place to guarantee once a VSO is put on the VA's website they continue to be beneficial to veterans.