Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1028

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

expressing this state's commitment to ensuring the cooperation of Arizona's Department of Veterans' Services and the Navajo Nation for the benefit of the veterans of the Navajo nation.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, 38 Code of Federal Regulations section 14.629 requires all service organizations and their representatives, agents and attorneys to be accredited with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist claimants in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for VA benefits; and

Whereas, Arizona's Department of Veterans' Services is a state organization accredited with the VA; and

Whereas, Arizona's Department of Veterans' Affairs is required to file an application for accreditation with the VA General Counsel for each person whom the Arizona department desires to be accredited as a representative of the agency; and

Whereas, the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration has expressed a desire to fund Navajo veterans service offices and officers with the necessary monies to be accredited and to fully meet the needs of the veterans within the Navajo Nation; and

Whereas, Arizona's Department of Veterans' Affairs has expressed a desire to clarify the policies and procedures for accrediting employees of the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration; and

Whereas, on June 24, 2016, the director of Arizona's Department of Veterans' Services and the President of the Navajo Nation entered into a memorandum of understanding in which the parties agreed to cooperate and act in good faith to ensure that the needs of the veterans of the Navajo Nation are met.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express their commitment to ensuring the cooperation of Arizona's Department of Veterans' Services and the Navajo Nation for the benefit of the veterans of the Navajo Nation.