United Veterans Legislative Council

03/14/2022

UVLC Members,
You are invited to attend and participate at our Legislative Symposium hosted by NDVS & UVLC in Las Vegas on 3/19/22, and Reno on 3/26/22 - NO COST! Details are below.
As the COVID-19 becomes classified an endemic, we will be able to return to meeting together in all of the ways we have in the past. We will still use Zoom [or some equivalent] when it could involve more members. With our activities having been placed on hold, it will be great to get back into our routines. I’ve missed our get togethers. We are ready to resume our legislative activities in full force. We cannot do it without you; your input and support matter the most!
This Symposium will be like those in the past, but we are adding the recommendations made by the three Nevada State Veterans Council/Commission/Committee:
 Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs [ICVA]
 Veterans Service Commission [VSC]
 Women Veteran Advisory Committee [WVAC]
Each of these appointed members, like you, are deeply involved in Veterans issues.
You will see their top 10 recommendations posted on the list of issues along with yours as we prioritize our lists.

Please register! [free] at https://veterans.nv.gov/sign-up-for-the-nevada-veterans-legislative-symposia/

I hope to see you there.

Join us for the 2022 Nevada Veterans Legislative Symposia. The Reno and Las Vegas events serve as an important platform […]

01/30/2019

UVLC Meeting AGENDA for 02/01/2019
[Friday] 3:00 – 5:00PM
Teleconferenced at Carson City, Las Vegas, Reno, Elko, Winnemucca, & Pahrump

Agenda:
1. Pledge.
2. Roll Call of Officers/Board, Members & Introductions of visitors.
Note: due to multiple locations, each location will be polled and those present
will be recorded on the sign-in list.
3. Minutes Approval [Vote]
4. Old Business:
a. Constitutional change and recording [Status]
b. Review/Discuss Interim Legislative Committees (ILC) [None]
c. Review BDR deadlines & Possible BDRs to consider w/sponsor(s)
• _CR “Authorization enacting the creation of a Nevada State Veterans Museum in Carson City, Nevada”;
• _CR “Enacting Women's Military History Week - State of Nevada”
d. BDR/BILL Status/Review/Strategies [973 BDR’s currently]
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/80th2019/BDRList
e. Update on UVLC Logo/Pin & Patch – applied for grant/awaiting award
f. Lobbyist Registration – N/C Military/Veteran [Discuss]
5. New Business:
a. Governor State-of-the-State Priorities [discuss]
b. Legislative Committee schedules tracking [none]
c. UVLC Committees/Subcommittees reports/Strategies [Discuss priorities]
d. VAMDAL Committee Appointments: Roach, Spenser, Henson
6. Special pre-arranged Presentations [None]
7. Announcements & Good of the Order.
a. Review NNVH Chapel Dedication of 12/14 [Discuss]
8. Next Meeting upon the call of the Chairman/Vice-Chairman.
PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS: (Room # subject to change)
Carson City - Western Nevada College [WNC]
2201 W College Pkwy, Bldg. REY, RM #101
Carson City, NV 89703
Las Vegas - College of Southern Nevada [CSN]
6375 W Charleston Blvd, Bldg. H, RM #105
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Reno - Truckee Meadows Community College [TMCC]
7000 Dandini Blvd, Bldg. Sierra RM #100
Reno, NV 89512
Elko - Great Basin College [GBC]
1500 College Parkway, HTC RM #121
Elko, NV 89801
Winnemucca - Great Basin College [GBC]
5490 Kluncy Canyon Rd, RM # 115
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Pahrump – Great Basin College [GBC]
551 E Calvada Blvd, RM #??
Pahrump, NV 89048

01/22/2019

The public is invited to attend the 2019 Veterans Legislative Summit in Reno coming up this Saturday. The Veterans Summit is conducted by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services in partnership with the United Veterans Legislative Council.
The Veterans Legislative Summit provides the opportunity to learn:
• How to contact and talk with your Nevada State Representative
• Upcoming legislation that matters to veterans and their families.
• How to get involved and track bills of concern to veterans in the upcoming 2019 session of the Nevada Legislature
The Summit will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Washoe Senior Center, located at 1155 East 9th Street. Coffee and networking begin at 8:15 AM. The Summit runs from 9:00 AM through 11:30 AM. Save your seat by registering here: https://bit.ly/2T2OyUe or call 775-825-9748.

The event is designed to provide summary information from the Legislative Symposia, and review current State issues regarding veterans and veteran supporters for the upcoming 2019 Legislative session. The Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS), in partnership with the United Veterans Legislat...

12/20/2018

2019 Veterans Legislative Summit
Please save the date and mark your calendar.

The event is designed to provide information to veterans and veteran supporters about the upcoming 2019 Legislative session. The Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS), in partnership with the United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC), will be hosting the upcoming event in southern and northern Nevada. The dates and locations are as follows:

January 12, 2019
VA Southern Nevada Medical Center
Auditorium
6900 North Pecos Road
North Las Vegas, Nevada
8:15 AM – Coffee and networking
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Summit

January 26, 2019
Washoe County Senior Center
Main Multi-Purpose Room
1155 East 9th Street
Reno, Nevada
8:15 AM – Coffee and networking
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Summit

The UVLC will be on hand to provide information about potential legislation that could impact veterans or their families. Participants will also learn from the UVLC about the legislative process, how to track bills, and how veterans or their families can become engaged.

Please help us spread the word! We look forward to seeing you there!

11/27/2018

***UVLC MEETING NOTICE: 11/30/2018 at 1500***
Now that the elections are over, the real work begins! Regardless of which party is in the leadership, we will work with all sides in a neutral position of Veteran-centric, issues-driven agenda to benefit all Nevada Veterans, Military and their families.

UVLC Meeting AGENDA for 11/30/2018
[Friday] 3:00 – 5:00PM
Teleconferenced at Carson City, Las Vegas, Reno, Elko, & Winnemucca

Agenda:
1. Pledge.
2. Roll Call of Officers/Board, Members & Introductions of visitors.
Note: due to multiple locations, each location will be polled and those present
will be recorded on the sign-in list.
3. Minutes Approval [Vote]
4. Old Business:
a. Constitutional change and recording [Status]
b. Review/Discuss Interim Legislative Committees (ILC)
c. Review BDR deadlines & Possible BDRs to consider w/sponsors
 _JR “Authorization enacting the creation of a
Nevada State Veterans Museum in Carson City, Nevada”;
 _JR “Enacting Women's Military History Week - State of Nevada”
5. New Business:
a. BDR/BILL Status/Review/Strategies [559 BDR’s currently]
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/80th2019/BDRList
b. Legislative Committee schedules tracking [none]
c. UVLC Committees/Subcommittees reports/Strategies [Discuss priorities]
d. NNVH Chapel Dedication 12/14 [Discuss]
e. UVLC Logo/Pin [Discuss/Adopt] *
f. Lobbyist Registration – N/C Military/Veteran [Discuss]
6. Special pre-arranged Presentations
a. National Guard Youth Challenge Program
7. Announcements & Good of the Order.
8. Next Meeting [pending confirmation] Scheduled February 1, 2019 at 1500:

PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS: (Room # subject to change)
Carson City - Western Nevada College [WNC]
2201 W College Pkwy, Bldg. REY, RM #101
Carson City, NV 89703
Las Vegas - College of Southern Nevada [CSN]
6375 W Charleston Blvd, Bldg. H, RM #105
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Reno - Truckee Meadows Community College [TMCC]
7000 Dandini Blvd, Bldg. Sierra RM #100
Reno, NV 89512
Elko - Great Basin College [GBC]
1500 College Parkway, HTC RM #121
Elko, NV 89801
Winnemucca - Great Basin College [GBC]
5490 Kluncy Canyon Rd, RM # 115
Winnemucca, NV 89445

08/29/2018

August 29, 2018
Many calls have come in asking what the UVLC is doing to prepare for the upcoming Session in February 2019. Actually there are several things in the pipeline. But let me start with the most pressing.
PLEASE ATTEND ANY CANDIDATE’S FORUM, RALLY, OR EVENT WHERE THE PUBLIC IS INVITED. Be an informed advocate where you know the issues, and proposed solutions, if any. Remember, the UVLC’s primary mission is to promote or defend NEVADA’S Veteran, Military, or family ISSUES facing our most deserving heroes.
While we don’t specifically engage in Federal issues, doesn’t mean we put out heads in the sand. Moreover, while we don’t get into the politics of issues, we still must be acutely aware of the political games frequently being played out.
BEING AN INFORMED ADVOCATE requires a lot of involvement and interaction with Veterans organizations, and State & Federal agencies. Rarely will you be handed the information; you have to seek it out, analyze it, and prepare yourself for the opportunity to focus a candidate’s response to determine if they are/will become a Veteran-Friendly supporter.
Push the issue until you are sure of their stance. Keep your issues focused to one, two, or three. You will confuse and/or overwhelm the candidate otherwise. [Or, open the door to a rambling politician!] Ideally, keep asking the same questions of each candidate. This is where a team approach works well with other Advocates. Be careful about being side-tracked by the candidate.
MAINTAIN YOUR FOCUS. Several things happen when you do this… FIRST You will know which candidate you personally would be willing to give your vote, &/or support as a Citizen. Remember, the UVLC does not support a candidate or party to maintain our political neutrality. NEXT, you will become much more informed about the issues you bring since frequently someone from the audience will have additional information that can be new to you as you find new allies. LASTLY, you may stumble upon the actual solution, &/or find a legislative sponsor.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS AT 1500 ON NOVEMBER 30, 2018, teleconferenced Statewide as in the past where we will discuss those newly elected and those who retained their seats. A complete Agenda will be published in advance.
Tony Yarbrough-UVLC Chairman

02/24/2018

***MARK YOUR CALENDARS***The NDVS/UVLC Legislative Symposium is set.***
RENO Venue is on March 24, 2018 at Washoe Senior Center, 1155 East 9th Street.
LAS VEGAS Venue is on March 31, 2018 at the VA Medical Center, 6900 N. Pecos Road in North Las Vegas. Please register FREE for either event or both at 775-771-2800.
The symposia is an opportunity to bring various perspectives together to help understand and identify Veterans issues and concerns. From this NDVS/UVLC will assemble all ideas and issues of concern in the Veteran and Military community, and develop a list of prioritized legislative recommendations. Look for more information on the NDVS website, www.veterans.nv.gov,
PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL NEVADA VETERANS!!!

01/10/2018

Greetings All,
NDVS/UVLC Legislative Symposium planning is underway. The **proposed** dates are March 24 in Reno, and March 31 in Las Vegas. The actual venues have *NOT* been determined. If you see any major conflict with these dates, please contact David Johnson, NDVS, at (775) 825-9846, or Tony Yarbrough, UVLC, at (775) 410-0554 [MSG CTR]
to discuss. All will be firmed up by February 15, 2018, and announced formally thereafter.
Historically, this is among the highest opportunities for anyone in the Veteran community to personally gather to bring forward pressing issues needing possible legislative solutions.
Share with all Veterans, Military and families, please.

01/05/2018

UVLC Members,
2018 brings a renewed commitment for the UVLC to identify, research, assign, prioritize, and seek legislative remedies to enhance and improve the lives of our Military and Veterans, and our families.
A very big shout out to everyone who worked very long and hard to get **25** Bills into law in the 75th Legislative Session (2017). This is unprecedented success in ANY State!!

Very soon along with NDVS, we will begin the Legislative Symposium planning. Dates for this event will be formally announced as they are confirmed. This is among our largest source of issues identified by the entire Military and Veteran community in Nevada. Also considered are those hanging issues that may need to be revisited from past Legislative Sessions. There is little time to rest… much to be done.

We are often viewed by outsiders as a semi-dormant organization that raises our head when someone mentions the Nevada State Legislature. Somewhat true, we choose to be behind the scenes protecting our reputation for being politically neutral. The reward in doing so has earned us a good balance and trust among the political parties where they know and understand our position and ethics are clearly about the “issues”.

Building upon our successes, we will be honoring our UVLC Constitution and hold elections for our new officers and board. Following the elections, the new leadership will set the tone for the interim and pending Legislative Session. We’ll continue to place emphasis on Friday at 1500 meetings to allow maximum participation to include those who are gainfully employed. Since the Tele-conferencing system from NSHE was such a great success, we want to continue the same locations as before; Carson City (WNC), Reno (TMCC), Las Vegas (CSN-Charleston), Elko (GBC), and Winnemucca (GBC).

Please anticipate regular UVLC Meetings in late January, April, July, October, and November (after the election dust settles), unless sub-committee meetings are called. January will establish Legislative Interim review committees; Legislative sub-committees will be established to plan Bill drafts in April; July will review and solidify sub-committee leadership; October will develop strategies; and November will identify relationship building efforts.

Our success has been and continues to be because of you; your high dedication and commitment has made Nevada the leading state nationally for our Military and Veterans, and our families. THANK YOU!

OUR NEXT MEETING IS JANUARY 26, 1500

PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS: (Room # subject to change)
Carson City - Western Nevada College [WNC]
2201 W College Pkwy, Bldg. REY, RM #101
Carson City, NV 89703

Las Vegas - College of Southern Nevada [CSN]
6375 W Charleston Blvd, Bldg. H, RM #105
Las Vegas, NV 89146

Elko - Great Basin College [GBC]
1500 College Parkway, HTC RM #121
Elko, NV 89801
Winnemucca - Great Basin College [GBC]
5490 Kluncy Canyon Rd, RM # TBD
Winnemucca, NV 89445

Reno - Truckee Meadows Community College [TMCC]
7000 Dandini Blvd, Bldg. Sierra RM #100

12/16/2017

I was intrigued by this TED TALK about Joan Blades and John Gable wanting you to make friends with people who vote differently than you do. A pair of political opposites, the two longtime pals know the value of engaging in honest conversations with people you don't immediately agree with.
This fits well into our continuing challenges as we lobby for Veterans. Take a look, and let me know what you think...

Joan Blades and John Gable want you to make friends with people who vote differently than you do. A pair of political opposites, the two longtime pals know the value of engaging in honest conversations with people you don't immediately agree with. Join them as they explain how to bridge the gaps in�...

08/31/2017

The UVLC was well represented at Congressman Mark Amodei’s Veterans Town Hall on Monday 8/29/17 in Minden. The Congressman was in his usual comfort zone speaking to an all-Veteran packed room of about 50. He conducted his casual, but fact-filled conversations among those with questions, but included everyone. Also present besides his busy note-taking staff were representatives from Senator Heller’s office, the Reno VA, and the Reno VBA. Additionally, I recognized most of the local Veterans organizations such as WAVE, VRC, VFW, VVA, AL, PHA, and some representing more than one organization. No one was left out, and everyone had their chance to ask pointed question of the congressman. Among the many of these I have attended I will say this was filled with direct answers, prompted by good questions. Sometimes Mark would side-track himself in an attempt to be thorough, not wanting to leave out any pertinent information. The 2-1/2 hours went by fast. Overall, the affair was civil, respectful, and an excellent exchange of information from everyone in attendance. I enjoyed the event! If you attended, chime-in, and share your experiences, too.

06/17/2017

Governor Sandoval signed SB 546 today. The Northern Nevada Veterans Home is now a reality. Ground breaking happens 17 July!