VCOC Legislative Mission

The Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) is the coordinating organization for the Military Officers Association of America in Virginia. There are over 40,000 MOAA members in the Commonwealth and the VCOC provides the forum for the 18 MOAA chapters in Virginia to develop common policies and objectives. Our Richmond Area Chapter is one of these member chapters of the Virginia Council of Chapters.

Just as MOAA members served in leadership roles on active duty, they continue to serve in leadership positions in veteran service organizations (VSOs), and on many Virginia boards and commissions that address veterans' issues. The VCOC benefits from this diverse experience as it works to support the needs and concerns of veterans throughout the Commonwealth and act as a proponent for uniformed services, retiree, survivor and veterans' issues at the state level. The VCOC holds a seat on the Joint Leadership Council of the Board for Veterans Services. This coalition of 23 veterans organizations is united to "speak with one voice" in promoting issues which support active-duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, survivors and all veterans in the Commonwealth. The VCOC and its Richmond Area Chapter play key roles in the development of the legislative platform of the Joint Leadership Council (JLC).

Each January in past years, representatives from the 18 MOAA chapters in Virginia converged at the Virginia General Assembly for the "VCOC Storming the Hill."  During this day-long event, Virginia MOAA members meet with their state Senators and Delegates to advocate VCOC's state legislative objectives and acquire patrons and co-patrons for bills to support these objectives.  In the past few years with major rennovations to the General Assembly building and pandemic virus precautions, VCOC chapters have joined in the JLC Day on the Hill.

The 2025 JLC Day on the Hill was scheduled for January 23rd as an opportunity for General Assembly members and leaders from the Executive Branch to speak to the JLC about veteran and military-related issues for the upcoming General Assembly Session.

Information on how you can participate legislative affairs will be regularly published in the chapter newsletter.

State Legislative Goals

The RAC-MOAA Legislative Committee, along with the Board of Directors, worked diligently throughout the 2024 Virginia General Assembly including attending weekly meetings of the Military and Veterans Caucus & interacting with key legislators to discuss legislative matters affecting Military Personnel and their families.

As the 2024 General Assembly concluded, RAC-MOAA participated in Virtual & Live meetings with the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) in development of the legislative initiatives for the next 2025 General Assembly by the Joint Legislative Council (JLC) of Veterans Service Organizations.  The JLC is comprised of twenty-six Virginia Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), and MOAA through VCOC is among those twenty-six organizations. 

On 5 December 2024, RAC-MOAA hosted its 17th Annual Legislative Forum in two virtual sessions conducted at 0730 and 1500. Thirty- two attendees participated in the two sessions including nine legislators and/or legislative staff members.  Invited legislators included Virginia Delegates and Senators representing districts within RAC-MOAA’s operating territory.  The purpose of the Forum was to present the five 2025 JLC legislative initiatives.

These 2025 legislative initiatives include:

JLC 2025-01    Verification of Veteran Status

JLC 2025-02    Stop Unscrupulous Firms from Exploiting Veterans

JLC 2025-03    Virginia National Guard Tuition

JLC 2025-04    Suffolk State Veterans Cemetery Expansion

JLC 2025-05    Women Veterans Day
 

On the chapter website and in every issue of our newsletter, the chapter highlights participation in the MOAA Legislative Action Center and current issues for advocacy. Through the Virginia Council (VCOC), the chapter regularly participates in Advocacy in Action activities.

For the current status of the initiatives, click link JLC Matrix Update.

MOAA National Legislative Goals

Please be sure to sign up for The MOAA Newsletter online for updates.

Stay tuned by visiting the MOAA's Legislative Action Center.