TDVA Commissioner Receives Federal Appointment

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder is honored to accept United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s appointment to the VA Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans. 

The VA Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans is authorized to provide advice to the Secretary on the needs of minority Veterans regarding health care, rehabilitation benefits, compensation, outreach and other programs administered by VA. 

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of minorities serving in the Armed Forces is increasing, leading to a more socially and ethnically diverse military.  However, minority Veterans are less likely to utilize VA Healthcare or file claims for federal benefits.

There are nearly 83,000 minority Veterans and more than 51,000 women Veterans living in Tennessee.

“It is an incredible honor to serve all Tennessee Veterans and this appointment from Secretary Shinseki will not only give minority Veterans another voice, but will also add the spirit of the Volunteer State to the Committee,” Grinder said.  “As a woman Veteran of Filipino descent, I am extremely excited to collaborate with other members of the Committee to find solutions to improve how we support, serve and reach minority Veterans,”

For more information, visit the department’s web site at www.tn.gov/veteran, facebook/myTDVA or twitter @TNDVA.

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