This week's stories... TOXIC EXPOSURE FOR K2 VETS WHERE TO FIND HELP WHEN DISASTER STRIKES CONFRONTING RACISM WITHIN THE RANKS ______ Bipartisan bill would require VA to care for toxin-exposed veterans https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bipartisan-bill-would-require-va-to-care-for-toxin-exposed-veterans/ar-BB1e1pOR?ocid=superapp-news ______ Disaster Resources https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/85028/get-assistance-natural-disaster/ ______ Black Veterans Project Honest Reckoning - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/military-needs-honest-reckoning-over-racism-in-its-ranks-says-black-veteran/ar-BB1dZ2YE?ocid=superapp-news NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/opinion/sunday/trump-va-racism.html Racial Disparity Study https://www.jstor.org/stable/3767765?seq=1 It’s time for an “honest reckoning” when it comes to racism in the military, says Richard Brookshire of the Black Veterans Project. Half of minority service members report witnessing racism among fellow troops. New Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the first African American to serve in the role, has acknowledged racism in the armed forces. In one of his first acts as SEC DEF, Austin issued a "stand down" order across the military to address extremism in its ranks. A necessary first step, according to Brookshire but more needs to be done. For more information about the black veterans project, go to https://www.blackveteransproject.org/