DATE; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Contact: John Reiger (916) 207-4595 or (916) 996-9170


Rep. Doris Matsui - finally - agrees to meet
with veterans group after threat to occupy her office;
vets concerned about health of troops at home and in war

SACRAMENTO – Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) – after a national veterans
organization said it was going to occupy her office if she refused to discuss
veterans health and other concerns – agreed Wednesday morning to set up an
office visit between her and the vets.

Rep. Matsui, who has refused to meet with Veterans for Peace for about five
years, agreed – in writing – to set aside October 12 for an office visit with
Veterans for Peace, a national veterans group with a chapter in Sacramento.

The agreement was made late Wednesday morning as more than a dozen veterans and
their supporters – backed by phone calls from veterans all across the country –
prepared to walk into Rep. Matsui's office without an appointment.

"We are pleased Rep. Matsui through her staff has reserved a time to finally
meet with us and hear our concerns about the escalating violence in Afghanistan
and the health of U.S. troops and veterans," said John Reiger, the president of
VFP in Sacramento who negotiated the agreement with Nathan Dietrich, district
director for the congressperson.

Reiger said that while his group appreciates Rep. Matsui not voting to further
fund the Iraq War, she is now voting to fund an escalation of the war in
Afghanistan.

Citing reports this week that August set a record for U.S. deaths (295) in
Afghanistan, Reiger said: "We are deeply concerned about the rising level of
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan, and the increasing number of suicides of troops. We
are just sinking deeper into quicksand."

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