Biden to address vets group in Las Vegas Aug. 4

Vice President Joe Biden is returning to Las Vegas, this time to attend the Disabled American Veterans conference Aug. 4-7, the organization announced Thursday.

Biden is scheduled to deliver the opening address Saturday, Aug. 4.

Actors J.R. Martinez and Gary Sinise also will be recognized with special awards for their contributions to the veterans community.

The convention of nearly 4,000 veterans will be held at Bally's. Issues to discuss will include what actions the Veterans Affairs Department and Congress are taking to eliminate a backlog for delivering benefits to veterans, the group said.

The veterans vote could be key in the White House race in Nevada with about 300,000 veterans living in the battleground state, 10 percent of the population.

Earlier this week, both President Barack Obama and his GOP presidential challenger, Mitt Romney, addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars conference meeting in Reno.

Obama touted military successes under his watch, including ending the war in Iraq, drawing down troops in Afghanistan and setting a timetable for going home, and the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Romney slammed the president for cutting defense funding and accused him of allowing his White House to leak national security secrets about Iran and other countries that could put the United States in jeopardy.

Biden was in Las Vegas on July 10 to address Hispanics leaders at the National Council of La Raza convention.

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.