I know firsthand the dedication that our service members have to the cause of freedom and democracy. After my own service aboard a nuclear submarine as a strategic missile officer, I admire the courage and sacrifice that many make so that our country can sleep peacefully at night. These men and women deserve to come home to a country that recognizes their efforts, and gives them support during their time of need.
I am a proud cosponsor of the Guard VA Benefits Act (H.R.1139), which aims to ensure that veterans are fully aware of the benefits available to them, without fear of predatory practices that rely on a lack of information. I understand the difficulty of transitioning to civilian life after service, and navigating the complicated benefit process is often daunting. Unfortunately, non-accredited entities have used the complexity of this process to take advantage of veterans and charge fees for help with benefit claims.
Additionally, I cosponsored the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (H.R. 8340), which would redefine the current Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) eligibility requirements for housing assistance. Currently, many veterans with disabilities are unable to access housing programs for veterans because of how their income is classified. The more severe a disability is, the more disability benefits a veteran receives, and the less likely it is that they can access veterans housing assistance under current definitions. This bill makes a much-needed fix so that disabled veterans are not penalized in the process of finding safe housing.
I also cosponsored the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), which will help strengthen access to healthcare for veterans in rural areas of America. I also cosponsored the Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Act of 2024 (H.R. 9449). This legislation, if passed, will help to ensure the men and women who served our nation have better access to high-quality mental health care resources through increasing the number of Community Care Network providers who have completed evidence-based suicide prevention training that is administered by the VA.
I remain committed to providing care and assistance for our nation’s veterans however possible. This is why my office held two Veterans Resource Fairs this year, one in Utica and one in Solvay. These resource fairs are used to familiarize those who served our country with the capabilities of my office’s casework team in assisting constituents as they interact with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. My staff of professional caseworkers has worked with hundreds of local veterans and their families since the beginning of 2023. My office takes its obligation to our America’s veterans seriously, and I’m proud of the work that the staff in my District Offices do every day to serve veterans across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.
As the 118th Congress moves forward, I will continue to look for ways to stand with veterans and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive in civilian life.
