Veterans

Veterans

I have continually supported proposals that would bolster funding for the VA, provide job and educational opportunities for veterans, and provide support to Gold Star families. Specifically, I have:

  • Ensured access to benefits for Palomares Veterans: introduced the Palomares Veterans Act, to remove barriers to benefits and compensation for the veterans who responded to the 1966 nuclear accident in Palomares, Spain. This bill was signed into law as part of a larger package titled the Promising to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

  • Fought hunger among our nation’s disabled veterans: introduced the Feed Hungry Veterans Act after chairing a hearing on veterans hunger on the Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee. This legislation would remove barriers to bedrock nutrition programs for veterans with disabilities that preclude them from work.

  • Championed benefits for Gold Star Families: introduced the Caring for Survivors Act. This bipartisan bill would increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits for surviving military families by approximately $300 per month, and allow more survivors to become eligible for benefits by reducing the amount of time the veteran must have been considered diabled to qualify.

  • Ensured women veterans have access to the health care they need: cosponsored the Deborah Sampson Act which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure gender-specific services are continuously available at every VA medical center and community-based outpatient clinic.

  • Supported the repeal of the Widow’s Tax: cosponsored legislation to repeal the “widow’s tax” on surviving military family benefits payments.

  • Advocated for resources to veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cosponsored legislation to ensure that National Guard service members deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic are provided with benefits like access to early retirement and post-9/11 GI bill benefits.

My office has been named the only certified Purple Heart office in the Northeast. This is due to the work my staff and I have done to help veterans in this district navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to access benefits, medals, and more.