New York is home to over 838,000 veterans who have put their lives on the line fighting for their country. After their brave service and sacrifice, we must ensure our commitments to them are upheld which is why I have made it a top priority to fight for better access to healthcare and benefits for our veterans.
Making informed policy decisions on behalf of Long Island veterans is of the utmost importance to me. That is why I launched my Veterans Advisory Council, a standing advisory body comprised of local veterans and veterans’ groups that provides guidance and recommendations on issues of importance to our nation’s heroes. The Veterans Advisory Council helps me better advocate for the Long Island veteran community and address the challenges veterans are facing. One of my first acts in Congress was introducing the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act which would require the VA to conduct a review of suicides among veterans committed in the last five years in order to determine the best way to safeguard the mental health of our nation’s heroes after surviving the horrors of war.
I have supported legislation like the Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act and the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act to ensure veterans exposed to harmful toxins during their service receive the healthcare they deserve. I introduced the VSO Support Act to help keep veterans halls, American legions, VFW Posts, and other Veteran Service Organizations open and operational in the wake of COVID shutdowns and pushed back against the Biden Administration’s ill-conceived proposed service cuts to the Northport VA Medical Center which would significantly impact access to care. We are forever indebted to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces, and to their families. I will always make fighting on their behalf a top priority in Congress.