Veterans Thread

[Irving Cowboy]

VA expands burn pit registry to include all Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
By Matthew M. Burke Stars and Stripes • August 2, 2024

The registry of people exposed to toxic fumes while serving in the U.S. military is now automatically including those who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or any of the Middle Eastern, African and Asian nations on a newly expanded list.

The revamped Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry contains the names of approximately 4.7 million current and former service members from campaigns as far back as 1990, the Defense Department said in a statement Thursday.

Legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to create the registry stemmed from the raft of medical issues reported by veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where burn pits were used extensively to dispose of trash.

“Being part of the registry is a way for individuals to help and improve our understanding of the challenges faced by service members and veterans affected by these exposures,” Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in the statement.

The latest version not only makes inclusion automatic and based on deployment location, but also eliminates the need for the questionnaire the VA had been using for registry enrollment.

Applicants found the 140-question document lengthy and difficult to answer, according to an October 2022 study released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

It found that the registry could not support research for the cause or origin of a veteran’s disease or condition or adequately monitor those exposed to airborne hazards.

It’s unclear whether the questionnaire is gone for good. A VA spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for clarification Friday.

As with the old system, no medical information is stored in the registry, the VA website said. The data includes military personnel information and demographics, such as service members’ gender, race and ethnicity, as well as deployment locations.

The data is accessible only to a select group of VA epidemiologists and researchers, it added.

The registry was launched in 2014 at the direction of Congress to spur clinical research and advance treatments for troops who had been exposed to toxic pollutants.

Those enrolled in the previous registry were carried over to the new system, the VA website said. Procedures have also been added so service members and veterans can opt out or re-enter the registry.

Active-duty service members can submit an inquiry to confirm their enrollment status, while veterans can contact their local environmental health coordinator, the VA said.

For anyone who wants to join the registry manually, instructions on the website explain the process. More information is available online or by phone at 1-800-698-2411.

Inclusion is based on Defense Department records and not on any specific exposure, the VA said. Veterans or service members, living or dead, will be enrolled if they served in:

Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom or New Dawn

Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Persian Gulf waters, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, Syria or Uzbekistan between Aug. 2, 1990 and Aug. 31, 2021

Somalia, Egypt or the Southeast Asian theater of military operations since Aug. 2, 1990

Afghanistan, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan or Yemen anytime after Sept. 11, 2001

Airspaces associated with the aforementioned countries. Care and benefits are not affected by participation in the burn pit registry, according to the VA website.

Read more at: VA expands burn pit registry to include all Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
Source - Stars and Stripes

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Opportunities for veterans are abundant in skilled trades

America has a trade career problem — and veterans can help solve it.

www.militarytimes.com

Opportunities for veterans are abundant in skilled trades
By Dave Lubach
Aug 15, 2024, 03:47 PM

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

America has a trade career problem — not enough qualified workers to fill jobs, and fewer and fewer young people over the years seem inspired to enter the field.

A report from The Hill in April revealed some of the alarming numbers:

• 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled if the employment gap isn’t filled.
• Bloomberg reported that the U.S. is projecting to be 550,000 plumbers short by 2027.
• According to the National Electric Contractors Association, nearly 30% of union electricians are nearing retirement.
• Aging workers are preparing to retire in careers such as construction and auto technicians.

The hiring atmosphere for positions in the skilled trades screams of opportunities for transitioning veterans looking to establish a career after separating from the military. Universal Technical Institute, a technical school that supports about 23,000 students across two divisions, including Concorde Career Colleges, and 33 campuses, is among the trade schools in the country welcoming veterans with open arms for the expanding number of opportunities available.

For veterans looking to continue or start their post-military education, the trades are an appealing option. Not only are tradespeople able to learn on the job without facing the skyrocketing costs of college tuition, trades candidates are in high demand and veterans can find great success seeking employment in them. Many of the available positions in the civilian world are duties that service members gained experience doing in the military.

“There are a lot of trades in the military, like diesel mechanics, avionics technicians, welders. Our clients have transferable skills,” says John Decouteau, VP of military admissions with UTI and also a military veteran. “When those folks come here, we evaluate their joint service transcripts, their training in the military, check their ability to test out and place them maybe in a one-year program. We help them get the civilian certifications or credentials and help them whenever possible.”

Military veterans and reservists make up about 25% of the student body for UTI, which has unique programs that they tailor to the needs of the students.

“After they enroll, we sit down and ask them, ‘What made you pick up the phone, what are you interested in and can we be what you’re looking for?’” said Julie Mueller, president of UTI’s campus in Austin, Texas. “We want to understand what their goals and motivations are, and we want to help them overcome any obstacles that they may have.”

Veterans can look to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill and vocational rehabilitation to help provide financial assistance to attend trade schools. But another luxury of the trades are the number of businesses willing to pay for students’ education to learn a trade and also serve as apprentices before getting hired full-time.

“We have more than 4,000 employers that will pay anywhere from $500 to their entire tuition for them to come work for them,” DeCouteau said. “We recently had an email from a company that said they would pay $30,000 to help with scholarships.”

Mueller said her institution’s most popular programs are its auto and diesel technician programs. They are separate programs, but many students take both to increase their marketability. Welding and HVAC/refrigeration programs are also popular with veterans. The school offers rolling enrollment options with classes lasting three weeks in length. Once one class is completed, another one starts.

“We can start students every three weeks and graduate a cohort into the industries every three weeks,” Mueller said. “Everything we do is set up to serve the industries’ needs.”

While veterans don’t often classify under the title of “traditional students,” Mueller said military members typically leave as some of the best students on campus.

“They know what it takes to be successful here, and they’re not only great on classwork but on professionalism,” Mueller said. “We have strict rules, where if you’re late to class, you’re getting an infraction, so veterans really understand that commitment. We have dress codes, follow safety guidelines and have to do online work every day. It’s a commitment.”

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Vets may see only a small cost-of-living boost in benefits next year
By Leo Shane II
Aug 19, 2024, 01:12 PM

Recipients of Social Security checks and veterans benefits payouts could see a cost-of-living adjustment of less than 3% in 2025, the lowest mark since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an independent watchdog group.

Officials from the Senior Citizens League — an affiliate of TREA: The Enlisted Association — last week announced their latest projection for Social Security COLA rates for the upcoming year, estimating the figure will be less than 2.6%.

In a statement, the group said that figure is “substantially lower” than the 3.2% adjustment that was implemented at the start of 2024. The cost-of-living adjustment rate hasn’t been below 3% since early 2020, when it was down to 1.3%.

Social Security officials typically announce their cost-of-living calculations for the coming calendar year in early October.

In recent years, estimates unveiled by the Senior Citizens League’s in late summer have come within a percentage point of the official adjustment mark.

The Social Security announcement is of particular interest to veterans because Congress annually ties the increase in veterans payouts to the Social Security Administration’s calculations.

About 5 million veterans and 2 million military retirees receive benefits checks each month through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The COLA-increase would apply to payouts for disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity benefits, as well as some other Veterans Affairs assistance programs.

For a veteran receiving $1,500 a month in disability payouts, a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.6% would mean an extra $39 each month. In 2023, that figure soared to 8.7%, or about $130 a month for that same veteran.

Social Security officials calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. If those laborers don’t see a rise in their annual salaries, federal planners can determine that no adjustment is needed.
However, Senior Citizens League officials said the government’s “failure to return inflation to pre-pandemic levels” has put additional pressure on seniors and veterans benefits recipients, making the size of the adjustment crucial for many the financial health of many households.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Government has clawed back more than $2.5B given to veterans to leave the military, data shows

“It felt like I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said an Army veteran who struggled to repay the roughly $74,000 incentive he received.

www.nbcnews.com

$2.5B given to veterans to leave the military, data shows
Aug. 23, 2024, 1:00 PM EDT
By Melissa Chan

The Department of Veterans Affairs has clawed back billions of dollars that countless veterans were given as incentive to leave the military, including when it needed to downsize, according to new data obtained by NBC News.

Disabled veterans have been told in the last 12 fiscal years to return nearly $3 billion in special separation pay — lump-sum incentives that were offered when the U.S. had to reduce its active-duty force or release slightly injured service members, the data shows.

Since fiscal year 2013, the earliest year for which the VA shared data, about 122,000 veterans have returned more than $2.5 billion so far, with about $364 million still left to be recouped, according to the VA.

“It felt like I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Damon Bird, who struggled to repay the roughly $74,000 incentive he received to leave the Army in 2015.

The VA said it is legally bound to recover separation payouts from veterans before those eligible can begin receiving disability compensation, due to a little-known federal law that prohibits them from receiving both, NBC News previously reported.

The obscure law — of which about a dozen military law and veterans policy experts said they did not have enough knowledge to weigh in on — has thrown many disabled veterans into financial and emotional despair since Congress authorized it in 1949.

“I felt like I had been used and abused.”

Bird, 54, said he and his wife had to leave their rental home in Haslet, Texas, to move in with their daughter in 2021 when the VA began withholding his monthly disability payment of more than $2,400 until he returned his separation pay.

“We were barely keeping up with our day-to-day cost of living,” said Bird, who was diagnosed with service-connected bladder cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. “It was already bad enough as it was, but I had already been dealing with mental health issues prior to losing that income.”

Army veteran Salahudin Majeed, now 73, still remembers the anguish he felt when the VA told him he needed to repay the special separation benefit he received in 1992.

The roughly $30,000 pre-tax payout was one of his greatest sources of pride at the time, he said.

“I took the stipend and I let my children read the check,” Majeed said. “I said, ‘We are never going to see this amount of money again in our lifetime.’”

Majeed said he put most of the money toward a down payment on a house for his growing family. Two years later, the VA said he had to repay the full incentive to receive disability compensation.

“I was depressed,” he said, adding that he was prescribed an antidepressant for the first time. “I felt like I had been used and abused.”
Veterans wage legal battles

Congress has prohibited service members from receiving two government benefits at the same time for the last 75 years, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In 1949, when Congress authorized disability severance pay — a special lump-sum payment given to service members who leave active duty because of minor physical disabilities — it specifically stated that the payout would have to be recouped through VA disability compensation, the research group said.

That provision was “fully justified when the amount of money involved is considered,” the House report that accompanied the bill said, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The justification of the recoupment rule carried over in the 1990s when other forms of special separation payments — unrelated to disabilities — were authorized. Those payments, including the Special Separation Benefit (SSB), were designed instead to help the Defense Department manage its force size.

Advocates say the recoupment statute should not be applied in those cases and that it robs veterans of earned benefits that should not be linked financially.

“They are two separate buckets of money.”

Marquis Barefield, advocate

While those separation incentives were based on a service member’s military career and calculated by years of active duty, disability pay solely relates to illnesses or injuries sustained during service, according to Marquis Barefield, an assistant national legislative director with DAV, an advocacy group formerly known as Disabled American Veterans.

“The two payments have nothing to do with each other,” Barefield said. “They are two separate buckets of money.”

Navy veteran John Colage, 62, is currently fighting his case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, arguing that the VA convoluted the law to justify recouping SSB payouts.

SSB was authorized by statute 10 U.S.C. 1174a, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said. Hayes said the amount of SSB must be recouped from VA disability compensation under a section of the law that applies to 1174a by virtue of a third section.

Colage said he believes the VA is incorrectly holding many disabled veterans to a section that pertains to retirement pay, not disability.

“They’re wrong,” he said. “They weren’t supposed to take this money.”

Colage, who survived the 1989 explosion on the USS Iowa that killed 47 people, said he received about $23,000 after taxes when he took an SSB payout in 1992. He was told to pay back the money in 2017 after he filed for VA disability for PTSD and other conditions. The VA has been withholding about $370 each month, he said.

“They’re screwing tens of thousands of veterans out of money,” Colage said.

The VA said it cannot comment on individual appeals. In a court motion this month, VA Secretary Denis McDonough’s attorney requested an extension to respond to Colage’s case by Sept. 16, citing, in part, his workload, court records show.

Majeed, the 73-year-old Army veteran, also received an SSB payout and similarly argued against his recoupment in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims nearly 30 years ago. But he ultimately lost.

In 1998, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals determined, among other things, that his “VA disability compensation is subject to recoupment of separation pay.”

“What I thought was rightfully mine,” Majeed said, “they were not going to give it to me.”
‘We need a statutory change’

Disabled veterans have long had issues with the law. Their concerns prompted Congress to require a study on the effects recoupment has had on veterans.

In 2022, the RAND Corp., the nonprofit research group that conducted the study, found that the law forced at least 79,000 veterans to repay different types of separation benefits from 2013 to 2020.

The actual number of affected veterans and the total amount of money recouped are likely much higher. The researchers noted in the study that they faced data limitations due to a major change the VA’s systems underwent in 2013, leaving as many as six decades unaccounted for.

Despite historic efforts by Congress to cement recoupment decades ago, at least one current member of Congress is now hoping to reverse it. In 2022, Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., introduced a bill that would eliminate recoupment of disability benefits.

“We need a statutory change,” he said. While there has been bipartisan support for the measure, Gallego said the legislative progress has been slow because it is costly.

Meanwhile, veterans who say they were not aware of the law when they took the payouts have been left to make significant and often agonizing life changes.

When Bird, the Army veteran who had to move in with his daughter, was given the involuntary separation pay of about $74,000, he thought it was comparable to layoff-related severance pay in the civilian world and used the funds to build a new life.

Bird relocated from Missouri to Texas, paid off his debts and tried out different careers until he landed a job as a high school math teacher at a school near his home.

“It was immense,” he said of the money’s impact. “For several years, we had gotten comfortable.”

Then, six years later, the VA sent him a letter, saying he should not have been receiving both disability and separation benefits without penalty.

“I gave up myself for almost 18 years to do everything I could to serve my country,” said Bird, a senior officer who completed two tours in Iraq, including during the initial invasion. “It was a dagger in the back.”

 

[Irving Cowboy]

This may apply to some of you...

VA delays rule change on how it pays veterans’ air ambulance services

VA delays rule change on how it pays veterans’ air ambulance services
By Leo Shane III
Sep 9, 2024, 12:51 PM

Veterans Affairs leaders have agreed to delay rule changes on specialty ambulance reimbursements until 2029, a win for advocates who warned that new policies could severely impact emergency services for veterans living in rural areas.

Before Friday’s announcement, the new rules were set to go into effect next February. Industry officials and department planners have sparred for years over the change, which would in many cases reduce the amount VA pays to air ambulance firms after those companies transport patients.

In a joint statement, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and ranking member Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., praised the VA decision. Both lawmakers have worked to stop the rule change, arguing that any plan that could hurt those ambulance services should be reconsidered.

“Emergency air and ground transportation services in Montana and rural America can be the difference between life and death,” Tester said. “VA’s rushed roll-out of its rate change for these services could have been the final straw for providers serving rural America, and I’m glad to see VA answering our call to fix this issue.”

One patient took an $880.72 ambulance, paid for by the Defense Health Agency, because of a cancerous tumor of the mouth — not a medical emergency.

Last fall, during a speech at the National Press Club, VA Secretary Denis McDonough pushed back on accusations that the rule change was a money-saving move. He insisted that federal regulations require ambulance providers to have a contract with the department or receive reimbursements at a rate set by Medicare, often lower than what they currently charge.

A 2018 report from the VA Inspector General found that of 227,000 specialty medical transportation invoices over a 15-month period, about 20% were not properly authorized. Investigators estimated that the department awards more than $20 million in improper payments annually.

But industry representatives have pushed back on that assertion, pointing to the unique costs and challenges associated with moving critically ill or injured patients in rural areas.

In a statement, Ben Clayton, chief executive officer of Life Flight Network, said the delay will “allow time for us to work together on a permanent solution while ensuring veterans maintain access to these critical, life-saving emergency services.”

Congress had already intervened to delay the reimbursement rule changes last year, including language in a budget bill last year to push back the implementation timeline from early 2024 to 2025. Now lawmakers will have several more years to negotiate a compromise between the emergency response firms and VA administrators.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Veterans' Disability, Education Benefits Could Be Held Up if Senate Doesn't Vote to Fill $3B Shortfall by Friday

Military.com | By Rebecca Kheel
Published September 18, 2024 at 10:18am ET

A $3 billion hole in veterans benefits funding is closer to being filled, but the Friday deadline to fix the issue without potentially disrupting payments to veterans is fast approaching, with lingering questions about whether the Senate can act quickly enough.

The House on Tuesday easily approved a bill to provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with $3 billion the agency says it needs in order to ensure benefits checks due Oct. 1 can go out on time. But the Senate still needs to approve the bill, and doing so before Friday will require the consent of every senator -- and at least one senator is raising the possibility of objecting.
Advertisement

Veterans have been urging Congress to move quickly to remove any doubt that they will get their benefits on time.

"Every day that we get closer to Sept. 20 is another 24 hours of uncertainty for thousands of veterans whose financial lives depend on this, and every member of Congress has a moral obligation to protect these crucial benefits that our nation's veterans have earned through their service to our great nation," Julia Mathis, national legislative director at the American Legion, said at a news conference last week.

In July, the VA informed Congress that it was short about $3 billion of what it needs for disability and education benefits for this fiscal year, which ends at the end of the month.

Officials attributed the shortfall to higher-than-expected benefits claims under the PACT Act, the sweeping law that expanded benefits for veterans exposed to toxins during their military service. GI Bill payments have also exceeded the department's earlier projections for this year, officials have said.

The VA gave Congress a Sept. 20 deadline to cover the shortfall, warning that benefits payments that are supposed to be sent Oct. 1 could be delayed if the funding isn't approved by then. The department chose that date because that is when it is supposed to send the Treasury Department a list of payments that need to go out at the end of the month, VA officials told House lawmakers in a hearing last week.

While Republicans bristled at what they characterized as VA "mismanagement" contributing to the shortfall, they also said they wouldn't punish veterans over their anger at department leadership. The bill was approved by voice vote in the House, meaning any opposition was negligible.

In addition to providing funding to cover the shortfall, the bill would require the VA to submit a report to Congress "detailing corrections the department will make to improve forecasting, data quality and budget assumptions." The VA's inspector general would also be required to review the "circumstances surrounding and the underlying causes" of the shortfall.

"I've been getting half-answers from executives at VA for two months about this shortfall," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said on the House floor Tuesday. "This legislation is a step in the right direction, and it upholds the House Republicans' commitment to always care for men and women who have served our military."

Senators had tried to quickly approve the funding patch before leaving town for summer recess at the end of July. But several Republicans objected to fast-tracking the legislation without first holding a hearing on the shortfall.

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was scheduled to hold that hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Still, it's unclear whether the hearing will be enough for every senator to drop their objections, allowing the bill to be approved by the end of the week. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who frequently delays funding bills, would not rule out objecting to approving the VA benefits bill before Friday.

Paul is seeking an amendment that would pay for the $3 billion by cutting money elsewhere in the federal budget, he told Military.com on Tuesday. The PACT Act, he added, was "poorly designed."

"We're all for funding veterans benefits," Paul said. "There were people who were around burn pits who breathed in fumes and who have lung damage and lung problems. I'm all for taking care of them, but if you treat everybody who has hypertension with government money, you don't have enough money left for the people who actually were injured by the burn pits."

Pressed on whether he is concerned about veterans benefits being delayed if the bill isn't approved by Friday, Paul said he is "very much concerned about bankrupting of the United States."

"And we will do everything possible to try to make sure any new expenditure is paid for by an expenditure somewhere else," he said.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said talks are ongoing to address Paul's concerns, but he also warned about the consequences of not approving the funding by Friday.

"There's a lot of people who are harmed -- people who have served our country or their family members -- who are harmed if the check is not in the mail when it's supposed to be," Moran said.

While Friday is the deadline the VA gave Congress, officials have also suggested there is some flexibility in that date. The VA's timeline for sending Treasury the list of payments includes a cushion to correct any mistakes before money is sent to veterans, Joshua Jacobs, the VA under secretary for benefits, said at last week's House hearing.

"We have the ability to accelerate the timeline for direct deposit," Jacobs said. "It does come with additional risk. The real challenge and the real length in process is those veterans and survivors with checks because that process is time consuming and, particularly for veterans and survivors in rural areas, there may be a delay of up to two weeks."

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Hey, sort of off topic but how exactly does the education benefits work? I just did a divorce where the wife has been in college for basically a decade. Every time she gets close to actually completing a degree she switches to something else. She gets a check every month for "living" expenses while enrolled in college. Is that a never ending thing? Like how does someone capable of holding down a job manage to milk the system like that? She also gets VA disability every month despite no real disability.

Just curious how that works? I don't think she is your normal vet but man she has turned it into a welfare system for herself.

 

[Rev]

Hey, sort of off topic but how exactly does the education benefits work? I just did a divorce where the wife has been in college for basically a decade. Every time she gets close to actually completing a degree she switches to something else. She gets a check every month for "living" expenses while enrolled in college. Is that a never ending thing? Like how does someone capable of holding down a job manage to milk the system like that? She also gets VA disability every month despite no real disability.

Just curious how that works? I don't think she is your normal vet but man she has turned it into a welfare system for herself.

A lot of gaming the system goes on to get higher levels of bonuses. Seen it firsthand a few times where I live. Doesn't really bother me since it's vets. They should get whatever they need.

 

[L.T. Fan]

I went to college on some of the veterans program but that was several years ago. When I was discharged there were no benefits for Education, President Eisenhower discontinued the benefit, but when LBJ took office he reinstated the program. I jumped on it right away and it was about the only thing that was a perk then except maybe housing programs. I haven’t used any other programs nor has the VA allowed anything except what I have mentioned. I am not open to questions regarding the CivIl War days or battles so don’t bother.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I am not open to questions regarding the CivIl War days or battles so don’t bother.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I am not open to questions regarding the CivIl War days or battles so don’t bother.

I'm sure those battles left you pretty scarred.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Veterans Could Get Free Gun Safes Under Suicide Prevention Proposal Introduced in House

Veterans Could Get Free Gun Safes Under Suicide Prevention Proposal Introduced in House

Any veteran who wants a lockbox to store their firearm would be able to get one for free from the Department of Veterans Affairs under a bipartisan bill introduced in the House on Wednesday aimed at curbing veteran suicides.

The bill, which has won the endorsement of a firearms industry group in addition to gun control groups, builds off an existing pilot program at the VA that provides lockboxes to at-risk veterans.
Advertisement

"I hear colleagues all the time talk about veteran suicide," Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., a Navy veteran and one of the lead sponsors of the bill, said in a brief interview with Military.com. "It is a problem in my community. It's a problem across the country. Let's take action. This is a chance where we can do it that I think can cut through the politics that normally divide us on these [gun] issues. And I think the coalition supporting the bill tells you, we've got a path to pass it."

In addition to Deluzio, the bill is sponsored by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Greg Landsman, D-Ohio. All three are considered moderates within their parties and are in somewhat competitive reelection races.
Advertisement

As the veterans suicide rate remains stubbornly high, the VA has focused heavily in recent years on promoting safe gun storage.

The veterans suicide rate continues to outpace civilian suicide deaths, and firearms continue to be the leading cause of death by suicide among veterans. The VA's most recent suicide report found that 73% of male veteran suicide deaths and 52% of female deaths were with a firearm.

Research has shown that making it harder to access a gun can prevent suicide deaths. But studies have also shown that about half of veterans with guns are not storing them safely.

The VA has been providing free cable locks for guns to any veteran who wants one since 2013, and in 2021, the department began airing public service announcements and posting billboards to encourage safe storage of firearms as part of a broader Biden administration effort to curb veteran and active service member suicides.

The department also announced earlier this year that it would begin providing gun lockboxes for qualifying veterans who want them.

The existing program offers the safes to veterans enrolled in VA health care whom doctors assess are at moderate to high risk for suicide.

The bill from Deluzio, Fitzpatrick and Landsman, dubbed the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act, would make the lockboxes available to any veteran, regardless of VA enrollment status or diagnosis, and set aside $5 million every year for the next 10 years to implement the law.

"Veterans suicide we know is a national crisis, and we know that suicide by firearms is a major cause, major factor in suicides for veterans," Deluzio said. "We think and we have evidence this can work. Let's get VA the resources now to get locked boxes to more veterans who want them."

The bill would also direct the VA to create a public education campaign on the availability of the lockboxes and the importance of secure firearms storage in suicide prevention.

Historically, efforts to promote gun safety among veterans and service members have evoked the ire of gun rights groups that maintain the efforts are veiled gun control measures. For example, a provision included in the 2022 version of the annual defense policy bill to offer gun safes and locks to service members prompted a lobbying campaign from groups such as the Gun Owners of America that argued the provision would be used "to justify extreme gun control." That lobbying campaign was unsuccessful, and the provision was included in the version of the defense bill that was signed into law.

There are signs that expanding the VA's firearm lockbox program can overcome typical gun politics, too. The version of the 2025 VA spending bill approved by the House earlier this year includes $3 million to bolster the VA's existing lockbox program.

"The committee supports VA's efforts to address veteran suicide prevention, and the firearm lockbox program is a critical element," a report about the spending bill from the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee said.

The new bill from Deluzio, Fizpatrick and Landsman has garnered the endorsement of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, or NSSF, a firearms trade group that has partnered with the VA on secure storage and suicide prevention but has also been critical of the VA's approach to guns in other areas.

"Gun owners have a responsibility to securely store their firearms when not in use to make sure they are inaccessible to those who should not possess them, including someone experiencing a mental health crisis," Lawrence Keane, NSSF's senior vice president, said in a statement released by Deluzio's office. "Responsible firearm storage can create time and space between a person in crisis and a gun."

Other groups that have endorsed the bill include veterans groups such as Disabled American Veterans and The American Legion; gun control groups such as GIFFORDS, Everytown for Gun Safety and Brady; and medical groups such the American Psychological Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Association of VA Psychologist Leaders.

"This commonsense, bipartisan initiative is more than a solution -- it's a lifeline," Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "By providing access to lifesaving resources, we can prevent devastating outcomes and stand with our veterans as they navigate their darkest hours."

Service members or veterans experiencing a mental health crisis or their loved ones can call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 988, Press 1. Help also is available online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or by texting 838255.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Here are all the veterans running for Congress in 2024
By Leo Shane III
Sep 30, 2024, 08:00 AM

A total of 181 candidates with military experience won primaries for House and Senate seats this year, according to an analysis from Military Times. That number is down from 196 in 2022, and follows a trend of fewer veterans winning national elected office that began in the late 1970s.

This year’s field boasts 70 incumbents, 16 women and 55 individuals who started their military careers after January 2000. Fifty-two of the candidates are Democrats, while 124 are Republicans.

Below is a list of those congressional hopefuls sorted by state, with biographical data on each. Military Times will be tracking each of these races on Election Day and be following each of the winners as they enter the 119th session of Congress next January.

Of the 75 congressional candidates this cycle with a combat zone deployment, 62 of them served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both.
By Leo Shane III

Editor’s note: Eight states do not have any veterans who won a primary contest. They are Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Wyoming. Independent candidates who did not win a primary matchup were not included in this list.
Alabama

House
District 1: Barry Moore (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1990s
Member of the House Agriculture and Judiciary committees.

District 1: Tom Holmes, Democrat
Branch: Navy Reserve, 1960s
Retired state worker and advocate for the developmentally disabled.
Arizona

House
District 2: Eli Crane (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s–2010s
Combat deployments: Afghanistan
Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

District 4: Kelly Cooper, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 1990s
Owns three restaurants and credits his success to the Marine Corps.

District 8: Abraham Hamadeh, Republican
Branch: Army Reserve, 2010s–2020s
Unsuccessfully ran for Arizona Attorney General in 2022.

9: Quacy Smith, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 1990s–2000s
Currently a bishop with Grace Unlimited International Church.

Senate
Ruben Gallego, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Vocal member of the House Armed Services Committee now running for Senate.
Arkansas

House
District 1: Rick Crawford (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Member of the House Intelligence Committee.

District 1: Rodney Govens, Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Works as a court advocate for abused and neglected children.

District 2: Marcus Jones, Democrat
Branch: Army National Guard, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
His assignments included serving as program director at NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre in Norway.

District 3: Steve Womack (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1970s–2000s
Serves on the House Budget Committee and appropriations’ defense subcommittee.
California

House
District 2: Chris Coulombe, Republican
Branch: Army & Marine Corps, 2000s–2010s
His assignments included running the Army’s Pacific Theater Air Assault School.

District 4: Mike Thompson (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Army, 1960s–1970s
Combat Deployments: Vietnam
Received a Purple Heart with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, was an airborne school instructor.

District 5: Mike Barkley, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1960s
Has run unsuccessfully for Congress six times.

District 7: Tom Silva, Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s–2010s
Worked as veterans program coordinator at University of the Pacific.

District 8: Rudy Recile, Republican
Branch: Army National Guard 1980s–2010s
Also worked as a civilian in the Department of Agriculture.

District 9: Kevin Lincoln II, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s
Served in the White House Military Office on Marine One.

District 19: Jimmy Panetta (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Navy Reserve, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Son of former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

District 21: Michael Maher, Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s
Served on the submarine USS Salt Lake City in support of overseas operations.

District 24: Salud Carbajal (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps Reserve, 1990s
Born in Mexico, he served eight years in the military before his political career.

District 26: Michael Koslow, Republican
Branch: Air Force National Guard, 2000s–2010s
Also worked as a civilian in the Department of Defense Inspector General’s office.

District 27: Mike Garcia (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy & Navy Reserve, 1990s–2010s
Had more than 30 combat sorties during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

District 31: Gil Cisneros, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2000s
Served as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness under Biden.

District 32: Larry Thompson, Republican
Branch: Army Reserve, 1960s–1970s
Worked as a Hollywood talent manager.

District 35: Mike Cargile, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s
Worked as an actor and manager for an indie music label.

District 36: Ted Lieu (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Air Force & Air Force Reserve, 1990s–2010s
Member of the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.

District 39: David Serpa, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 2010s–2020s
Founded his own real estate company.

District 45: Derek Tran, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Son of refugees who fled Vietnam.

District 48: Darrell Issa (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–1980s
Served in the U.S. House for 18 years until 2019, then won re-election again in 2021.

District 50: Peter Bono, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1970s–2000s
Volunteers time to help disabled veterans with benefits claims.
Colorado

House
District 6: Jason Crow (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Served as a prosecutor during Trump’s first impeachment trial.

District 6: John Fabbricatore, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1990s
Retired after 26 years as an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer.

District 8: Gabe Evans, Republican
Branch: Army & National Guard, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Trained as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot.
Connecticut

House
District 1: Jim Griffin, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s
Lost his bid for this seat in the 2020 Republican primary.

Senate
Matthew Corey, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s
Worked as a postal service employee and has run several restaurants.
Florida

House
District 2: Neal Dunn (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Completed his medical internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

District 5: Jay McGovern, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1980s–2010s
Served as a naval aviator aboard multiple aircraft carriers.

District 6: Michael Waltz (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army & National Guard, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Green Beret was a regular Fox News contributor before joining Congress.

District 7: Cory Mills (Incumbent), Republican,
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Bosnia
Spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan as a diplomatic consultant with the State Department.

District 9: Thomas Chalifoux, Republican
Branch: Army, 1960s–2000s
Self-funded his congressional bid.

District 13: Anna Paulina Luna (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force & National Guard, 2000s–2010s
One of five female veterans currently serving in the House.

District 14: Robert Rochford, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–2010s
Former commander of Naval Beach Group One.

District 16: Vern Buchanan (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air National Guard, 1970s
Sits on the House Ways and Means committee.

District 17: Greg Steube (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs and Oversight committees.

District 17: Manny Lopez, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1980s
Disabled veteran who suffered a neck injury during grenade training.

District 18: Scott Franklin (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy & Navy Reserve, 1980s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Bosnia
Flew combat missions over Bosnia and Kosovo.

District 21: Brian Mast (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Lost both legs in an IED attack in Afghanistan.

District 25: Christopher Eddy, Republican
Branch: Air Force Reserve, 1980s–2010s
Worked 13 years as an FBI Intelligence Manager.

District 28: Phil Ehr, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1980s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Founded a nonprofit to counter disinformation in U.S. politics.

Senate
Rick Scott (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1970s
Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Georgia

House
District 2: Sanford Bishop Jr. (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Army, 1960s–1970s
Has served in Congress since 1992.

District 3: Maura Keller, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1970s–2000s
Retired lieutenant colonel who also worked in the Atlanta VA healthcare system.

District 4: Eugene Yu, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–1980s
Also worked as a firefighter and police officer.

District 7: Rich McCormick (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Served as the department head for emergency medicine in Kandahar.

District 7: Bob Christian, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Has also worked as a sports reporter, baker and restaurant executive.

District 9: Andrew Clyde (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy & Navy Reserve, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Serves on the House Homeland Security Committee

District 11: Barry Loudermilk (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1980s–1990s
Serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

District 11: Katy Stamper, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1970s–1980s
Has received criticism for her close ties to Republican lawmakers and groups.

District 13: Jonathan Chavez, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Worked as the non-commissioned officer in charge of a joint service medical team in Iraq.

District 14: Shawn Harris, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps & National Guard, 1980s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Served as director of Joint Staff for the Army National Guard.
Hawaii
House

District 1: Patrick Largey, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1980s-2000s
Head of maintenance for a 43-story high rise building.

Senate
Bob McDermott, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 1980s–1990s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Worked as executive director of the Honolulu Navy League.
Illinois

House
District 7: Chad Koppie, Republican
Branch: Army, 1960s
Pilot who worked for Delta Airlines for 35 years.

District 12: Mike Bost (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 1970s–1980s
Current Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

District 13: Joshua Lloyd, Republican
Branch: Army & National Guard, 2010s–2020s
Graduated from West Point in 2022.
Indiana

House
District 4: Jim Baird (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1960s–1970s
Combat Deployments: Vietnam
Earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts while serving with the 523rd Transportation Company.

District 4: Derrick Holder, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 1990s–2000s
Worked as a paralegal in the Indiana Department of Child Services.

District 5: Deborah Pickett, Democrat
Branch: Army Reserve, 1980s
Her brother-in-law is a Medal of Honor recipient.

Senate
Jim Banks, Republican
Branch: Navy Reserve, 2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Has served in the House since 2017.
Iowa

House
District 1: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army & Army Reserve, 1970s–1990s
Served as the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society.

District 3: Zach Nunn (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force & National Guard, 2000s–2020s
Combat Deployment: Afghanistan
Served on the White House’s National Security Council prior to Congress.

District 3: Lanon Baccam, Democrat
Branch: Army National Guard, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployment: Afghanistan
Oversaw veterans programs within the Department of Agriculture.
Kansas

House
District 3: Prasanth Reddy, Republican
Branch: Air Force Reserve, 2000s–2020s
Still serving as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve.
Kentucky

House
District 2: Brett Guthrie (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s–1990s
Eight-term congressman is a West Point grad.

District 5: Hal Rogers (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1950s–1960s
Dean of the House, he has served in Congress since 1981.
Louisiana

House
District 3: Clay Higgins (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1970s–1980s
Prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Maine

House
District 1: Ronald Russell, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–2000s
An Airborne Ranger and a Special Forces qualified Green Beret.

District 2: Jared Golden (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Serves on the House Armed Services Committee.

Senate
Demi Kouzounas, Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Longtime dentist was also chairwoman of the Maine Republican Party.
Maryland

House
District 1: Andrew Harris (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy Reserve, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Still-practicing physician served in the Navy Medical Corps.

District 1: Blane Miller III, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2000s
Later worked as a deep-water technical diver testing military equipment.

District 3: Rob Steinberger, Republican
Branch: Navy Reserve, 1990s–2000s
Founder of a financial consulting firm.
Massachusetts

House
District 4: Jake Auchincloss (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Sits on the House Transportation Committee and select panel on China.

District 6: Seth Moulton (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2019.

Senate
John Deaton, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 1990s–2000s
Worked as a trial advocacy instructor at the Naval War College.
Michigan

House
District 1: Jack Bergman (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Marine Corps & Guard/Reserve, 1970s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Vietnam
Served as commanding general of Marine Forces Reserve.

District 7: Tom Barrett, Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 2000s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Narrowly lost a bid for this congressional seat in 2022.

District 10: John James (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Sits on the House Foreign Affairs and Energy committees.

Senate
Mike Rogers, Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Previously served in the House from 2001 to 2015.
Minnesota

House
District 2: Joe Teirab, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney, focused on narcotics trafficking and violent crime.

District 3: Tad Jude, Republican
Branch: Army Reserve, 1970s
Was the youngest individual ever elected to the Minnesota Legislature, at age 20.
Mississippi

House
District 1: Trent Kelly (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War & Iraq
Chairman of the House Armed Services’ seapower subcommittee.

District 2: Ronald Eller, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–1990s
Works in cardiac and thoracic surgery at St. Dominic’s Hospital.

Senate
Ty Pinkins, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Community organizer who has focused on unfair pay practices.
Missouri

Senate
Lucas Kunce, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Led a police training team in the Sunni Triangle while deployed to Iraq.
Montana

House
District 1: Ryan Zinke (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Served as Secretary of the Interior under Trump.

District 2: Troy Downing, Republican
Branch: Air National Guard, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Served in a Combat Search and Rescue squadron.

District 2: John Driscoll, Democrat
Branch: Army National Guard, 1960s–2000s
Has worked as a wildland firefighter, a public utility regulator, and a writer.

Senate
Tim Sheehy, Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Founded an aerospace firm and still works as a firefighting pilot.
Nebraska

House
District 2: Don Bacon (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s quality of life panel.
Nevada

House
District 2: Mark Amodei (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

Senate
Sam Brown, Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Severely burned in a roadside bomb attack in Kandahar.
New Jersey

House
District 1: Theodore Liddell, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Manages his own law practice.

District 9: Billy Prempeh, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 2000s–2010s
Has twice run for the same seat without success.

District 11: Mikie Sherrill (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2000s
Sea King helicopter pilot flew missions throughout the Middle East.
New Mexico

House
District 1: Steve Jones, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s
Worked as a management consultant and executive in the energy industry.
New York

House
District 1: Nicholas LaLota (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s–2010s
Sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

District 6: Thomas Zmich, Republican
Branch: Army Reserve, 1980s–1990s
Worked as a construction manager.

District 12: Mike Zumbluskas, Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s
Has been a member of the Reform and Independence parties in the past.

District 13: Ruben Vargas, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1970s–1990s
Advocate who has been active with the International Chess Federation.

District 15: Gonzalo Duran, Republican
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
CEO of a firm focused on veterans reintegration into civilian life.

District 18: Pat Ryan (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Serves as vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

District 22: Brandon Williams (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s
Served as the strategic missile officer on board the USS Georgia.

District 25: Gregg Sadwick, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–1990s
Owner of a collision shop and countertop company.
North Carolina

House
District 1: Donald Davis (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Air Force, 1990s
Helped coordinate Air Force One operations at Andrews Air Force Base.

District 1: Laurie Buckhout, Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Led an 800-person battalion task force as part of the initial attack into Iraq in 2003.

District 2: Alan Swain, Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Flew AH-1 Cobras and AH-64 Apache helicopters.

District 4: Eric Blankenburg, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1970s–1980s
Currently working as a technology consultant.

District 8: Justin Dues, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps, 2000s–2010s
Founder of a firm specializing in wearable technology.

District 10: Pat Harrigan, Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
A Green Beret with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan.

District 10: Ralph Scott Jr., Democrat
Branch: Air Force, 2010s
Sixth great-grandson of James Madison.

District 12: Abdul Ali, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Past chairman of the Cabarrus County Republican Party.
North Dakota

House
District 1: Trygve Hammer, Democrat
Branch: Marine Corps & MC Reserve, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Former airline pilot and security consultant.
Ohio

House
District 1: Orlando Sonza, Republican
Branch: Army, 2010s
Currently the executive director of the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission.

District 3: Michael Young, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1960s
Worked as a real estate developer and singer-songwriter.

District 6: Michael Kripchak, Democrat
Branch: Air Force, 2000s
Worked in the Air Force’s quantum computing initiatives while in service.

District 7: Max Miller (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Marine Corps Reserve, 2010s–2020s
Former deputy campaign manager for presidential operations under Trump.

District 8: Warren Davidson (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s–1990s
Took the seat of former House Speaker John Boehner.

District 12: Jerrad Christian, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 2000s
Works as a software engineer, but has used his Navy meteorology skills as a climate activist.

District 15: Mike Carey (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1980s–1990s
Was elected to Congress in a 2021 special election.

District 15: Adam Miller, Democrat
Branch: Army Reserve, 1990s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Serves in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Oregon

House
District 4: Monique DeSpain, Republican
Branch: Air Force & AF Reserve, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Kosovo
Served as a lawyer with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps for 30 years.
Pennsylvania

House
District 1: Ashley Ehasz, Democrat
Branch: Army, 2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Could become the first female graduate of West Point to serve in Congress.

District 4: David Winkler, Republican
Branch: Army & Marine Corps, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Former CEO of the veterans charity Wings for Warriors.

District 5: Alfe Goodwin, Republican
Branch: Army & Army National Guard, 2000s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Philadelphia police officer served alongside her brother in Iraq.

District 6: Chrissy Houlahan (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Air Force, 1980s
Daughter and granddaughter of career naval officers.

District 10: Scott Perry (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 1980s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Serves on the House Transportation and Foriegn Affairs committees.

District 14: Guy Reschenthaler (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Sits on the House Foreign Affairs committee.

District 14: Chris Dziados, Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Was involved in the development of Space Force while serving in the Pentagon.

District 17: Chris Deluzio (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Navy, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
First-term congressman serves on the House Transportation Committee.

District 17: Rob Mercuri, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Senate
David McCormick, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Gulf War
Former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs.
South Carolina

House
District 2: David Robinson II, Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Became an advocate for missing persons after his son’s disappearance in Arizona.

District 3: Sheri Biggs, Republican
Branch: Air National Guard, 2010s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Afghanistan
Commissioned in the Air Force at age 40 after a nursing career.

District 4: William Timmons (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard, 2010s
Member of the House Republican Steering Committee.
Tennessee

House
7: Mark Green (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army & Army Reserve, 1980s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Served on the mission where Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured.
Texas

House
District 2: Daniel Crenshaw (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, Active, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Navy SEAL lost an eye in an IED blast in Afghanistan.

District 3: Keith Seif (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1970s–2000s
Served in Joint Staff assignments in U.S. European Command and NATO.

District 4: Pat Fallon (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1980s–1990s
Was a member of the 1988 Notre Dame football team which won a national championship.

District 6: Jake Ellzey (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Piloted the H-60 Seahawk helicopter, F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet.

District 8: Morgan Luttrell (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Brother of Marcus Luttrell, whose military service inspired the movie “Lone Survivor.”

District 11: August Pfluger (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Former F-22 pilot who served on President Trump’s national security council staff.

District 13: Ronny Jackson (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Former White House physician was demoted after retirement for improper conduct while on duty.

District 14: Rhonda Hart, Democrat
Branch: Army, 2000s
Lost her daughter in a 2018 school shooting in Santa Fe.

District 22: Troy Nehls (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army National Guard & Reserve, 1980s–2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Has faced criticism for improperly wearing a Combat Infantry Badge.

District 23: Tony Gonzales (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Sits on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees.

District 26: Ernest Lineberger III, Democrat
Branch: Navy, Active, 1980s–1990s
20-year career with Texas Instruments as an industrial engineer.

District 28: Jay Furman, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2010s
Served as a naval aviator.

District 36: Brian Babin (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Air Force & Air National Guard, 1970s
Earned his dental degree while in the service.

District 38: Wesley Hunt (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Served as an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter pilot.
Utah

House
District 3: Glenn J. Wright, Democrat
Branch: Air Force, 1960s–1970s
Combat Deployments: Vietnam
Worked as a safety consultant.
Vermont

Senate
Gerald Malloy, Republican,
Branch: Army, 1980s–2000s
Worked as a business executive for a variety of defense-related firms.
Virginia

House
District 2: Jennifer Kiggans (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, Active, 1990s–2000s
Currently serves on the House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

District 2: Missy Cotter Smasal, Democrat
Branch: Navy, 2000s
Executive Director for Valor Run, a non-profit that hosts running events to honor military women.

District 3: Bobby Scott (Incumbent), Democrat
Branch: Army National Guard & Reserve, 1970s
Dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation.

District 3: John Sitka III, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1970s–1990s
Former merchant mariner has been involved in advocacy for those careers.

District 5: John McGuire, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–1990s
Former Navy SEAL.

District 6: Ken Mitchell, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1970s–1990s
Worked as a White House advisor for both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

District 7: Derrick Anderson, Republican
Branch: Army, 2000s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Serves as a Green Beret and a member of the “Old Guard” at Arlington National Cemetery.

District 7: Eugene Vindman, Democrat
Branch: Army, 1990s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Former White House NSC advisor, brother of Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman.

District 8: Jerry Torres, Republican
Branch: Army & National Guard, 1970s–2000s
Served in Army Special Forces as a Green Beret.

District 11: Michael Van Meter, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–1990s
Spent 20 years in various roles at the FBI.

Senate
Hung Cao, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Former special operations explosive ordnance disposal officer.
Washington

House
District 2: Cody Hard, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s
Worked as an aircraft mechanic while in the ranks.

District 3: Joe Kent, Republican
Branch: Army, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Husband of Shannon Kent, a sailor who was killed in fighting in Syria.

District 4: Jerrod Sessler, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1980s–1990s
Former NASCAR driver who competed in Northwest Series events.

District 6: Drew MacEwen, Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s
After the military, founded a financial services firm.

District 10: Don Hewett, Republican
Branch: Air Force, 1980s
Worked as an engineer for Boeing and Microsoft.
West Virginia

House
District 2: Steven Wendelin, Democrat
Branch: Navy & Navy Reserve, 1980s–2020s
Combat Deployments: Iraq
Former networks manager for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Wisconsin

House
District 3: Derrick Van Ordern (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Navy, 1990s–2010s
Combat Deployments: Iraq & Afghanistan
Authored the book “A Navy SEAL’s Guide to the Lost Art of Manhood.”

District 5: Scott Fitzgerald (Incumbent), Republican
Branch: Army, 1980s–2000s
Serves on the House Financial Services and Judiciary committees.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Here’s what veterans will get for a cost-of-living increase next year
Veterans will learn on Oct. 10 what their cost-of-living increase for benefits payouts will be in 2025.
By Leo Shane III

For a veteran receiving $1,500 a month in disability payouts, a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.6% would mean an extra $38 a month. In 2023, the increase meant a boost of around $48 a month for that same veteran.

About 5 million veterans and 2 million military retirees receive benefits checks each month through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Last month, lawmakers passed legislation tying the increase in those benefits to the Social Security rate, an annual requirement that is typically non-controversial.

The cost-of-living increase would apply to payouts for disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity benefits, as well as some other VA assistance programs.

About 68 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. Agency officials said the average beneficiary will receive a boost of about $50 a month under the adjustment.

Social Security staffers will begin notifying individuals about the changes to their benefits by mail starting in early December.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

VA awards $1.5 million to study using psychedelics for PTSD treatment

The move is the first time Veterans Affairs leaders have funded a study into psychedelic benefits since the 1960s.

www.militarytimes.com

VA awards $1.5 million to study using psychedelics for PTSD treatment
By Leo Shane III
Dec 3, 2024, 09:00 AM

Veterans Affairs officials on Tuesday announced a $1.5 million grant to study MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder among veterans, the first department-funded research on psychedelic benefits in more than five decades.

VA officials had announced in January plans to begin new studies on the beneficial use of psychedelic compounds for ailing veterans, but had yet to commit any funding to such projects.

Advocates for years have touted the potential positive impact of compounds like methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in helping with mental health issues.

The newly-funded study will take place at the Providence VA Medical Center in Rhode Island and West Haven VA Medical Center in Connecticut. Researchers affiliated with Brown University and Yale University will oversee the work, and begin enrolling participants early next year.

“VA is on the cutting edge of clinical research for Veteran health, including in the investigation of psychedelics for mental health,” Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in a statement. “This study will give us better insight into the potential of MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for veterans.”

Officials said the move is part of a broader effort to “gather definitive scientific evidence on the potential efficacy and safety of psychedelic compounds,” suggesting the research will not be limited to only this single study.

Treatments will be conducted in a clinical setting with strict safety protocols and using pharmaceutical-grade MDMA. The study is expected to take five years to complete.

Department officials said that despite the upcoming interest in the potential benefits from psychedelics, veterans should not use them as part of a self-treatment program. All veterans are encouraged to consult with their health care providers before making any decisions on new medications or therapies.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

New Prescription Refill System Coming to Military Pharmacies: What To Know

Do you get your prescriptions at a military pharmacy in the U.S.? You should know that the Defense Health Agency is upgrading to a new prescription refill system at military pharmacies. The new

newsroom.tricare.mil

New Prescription Refill System Coming to Military Pharmacies: What To Know
By TRICARE Communications

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Do you get your prescriptions at a military pharmacy in the U.S.? You should know that the Defense Health Agencyis upgrading to a new prescription refill system at military pharmacies. The new Interactive Voice Response system will help standardize refill notices.

“DHA’s commitment is to deliver exceptional care anytime, anywhere, always, including our pharmacy services,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Julie Meek, deputy pharmacy program manager, Informatics Integration Branch, Pharmacy Operations Division at the Defense Health Agency.

Meek is managing the transition to the new system.

“We embrace opportunities like this to take advantage of available technology and better fulfill that promise,” she said.

This change means your military pharmacy may have a new phone number for its prescription refill line. To find your military pharmacy’s refill phone number, check the military hospital or clinic’s website. The pharmacy’s old refill number will automatically transfer to the new refill number until the transition is complete. (Note: If you typically reach your pharmacy by calling the military hospital or clinic’s main line, you can still do this by selecting the pharmacy option.)

If you get prescriptions at a military pharmacy overseas, this upgrade will happen later in 2025. You don’t need to check for a new phone number yet.

You can also refill your prescriptions using the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.
2. Click on the “Rx Refills” tab at the top menu bar of the homepage. You can see all your prescriptions that are ready for refill in one place.
3. Choose which prescriptions you want to refill.
4. Pick where you want to get your refills.
5. See when your refills will be ready.

Want to learn more about managing your prescriptions in the patient portal? Check out the TRICARE Newsroom article “MHS GENESIS Patient Portal Makes Refilling Prescriptions Easier.”

It’s important to know this transition won’t affect any of your existing prescriptions or refills. All remaining refills will move over to the new system—for example, if you have two refills left on a prescription now, you’ll still have those two refills once the new IVR system is in place.
Remember: At a military pharmacy, you can get up to a 90-day supply of most covered drugs, as described in the TRICARE Pharmacy Overview Fact Sheet.

Have more questions about this new prescription refill system? Contact your local military pharmacy to learn more.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Major leadership shakeup, new budget battles coming to VA in 2025

Major leadership shakeup, new budget battles coming to VA in 2025
By Leo Shane III

Friday, Dec 27, 2024

Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins (middle right) discusses veterans policy priorities during a Dec. 3 meeting with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., (middle left) and his staff. (Senate photo)

The year ahead will be a period of major changes for the Department of Veterans Affairs, with new leadership, new priorities and likely its biggest budget in history. But how much all of that will impact veterans benefits and health care is less clear.

The department, which now boasts a $350 billion budget and more than 400,000 employees, will start 2025 with VA Secretary Denis McDonough and his administration wrapping up four years of expansion and outreach efforts.

President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January will mean at the least a clearing out of that Democratic leadership, replacing political appointees with his own picks.

During his last administration, VA issues were a major focal point of Trump’s White House. On the campaign trail last summer, he hinted at a repeat during his return to office, with plans to further expand medical care options for veterans and continue reforms in federal hiring (and firing) practices.

The following are some of the top Veterans Affairs stories to follow in 2025.

A new VA secretary
In November, Trump nominated former Georgia congressman Doug Collins as his pick to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary. The choice was a mild surprise among veterans advocates, given that Collins did not sit on the Veterans Affairs committee or champion many veterans bills during his eight years in Congress.

But Collins, 58, has already been endorsed by several veterans groups and is not expected to face the same level of opposition as some of Trump’s other cabinet picks.

Collins served in the active-duty Navy for two years as a chaplain and re-enlisted in the Air Force Reserve following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a member of the 94th Airlift Wing, and still serves in the reserves.

His confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expected in January, will offer a preview of policy priorities for the upcoming administration. Shortly after his nomination, Collins released a statement promising to “streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned.”

While he does not have any problematic veterans policy stances on his resume, Democratic lawmakers may question his efforts to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election, and his public stances undermining the validity of those results.

But Republicans in the Senate have already signaled strong support for Collins’ nomination, and he could be approved by the chamber in time to take office just after the inauguration.

Department budget battles
One of the first issues Collins will have to deal with as VA secretary will be the department’s budget, both for the current fiscal year and fiscal 2026.

For several months, lawmakers and VA planners have sparred over department budget estimates, with members of Congress promising increased scrutiny before any new funds are approved.

In November, VA officials announced they expect to need at least $6.6 billion in extra funding for the current fiscal year to cover increased costs related to higher usage of VA medical facilities over the last year.

That number was revised down from a $12 billion estimate over the summer. Republican House lawmakers have bristled at the numbers, accusing planners of playing politics with their estimates and improperly guessing what the future need will be.

Lawmakers in the next session of Congress will need to approve a full-year budget for VA and most other federal agencies as one of their first priorities. VA operations are largely funded a year in advance, mostly shielding them from shutdown fights.

But officials have said without the extra $6.6 billion in emergency funding early in 2025, some services and operations could be impacted. One of Collins’ first jobs will be to decide if that is accurate, and whether to convince lawmakers to write another check.

Community care concerns
Expanding “choice” in veterans’ medical benefits — particularly in regard to having VA pay for veterans’ appointments outside the department’s health care system — was a major focus of President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in office. Republican lawmakers have already started up that debate again.

In early December, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., introduced the “Complete the Mission” Act, which would further expand veterans’ ability to access private-sector medical care options using taxpayer funds. Bost has promised to make the legislation a key priority in 2025.

The bill would expand community care options for patients of the Veterans Health Administration to include nearly all extended care services, such as mental health residential rehabilitation, and block VA from offering telehealth appointments with department physicians in lieu of outside care options.

It would also mandate new reimbursement rules for outside medical offices and mandate better sharing of private-sector options by VA leaders to patients.

At the urging of Trump, Congress in 2018 approved the VA MISSION Act, which overhauled eligibility rules for veterans’ outside care options. Community care options have risen significantly since then, from roughly 27% of VA total scheduled medical visits in 2017 to about 39% in fiscal 2023.

But Republican lawmakers have accused VA of keeping too many patients in the department’s health care system, even when outside care options could be more beneficial.

Democratic lawmakers have countered with concerns that GOP leaders are working to privatize the department, forcing taxpayer money into private-sector businesses and undermining the security of the VA health care system.

Trump’s pick for the VA under secretary of health will be a major voice in that debate, but the president-elect still has not announced names under consideration for that post.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

And so it starts...

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Veterans could get service dogs for free under proposed legislation

The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act or SAVES Act would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time to award grants to nonprofits to provide service dogs at no cost to veterans with disabilities.

www.stripes.com

Veterans could get service dogs for free under proposed legislation
By Linda F. Hersey Stars and Stripes
April 2, 2025

Army veteran Bob Ouellette and Cooper, a 9-year-old golden retriever, were outside the Capitol on Wednesday to support a bill that would fund $10 million annually for grants to provide service dogs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

The bill — called the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act or SAVES Act — would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time to award grants to nonprofits to provide service dogs at no cost to veterans with disabilities.

Ouellette works with Warrior Canine Connection, a Maryland nonprofit that breeds, trains and pairs service dogs with eligible veterans. But he also attended the event as an advocate for his son, an Army veteran with PTSD and TBI who relies on a service dog to assist with his daily interactions that include attending classes at the University of Maryland.

“When my son first came home after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he would stay up in his room — not engage or talk with anyone. But when he got his dog, he became sociable and would talk with us,” said Ouellette about his son, Rusty Ouellette, a former sergeant medically retired from the military.

The SAVES Act was reintroduced in the House on Wednesday after failing to advance to a final vote in fiscal 2024. Under the new legislation, it also will fund grants to train service dogs for veterans with hearing loss, blindness, paralysis and health conditions from military sexual trauma.

“The [VA] secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit organizations to assist such organizations in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans,” according to the legislation.

A companion bill is expected to be introduced next month in the Senate, according to the office of Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, who is leading the House bill. He was joined at the news conference by about a dozen lawmakers from both political parties, as well as veterans and service dog organizations.

“This legislation is about giving our heroes the tools they need to thrive — not just survive — when they come home,” said Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL and chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s subpanel on disability assistance and memorial affairs.

More than 450,000 returning service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries in the past 20 years, according to the VA. Serious head injuries place veterans at greater risk for unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse and suicide.

Disabled American Veterans, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Semper K9 Assistance Dogs are among more than two dozen nonprofits that have endorsed the bill.

Luttrell and other speakers at the news conference said they believe the SAVES Act will help ease suicide risks among veterans and help them better manage the pressures of transitioning to civilian life. Having a service dog gives veterans a sense of purpose that they might lack after leaving the military, Luttrell said.

“As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and proud grandson of veterans, I know we need to do more to help our veterans address both the visible and invisible wounds of war,” said Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky. “These brave men and women put on the uniform to defend our freedom, and we have a moral obligation to support them.”

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we owe it to them to provide every possible resource to support their recovery and well-being,” Luttrell said. But training an assistance dog costs on average about $50,000, according to nonprofits that breed, train and pair dogs with veterans.

The SAVES Act would establish a five-year, $50 million VA-administered grant program for eligible nonprofit organizations. It would enable the organizations to provide trained service dogs to qualifying disabled veterans at no cost. Organizations now depend on donations to fund operations.

The legislation will ultimately put more service dogs in the hands of veterans “with visible and invisible disabilities,” said Bill McCabe, vice president of government and external affairs at K9s for Warriors, which provides specially trained service dogs to disabled veterans who’ve experienced a brain injury, PTSD and military sexual trauma.

Under the legislation, qualifying nonprofits would have to meet standards established by an accreditation organization with protocols for training assistance animals.

Rusty Ouellette, 36, obtained his service dog through Warrior Canine Connection after his medical discharge, his father said. He served for a dozen years.

But Warrior Canine Connection added a purpose to his son’s life post-military, said the elder Ouellette, who also served in the Army for 17 years that included tours in Europe. He retired in 1998.

At the news conference, he was joined by Cooper, trained as a service dog for Warrior Canine Connection. The two work together at public events, Ouellette said. The dog was bred and trained by the organization, which has kept him as its ambassador.

Grants to nonprofits such as Warrior Canine Connection would help pay for staff, which include one-on-one care and training for the dogs, vet bills and operating the facilities where the dogs are raised, Ouellette said.

Warrior Canine Connection has a “puppy cam” on its website to help engage users and draw interest to its mission. The organization breeds service dogs for their temperament and ability to work with their human companions, he said.

“Cooper goes out with me and meets people,” Ouellette said. “He is part of the team. In public, people see the dog first. They respect service dogs and have this warm response. For many veterans, having this bond gives them back their lives.”