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Veterans & Military Families

Our veterans answered the call to serve our country, and we have a responsibility to serve them when they return home. In Congress, I have worked to expand access to health care, strengthen benefits, modernize the VA, and ensure veterans and their families receive the support they have earned.

We can help with a wide range of matters, including disability claims, benefits issues, records requests, and other federal casework concerns. Our team works directly with federal agencies to help resolve problems and ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned. To request assistance, please visit lawler.house.gov/help-federal-agency or call us at (845) 201-2060. 

Delivering Results for Hudson Valley Veterans

Beyond introducing legislation, my office works every day to help veterans navigate the federal government and access the benefits they have earned.

To date, my office has helped return nearly $3 million in VA-related benefits to veterans and their families throughout New York's 17th Congressional District and has successfully resolved 272 VA casework requests. Whether it's securing disability benefits, resolving delayed claims, or connecting veterans with local Veterans Service Organizations and county agencies, my team is committed to cutting through red tape and delivering results for those who served our nation.

I also welcomed Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins to the Hudson Valley for a visit to the Montrose VA Medical Center and a roundtable discussion with local veterans at VFW Post 8328 in Yorktown. Together, we toured the Montrose VA, met with staff, and sat down with veterans to discuss the issues that matter most to them.

During our conversation, veterans spoke candidly about appointment wait times, access to mental health care, transportation to VA appointments, and navigating the VA benefits system. Hearing directly from those who have served helps shape my work in Congress and ensures their voices are heard at the highest levels of government. Improving access to care for veterans in suburban communities like the Hudson Valley remains one of my top priorities. 

Veteran’s Benefits Codified 

I have helped pass bipartisan bills that are now law and are making a difference for veterans across the country.

  • Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 7777): I supported this bipartisan legislation, which was signed into law during the 118th Congress. The law ensures that veterans' disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and families increase each year at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, helping veterans and survivors keep pace with inflation.

  • VETS Safe Travel Act (H.R. 7365): I helped pass this bipartisan legislation, which was signed into law during the 118th Congress. The law allows eligible service-connected disabled veterans to enroll in TSA PreCheck® at no cost, making air travel easier and more accessible for veterans who rely on wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, mobility devices, or who are permanently blind.

Supporting Veterans and Their Families

I introduced the Service-Connected Suicide Compensation Act (H.R. 2264) to ensure that when a veteran with a service-connected mental health condition dies by suicide, that death is automatically recognized as service-connected. This legislation helps surviving families receive the benefits they deserve without having to navigate an unnecessary and burdensome process during an already devastating time.

Addressing PFAS Exposure

I introduced the VET PFAS Act (H.R. 3639) to expand eligibility for VA health care and medical services for veterans and their family members, including children exposed in utero who developed certain medical conditions after living on military installations contaminated by PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals." Veterans who were exposed while serving our country deserve access to the care they need.

Improving Transportation to VA Care

I introduced the Heroes Earned Affordable Lifts (HEAL) Act (H.R. 5277) to make it easier for veterans to get to their medical appointments by increasing VA mileage reimbursement rates, eliminating out-of-pocket deductibles, and allowing Veterans Service Organizations and Veterans Service Agencies to be reimbursed for providing transportation to veterans in need.

Modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs

I introduced the Veterans Electronic Trust and Records Authentication (VETRA) Act (H.R. 9152) to modernize the VA's digital authentication systems through a pilot program designed to strengthen identity verification, improve access to benefits, and reduce fraud. Veterans deserve a VA that is secure, efficient, and equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Protecting Earned Retirement Benefits

I am a proud cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102), bipartisan legislation to end the unfair offset that forces many combat-injured veterans who were medically retired to forfeit a portion of their military retirement pay in order to receive VA disability compensation. Our combat-wounded veterans should receive the full benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice.

Staying Connected with Hudson Valley Veterans

I believe strong communication with veterans is essential to effective service, and I make it a priority to stay engaged with the community in a consistent and accessible way.

My office regularly hosts opportunities for veterans to connect with our team. These gatherings allow veterans to raise concerns, ask questions, and receive assistance navigating federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

We also convene a Veterans Advisory Committee made up of leaders from a wide range of veterans organizations across the Hudson Valley, including groups such as the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the Marine Corps League, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). These meetings provide a forum to discuss legislation and policy developments at the local, state, and federal levels, and to ensure that information is shared back through each participating organization, as well as providing updates on the work my office is doing on behalf of veterans

By maintaining these ongoing conversations, I am able to better represent the needs of veterans and ensure my office remains responsive to those who served our country.