Dear Friends,

Today, on Veterans Day, I want to express my gratitude to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country and the freedoms we hold dear. In Congress, I am committed to supporting veterans, service members, and military families with action.

Last year, we passed the Honoring our PACT Act to expand VA health care eligibility, strengthen coverage for illnesses related to toxic exposure, and dedicate new resources to improve claims processing. Since then, well over one million new claims have been submitted and 426,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care. You can file a new claim and learn more about benefit eligibility at VA.gov/PACT.

Since we acted to create the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program in Congress, the number of homeless veterans has fallen by more than 55% nationwide. I am incredibly proud that Connecticut has led the nation in putting an end to chronic veteran homelessness. This year, I worked with the Community Renewal Team to secure $1.1 million in new federal funding to support Central Connecticut veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of losing permanent housing.

We’ve made great progress over the last few years to expand the mental health care landscape here in Connecticut and across the country. Because of the COMPACT Act, legislation we passed to improve access to mental health services for veterans, emergency visits for veterans experiencing suicidal crises are now covered at no cost, no matter when and where they access care. The Veterans Crisis Line is private, free, and available 24/7 - just dial 9-8-8 and select 1.

From health care to burial benefits and more, I will keep working to ensure our veterans can access the services they earned. More than nine million veterans and their families rely on the retirement, disability, and survivor payments that Social Security provides, and my legislation, Social Security 2100, will support our veterans by enhancing benefits for the first time in more than 50 years and eliminating the dangerous five-month waiting period for disability benefits. 

To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.     

Regards,

John B. Larson
Member of Congress