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Hi John,

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I'm reflecting on how thankful I am for my family, my friends, and the extraordinary community I have the honor to representing. However you plan to celebrate, I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with gratitude, good food, and even better company. Speaking of gratitude, read on for more about this year’s Veterans Day events and activities, and if you served in uniform or supported a loved one who has, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

Supporting Gold Star Families

We are a nation that seemingly always finds the resources necessary to send young men and women to war, but we have not done enough to ensure that the families of those who do not return receive the benefits earned through their loved one’s service. I'm on a mission to ensure our Gold Star Families have access to every single resource available to them, which is why I introduced the Love Lives On Act, a bipartisan bill that will allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain survivor benefits upon remarriage, including surviving spouses of active-duty, veteran, and retired military personnel.

Commemorating Veterans Day

This year I again joined leaders from across our state at the 2022 State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program in Inver Grove Heights. While there, I had the opportunity to publicly thank our veterans for their service, and reminded all those gathered that we are all Americans, and we must honor those who served with more unity and less division.

Speaking at the Minnesota Veterans Day Program to honor the service and sacrifice of Minnesota veterans is always a highlight of my Veterans Day.

I also delivered a flag to the Hopkins VFW and made a visit to the Minnesota Veterans home in Minneapolis last week to celebrate those who served through handshakes, high fives, and heartfelt words of gratitude. I always enjoy meeting with veterans throughout our community, and I consider it one of the greatest honors of my lifetime to represent so many of them in Congress.

I enjoyed listening and learning from the extraordinary veterans in our community, and look forward to working on their behalf in the next Congress.

Honoring Vietnam-era Veterans

Too many Vietnam-era veterans were denied the respect and recognition they earned through their service, which is why I’ve been holding pinning ceremonies for Vietnam-era veterans throughout our community through my partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration Program. This was our fourth such commemoration, where we recognized eight Vietnam-era veterans and surviving family members in Minnetonka with official lapel pins as a small token of our nation’s gratitude.

Visit phillips.house.gov/Vietnam to nominate the veteran in your life for an official commemoration.

Hearing these veterans’ personal stories and often conflicted perspectives on their service has been an honor, and it serves as a constant reminder of the heavy burden carried by those sent off to fight for our country. I look forward to continuing my effort to ensure that ALL veterans are appropriately recognized for their service in the months and years ahead.

Veterans Benefits Information Session

Last week, staff from my office joined our outstanding CVSOs to present information about the new veterans benefits established by recent legislation, help with the application process, and answer questions. Even if you were unable to attend, I still want to ensure that you get all the information you need to get the benefits you, or a loved one, deserve. Below is more information on the PACT Act, Post 9/11 Service Bonus, and assistance with federal agencies like the VA:  

1. The PACT Act:
   1. The PACT Act was signed into law, and as a result, the VA now recognizes more than 20 presumptive conditions related to toxic exposures—including Agent Orange, burn pits, and more. VA will begin processing benefits claims filed under this new law on January 1st, 2023 - the earliest date possible. Click here for more information on the PACT and how it affects VA benefits. To learn about your eligibility for free VA health care, apply for coverage, or if you have questions, call 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711).
   2. Veterans are encouraged to contact their CVSOs to get more information on all PACT Act related benefits as they are the best resources apart from the VA. Veterans can find their CVSO by visiting https://www.macvso.org/find-a-cvso.html.
2. Post 9/11 Veteran Service Bonus:
   1. This program, facilitated by The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), includes funding for a service bonus payable to veterans who served between 9/11/01 and 8/30/21. Click here to see if you are eligible for a Post 9/11 Service Bonus and start your application today. Applications for this program are open NOW through July 30, 2024, or until funds have been exhausted. The bonuses will be at least $600 but could grow to up to $2,000 based on the final number of eligible applicants.
   2. For additional questions contact your local CVSO at MACVSO.org or call LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.
3. Federal Agency Assistance:
   1. If you need assistance with a federal agency, like the VA, my outstanding team of constituent advocates will review your case and work with you to try to resolve your problem, whatever it might be. In addition to mobile office hours, they are available to help you online, by phone or in person at  my Minnetonka office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM.

Save the date! 

I am excited to be hosting another free and open-to-the-public town hall meeting at the Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins on Sunday, December 4th. Doors open at 3:30 PM and our conversation will begin at 4:00 PM. If you are interested in attending our town hall, please sign in here to save some time at the door – and as always, if you cannot make it in person, feel free to follow along on Facebook! 

Thanks as always for reading, and have a very happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be back with another update after the holiday, but in the meantime my offices will be closed starting today and will return to normal business hours on Monday. 

Keep in touch, keep the faith, and I hope to see you on December 4th!

Dean Phillips
Member of Congress

✔️ H.R. 8736, GUARD VA Benefits Act

Unaccredited claim representatives from for-profit companies are ripping off our veterans under the guise of helping them access their benefits, advertising their services to gain access to benefits then impose predatory fees that steal veteran’s deserved compensation. These claim sharks cannot be allowed to continue. That’s why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 8736 GUARD VA Benefits Act, which will prevent claim sharks from stealing veteran benefits by imposing criminal penalties and fines on those who seek to take advantage of veteran benefits with unauthorized fees for filing a claim. 

                                        Resources For You

My team and I are here to serve every person and every corner of our community. I want to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed:

1. Find savings near you: From gas to groceries, and childcare to healthcare, I’m hearing from Minnesotans who are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of essentials. Visit phillips.house.gov/inflation to find lower prices near you.
2. Nominate a Vietnam-era veteran: As a Gold Star Son and Member of Congress, I’m honoring Vietnam-era veterans in our area. Visit phillips.house.gov/Vietnam to nominate the veteran in your life for an official commemoration. 
3. Look before you book: Do you have international travel plans on the horizon? Make sure you are prepared before you book! Visit https://travel.state.gov/ to check your passport expiration date, apply for a passport, and much more.
4. Get your FDA-approved bivalent booster shot: Your decision to get a safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccine impacts our entire community. Everyone 12+ is eligible for the new booster, so visit https://mn.gov/booster to find yours.
5. Donuts with Dean: Welcoming Minnesotans to Washington is one of my favorite parts of this job. Let my office know if you'll be traveling to Washington, we'd love the opportunity share some conversation, and donuts, next time you’re in town!  

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