CONGRESSIONAL WOMAN MELANIE STANSBURY SPEAKING VETERINA BENEFITS TO VETERINARY RESOURCES SPEAKER AT CNM. TODAY SHE SPOKEN ABOUT HOW TO HELP. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ABOUT FACE HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE SECURED FUNDING TO HELP BUILD TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT WILL WORK WITH VA TO ENSURE THOSE WHO HOUSING AND SAFE WITH THEIR FAMILIES HAVE A PLACE TO GO. HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, SHE ALSO HELPED PASS THE PACT ACT, WHICH EXPANDS HEALTH CARE TO MILLIONS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED
Stansbury touts new health benefits at veterans event
PACT Act promises care for service members exposed to toxic chemicals
Updated: 10:10 p.m. MDT March 18, 2023
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury attended a veteran resource fair on Saturday with many ways the government is helping military veterans on her mind. But there was one, in particular, that she wanted to draw attention to. “Last year we passed the PACT Act, which is the biggest expansion of veterans benefits since the GI Bill was passed,” Stansbury told KOAT. “This bill will extend health care to millions of veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals during their service, dating back to the Vietnam War – whether it’s our veterans who served during the WWII, our code talkers, our Vietnam vets, those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq – we’re here to help all of our vets get all the resources they need – health care, if they have any housing issues, regardless of their needs. That’s why we’re here today.” The event at Central New Mexico Community College included a presentation on the PACT Act by the Regional Director of Veterans Administration , Cesar Romero, and others detailed legislation to expand access to health care for an estimated 3.5 million veterans, of which homeless veterans are the most vulnerable. “We know that veteran homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing many of our veterans,” Stansbury said. “And so last year we got funding to help build transitional housing that will work with the VA to make sure those who are experiencing housing insecurity in their family have a place to go here in Albuquerque and the District.” The Transitional Housing Program funded by Veterans Absorption Centers provides housing for families of four or fewer, for up to one year. During this time, it helps them develop a workable plan for housing and financial independence. The official name of the PACT bill is The Sergeant 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Bill, named after an Air Force veteran who died in 2020 at age 39 as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals from a burning dump in Iraq.
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico —
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury attended a veteran resource fair on Saturday with many ways the government is helping military veterans on her mind. But there was one, in particular, that she wanted to draw attention to.
“Last year we passed the PACT Act, which is the biggest expansion of veterans benefits since the GI Bill was passed,” Stansbury told KOAT. “This bill will extend health care to millions of veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals during their service, dating back to the Vietnam War – whether it’s our veterans who served during the WWII, our code talkers, our Vietnam veterans, those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq – we are here to help all of our veterans get all the resources they need [to]– health care, if they have housing problems, whatever their needs. That’s why we’re here today.”
The event at Central New Mexico Community College included a presentation on the PACT Act by Veterans Administration Regional Director Cesar Romero, and others provided details on legislation to expand access to health care. health to approximately 3.5 million veterans, of which homeless veterans are the most vulnerable.
“We know that veteran homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing many of our veterans,” Stansbury said. “And so last year we got funding to help build transitional housing that will work with the VA to make sure those who are insecure in their families have a place to go here in Albuquerque and in the [2nd Congressional] District.”
The federally funded Veterans Absorption Centers Transitional Housing Program provides housing for families of four or fewer, for up to one year. During this time, it helps them develop a workable plan for housing and financial independence.
The official name of the PACT bill is The Sergeant 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Bill, named after an Air Force veteran who died in 2020 at the age of 39 from complications of an exposure to toxic chemicals from a garbage dump in Iraq.
