News For Veterans

In this Update:

Join Us for Our Veterans Muster Next Week
Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses
VA Announces Longer Access to Community Care Services
Financial Help for Pennsylvania Veterans Facing Hardship
VA Awards $818 Million in Grants to Combat Veteran Homelessness
Veteran Employment Programs
Need Help Finding Your DD-214 or Military Records?
Veterans Discount on NFL Sunday Ticket

I’m excited to share that I launched a new email newsletter just for veterans and their families. It will include legislative updates, helpful resources, and important information affecting veterans, just like below. Starting next month, these veteran-specific updates will only be sent through this new newsletter, so if you or someone you know would benefit, please sign up (select News For Veterans) today and help spread the word.

Join Us For Our Veterans Muster Next Week

Please join us for our first Veterans Event featuring Rob Lithgow from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, an accredited Veteran Service Officer, and a variety of vendors offering essential resources for veterans and their families.

This will be a one-stop shop for veterans to connect with state, federal and local agencies.

Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses

To promote veteran-owned businesses, the Senate passed Senate Bill 64 requiring the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create a logo that can be used by Pennsylvania businesses with at least 51% veteran ownership to designate themselves as a veteran-owned business to the public. With Senate Bill 64, DMVA will also make a database available on its website of veteran-owned businesses that applied for and were approved to use the logo.

The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

VA Announces Longer Access to Community Care Services

Veterans referred by the VA to community care for essential specialty services – including cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology and hematology, orthopedic and pulmonary care – will now receive 12 full months of uninterrupted treatment at VA expense before having to obtain a reauthorization from the VA. Prior to this change announced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, community care referrals often needed to be reevaluated every 90 to 180 days, which could cause interrupted or delayed care.

Financial Help for Pennsylvania Veterans Facing Hardship

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers financial support to veterans and their surviving dependents facing unexpected financial hardship through the Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) Program.

If you’re experiencing an unexpected financial crisis, the VTA program can provide up to $1,600 per year to help cover essential needs like:

Food and groceries
Rent or mortgage payments
Utility bills
Fuel and heating
Clothing and shelter

This program is designed to offer short-term relief during tough times, ensuring veterans and their families have the support they need.

vocational rehabilitation and employment training. The bill is now back in the House for consideration of changes made by the Senate.

VA Awards $818 Million in Grants to Combat Veteran Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that more than $818 million in grants have been given to 235 organizations across the country to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. More than $16 million has been given to organizations serving Pennsylvania’s veterans, including:

Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Inc.
YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.
Lawrence County Social Services, Inc.
Soldier On of Delaware, Inc.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown
Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne County
The Veterans Multi-Service Center, Inc., which serves veterans in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was granted almost $17 million.

These grants will help to fund local organizations as they assist veterans with access to housing and housing counseling, health care, financial planning services, childcare, legal assistance and transportation.

Veteran Employment Programs

Hiring Our Heroes, Hire Heroes USA, Onward to Opportunity and VetJobs are engaged in a formal evaluation effort to measure the impact of their programs. Supported by research from The Veterans Metrics Initiative, their proven models for success feature:

Personalized coaching and mentorship – individual support in resume development, interview preparation and long-term career planning.
Industry-certified skill training – education in high-demand fields like IT, cybersecurity and project management leading to nationally recognized certifications.
Career connections and networking – direct links to employers, job boards and recruiter support that help veterans secure meaningful employment.

Veterans looking for career support can reach out to these programs for personalized support and proven pathways to success.

Need Help Finding Your DD-214 or Military Records?

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) can help veterans locate their DD Form 214 (DD-214) and other essential military documents. These records are crucial for verifying service and accessing the benefits they’ve earned – including retirement, employment opportunities and membership in veterans’ organizations.

If your DD-214 is missing or contains errors, the DMVA can assist with locating or correcting it to avoid delays in receiving your benefits.

How to Get Help:

Call: 1-800-547-2838 (toll-free)
Email: RA-REQ@pa.gov
Visit: Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center, 40 Fisher Ave., Jonestown
Visit: DMVA field offices at the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh VA Regional Offices

Learn More: Visit the Records Request Program website

Veterans Discount on NFL Sunday Ticket

Veterans are eligible for a discount of almost 60% off for NFL Sunday Ticket through ID.me. NFL Sunday Ticket gives fans the ability to watch their favorite NFL team’s out-of-market Sunday games, enjoy unlimited streams at home, view key plays and watch up to four live games on one screen in multiview.

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