VET PFAS Act (H.R. 4249, S. 2294)
This legislation would provide hospital care and medical services to veterans and their dependents who were stationed at military installations where they were exposed to certain harmful chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It would also create a presumption of service connection for certain veterans who were stationed at military installations where they were exposed to PFAS.
What are PFAS? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. Aqueous film-forming foam — the substance widely used to put out aircraft and vehicle fires on military installations — washes into groundwater and is known to be the main source of PFAS contamination on military bases.
Act Now: Learn more and send your email to Congress: woundedwarriorproject.quorum.us/campaign/51495
DRIVE Act (H.R. 1278, S. 592)
This bill increases the mileage reimbursement rate available to beneficiaries for travel to or from Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities in connection with employment training, required counseling, exams, treatment, or care.
What is the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS)? Veterans and caregivers can be reimbursed by the VA for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments. BTSSS is an online tool that aims to make the process easier. Find out if you’re eligible and how to file a claim at va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/
Act Now: Learn more and send your email to Congress: woundedwarriorproject.quorum.uscampaign/51490
Autonomy For Disabled Veterans Act (H.R. 2818)
Many veterans need special home alterations and adaptations for them to live comfortably in their own homes. The VA offers Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants so that qualifying veterans can perform medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to their primary residence.
What would H.R. 2818 correct? Lifetime benefit is only $6,800 for alterations for a veteran’s service-connected disabilities, and $2,000 for veterans who are at least 50% service-connected disabled and need alterations for non-service-connected conditions. Even as prices and inflation have risen over the last few years, the money available to veterans through HISA grants has not been adjusted since 2010.
Act Now: Learn more and send your email to Congress: woundedwarriorproject.quorum.us/campaign/51489
Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act (H.R. 542, S. 141)
This comprehensive bill addresses many of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP)’s concerns with services provided to severely wounded warriors and their caregivers, including challenges with navigating the VA’s extended care services and availability of those programs at all VA medical centers.
Who is Elizabeth Dole? Sen. Elizabeth Dole served in five presidential administrations, including as President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of transportation and President George H.W. Bush’s secretary of labor, which made her the first woman to serve in two different cabinet positions of two different presidents. She was the president of the American Red Cross, a U.S. senator for North Carolina from 2003 to 2009, and in 2012, founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which is dedicated to military caregivers.
Act Now: Learn more and send your email to Congress: woundedwarriorproject.quorum.us/campaign/51496
To learn more about WWP’s legislative priorities, visit woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/government-affairs.
Veterans Champion Rep. Nikki Buzinski (D-IL)
Rep. Nikki Budzinski was elected to the House in 2023 to represent Illinois’ 13th congressional district and serves on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. She has already become deeply engaged with veterans issues and the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) warrior community.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Congress?
A: I ran for Congress to build on my life’s work of advocating for hardworking middle-class families. And now that I’m here, I’m focused on bringing the voices of folks in Central and Southern Illinois to Washington, putting their needs over petty politics, reaching for compromise, and delivering results for the communities I serve.
Q: Why was it important for you to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee?
A: As the grandchild of two World War II veterans, I grew up understanding the deep debt of gratitude we owe to the men and women who’ve served our country. I wanted to join the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs so that I could focus on ensuring that every veteran in the communities I serve and across the country has access to the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
Q: What led you to create a Veterans Advisory Council?
A: With a seat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and its Subcommittee on Health, I want to bring the voices of our local heroes to the table as we find ways to improve access to Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) services and benefits. My Veterans Advisory Council has been a critical part of that work, and it has allowed me to hear directly from constituents about the challenges they’re facing and the ways I can help.
Q: I understand you held a roundtable in early September for women veterans. How did that go, and what were some of the issues that were discussed?
A: The roundtable was a huge success. It was truly an honor for me to sit with a group of brave women veterans from my district to discuss the issues they continue to face here at home. Women are the largest growing demographic within the veteran population, yet they still lack significant access to gender-specific care. For example, the women at our roundtable expressed the need for increased maternal health services, improved support for military sexual trauma survivors, and comprehensive behavioral health care treatment. I’m honored to be the voice for these women in Congress and on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Q: I know you’ve talked a bit about rural health access for veterans, especially the challenges around mental health care and substance abuse treatment. What are some of your plans to address that issue?
A: From meetings with veterans and veterans service organizations to my Veterans Advisory Council, I’ve heard how much veterans, especially our rural vets, struggle to find the services and resources they need to treat their mental health or substance use disorders. Veterans often face unique and traumatic experiences while serving our country, and they deserve access to high-quality treatment.
We also need to be doing everything we can to help our veterans who are suffering from substance misuse. To me, this means improving access to lifesaving medications such as Naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose. I was happy to take a step in that direction with my colleagues Congresswomen Brittany Pettersen and Kim Schrier with our recent introduction of the HANDS Act, which would require Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE to cover the cost of Naloxone to patients deemed at risk of an overdose. Additionally, as a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to hold the VA, our Community Care Partners, and our government accountable when we fall short of providing the best care to our vets.
Q: Another priority for you is setting up veterans with opportunities to accelerate their careers after service, especially in STEM fields. Can you talk a little about why that issue is important and what you’re planning to do legislatively?
A: Improving and building upon our veterans’ transition services is crucial to getting them accustomed to civilian life after serving, and that extends into educational opportunities. Laws like the GI Bill have been foundational to improving access to higher education, including trade schools for our student veterans. That being said, I also think there’s room to improve the rates of student veterans going into STEM fields. These degrees often take longer to complete and can be more expensive, which can serve as major barriers. We need more veterans going on to become teachers, doctors, scientists, architects, and more. But to do that, we must do our part to improve those levers to accessing STEM degrees. I’m currently working on legislation that addresses this issue.
Q: One of WWP’s biggest legislative priorities was the passage of the PACT Act last year, and it’s now been a year since it passed. The focus is now on implementation and ensuring the VA has enough support to handle the big influx of claims and veterans enrolling in VA health care. How do you think it’s going so far from your perspective?
A: It’s important to recognize that the VA has had an immense task on its hands in implementing the PACT Act, and we must ensure the agency has the tools, personnel, and funding it needs to roll the policy out successfully. I think, as would be expected with such a large piece of legislation, there have been some bumps in the road, but I believe the VA is taking positive steps. Since passage, they’ve undertaken a massive campaign to recruit and train new talent to handle the major influx of claims coming in. And as a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I’m doing my part to ensure the VA has the resources it needs to fully address the needs of our veterans.
| GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IN ACTION |
August 2023 District Meetings Report
For the first time ever, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) warrior advocate leaders (WALs) met with members of Congress and their staff in district offices during the August congressional recess break. WALs are part of WWP’s grassroots advocacy initiative, connecting warriors with their elected officials in Washington, DC, and across the country. Building stronger relationships between warriors and their elected officials has been instrumental in helping WWP advocate for legislation to improve services and support for veterans.
In August, WALs visited 50 congressional offices in 14 different states to discuss some of the unique challenges wounded warriors face and corresponding legislation that would address those issues.
Specifically, WALs advocated for passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 1282, S. 344), which would provide both Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) disability compensation and Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay simultaneously for retirees with fewer than 20 years of service and a combat-related disability. Currently, warriors retired under Chapter 61 with less than 20 years of service are not able to collect both sets of benefits at the same time, and their retirement pay is offset by their disability compensation.
Other priorities for WALs included supporting policies that foster a strong mental health workforce and better, timelier care for veterans. Some of the bills WALs discussed during their meetings included the Not Just a Number Act (H.R. 4157, S. 928), which would create consistent reporting from the VA on veteran suicide, and the VA CAREERS Act (S. 10), which would provide the VA with more tools to recruit and retain the best health care talent.
Preparing for Meetings
“When it comes to advancing legislation, there’s no greater sort of return on investment for being a veteran advocate than actually going to Capitol Hill to talk to lawmakers and staff and influence changes that would be made into law,” said Brent Reiffer, a WAL from Virginia who met with his senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
As with other congressional meetings, WWP grassroots and public policy staff helped ensure that the WALs were prepared for all aspects of their meetings.
“WWP staff provided the packets — which included the key issues, a flyer of WWP’s impact on my home state, an overview of the services WWP provides, and more — for us to hand out to members of Congress and their staff,” said Josh Jordan, a WAL who resides in Kentucky. “These resources ensure the members of Congress and their staff are well informed. WWP also provided me a sheet of talking points to reference as I’m discussing these issues.”
WAL Marisa Schultz, who lives in Illinois, met with Rep. Mike Bost, chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, as well as with staffers from the offices of Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Sen. Dick Durbin.
“All my meetings were really great,” said Marisa. “My first one was a bit nerve-racking, but then everything came easily because I feel passionately about veterans and advocacy.”
Making It Personal
Beyond the talking points, warrior leaders were encouraged to talk about their own experiences. “Talking about my own struggles and triumphs as a wounded warrior really resonated with congressional offices,” said Josh. “It humanized the issues we discussed.”
He explained the importance of helping members of Congress understand the issues that veterans and their families face every day. “Several years ago, I contacted WWP to find out what I could do to help advocate.
After talking with the government relations team, I knew continuing advocacy on WWP’s behalf was a no-brainer.”
When asked about her decision to become a WAL, Marisa pointed to her enduring connections within the veteran community. “I see how legislative issues affect people that I know,” she said, “My entire unit — whom I deployed with almost 20 years ago — we’re all still connected. When somebody’s struggling, it affects me.”
“Right now, I’m capable of advocating for myself,” she continued, “but there’s going to be a point in my life where I may not be able to do that. I do it so that other veterans don’t have to struggle. That’s why it’s critically important.”
Brent spoke about the importance of fighting for better mental health policies. “We certainly know how prevalent suicide is in the veteran community. To me, it’s just such a need that continues to be a big shortfall in the United States — particularly for veterans. And so, it’s something I try to emphasize when I can.”
“WALs are critical to WWP’s ability to push forward legislation on Capitol Hill and ensure veterans’ voices are heard in Washington,” said Justin Beland, WWP’s director of Grassroots and Constituent Affairs. “I want to thank all our WALs for engaging with their members of Congress in August. Being a leader in their respective communities and engaging congressional offices on your own — with WWP’s support — is a big step, and they did an amazing job. Their meetings helped set the stage for our work when Congress reconvenes in the fall.”
During the week of September 18, more than 50 Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) women warriors from across the country traveled to Washington, DC, to participate in the 2023 Women Warriors Summit. The summit was an opportunity for post-9/11 women warriors to connect with fellow veterans and meet with key government leaders to advocate for legislation to improve the lives of our nation’s women veterans. Warriors attended the release of WWP’s groundbreaking 2023 Women Warriors Report on Capitol Hill with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL).
The cornerstone of the summit was the release of the 
Mental Health
During the summit, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) women warriors went to Capitol Hill and held meetings with congressional offices to advance legislation that would address the disparities highlighted in the 
Q: Tell us a little about yourself:
