THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY
VETERANS AFFAIRS WILL COME TO
ORDER FOR INVEST FOR ALL
INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT THE PARTICIPANT
TOLL FREE NUMBER AND ACCESS CODE
IS POSTED ON OUR COMMITTEE
WEBSITE AND I WILL NOW TO NOW
TODAY'S PARTICIPANT NUMBER IS.
877-226-8163 AND THE ACCESS CODE
IS. SIX NINE FOUR EIGHT NINE
THREE ZERO WHERE HOLDEN ARE
COMMITTEE HEARING HERE IN THE
OLD BUILDING- HERE IN SACRAMENTO
I ASKED ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE TO BE PRESENT IN ROOM
TWENTY TWO HUNDRED. SO WE CAN
ESTABLISH OUR QUORUM AND BEGIN
OUR MEETING FOR TODAY'S BILL
HEARING WE HAVEN'T ADOPTION WITH
COMMITTEE RULES AND ONE BILL
TODAY'S AGENDA TO BEGIN THE
HEARING- LET'S ESTABLISH A
QUORUM MADAM SECRETARY CALL THE
ROLL. YOUR GROWTH YEAR OVER OUT
OF GUILT MENJIVAR NUMBER WE HAVE
A QUORUM THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR
MADAM SECRETARY NEXT WE WILL
ADOPT THE COMMITTEE RULES THIS
IS OUR FIRST MEETING SO WILL
ADOPT THE COMMITTEE RULES
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE COMMITTEE
RULES WILL BE ADOPTED- AND WE
WILL. GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL
. NO NO NO WE GET IT IS TO FIND
THEN WE CAN JUST MOVE ON I'VE
ALWAYS CALLED THE ROLE FOR YOU
KNOW OKAY. THE CARD. LET'S DO IT
OKAY OKAY YEAH THAT'S GOING AND
CALL THE ROLL FOR THE OF THE
COMMITTEE RULE ARCHULETA. YEAH I
GREW. EVERADO GIL MINUTE MAN
MENJIVAR. I AM BURKE SO THOSE
ARE NICE. I THINK THERE'S
ANOTHER GUY SELIMIYE MARK THAT
DOWN OKAY WELL THANK YOU VERY OF
RULES ARE. YOU CAN DROP IT- NEXT
AT C. THANK YOU WILL TAKE UP THE
CONSENT CALENDAR CONSENT CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE HAVE SENATE BILL
SEVEN EIGHT THREE. WE HAVE A
MOTION BY SENATOR GROVE. MADAM
SECRETARY. CONSENT CALENDAR
ARCHULETA HI ARCHULETA HIGH
GROWTH GROUP HI I WOULD RATHER
KILL. MENJIVAR BINGE OF ART I AM
BURKE. BURKE AND THAT PASS ISN'T
. PASS THE BILL OKAY SO NOW WE
WILL GO ON. PHILIP FELT. SO NOW
LAYS IN GERMAN LIKE TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE. AND
THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TODAY'S
OVERSIGHT HEARING OF THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS TODAY
WILL. WE WILL HEAR ALL THE
PANELS OF WITNESSES ON THE
AGENDA PRIOR TO TAKING ANY
PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE WE HAVE
HEARD ALL THE WITNESSES WE WILL
HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO COMMENT ON
THE ON THE TOPIC OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. WE DO HAVE A FEW OF
REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATING
REMOTELY TODAY FOR THOSE REMOTE
PARTICIPANTS PLEASE MUTE YOUR
PHONES OR COMPUTERS PLEASE
SELECT ON MUTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN
SPEAKING. R. I. T. PERSONNEL
WILL PUT YOU BACK ON MUTE WHEN
YOU ARE DONE ONCE. RECOGNIZE TO
SPEAK PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
THEN YOU'RE READY TO ADDRESS THE
COMMITTEES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE YOU SOME OPENING COMMENTS
IF I MAY. THE COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICER TO WE'RE GOING
TO HEAR TODAY. ARE SOME OF THE
MOST COMPETENT AND EFFECTIVE
CLAIMS FILERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THEY PERFORM AN
IMPORTANT JOB LET- LISTENING TO
OUR VETERANS TELL THEIR STORIES
TRANSLATING THOSE STORIES INTO A
LIST OF THEIR INJURIES TRAUMA
WAS SUSTAINED WHILE IN SERVICE.
TO THE DEPARTMENT DEFENSE IN THE
COUNTRY WE ALL LOVE TO RECEIVE
TREATMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS. IT IS A SHAME
THAT THESE TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES
PUT THEIR BURDEN ON THE VETERANS
TO ACCESS THE BENEFITS RIGHTLY
OWE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR
SERVICE AND TO THIS NATION.
FILING A CLAIM IS TIME CONSUMING
MEDDLING DEFEATING IN SOME CASES
AND SO DIFFICULT THAT VETERANS
WALK AWAY FROM THE PROCESS. TO
ASSIST VETERANS AND FILING
CLAIMS AND ACCESS BENEFITS AND
SERVICES THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
TRAINS AND PARTIALLY FUNDS
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS. THESE ARE VETERANS
HELPING VETERANS. BOOTS ON THE
GROUND IS IT CALLED. I AM
DELIGHTED TO HEAR FROM SOME OF
OUR COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS TODAY AND- THE PHONE
LINES WILL BE OPEN LATER FOR
COMMENTS. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
SPECIFICS OF THEIR WORK AND TO
LEARN HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR OUR VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE WILL BE LISTENING
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LISTEN
CLOSELY. WE WILL BEGIN THE
HEARINGS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS. NEXT WE WILL
HEAR THE WORK EXPERIENCE FROM
SEVERAL COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS. AND WE WILL END THE
HEARING WITH VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WILL. COME
TOGETHER. WHO WILL. GIVE US SOME
STORIES THE OUTCOMES OF THE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
AND SOME OF THEIR SUCCESSES. AND
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT- I
WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER
TO OUR VICE CHAIR. FOR HER
COMMENTS. THANK YOU MISTER CHAIR
AS THE FIRST FEMALE VETERAN TO
EVER SERVE IN THIS BUILDING IT'S
MY HONOR TO SIT ON THIS
COMMITTEE WITH MAJORITY-
VETERANS I BELIEVE ALMOST A OUR
ENTIRE COMMITTEES THAT CLOSE
21100% MAJORITY VETERANS I THINK
WE HAVE ONE THAT IS NOT. CORRECT
BUT THE REST OF US ARE. AND
HAVING PUT OUR HAND IN THE AIR
AND SWEAR TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY
AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC I THINK MAKES US VERY
UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT. AND WE
UNDERSTAND- WELL I DID NOT SERVE
IN COMBAT WITH COMBAT WE DO
UNDERSTAND THAT VETERANS ARE A
UNIQUE- PERCENTAGE OF OUR
POPULATION THAT'S WILLING TO PUT
THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE TO
PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AND I
APPLAUD ALL OF YOU GUYS- THAT
ARE HERE TODAY AND ALL MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE DICE IN OUR
UNITED STATES MILITARY VETERANS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
COMMENTS THAT WE HEAR TODAY. I
KNOW THAT I REPRESENT THE TOP
THREE FOOD PRODUCING COUNTIES IN
THE WORLD KERN TULARE AND
FRESNO. AND THE CV ARE THAT THE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE DISTRICTS
ARE. OUTSTANDING BUT I DO HAVE
TO TELL YOU MY FAVORITE. OUTSIDE
OF MY DISTRICT- COUNTY VETERAN
SERVICES OFFICER IS MISTER WEST
WHO IS HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY- ON
THIS PANEL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING HIS TESTIMONY SO THANK
YOU. THANK YOU- ADVICE SHARE
GROVE- WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HEAR
FROM OUR PANEL SO I'D LIKE TO
INVITE THE FIRST PANEL UP TO THE
TABLE. PLEASE LET'S- BRING YOU
UP. IN TODAY WE WILL BE HERE FOR
HEARING FROM RHONDA MURPHY.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICER. AND PRESIDENT
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS. AND
KEITH BOYLAN DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
VETERANS SERVICES. FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND WITH THEM.
WE HAVE SCOTT HOWELL HOW WELL.
KING COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICER AND LEGISLATIVE CHAIR OF
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION. OF
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS. SO
THANK YOU. FOR BEING HERE WITH
US TODAY AND- WHO WOULD LIKE TO
BEGIN. I'M RHONDA. ON WILL TURN
COMMITTEE MEMBERS MY NAME IS
RHONDA MURPHY AND I AM THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION VETERAN
SERVICE OFFICER PRESIDENT. AND
THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER. ON
BEHALF OF THE CA CVS SO I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING US. TO
SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE TODAY. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. ALL OF THE VETERANS.
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO THE
LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN
THE UNITED STATES. ITS ONE POINT
SIX MILLION VETERANS PLUS FAMILY
MEMBERS AND SURVIVORS HAVE
EARNED ENTITLEMENTS. AND
BENEFITS THROUGH THE VETERANS
HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE. TO
CONNECT WITH THESE BENEFITS
THROUGH THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS IS
A COMPLEX LENGTHLY AND OFTEN
CONFUSING PROCESS TO EASE THE
BURDEN OF THIS PROCESS ARE
VETERANS. THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER WAS
FIRST ESTABLISHED IN NINETEEN
TWENTY FOUR WHEN STANISLAUS
COUNTY BEGIN ASSISTING VETERANS
FROM THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR.
AND WORLD WAR ONE OTHER COUNTY
SOON FOLLOWED SUIT ON JUNE SIXTH
NINETEEN THIRTY NINE THEN
GOVERNOR CULBERT OLSON SIGNED AB
TWELVE SEVENTY INTO LAW. WHICH
AUTHORIZED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICER TO BE
TERMED COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES
OFFICER. TODAY FIFTY SIX OF
CALIFORNIA'S FIFTY EIGHT
COUNTIES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE
SPEARHEADED BY A VETERAN
SERVICES OFFICER. WHO MUST BY
QUALIFICATION AND MILITARY
VETERANS CODE BE A VETERAN
THEMSELVES. IN NEARLY IN TOTAL
NEARLY THREE HUNDRED IMPORT
COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE DEDICATED
THEIR RICK CAREERS TO KALIFAT
EARNS OF CALIFORNIA. A VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICER OR
REPRESENTATIVE MUST BE
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL VA CLAIM
RELATED MATTERS THESE INCLUDE IN
DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF CFR TITLE
THIRTY EIGHT. MEDICAL CONDITIONS
PRESUMPTIVE AND SECONDARY RULES
CLEAN PROTOCOLS RESEARCH AND
ANALYSIS OF EVIDENTIAL RECORDS
AND MORE THEY MUST BE ABLE TO
ESTABLISH RAPPORT WITH THE FIRST
CLIENT BASE. MANY OF THESE
CLIENTS SUFFER FROM MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ADVOCATES
MUST UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO
ESTABLISH A REPORT ENTRUST'S
BASE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS NEEDS.
FURTHER A VETERAN SERVICES
OFFICER MUST BE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN
ALL LOCAL AND STATE BENEFIT
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO VETERANS PARTICULARLY AT RISK
AND HOMELESS VETERANS. THROUGH
ABSENCE THROUGH ADVOCACY AND
STRONG REFERRAL NETWORK THE
POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THIS AT RISK
VETERAN POPULATION IS
IMMEASURABLE. THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICERS IS THE LARGEST
PROFESSIONAL STATE ASSOCIATION
FOR VETERANS. SERVICE OFFICERS
IN THE COUNTRY. ITS MAIN FOCUS
IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND
CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR ITS
NEARLY THREE HUNDRED MEMBERS ALL
OF WHOM HAVE DEDICATED THEIR
LIVES TO ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES. THREE
TRAINING CONFERENCES IN PERSON
AND VIRTUAL RELEVANT AN EXPERT
GUEST SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS
SURE THE LATEST INFORMATION
ABOUT CLAIMS PROCESSING AND
RULINGS MEDICAL AND LEGAL
CONDITIONS AND CHANGES IN VA LAW
AND REGULATIONS. IN NO SMALL
PART. THE STRONG COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CA CVS SO
IT'S MEMBERS AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF CALIPHATE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS
CALVET HAS HELP FURTHER IMPROVE
THE BENEFITS RESOURCES AND
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO
CALIFORNIA'S VETERANS. THROUGH A
ONE OF A KIND COLLEGE FEE WAIVER
PROGRAM ALL CHILDREN OF SERVICE
CONNECTED DISABLED VETERANS CAN
ATTEND COLLEGE AT MINIMAL COST.
HOMELESS VETERANS AND
INCARCERATED VETERANS ARE ABLE
TO HOLISTICALLY CONNECT WITH
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS TO
HELP THEM RE SOCIALIZE AND SELF
SUPPORT OF LIFESTYLE. THE FIFTY
SIX COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICES ARE FUNDED LOCALLY EACH
TO THEIR COUNTY TO EASE THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN OF MAINTAINING
THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES
OFFICE CALVET PROVIDES PRO RATTA
DATA FUNDING. TO EACH COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE BASED ON
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY
ACCOMPLISH WELL ANY FUNDING WAS
ALWAYS RECEIVED WELL RECEIVED BY
THE COUNTIES. THE RECENT
INCREASE OBSERVANCE OF FUNDING
FROM FIVE POINT SIX TO ELEVEN
MILLION DOLLARS HAS MADE A
LASTING IMPACT ON THE VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICES AND ON THE
VETERANS COMMUNITY. INCREASING
FUNDING HAS ALLOWED MANY OFFICES
TO EMPLOY ADDITIONAL STAFF BOTH
ADMINISTRATIVE AND VETERANS
SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES. IT
THIS HAS IMPROVED THE ABILITY TO
SERVE MORE VETERANS PROVIDE MORE
SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY THANK YOUNG
TECH MORE VETERANS TO THEIR
ENTITLEMENTS. THE C. A. CBSO AND
THE VETERANS SERVICE SAYS
COMMUTING CALIFORNIA IS DEEPLY
GRATEFUL FOR THIS INCREASE
FUNDING. AS RECENTLY AS LAST
YEAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PASSED THE PACT ACT WHICH IS A
COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT HAS
BROADENED EXPOSURES SPECTRUM
PARTICULARLY OF GULF WAR
VETERANS WHO WERE EXPOSED TO
BURN PITS. AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS THE BILL
ALSO OPENED UP NEW AREAS OF
EXPOSURE AND PRESUMPTIVE'S TO
VIETNAM VETERANS THIS WAS SIGNED
BY THE PRESIDENT AUGUST TWENTY
SECOND AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE US
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS ON
JANUARY OF TWENTY TWENTY THREE.
THIS BILL OPENS. BENEFITS TO
VETERANS SURVIVORS AND
DEPENDENTS THAT WERE NOT
NORMALLY ENTITLED TO BENEFITS
THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES
OFFICES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA HAS SEEN AN INCREASE
IN THEIR ALREADY BUSY OFFICES.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE. THROUGHOUT
OUR STATE ARE PREDATORY CLAIMS
AGENTS. THAT PROMISE VETERANS
SURVIVORS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS
THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR CLAIMS
TO GO THROUGH. THE PROCESS
FASTER AND PROMISED THEM THE
HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE WITH THE
CABBIE OUT THAT THEY WILL TAKE A
PERCENTAGE OF THEIR RETRO ACTIVE
ACCOUNTS. ALSO SOME OF THEM WILL
CHARGE A FEE TO FILE A CLAIM IN
THE BEGINNING AND PROVIDE NO
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IF THE VA
NEEDS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THIS IS HIGHLY CONCERNING TO OUR
OFFICES AS WE SUPPLY THESE
SERVICES FOR FREE. AND ARE
TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE
CLAIMS PROCESS WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THAT THESE AGENTS GET SOME
SORT OF PENALTY FOR MISSED REST
REPRESENTING THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS THANK YOU. Q. I'M
GONNA GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT OVER
TO THE VICE CHAIR AND I SAID
I'VE GOT TO ATTEND ANOTHER
COMMITTEE MEETING AND I WILL
RETURN. BY SHEER. THANK YOU
MISTER CHAIR. NEXT I'M ON THE
LIST WE KEEP BOILING DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF VETERANS SERVICES
FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU CHAIR THANK YOU VICE
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE-
WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE
DEVELOPED WITH THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES AND-
THE- HOW THE ATTACHED. AT THE
HIP APPROACH THAT WE DO AN
INNOCENT ARCHULETA SAID- THEY
ARE CERTAINLY OUR BOOTS ON THE
GROUND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THERE'S A THERE'S A VARIETY OF
WAYS WE PARTNER WITH THE
COUNTIES BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO. LOOK BACK I CAME
ON AT CALVET IN TWENTY THIRTEEN.
AND AT THAT POINT THE STATE WAS
RIGHT AROUND 14% OF THE VETERANS
WERE ATTACHED TO THEIR
COMPENSATION AND OR PENSION
CLAIMS. AND AS OF THIS YEAR WERE
RIGHT AT ABOUT 29% WHICH IS WELL
ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. SO
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES IN
CALVET ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT
THAT IS ALL A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO. TO
HEALTH CARE. AND COMPENSATION
FOR THEIR SERVICE CONNECTED
INJURIES- WHICH IS INCREDIBLY
SIGNIFICANT. WITH THAT IN IN
RHONDA SPOKE ABOUT IT A BIT A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP
IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WORKS AND-
HOW THEY CARRY A POWER OF
ATTORNEY FOR CALVIN FILE CLAIMS-
ON OUR BEHALF AND REPRESENT THE
COUNTY AT THE- VETERANS WITHIN
THEIR COUNTIES. BUT I WANT TO.
TAKE A MINUTE TO JUST THANK THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND-
THE LEGISLATURE OVER ALL FOR
THE- SUPPORT OF THE COUNTIES IN
THAT INCREASE IN FUNDING. THAT
RHONDA REFER TO THE ELEVEN
MILLION FOR THE SUBVENTION FUNDS
THAT IS WAS A SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT. IN VETERANS BACK IN
TWENTY THIRTEEN THAT NUMBER WAS
AT TWO POINT SIX MILLION. SO
FORTUNATELY THAT HAS GROWN
PRETTY CONSIDERABLY. SOMEONE TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT SOME OF THE
OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN JUST IN THE
ONE YEAR. THAT THAT'S BEEN IN
PLACE. THE COUNTY BUDGETS AS I
SAID IT WENT FROM FINE. THE
SUBVENTION BUDGET WENT FROM FIVE
POINT SIX TO ELEVEN MILLION. SO
JUST ABOUT INCREASE ABOUT A 100%
WITHIN THE COUNTIES THOUGH.
WHICH IS WAS REALLY. EXCITING TO
HEAR WAS THAT THE COUNTY BUDGETS
THEMSELVES AS WELL WHEN UP WITH
THAT INCREASE NOT ONLY REALLY
COUNTIES ABLE TO BRING MORE
FOLKS ON TO THE MONEY IN SUPPORT
THEY GOT FROM THE STATE. BUT THE
COUNTY BUDGETS WENT FROM THIRTY
RIGHT AROUND THIRTY SIX DOLLARS
AT THIRTY SIX MILLION. OVERALL
FOR ALL THE COUNTIES COMBINED TO
JUST OVER FORTY NINE SO THE
TROUBLE OVER 27% INCREASE. WHICH
I THINK IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT SO
IT SHOWED THAT THE STATE'S
INVESTMENT. ARM I THINK REALLY
PUSH THE COUNTIES TO LOOK CLOSER
AT THEIR COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS AND LENDS SOME SUPPORT
AS WELL SO THAT WAS REALLY
EXCITING TO SEE. AND IT RESULTED
IN AN INCREASING CLAIMS AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE- MORE FOLKS. ARE
ABLE TO GO TO TAKE APPOINTMENTS
MORE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET OUT
IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WITHIN FROM
THE YEAR PRIOR THEY WERE THEY
FILED- JUST- OVER JUST UNDER
EIGHTY ONE THOUSAND CLAIMS THAT
YEAR AND THIS YEAR THEY WERE
OVER NINETY THOUSAND SO THAT IS
A SIGNIFICANT. YOU KNOW JUST
ABOUT IT. 10% OUR INCREASE THEIR
- IN WITH THAT- THEY WERE ABLE
TO CONTACTED. IN TWENTY TOWARD.
FISCAL YEAR TWENTY TWENTY ONE
ABOUT SEVEN OR FORTY THOUSAND
VETERANS. COMBINED TO RALEIGH
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES
AND THIS YEAR THEY'RE RIDE OVER
NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND SO.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WHICH I
THINK WILL CONTINUE TO GROW A
LOT OF COUNTIES ARE STILL
BRINGING FOLKS ON- AS RHONDA
MENTIONED. THEY GO THROUGH OF
THAT REPLICATE ANY WE'VE ALSO
SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN OUR VOTE
RECOUNT IN THE ENROLLMENTS. ON
BECAUSE THE NEW CLAIMS
REPRESENTS. CLAIMS
REPRESENTATIVE AS THEY COME
ONLINE ARE. REQUIRED BY STATE
LAW TO BE ACCREDITED WITH CALVET
SO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS TO SERVE.
VETERANS OF THE CLAIM
REPRESENTED SO WE THINK WE'VE
SEEN AN INCREASE IN THAT AS
WELL. THERE'S A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE
WITH THE COUNTIES BUT ONE THING
WE'VE REALLY PUSHED OVER THESE
LAST YEARS- OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU
WERE IN. IN A COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY SYSTEM OF CARE. THERE
WOULD BE A VETERAN EVENTS AND
VERY STRONG PROFITS IN IN
VARIOUS FOLKS TRYING TO HELP
VETERANS WHETHER IT WAS THE
PILLAR SERVICE WHETHER IT'S
HEALTH OR HOUSING OR WHATEVER
MAYBE. ON OFTENTIMES A COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE OFFICER
WOULDN'T BE THERE. IN TORONTO'S
POINT. THE COUNTER SERVICE
OFFICERS IN AND OBVIOUSLY THE
TRADITIONAL VETERANS SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE LEGALLY. ABLE TO SERVE
VETERANS AND RHONDA ALLUDED TO
IT WITH HER CONCERNS OVER SOME
OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE POPPING UP
CONSERVING VETERANS. ON. FOR YOU
KNOW YOU CAN CLEARLY COLOR
PREDATORY PRACTICES IN MANY
CASES- THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT
CONCERN. BUT THE COUNTIES HAVE
REALLY BECOME A MORE CENTRAL
POINT WITH OUR CAL TOP PROGRAM
WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ACT MONEY DO WE RECEIVE THE
DEPARTMENT. WE'VE REALLY BEEN
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE COUNTIES
THEY'VE DONE SOME REALLY
INCREDIBLE THINGS WITH THAT
MONEY WITH THE PROP SIXTY THREE
MONEY THAT WE GET. WE HAVE ABOUT
ONE POINT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS
EVERY YEAR THAT WE DISTRIBUTE TO
THE COUNTIES- TO WORKING THE
COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS. IN
OFTENTIMES THE WAY THAT LOOKS AS
THEY PARTNER WITH A NONPROFIT IN
THEIR AREA. AND DO A VARIETY OF
THINGS THAT WITHOUT MONEY
ANYWHERE FROM DISCHARGE UPGRADE
SERVICES TO MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES. ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES-
RAPE CRISIS CENTERS IN THE PAST
EQUINE THERAPY REALLY LIKE
COUNTIES GET REALLY CREATIVE
THAT MONEY INTO A LOT OF- REALLY
INCREDIBLE THINGS. SO THAT'S
JUST ANOTHER WAY TO INCREASE THE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
VISIBILITY WITHIN THEIR COUNTY.
BUT ALSO REMIND. THE REST OF THE
CAST THE COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM
OF CARE WHEREVER THEY ARE. THE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER
IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE A FIRST STOP
FOR VETERANS BECAUSE THEY
CONNECT VETERANS TO THE TWO MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS WHICH ARE
HEALTH CARE. AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE RELATED
COMPENSATION AND DISABILITY
PAYMENTS SO. AND WE'VE REALLY
SEEN AN INCREASE IN THEIR
VISIBILITY WITH THEIR COUNTIES
IN THE ROLE THEY PLAY WITHIN
THEIR LARGER COMMUNITY BASED
SYSTEM OF CARE WHICH IS REALLY
ENCOURAGING. AND WE'RE REALLY
PROUD OF THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP
AND IN THE STRIDES THEY'VE TAKEN
IN BECOMING MORE OF A LARGER
PART OF THAT IN AND AS I SAID
MUCH OF THAT. IS THEY ARE ABLE
TO DO TO THAT INCREASE IN
FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM THE
STATE SO. VERY APPRECIATIVE OF
THAT ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE
STARTED TO REALLY PUSH. VETERANS
TOWARD ACCOUNTABLE SERVICE
OFFICE OFFICES IS THAT
CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE
PROGRAM. THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR VETERANS TO GET VETERAN
DESIGNATED ON THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSE. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW
HOW WE GET QUESTIONS BECAUSE
VETERANS WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE
DMV FIRST- BUT THE DMV WAS HAPPY
WITH OUR APPROACH BECAUSE OUR
APPROACH REQUIRES THE VETERAN TO
GO TO THE- COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE. OFFICE SO IT'S KIND OF
A- YOU KNOW A INDIRECT OUTREACH
PROCESS- BECAUSE- BY THEM NOT
GOING STRAIGHT TO DMV AND GOING
BY RHONDA SHOP FIRST. THEN RUN
GETS TO TRIAGE THEM AND SAY OKAY
YOU WANT THAT ON YOUR DRIVER'S
LICENSE WHAT ELSE CAN I DO FOR
YOU AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE
VETERAN IN FRONT OF YOU. AND YOU
HAVE THEY HAVE A REASON TO COME
IN THE DOOR AND YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SIT DOWN
AND- AND REALLY TRIAGE THEIR
SITUATION SEE WHAT ELSE YOU
COULD POSSIBLY DO FOR THEM.
SINCE WE STARTED A PROGRAM TO
HONOR FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND
VETERANS IN THE STATE HAVE
RECEIVED. THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE
TO THE PROGRAM- IN OUT OF THOSE
FOLKS A HUNDRED AND EIGHT
THOUSAND HAVE FILED CLAIMS
WALLET THAT COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICE. RESULTING IN IN
LITTLE OVER TWO HUNDRED FIFTY
FIVE MILLION. IN ANNUALIZED
PAYMENTS TO THOSE VETERANS TO
THOSE HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND
VETERANS THAT HAVE DONE THAT SO
THAT'S THAT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE
STUFF. ON IN IN THE C. A. CBSO
SHOULD CERTAINLY BE APPLAUDED
FOR THAT WORK IN AN ADDITIONAL
HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION IN RETRO
PAYMENTS. ON THAT'S YOU KNOW
BACK PAY. FOR WHATEVER REASON-
MOST THE TIME IT'S USUALLY THAT.
THE PERIOD OF TIME FROM WHEN
THEY- FILE THEIR CLAIM TO WHEN
THEY START RECEIVING. THEIR
BENEFITS. SO WITH THAT- THERE IS
A THERE'S A VARIETY OF OTHER
THINGS. IN OUR OUR PARTNERSHIP
CONTINUES TO GROW AND EVOLVE- AS
THE VETERANS SERVICE STRUCTURE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE EVOLVES. SO
THAT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING IN BUT
THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT. THE
WHOLE DESIGN. IS THAT THAT
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
REALLY. ARM NOW HAVE THE SUPPORT
AND THEY HAVE. THE SUPPORT OF
THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED STATE
AND HAVE REALLY BECOME A CENTRAL
FIGURE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH
THEM AS OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND
PARTNER IS A CENTER ARCHULETA
SAID. AND AND I JUST AGAIN THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
HERE TODAY AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. NEXT
UP SCOTT HELLO. SCOTT. OF MISTER
CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. SCOTT HOW WELL
KINGS COUNTY. VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICER THIRTY YEAR NAVY
VETERAN- AND APPRECIATE THE
SERVICE OF THOSE. WHO WERE HERE.
ON THE COMMITTEE TODAY AND FOR
YOUR SERVICE AS WELL. I'M A PAST
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY VISIT
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS AND
ALSO- THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE
CHAIR- HAVE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS I HAVE NO PREPARED
STATEMENT ON TODAY. I AM HERE.
IN SUPPORT OF MY PRESIDENT AND
ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH
CAL THAT. OF WHAT WE DO
LEGISLATIVELY. IS WE DO HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND WE-
EMPLOY- AS A CONTRACTOR- READ
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS RG ARE- TO
LOBBY. FOR OUR INTERESTS. HERE
AT THE CAPITOL AND- IN DOING SO
WE'RE HOPING. TO SUPPORT- ON A
REGULAR BASIS. ANY LEGISLATION.
THAT EITHER. ASSIST VETERANS
THEIR FAMILIES WORLD WAR GOLD
STAR FAMILIES BLUE STAR FAMILIES
FOLKS LIKE THAT- AND SO THOSE
ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS. THAT
WERE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING.
WE DO THAT THROUGH A PROCESS OF
A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WITHIN.
OUR ASSOCIATION WITH OUR
ORGANIZATION- WE ALSO ARE
MEMBERS OF THE- CALIFORNIA.
STATE COMMANDERS COUNCIL AND I
AM THE LEGISLATIVE CHAIR FOR
THAT ORGANIZATION AS WELL AND SO
BY DOING THAT BY BEING A MEMBER
OF THAT- WE PULL TOGETHER THE
VETERANS VOICES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE I'M NOT REALLY HERE TO
TALK ABOUT. THE GOVERNOR'S OR
NOT THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL I'M
SURE THE COMMANDERS COUNCIL-
BUT- JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THE FACT THAT WE ARE INVOLVED
WITH THEM AND TRYING TO ALIGN
OURSELVES. WITH THE OTHER
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
WITHIN THE STATE. IN OUR EFFORTS
TO HELP VETERANS TO HAVE A
BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE HELP
THEIR- THEIR SURVIVORS AND ALSO
TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL
AND SO I STAND READY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KICK IT
OFF UP- MEMBERS AND I'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU THE THREE OF YOU-
WE'RE ALL UNDER THE SAME- I
GUESS- GOD AND COUNTRY. YOU KNOW
WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE TOGETHER IN
THAT AND I'M- REALLY AT A MAYES
AT- THE WOULD KEITH ADVENTURE.
I'D LIKE TO GET THAT FOR THE
RECORD AND WE'LL TAKE A COPY OF
THAT. BUT AS I WAS FIGHTING TO
INCREASE THE NUMBERS AS YOU KNOW
I DID. I MET WITH- GENERAL WONG
WHEN WE STARTED THIS TO GO AHEAD
AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY IN OUR
FIRST. ALLOCATION OF FUNDING WAS
FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. THEN I
ASKED NOT ONLY TO HAVE IT ONE
TIME BUT TO KEEP ON GOING- BUT I
THINK WHAT YOU HAVE JUST
MENTIONED. HOW THAT IS BROUGHT
MONEY INTO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IN THE COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE. AND HOW VITAL-
THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS ARE NOT ONLY TO SERVE
AND REPRESENT OUR VETERANS
HEALTH IN THE LONG. BUT ACTUALLY
IT'S A WIN WIN FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND I THANK YOU FOR
THAT. SO I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH
AND- YOU KNOW ALL OF YOU- WE
SERVED IN ALL BRANCHES OF
SERVICE. AND I WILL TELL YOU
THAT THE LATEST BRANCH BESIDE
THE ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE MARINE
CORPS COAST GUARD. IS OF COURSE
A SPACE FORCE AND I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY- JUST LAST WEEK TO
GO TO VANDENBERG. SPACE FORCE
BASE AND MEET WITH SOME OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS SO THEY'RE JUST AS
EQUALLY AS PROUD OF ALL. OF US
WHO TRIED TO HELP THEM AND THAT
THAT'LL BE THE NEW BATCH OF
VETERANS DOWN THE ROAD. SHOW
WITH. YOU MADAM CHAIR. BUT SHE
RATHER- YOU'RE CALM IF ANY.
THANK YOU I DON'T I DON'T COME
INTO I THINK YOU GUYS FOR
TESTING BUT I DO HAVE COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS- WHEN YOU MENTIONED-
HELP NONPROFITS COME TOGETHER IN
A GROUP OR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO
HELP. OUR VETERANS IS THAT
SIMILAR TO LIKE A VETERAN STAND
DOWN WILL RIPPED A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER IN A
PARK OR SOMEPLACE SO THAT-
VETERANS CAN RECEIVE THE
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AND YOU
MENTIONED ANOTHER THING THAT
SAID THAT- LEGALLY ONLY THIS
SEE- CALIFORNIA VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICER WAS. THE ONE THAT WAS
REQUIRED OR LEGALLY SUPPOSED TO
BE THERE- WOULD YOU MEAN BY THAT
SURE. I'LL TAKE YOUR SECOND PART
FIRST SO- WITH THE WITH THE VET.
YEARS AGO IT WAS AFTER AFTER
CIVIL WAR THERE IS LAWS PUT IN
PLACE- AFTER CIVIL WAR THERE'S
MANY FOLKS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO
WHERE THEY WERE ILLITERATE
DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN. IN
WEREN'T ABLE TO FILE THEIR OWN
PAPERWORK SO AT THAT TIME IT WAS
A SIMPLE FORM THEY HAD TO FILL
OUT. IN BASICALLY JUST SIGN
THEIR NAME ON IT- BUT AT THAT
TIME THERE WERE FOLKS TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT SO THERE'S A
LAW PASSED THE DATED BACK TO
THEIR IT STILL HOLDS IN PLACE-
DID. THAT THE MAX YOU CAN CHARGE
A VETERAN FOR THEIRS FOR THE
SERVICE. IN FILING INITIAL
CLAIMS FIVE DOLLARS THINGS HAVE
CHANGED SINCE IN TERMS OF ONCE
IT GETS TO AN APPEAL AND BEFORE
THE COURT AND SO FORTH. AND THAT
THAT CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS THE
BIG. BACKLOG IN THE VA WAS
TRYING TO. GET MORE SYSTEM PUSH
INTO THROUGH. THE THERE ARE
DIFFERENT DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS
ON ON HOW THAT'S GONE AND SO
FORTH AND IT'S OPENED UP A CAN
OF WORMS WITHIN OUR STATE IN
MANY STATES. WITH FOLKS THAT
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY- THEY BRING
THE VETERAN IN AND THEY
GENERALLY OFFER SOME OTHER TYPE
OF SERVICE- THAT ISN'T DIRECTLY
CLAIMS ASSISTANCE HOW THEY
CATEGORIZE IT- AND THEY END UP
CHARGING THE VETERAN FOR. FOR
THAT SERVICE OF THE CLAIM- IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT IN OUR SITUATION
I GET CALLS. EVERY COUPLE WEEKS
I'LL GET A CALL FROM A DIFFERENT
COUNTY COMPLAINING ABOUT
SOMEBODY AND I REFER THIS TO THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND
THEY FOLLOW UP DEPENDING ON THE
SEVERITY. ON SOMETIMES IT'S A
LOCAL JURISDICTION THING- BUT IT
IS PROBLEMATIC SO YOU HAVE FOLKS
OUT THERE TRYING TO REALLY
PREDATORY PRACTICES LIKE I SAID.
PENSION POACHING IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF THAT- THE A LOT OF
AMONG OUR SENIOR VETERANS FOLKS
WILL GO INTO NURSING FACILITIES
AND SO FORTH AND REALLY- GET IN
THERE WITH THE IDEA OF
CONNECTING THEM TO THEIR SERVICE
CONNECTED PENSION- AND- AT THE
SAME TIME. EVEN A POWER OF
ATTORNEY FROM THESE FOLKS
DIGGING DEEPER INTO THEIR OTHER
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND SO FORTH
ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR PROP SIXTY
THREE GRANTS FOR CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY- THAT CVS SO IS NOT THERE
ANYMORE. BUT HIS HIS THE GRANT
THAT WE GAVE HIM WAS. TO COMBAT
THAT WITHIN HIS COUNTY ON HIS
PROP SIXTY THREE GRAND HE USED
TO GO INTO SENIOR LIVING
FACILITIES TO EDUCATE THEM. ON
THIS CONCEPT OF PENSION POACHING
OF THESE FOLKS COME IN THERE AND
YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN THIS
IS THEIR APPROACH IN THIS IS HOW
THEY DO IT. SO IT'S BEEN A IT'S
BEEN IT'S MOVED ALONG YOU HAVE
TO BE A LAWYER A RECOGNIZED
AGENT WITH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL
COUNSEL WITHIN THE VA TO BE
APPROVED FOR. FOR CERTIFICATION
AND- REPRESENT RESERVE
REPRESENTING VETERANS CLAIMS
BEFORE THE- THE- DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS THAT YOU HAVE
TO BE CONGRESSIONALLY RECOGNIZED
SO. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU
KNOW IF TOP YOUR HEAD IT'S ON
THE BACK OF A CLAIMS FORM ALL
THE LIST OF NAMES THEY'VE ADDED
A FEW LATELY. BUT IT'S RIGHT
AROUND THIRTY DIFFERENT
ASSOCIATIONS OR SO I'D SAY-
NATIONALLY ARE ABLE TO LEGALLY
REPRESENT VETERANS IN EVERY
STATE. EVERY STATE HAS. THAT
AUTHORITY AS WELL AND THAT'S THE
CVS OF WORK UNDER THE STATE'S
AUTHORITY. AND MISS MURPHY
MENTIONED ABOUT PREDATORY
LENDING IT WAS JUST FOR
PREDATORY- TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
OUR VETERANS ESPECIALLY OUR
SENIORS AND- THAT BREAKS MY
HEART THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN
HELL FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF OUR VETERANS. AND
SO YOU MENTIONED AT THE
PREDATORY PIECE. AND YOU
MENTIONED ABOUT HOW YOU CAN
CONNECT HIM AND- YOU KNOW
EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT YOU GUYS
ARE THE PROPER AUTHORITY TO BE
ABLE TO COME AND PROVIDE THESE
BENEFITS. IS THERE A MARKETING
CAMPAIGN ARE THEY DOING HOW ARE
THEY REACHING OUR VETERANS ARE
THESE PREDATORY PEOPLE REACH OUR
VETERANS BEFORE YOU DO I MEAN.
YOU HAVE THE NAME THE TITLE
VETERANS YOU KNOW SO- SERVICE
OFFICE. YOU DO OUT REACH AND I
MEAN I KNOW IN KERN COUNTY INTO
THEIR IN FRESNO WE'RE DOING
OUTREACH ALL THE TIME YOU HAVE
NONPROFIT CITY WORK WITH DEAD
BEEN BAKERSFIELD- YOU KNOW ALL
THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO REACH
OUT TO OUR VETERANS- REACHING
OUT HER WORLD WELL TO THE FEW
THAT ARE THERE- VIETNAM THE
WHOLE A BIT. AND CURRENT COMPANY
VETERANS ARE. FOR IRAQ AND-
AFGHAN. WORST HOW ARE THEY
REACHING PEOPLE AND WIRE HOW ARE
THEY STILL TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
OUR VETERANS LIKE WHAT'S THEIR
MARKETING SCHEME. SO BASICALLY
THEY GO INTO THE- VOTE. LIKE YOU
SAID THE NURSING HOME IT'S
MOSTLY PENSIONS I'M BUT WE SEE
IT MOSTLY ON PENSIONS BUT THERE
ARE A FEW OUT THERE THAT DO. OF
SERVICE CONNECTED FROM CLAIMS.
BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO INTO
THE NURSING HOME. AND THEY
PROMISE THESE VETERANS THAT THEY
CAN GET THEIR CLAIM FAST DONE
FASTER THAN I CAN. THIS AND
EVERYBODY WANTS HER MONEY FASTER
YOU KNOW SO- AND THEN THEY TRY
TO REARRANGE THEIR ASSETS TO
MAKE THEM QUALIFY. FOR THOSE.
FOR THOSE BENEFITS. BECAUSE NON
SERVICE CONNECTED PENSION AS- AN
INCOME DRIVEN. BENEFIT FOR
VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING THE
WAR TIME. THAT ARE INDIGENT AND
NEED- CARE OF ANOTHER PERSON. SO
THAT IS. THAT'S WHAT HOW THEY
GET IN THERE AND THEY TRY TO
MANIPULATE THE FUNDS AND GET
THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. SO THAT.
HELPED ME GET THESE ADDITIONAL
FUNDS SO THAT THE VETERAN IS.
TAKING CARE OF IT DOESN'T TAKE
ANY. DOESN'T TAKE ANY LESS TIME
FOR THEM TO GET THEIR BENEFITS
TO THEM IT'S- IT'S THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME IS OUR OFFICES
BUT- WE USUALLY GET IN AFTER THE
FACT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
RESPOND TO THE LETTER. AND NOW
THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE.
THIS FINANCIAL PLANNER WENT OVER
THE FENCE- WHOEVER WAS HELPING
THEM BEFORE WHEN. THEY'RE JUST
TOTALLY LOST CONTACT WITH THEM.
SO HOW IS THAT SO I'M I'M
BOTHERED BY THAT CASE SO I
APOLOGIZE I KNOW THIS
INFORMATIONAL HEARING BUT I'M
I'M BOTHERED BY WHAT YOU SAID
NOT AT YOU. BUT ABOUT WHAT YOU
SAID. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS
HOW HOW CAN WE HELP YOU STOP
THAT. AND IS THERE A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO BE
ENACTED THAT'S WHAT WORKS ON THE
GROUND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORKS
ON THE GROUND I DON'T DO WHAT
YOU DO. BUT WHAT WORKS ON THE
GROUND BECAUSE I'M SURE MY
COLLEAGUES AND I CAN TALK ABOUT-
INTRODUCING SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BE BENEFICIAL. CAN WE- I KNOW
THAT. THEY ARE RETIREMENT
COMMITTEES ARE GONNA HAVE A
HEART ATTACK BUT CAN WE- SAY YOU
KNOW. IF THESE PEOPLE COME IN TO
MEET WITH THESE VETERANS- THEY
HAVE TO NOTIFY YOUR OFFICE
FIRST- I MEAN WHAT WORKS ON THE
GROUND FOR YOU. I DON'T- BECAUSE
YOU'RE FOR ME- I THINK. OF
SEVERAL THINGS COULD WORK AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
THAT THAT RHONDA SPOKE ABOUT
NINE IN THE BEGINNING OR OPENING
STATEMENT. WAS THE INCREASING OF
PENALTIES REALLY HOLDING PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE. TO DO THESE THINGS
BECAUSE I THINK. I DON'T WANNA
GET INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT
OTHER CRIMINALS AND OTHER
THINGS. BUT IF PEOPLE ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. FOR THE THINGS THAT
THEY DO IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO
OTHERS. WHO ARE OUT THERE TRYING
TO DO THE SAME THING AND THAT'S
KIND OF HOW. THEY END UP
CHANGING THEMSELVES A REBRAND
THEMSELVES THEY MORE FOR LITTLE
BIT THEY CHANGES STATEMENT. THEY
FIND A LOOPHOLE. ON AND THEN.
YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO. WHY MOVE
ON AND MAKE MONEY BECAUSE I
GUESS THAT'S THE THING THAT THEY
WANT TO DO I THINK YOUR IDEA.
HAS PLENTY OF MERIT. I THINK
ANOTHER THING THAT COULD BE DONE
IS THAT- IF FOLKS ARE GOING TO
HAVE ACCESS TO THEM THEN
FAMILIES PERHAPS NEED TO BE
CONTACTED. ON A AND THEN MAYBE
THE HOMES. YOU KNOW GIVE A CALL
TO CALVET THERE'S A LIST TO
CHECK. YOU KNOW I WOULD HAVE TO
THINK IT THROUGH INSTEAD OF JUST
YOU KNOW KIND OF. I GUESS I KNOW
IT'S NOT YOU OFF GUARD I DO
APOLOGIZE AND THAT'S OKAY THAT I
WAS VERY I DON'T LIKE WHAT I
HEARD IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET
ACROSS AND I HAVE A LOT OF WORLD
WAR TWO VETERANS MISTER MISSION
MY DISTRICT FINALS- AND VIETNAM
VETERANS. AND I THINK YOU COULD
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MISTER MISH I
THINK HE WOULD PROBABLY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF YOU. AND HE'S VERY
VERY QUICK WITTED BUT- THAT THAT
I'M BOTHERED BY THAT A LOT AND
SO I JUST WANTED TO WITH THEIR
MARKETING SCHEME WAS. AND IF YOU
GUYS WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH MY
OFFICE AND LET ME KNOW AND- AT
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT MY
COLLEAGUE FORGET ASISTIR
BOETTCHER. SO BACK YEAH BECAUSE
I THINK YOUR PARTY OR YOUR FIRST
PART OF YOUR QUESTION TO ME WE I
CAN ANSWER THAT AND IT ANSWERS A
LITTLE BIT OF THIS AS WELL. IS
THAT YOU KNOW THEY'RE THEY'RE
APPROACH VARIES I MEAN THEY-
WHETHER THEY'RE FLOWERING
COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHETHER THERE
ARE RUN AROUND A VETERANS EVENTS
IN. HOUSE OUT FLYERS DIRECTLY TO
VETERANS WHATEVER THE CASE MAY
BE ONLINE IT'S IT COMES FROM ALL
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. OKAY THE
POINT THAT YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT
IN TERMS OF THIS COMMUNITY BASED
SYSTEM OF CARE WHERE THE CVS AS
FIT INTO THAT WHETHER THAT'S A
STANDOUT. IS A PARTICULAR EVENT
WHAT WE REALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL
IN PUTTING TOGETHER. IS A
INFRASTRUCTURE. WITHIN EACH
COMMUNITY MEANING. F. IS DOING
A- REALLY. TO BETTER. I CAN.
KNOWS EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTANDS
THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
CENTERS ARE THE HUB OF THAT. IN
IN THERE'S A VARIETY OF
SPOKESMAN ADDED WE HAVE
CALLOUSED CALVET STAFF. IN EACH
REGION OF THE STATE TO MAKE SURE
THOSE FOLKS ARE ALL CONNECTED.
IN THE STRONGER THAT COMMUNITY
SYSTEM OF CARE BECOMES. THE
STRONGER GET IN IT IT COMBATING
THIS EXACT TYPE OF ISSUE
BECAUSE- THE BENEFIT IS. IS
UPSET IN THIS IT IS- IN IS
DIFFICULT IT IS EVERY TIME WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. THE PLUS
SIDE OF THAT IS THAT THE
COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING TIGHTER
AND TIGHTER AND TIGHTER FOR
INSTANCE IN YOUR AREA. DAD KNOWS
ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES
PROVIDERS AROUND HER THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER KNOWS
DAB IN THAT COMMUNITY BASED
SYSTEM OF CARE. SO WHATEVER
ENTRY POINT THESE FOLKS COME IN
. SOMEONE WHO'S PART OF THE
COMMUNITY SYSTEM OF CARE PICKS
UP ON THAT IN SENDS THAT MESSAGE
UP. OKAY IN SO WE'VE THERE'S
CERTAINLY RISK IN THERE'S A
PERIOD OF TIME IN THERE. THAT
THAT HAPPENED THE THIRST TO THE
VETERANS ARE AT RISK BUT
FORTUNATELY IS. THAT CAN YOU A
SYSTEM OF CARE GROWS. IN BECOMES
A STRONGER SYSTEM. IN
EVERYBODY'S. RELATIONSHIPS AND
COMMUNICATION BECOMES STRONGER
AND EVEN PROCESS. REALLY YOU
KNOW MORE ALIGNED HORIZONTALLY
AND VERTICALLY FOR THE STATE
DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
THE COUNTY. ON MAKES THAT MAKES
OUR DEFENSE AGAINST THAT KIND OF
THING STRONGER WE DO HAVE. OUR
CALIFORNIA TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. THAT HAS- OPPORTUNITIES
FOR. THERE WE GO OUT AND
ACTUALLY LIKE I SAID THE COUNTY
AND CONTRA COSTA DID THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT GRANT
TO DO THAT IN THEIR COUNTY BUT
WE ALSO HAVE WE ARE STATE
PROGRAM. WE HAVE CURRICULUM THAT
ADDRESSES THIS THE DRESSES-
CHALLENGES AROUND PREDATOR
PRESSURE ON G. I. BILL ARE A
VARIETY WE HAVE A WHOLE. OF OUR
CURRICULUM IT'S PREDATORY
PRACTICES OF ABOUT BENEFITS A.
B. C. D. BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY BENEFIT- IT
SEEMS TO BE WHENEVER THERE'S A
POT OF MONEY AROUND FOLKS. COME
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO. TAKE TO GET
THAT MONEY SELL OUR CURRICULUM
AND CAL TAPPING IN ARCATA
PROGRAMS TO COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE SERVICE OFFICERS AND THE
COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM OF CARE
TAKE PART IN THOSE. EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL SO THE
RIGHTY OF DIFFERENT WAYS WERE
DOING IT I THINK THE FEDERAL
LAWS IN PLACE- HOWEVER- YOU KNOW
ON THE STATE LEVEL- GENERALLY IT
DEPENDS WHAT LINE THEY CROSS.
THE AS I SAID WHETHER THE
INJURED TOURNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
JUMP ST OR IF IT'S A LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS THANK YOU
DEPENDING ON THE DETAILS THANK
YOU THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I
DON'T I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT
WE'RE I'M TRYING TO TRADE CENTER
IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
YOU WERE GOING WITH THAT. WITH
THE GROUP BUT YOU KNOW LIKE A
GROUP OF NONPROFITS COMING
TOGETHER THE LAST QUESTION I HAD
IS- A DEBT THAT PROP SIXTY
THROUGH THE ONE POINT SEVEN
MILLION DOLLARS AND IT'S GIVEN
TO EACH COUNTY HOW IS THAT A
DISTRIBUTED I KNOW YOU SAID
THROUGH GRANT PROGRAM BUT LIKE
WITH HOW WAS THAT. OFTEN NO
OFFENSE BUT THE CENTRAL VALLEY
KINGS COUNTY BUT THE CENTRAL
VALLEY SEEMS TO BE OVERLOOKED IN
A LOT OF AREAS AND WITH A LOT OF
VETERANS SO HOW IS THAT.
DISTRIBUTED OR CAN THEY IS IT
DISTRIBUTED ARE GRANTED. BASED
ON- VETERAN POPULATION PER
CAPITA IS IT IS THERE SOME KIND
OF CRITERIA IS THERE SOME TYPE
OF DOES IT ALL GO TO SAN
FRANCISCO AND LOS AND IT DOES
NOT AND WE'RE VERY WERE VERY.
YOU KNOW SORRY MY- DEPUTY
SECRETARIES HERE AND HE CAN. HE
CAN REALLY GET INTO THE DETAILS
OF THIS BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE
HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHT IT'S
SIXTEEN COUNTIES RIGHT NOW ARE
CURRENTLY. CURRENTLY GRANTED SO
IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. BUT
WITH IN THAT SCORING WE TAKE ALL
OF THOSE THINGS INTO
CONSIDERATION BECAUSE YOU'RE
RIGHT. IT'S YOU CAN'T HAVE THE
LARGER COUNTIES I MEAN THEY CAN
BE MORE COLLABORATIVE THEY HAVE.
A LARGER SUPPORT NETWORK AT THE
HAVE MORE FUNDING TO DO THINGS.
SO WE ACTUALLY. GO OUT TO SOME
OF THE SMALLER COUNTIES IN.
EVERY TIME RUN DIMENSIONS THAT
ARE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICERS THEY HAVE WE HAVE.
THREE OR REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE
THREE ANNUAL TRAINS WITH THEM.
PART OF THAT IS THE C. E. U.
CREDITS FOR THEIR- FOR THEIR
ACCREDITATION- BUT PART DURING
THAT WE ALWAYS. PROBABLY EVERY
OTHER CONFERENCE WE TALK ABOUT
THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT
MONEY. AND TALK ABOUT THE GRANTS
FOR NEXT YEAR IN THE PROCESS AND
WHAT WE USUALLY PICK FOCUS
AREAS. OF WHAT WERE WE'RE- KIND
OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE IN THE
ADMINISTRATION- WHEN WE'RE
GRANTING THAT OUT WE USUALLY
PICK A FEW TOPIC AREAS THAT ARE
KIND OF PRIORITIZED. BUT EVEN
WITHIN THE SMALLER COUNTIES IF
THEY'RE NOT IN ONE OF THOSE
TOPIC AREAS WE TAKE THAT IN
CONSIDERATION WE TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION. THEIR POPULATION.
IN GENERALLY BECAUSE SCALABILITY
IS GOING TO BE HUGE I MEAN
COUNTY IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO
COMPETE ON THAT LEVEL. I'M IN
WE- PROVIDE FUNDS APPROPRIATE
FOR WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO BUT WE'RE VERY
COGNISANT OF THAT CHALLENGE IT
WITH. OUR SUBVENTION FUND
FORMULA THE WAY THAT'S
DISTRIBUTED IS CERTAINLY THAT'S
FACTORED IN AS WELL- BECAUSE A
LOT OF YOU KNOW LIKE YOU SAID
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
AMADOR IN. LOS ANGELES COUNTY
AND ABSOLUTELY WE ARE WE ARE
VERY AWARE OF THAT. THANK YOU
SIR THANK YOU AND I MY APOLOGIES
TO THE CHAIR MY MAMA BEAR CAME
OUT BUT WHEN. YOU KNOW I HEARD-
HAS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE NOT YOU
GUYS THAT THERE ARE PREDATORY
INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TAKING A
VENDOR'S ADVANTAGE AND
ESPECIALLY MY ELDERLY VETERANS
AND- VETERANS AS STRUGGLE WITH
PTSD OR ANYTHING THAT JUST ARE
WANTING THEIR BENEFITS I DON'T
THINK THEY'RE COMING FAST
ENOUGH. AND THAT THAT'S WRONG
AND COACH RIGHT I WOULD HOPE
THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. IN
THIS BODY AND I THINK THAT WILL
WORK SHOULD COME RIGHT FOR THEM.
SENATOR MANAGER YOU'VE SORRY
SOMETHING. MY SIR NO NO. OKAY
YOU- WELL LET ME GO AHEAD AND
FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU YOU KNOW
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND IT FOR
SO MANY YEARS. AS I WAS THE LA
COUNTY. COMMISSIONER OF MILITARY
VETERAN'S AFFAIRS I WORK WITH
THE- ACCOUNTING VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICE FOR YEARS. AND I KNOW THE
WORK YOU DO. BUT AS SENATOR OF
GROVE IS A POINTED OUT. THE THAT
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF OUR VETERANS. GOOD
POINT. THE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO
BE. VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER.
PEOPLE WHO CLAIM. TO HELP THESE
VETERANS WHO NEED. SO MUCH. AND
AND NOW WHAT I'M HEARING. IS
THEY'RE EVEN CHARGING. IN
OBTAINING FUNDING- FROM THEM SO.
YOU KNOW THE THESE ARE CRAZY
THINGS. OVER THE YEARS. I KNOW
QUITE BETTER CHERISH OFFICERS
VERY MUCH WITH OUR- WORKERS.
BECAUSE THEY SIT WITH THE
VETERANS. AND THEY TRIED TO. GET
THEM TO. GET IT OUT PUT IT ON
THE TABLE AND THEN FINALLY. ITS
ITS STARCH AND ONCE IT STARTS IT
GOES AND GOES AND THEN COMES
THE- YOU KNOW THE PATH TO THE
VA. THE PATH TO THE BENEFITS THE
PATH TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SO ON
INTO IT SERVICE CONNECTED
INJURIES IF THERE'S THERE. AND I
AND I THINK THE WORK YOU DO IS
OUTSTANDING. BUT MY COMMENT TO
YOU IS HOW DO WE INCREASE YOUR
NUMBERS. THAT'S THE THING
BECAUSE YOU KNOW TO ANY
ORGANIZATION TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN.
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY DO IT WHEN
THEY'RE THEY'RE BEING
COMPETITIVE- SO WHAT WHAT WHAT
IS YOUR SYSTEM HERE TO RECRUIT
AND RETAIN WHICH IS ONE. AND THE
OTHER IS HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR
SHELVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THE
FACT THAT YOU JUST GAVE US ARE
ARE PHENOMENAL IN I THINK WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE. WE'VE GOT TO GET
THAT OUT THERE IT'S GOT TO BE
KNOWN SO THEN WE CAN GET
ADDITIONAL FUNDING DOWN THE
ROAD. SO IF YOU CAN COME IN AND-
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS I JUST
MENTIONED. SO- SO THE- CONTINUE
THE CURRENT FUNDING TO ENSURE
THE CONSISTENT A VETERAN SERVICE
ACROSS THE STATE IF WE CAN GET
MORE FUNDING WE CAN HIRE MORE
PEOPLE FOR OUR KIDS FOR OUR
OFFICES TO BE ABLE TO HELP
VETERANS PERIOD- NOT ALL OF THE
FUNDING THAT. THE SEVEN FINING
KIDS TRICKLE DOWN TO OUR
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE
DEPENDING ON WHAT LEVEL THE
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES IN IN
THEIR DEPARTMENT. SO THOSE ARE
SOME THINGS THAT- MAYBE NEED TO
LOOK AT. ALSO IF OUR OFFICE OUR
OFFICE IS NOT A MANDATORY OFFICE
OUR OFFICE IS AN OFFICE THAT IS.
DOING BY THE MILITARY VETERANS
CODE BUT IT'S NOT A MANDATORY
OFFICE FOR A COUNTY TO HAVE.
IT'S A SUGGESTED OFFICE FOR
COUNTY TO HAVE. THERE'S FIFTY
SIX OF THE FIFTY EIGHT COUNTIES
HAVE A VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES.
IN IT WHAT WHAT KIND OF
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHICH WE
LOOK. FORWARD I MEAN BEING
REALISTIC THIS NEXT GO ROUND WE
GET JUST FINISHES BATCH IN THE
YEARS TO COME I'LL TACKLE THAT
QUESTION MR CHER- WHEN IT COMES
TO FINDING AS AS RHONDA LOOTED-
AND WHEN SHE SAID THAT ALL THE
FUNDING DOESN'T TRICKLE DOWN.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT A FUNCTION OF
CALVET- WITH REGARD TO WHAT
HAPPENS TO THAT FUNDING ONCE IT
HITS A COUNTY. BECAUSE I THINK
AS THE AS YOU WELL NOW. AND THE
OTHER MEMBERS- IT MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW IS THAT WERE COUNTY
EMPLOYEES WE WORK FOR THE
COUNTY. WE DON'T WORK FOR THE VA
WE DON'T WORK FOR CALVET AND SO
THE COUNTY- ALTHOUGH THE FUNDING
AS IT COMES DOWN IN MANY
COUNTIES IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT.
THE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE- THERE
OFTENTIMES THAT THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN IN SOME COUNTIES. SOME
COUNTIES YOU HAVE A COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE- AND
THEY'RE ALL ORGANIZED
DIFFERENTLY IN SOME COUNTIES
YOU'VE GOT A COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICE WHERE- THE
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS AND
DEPARTMENT HEAD AND MANAGES
THEIR OWN BUDGET- AND HAS A SAY
WITH THE CA- AND HAS A SAY WITH
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. YOU
HAVE OTHER COUNTIES WHERE WE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS
BURIED FOUR LAYERS DEEP IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. AND ALL
THEY DO IS LOOK UP AND SEE THE
NEXT VETERAN EVERY DAY AND SERVE
THE VETERAN WHICH IS NOT A BAD
THING- BUT TO SAY THAT THE
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES
ARE KIND OF ORGANIZED
DIFFERENTLY AND IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT. CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICERS OR OR I DON'T
EVEN BELIEVE CALVET- HAS CONTROL
OVER THERE IS INFLUENCE BUT
CERTAINLY NOT CONTROL AND SO
SOMETIMES WHEN. THE MONEY COMES
DOWN THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICE. WERE OFFICER DOES NOT
EVEN SEE THAT MONEY AS IT COMES
DOWN EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY IS
SUPPOSED TO BE. COMING TO THEM
TO HIRE NEW PEOPLE- GOING TO OUT
REACH REACH OUT TO VETERANS-
THAT ARE THAT ARE HOMELESS REACH
OUT TO VETERANS ARE SUFFERING
FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. LGBT
Q. VETERANS- VETERANS FROM YOU
KNOW EVERY EVERY WAR AREA YOU
KNOW I COULD GO ON AND ON- AND I
WOULDN'T SIT HERE AND TRY TO
TELL YOU WHICH COUNTIES THAT IS-
THAT ARE DOING THAT- I DON'T
FEEL LIKE THAT THAT THAT'S OUR
PURPOSE HERE TODAY BUT- I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT. THAT INCREASED FUNDING MAY
NOT TRICKLE DOWN AND END UP IN A
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE.
BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE- I
THINK THAT SOME ASSISTANCE WITH
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT- IF I
WAS A- COUNTY GOVERNMENT I
CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT SOMEBODY
ELSE TELLING ME. HOW TO RUN MY
COUNTY BUT I THINK SOME
HIGHLIGHTING AND SO IMPORTANCE
BEING PLACED. ON THE JOBS THAT
COUNTY VETERAN OFFICERS VETERAN
SERVICE OFFICERS DUE. OUT WITHIN
ACCOUNTING IN THE MOUNT OF MONEY
THAT THEY BRING BACK INTO THEIR
ACCOUNT WHEN I GET THE ANNUAL
REPORT WHICH I THINK ALL OF YOU.
GOT A COPY OF- I USUALLY TURN
THE PAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT. HOW
MUCH MONEY IN CARBON PEN DOLLARS
WHICH- COMPREHEND DOLLARS A
DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS TO COME
INTO A VETERANS BANK ACCOUNT
EVERY SINGLE MONTH. ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS AND HOW MUCH INCREASED
MONEY COMES INTO ACCOUNT IN A
SMALL COUNTY LIKE KINGS- THERE
ARE VERY FEW OTHER CLAIMS ARE
BEING FILED OTHER THAN THE
CLAIMS TO GET FOUND IN A COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE. AND SO
THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING TODAY
IS AN AFFIRMATION. OF WHICH
WE'RE GETTING NOW FOR UP I'M AND
I'M GOING TO HOLD HANDS WITH YOU
ALL OF US. IS TO STAND UP AND
FIGHT FOR OUR VETERANS AS WE ALL
DO. BUT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A
AT A AT A PATHWAY TO GET TO
THESE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS. AND TO LET THEM
KNOW. THAT WE NOW SEE WHAT
EXACTLY IS GOING ON ON THE
GROUND. AND WE'VE GOT TO GET
THOSE NUMBERS AND SHOW THEM.
THAT IF THEY- JOIN US TO GET
THAT MONEY TO START HIRING MORE
BETTER SERVICE OFFICERS LOOK AT
WHAT THE- THE OUTCOME IS GOING
TO BE. THE OTHER THING THAT THAT
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE
VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE STREET.
THAT ARE NOT BEING BROUGHT IN
VETERANS WHO DON'T REALIZE. THAT
GRANTED THEY HAVE A JOB AND THEY
WORK FOR THE POST OFFICE OR- THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT WHATEVER BUT
HAVE A SERVICE CONNECTED.
DISABILITY THAT CAN BE PROVEN.
AND THEY DON'T COME FORWARD. SO
WE HAVE TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE GOING HERE. AND THAT'S WHAT
I'M SEEIN. SO WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE
OFFICERS. AND FOR THE RECORD
CENTER MEMORY ALPHARETTA GUILD
JUST JOINED US. AND THESE ARE
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS AND I
QUIT THEM. TO SOCIAL WORKERS WHO
ARE. SPEAKING WITH OUR VETERANS
EVERY SINGLE DAY TRYING TO GET
THEM TO GET INTO THE VA SYSTEM.
WHERE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS GO BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE OF THEIR
INPUT AND INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR
VETERANS. WE'RE ALSO TALKING
ABOUT PEOPLE THEY'VE TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM. WHO ARE
NOT VETERANS WHO ARE NOT.
AUTHORIZED TO WORK WITH OUR
VETERANS GOING INTO THESE-
SENIOR HOMES OR HOSPITALS. AND
GETTING THEM TO SIGN OVER
INFORMATION. THAT THEY'RE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF OUR VETERANS CHAU
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS PLEASE I'D LIKE DID.
YOU THAT TOPIC. THANK YOU- JUST
LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY
TARDINESS I WAS- HOPPING AROUND
COMMITTEES. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE- AS A FRESHMAN
LEGISLATOR- I ASKED SPECIFICALLY
TO SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE. AT TO
BRING THE VOICE OF FAMILY
MEMBERS- MY BROTHER HAS BEEN IN
THE NAVY SINCE I. REMEMBER SINCE
HE LEFT HIGH SCHOOL. AND OFTEN
TIMES THE IMPACT OF HIS
DEPLOYMENT THE IMPACT OF HYMNS-
SURVEEN OUR COUNTRY- I SEE THAT
IN MY KNEES I SEE THAT IN- YOU
KNOW OUR EXTENDED FAMILY AS WELL
SO. FOR ME IT'S IMPORTANT TO
ADVOCATE. ON BEHALF OF- VETERANS
EVERYWHERE- AND THE IMPACT THAT
IT HAS ON OUR FAMILIES AS A
WHOLE- I ALSO WANTED TO JUST.
ENCOURAGE YOU- IN THE SPIRIT OF
TRANSPARENCY I KNOW WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN COUNTIES
THAT DO OR DON'T. OF I'M A FIRM
BELIEVER THAT IF WE WANT TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM WE NEED TO SEE
IT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND IT- SO THAT WE CAN
BEGIN TO SOLVE IT SO- I
UNDERSTAND NOT PUTTING KIND OF
COUNTIES ON BLAST IN GETTING
THEM- KIND OF ALL WORKED UP- BUT
LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN HELP TO
MEND THOSE. RELATIONSHIPS AND
ENSURE THAT WERE EVER IN
CALIFORNIA OUR VETERANS RESIDE
WHETHER THEY'RE GOING BACK HOME
OR THE ESTABLISHING ANOTHER
WHOLE MORE COMMUNITY- THAT THE
SERVICES THAT ARE MEANT FOR THEM
THE SERVICES THAT- WE HAVE A
COVETED. TO SERVE THEM ARE
AVAILABLE SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE
THAT COMMENT THANK YOU THANK
YOU. THANK YOU PANELISTS WE'RE
GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO ON TO OUR
SECOND OF PANEL. IN ONCE AGAIN
YOU LET'S STAY IN TOUCH THANK
YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND
OUR SECOND PANEL I'D LIKE TO
WELCOME- INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO
JAMES IS CENTER. COUNTY VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICER LOS ANGELES
COUNTY. RICHELLE ARNOLD COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER
SACRAMENTO COUNTY AND DAVID WEST
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER
IN NEVADA COUNTY. OKAY THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND- AS YOU
HEARD. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS GET INFORMATION OBVIOUSLY ONE
COUNTY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER.
THE AMOUNT OF VETERANS SHOULD
ONE COUNTY DIFFERENT FROM
ANOTHER. AND WE JUST HEARD THE
MONEY STRUGGLING DOWN AT
DIFFERENT FROM ONE COUNTY TO THE
OTHER. BUT WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT SOME OF THE- THINGS THAT
ARE THERE WE HEARD ABOUT. THE
VETERANS TRYING TO GET THEIR
DESIGNATION ON THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSE. WHICH I'VE HEARD A LOT
OF NEGATIVE BECAUSE IT'S GOTTA
GO HERE GOT TO GO THERE BACK AND
FORTH. BUT NOW I JUST HEARD WHAT
A GREAT WAY TO BRING IN THE
VETERANS TO SIT HIM DOWN. AND
GET HIM INTO THE SYSTEM. SHOW
THAT FRUSTRATION. OBVIOUSLY YOU
KNOW GRANTED MIGHT BE THERE BUT
THE BENEFITS OVERALL. IT IS BEEN
FANTASTIC SO LET'S OPEN IT UP TO
YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN. I
THINK IT'S WORKING OKAY. GOOD
MORNING SHARING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS- MY NAME'S JIM CENTER
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF L. A. COUNTY
DEPARTMENT MILITARY RUSSIAN
FIRMS. I'M A ARMY VETERAN- SPENT
SOME TIME ON THE STREETS WHEN I
GOT BACK FROM IRAQ. HE AND DODD
SPENT SEVERAL YEARS GETTING HELP
FROM THE VA MYSELF FOR I'M A
DOLPHIN OF CONDITIONS. AND DOT
I'M CENTER FROM YOU AS A
DIRECTOR TODAY- SUCH PROOF A LOT
OF US VETERANS. NEED LITTLE HELP
REBOUNDED DO QUITE WELL. LOS
ANGELES COUNTY IS HOME
220-052-0002 HUNDRED THIRTY NINE
VETERANS ACCORDING TO TWENTY
TWENTY CENSUS- WITH OVER 51% OF
OUR VETERANS BEING OVER THE AGE
OF SIXTY FIVE. THIRTY TWO
PERCENT- OF VETERANS SERVED
DURING VIETNAM ERA SIXTEEN POINT
1% SERVED DURING THE GULF WAR UP
INTO TWO THOUSAND ONE. AND THE
NINETEEN POINT EIGHT- POST NINE
ELEVEN. L. A. COUNTY VETERAN
POPULATION IS 40% WHITE TWENTY
FOUR POINT THREE PERCENT- LET
MAX. SIXTEEN POINT NINE AFRICAN
AMERICAN EIGHT POINT SEVEN ASIAN
IN POINT 9% NATIVE AMERICAN.
WOMEN MAKE UP CLOSE TO FIFTY DOT
10% OF THE VETERAN POPULATION.
ELIZABETH DOLE FOUNDATION
ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE
CURRENTLY OVER A HUNDRED TWENTY
THOUSAND CARE GIVERS IN L. A.
COUNTY ALONE. L. A. COUNTY
DEPARTMENT MOTOR VETERAN AFFAIRS
OPERATES BOB HOPE PATRIOTIC CALL
LOOK A LOT EIGHTEEN FIGARO.
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING BUILT IN
NINETEEN TWENTY FIVE- RECENTLY
RETROFITTED AND REOPEN IN TWENTY
THIRTEEN. BOB HOPE PATRIOTIC
CALL CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE
COUNTY. HAS TEN FLOORS- AND
SERVES AS A ONE STOP RESOURCE
CENTER FOR VETERANS THEIR
DEPENDENTS MILITARY. HAS
MULTIPLE SERVICES- SERVICE
PROVIDERS AS TENANTS TO MEET THE
MISSION INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL
AMERICAN LEGION. POST EIGHT. BOB
HOPE PATRIOTIC CALLS OPEN FOR
WALK INS AND APPOINTMENTS
CURRENTLY TO SEE- NBA VETERAN
CLAIM ASSISTANCE WHO ARE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS ACCREDITED FIVE
DAYS A WEEK WE EXTEND OUR HOURS
ON WEDNESDAYS TO EIGHT O'CLOCK.
FOR WORKING- PARENTS TO BE ABLE
TO ACCESS OUR SERVICES. WE ALSO
ACCEPT APPOINTMENTS AS WELL- L.
A. COUNTY MBA HAS WE HAVE FORTY
FIVE BUDGET POSITIONS THIRTY
FIVE CURRENTLY STAFFED. TWENTY
TWO OF WHICH ARE VETERANS
NINETEEN ARE CREDITED WITH CITY
VA- TWO ARE PENDING
ACCREDITATION THREE INCLUDING
MYSELF- ETHICALLY WE HAVE-
EIGHT- EMPLOYEES WAIT. FIVE FOR
AFRICAN AMERICAN TWENTY WHO ARE
LED NEXT TO HER ASIAN. AND THEN
GENDER BREAKDOWN WE HAVE TWENTY
ONE MEN AND FOURTEEN WOMEN ON
OUR TEAM. THE NINETEEN
ACCREDITED VETERAN REP BY
VETERAN CLAIM ASSISTANCE ARE
LOCATED ACROSS FOURTEEN
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS L. A.
COUNTY. AND BOB HOPE YOU TRY TO
CALL. L. A. COUNTY DEPARTMENT
MENTAL HEALTH CREATED VETERAN
PRACTICE NETWORK TO LAUNCH TO
FISCAL YEAR TWENTY TWENTY ONE TO
POINT CLOSE TO EIGHTY VETERANS
OR VETERAN. MILITARY FAMILY
MEMBER PEERS ACROSS L. A. COUNTY
WHICH NBA COLD OKAY IT'S WITH AT
SOME SITES WITH THE INTENT OF
INCREASING INTEGRATION OF THOSE
SERVICES. VPN PEERS WORK TO
PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT WHILE
LINKING VETERANS RESERVE
COMPONENT AND THEIR FAMILIES TO
BE HEALTHCARE MEDIC CAL HOUSING
BASIC NEEDS EMPLOYMENT LEGAL
SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH
NBA VETERAN CLAIM ASSISTANCE.
FISCAL YEAR TWENTY TWENTY ONE
LED TO OVER ONE THOUSAND
REFERRALS FROM V. PAN TO NBA FOR
BENEFITS. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
MORE- THAT'S ON ME THE
INTEGRATION OF THOSE TWO
PROGRAMS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE-
BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL
HEALTH TO FURTHER INTEGRATE OUR
SERVICES. AND TO GET MORE
REFERRALS- FROM OUR DMH YOUR
SUPPORT. L. A. COUNTY BOARD
PRIORITIES FOR NBA ARE
HOMELESSNESS SUICIDE EXPANDING
SERVICES FOR AGING VETERANS
CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE
PRIORITIES THAT CAL THAT ROLLED
OUT OF THEIR LATEST. A
CONVENTION. ALL THESE PRIORITIES
PRESENT OUR REGION COORDINATION
CHALLENGES. SOLUTIONS FOR UP NOW
REACHING COORDINATION CHALLENGES
INCLUDE ON THE HOMES ASIDE DE
SILO IN- THROUGH BETTER INTER
COUNTY COORDINATION AND
DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES
SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT CITIES.
WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT
DOING IS BRINGING ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS THE BOARD HAS- AS-
AUTHORED A MOTION FOR MY
DEPARTMENT TO BRING IN ALL THE
DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS
THAT WORK WITH VETERANS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. LOOK
AT WHAT WE HAVE IS RESOURCES AND
BEGAN PUTTING A PLAN TOGETHER TO
PUT THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND
REACH OUT TO ALL OF OUR EIGHTY
EIGHT CITIES- TO OFFER VETERAN
RESOURCE CENTERS BECAUSE WE
REALIZE THAT SOME OF OUR CITIES.
ARE VETERANS ARE GOOD WILLING TO
GO HALFWAY ACROSS LA COUNTY
WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO TWO TWO AND
A HALF HOURS- FOR HOMELESS VETS
WHO DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
HAVE THEIR OWN HOMES. YEAH LOOK
LET LET ALONE- GOOD AROUND THE
COUNTY AND THAT'S NOT EVEN
INCLUDING THOSE WITH SEVERE
MENTAL ILLNESS WHO CANNOT
TOLERATE- BEING ON A BUS OR
TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SUICIDE L. A. COUNTY- HAS BEEN
HARD AT WORK AT- VETERANS
SUICIDE SINCE ABOUT TWENTY
NINETEEN WAS THE FIRST WORD MOST
MOTION THAT WAS AUTHORED. TO
LOOK INTO PILOT IN WHAT'S CALLED
THE VETERAN SUICIDE REVIEW TEAM.
WHICH IS A SUICIDE FATALITY
REVIEW TEAM COMPOSED OF OVER
FOURTEEN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. OUR
PARTNERS OUR CALVET OR VA
PARTNERS ACROSS VISION TWENTY
TWO WHICH INCLUDES LOMA LINDA.
LONG BEACH AND WEST LA VA. AND
THE FBI TOP SOCIAL MEDIA TASK
FORCE- FRIENDS OF TASK FORCE. TO
WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY
TRENDS- FOR ALL SUICIDE
DECISIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED
THROUGH OUR COLLABORATION WITH
OUR MEDICAL EXAMINER. CORNER AND
THE VA- SO THAT WE CAN BETTER
DIRECTOR RESOURCES TO INTERCEPT-
VETERAN SUICIDE. ONE EXAMPLE IN
ANOTHER COUNTY- I BELIEVE IT WAS
IN NEW YORK. THEY FOUND THROUGH
THEIR SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW
THAT VETERANS WERE GIVING THEIR
ANIMALS AWAY TO LOCAL ANIMAL
CARE CONTROL CENTERS. AND SO
WHAT THAT ALLOWED THAT COUNTY TO
DO WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT WAS
A CASES ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO
THOSE ANIMAL CONTROL. CARE
CENTERS SO THAT THEY COULD
INTERCEPT VETERANS WHO CAN
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR. THOSE THAT
ARE WORKING AT ANIMAL CARE
CONTROL BECAUSE IF YOU'VE EVER
HAD A VETERAN DIED BY SUICIDE
THAT WAS ON YOUR WATCH OR IN
YOUR COMMUNITY- MORE ANYBODY NON
VETERAN IT'S VERY IMPACTFUL. AND
LEAVES A LIFE. LIFELONG- IMPACT
. I'M SORRY MY PHONE DIED OUT.
AND THEN ON AGING VETERAN- SIDE
WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH L. A.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF AGING- TO
CREATE A COLLABORATION WITH
COUNTY BSO'S. COUNTY DEPARTMENTS
AGING. AND VA MEDICAL CENTERS
BOTH LONG BEACH AND GREATER LA
TO EXPLORE TAX WERE SPECIFIC TO
IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM CALLED
VETERAN DIRECTED CARE. OUR
VIETNAM VETS BECAUSE OF OUR
VIETNAM VETS I CAME HOME TO
YELLOW RIBBONS ON MY TREE IN
FRONT OF MY HOUSE. IT'S TIME
THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VIETNAM
VETERANS. AND SO THIS READ
VETERAN DIRECTED CARE IS AN
UPGRADE IN THE CURRENT CARE
GIVER PROGRAM. BOTH G. LA AND
LONG BEACH WE AS BOTH SUPPORT-
LOOKING INTO FUNDING TO- HAVE
THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF AGING
ADMINISTER PROGRAM WHERE SOCIAL
WORKERS ONCE AGAIN A REFERRAL
FROM THE VA TREATMENT TEAM. WILL
GO OUT ASSESS THE SITUATION TO
MAKE FLEXIBLE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
TO THOSE- AGING VETERANS SO THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR
HOME AND NOT GOING TO NURSING
CARE. NOT GO IN AND OUT OF
HOSPITALS BUT AGE. WHERE THEY
WANT TO AGE IN THEIR HOMES. BOTH
VA MEDICAL CENTERS ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THAT. GREAT
COUNTY BSO'S ARE CRITICAL TO
COORDINATING THESE TYPES OF
SOLUTIONS ON BEHALF OF THEIR
BOARDS BECAUSE OF OUR CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH VA
HEALTHCARE. BENEFITS AND
NATIONAL CEMETERIES
ADMINISTRATION. CALVET ALONG
WITH OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE OF
SERVING IN TRANSITION IN THE
MILITARY. IT BETTER FUNDED AND
THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY BSO'S
COULD LEAD INNOVATIONS THAT LEAD
TO BETTER EFFICIENCIES. WITHIN
OUR COUNTIES HAVE A DIRECT
IMPACT ON OVER COMING OUT
REACHING COORDINATION.
CHALLENGES WHEN I THINK THIS
COMMITTEE FOR THE TIME TODAY-
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR. AND ALLOW ME
TO SHARE ABOUT L. A. COUNTY
VETERAN COMMUNITY. AND FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA
SUPPORTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WEAR THE UNIFORM THANK YOU JIM.
AND WHO MIGHT BE UP NEXT. SHALL
HI SENATOR ARCHULETA BASE-
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS- MY NAME'S ROCHELLE
ARNOLD I'M THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER AND A
RETIRED FROM THE AIRFORCE IN
TWENTY EIGHTEEN. DAUGHTER OF A
VIETNAM VETERAN- AS WELL AS NO
MOM OF A YOUNG AIRMAN WHO'S
ABOUT TO GO TO KOREA THIS YEAR
SO- I'VE BEEN THE VETERAN
SERVICE OFFICER IN SACRAMENTO
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE A
MONTH AFTER I RETIRED. AND IT'S
DEFINITELY A PASSION OF MINE TO
SERVE VETERANS I RETIRED AS A
FIRST SERGEANT IN THE AIR FORCE
SO I'M VERY USED TO CARING. FOR
THE MORALE AND WELFARE OF MY
ACTIVE DUTY AND NO TRANSITION
OVER TO CARING FOR VETERANS SO.
SACRAMENTO HAS APPROXIMATELY
EIGHTY THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND
SEVENTY FOR VETERANS THAT DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE SURVIVING
SPOUSE'S NOR CHILDREN OF THOSE
VETERANS- IN OUR COUNTY WE ARE.
ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES THAT IS
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
ASSISTANT SO I DO NOT CONTROL MY
OWN BUDGET- THE MONEY GETS
REFUNDED BACK INTO THE GENERAL
FUND AND GETS. DIVVIED OUT. HOW
IT MAY I DON'T CONTROL MY OWN
BUDGET SO. A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN GEMS COUNTY- AND I REPORT
TO THE DIRECTOR OF. THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ASSISTANCE I
DON'T HAVE A NECESSARILY DIRECT
LINE TO MY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-
WITHOUT GOING THROUGH MY
DEPARTMENT HEAD FIRST- MAKE UP
IN MY OFFICE I'M A CVS SO I HAVE
ONE LEAD VETERAN CLAIMS REP WHO
DOES NOT HOLD SUPERVISORY
STATUS. I HAVE FOUR CREDITED
VETERAN CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES
ONE SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT.
THREE OFFICE ASSISTANCE AND THEN
I CAN GET COUNTY TIMES AS NEEDED
AND I'M WORKING TO GET- THEY
WORK STUDIES AS PART OF OUR
OFFICE AS WELL- VATS BRINGS ME
TO OUR MAIN ISSUE WHICH IS THE
RATIO OF. CURRENT ACCREDITED
VETERAN CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES
TO VETERANS IN MY COUNTY AS ONE
CLAIMS REP TO EVERY TWENTY
THOUSAND VETERANS IN THE COUNTY
WHICH IS IN AN INSANE WORKLOAD
FOR MY THAT WRAPS- WE USED TO BE
A WALK IN OFFICE ONLY- AND I GOT
TO BE TOO MUCH MY VOTE REPS HAD
NO- TIME IN THE DAY TO DO THE
CASE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS ARE
WHEN YOU FILE A CLAIM THERE'S
ALL THE- BACK AND YOU HAVE TO
SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE TO
FOLLOW THOSE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW
UP WITH THOSE VETERANS. SO WE'RE
NOW ON AN APPOINTMENT ONLY BASIS
SO THEY HAVE ABOUT FIVE TO SIX
APPOINTMENTS SCHEDULED
APPOINTMENTS A DAY- WHICH DOES
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF OUTRAGE THAT
WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE
OFFICE TO GO DO. SO SOME OF THE
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES THAT
WE'RE- CURRENTLY MISSING. AS
LOOKING AT ARE HOMELESS AND AT
RISK VETERANS- WE HAVE
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA NATION'S
FINEST LOAVES AND FISHES AND
THEN EVEN ARE OPEN LOBBY COUNTY
WELFARE BUREAUS ONE OF WHICH I'M
COLOCATED WITH- I DON'T HAVE ANY
STAFF TO SEND TO THOSE PLACES.
RIGHT SO A LOT OF TIMES I END UP
GOING TO DO THE OUTREACH WHICH
MEANS I TAKE ON THAT VETERAN
CLIENT LOAD AS WELL AS MANAGED
OFFICE- WE HAVE STUDENT VETERAN
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO OUTREACH
THERE'S ELEVEN COMMUNITY
COLLEGES PLUS THE CSU SACRAMENTO
CAMPUS- A LOT OF THOSE HOW
VETERAN RESOURCE CENTERS WHICH
THEY WANT US TO COME OUT. ON A
REGULAR BASIS- PUT SOMEBODY AT
THAT LOCATION TO HELP THOSE
VETERANS WHEN THEY WALK IN THE
DOOR IF THEY NEED TO FILE CLAIMS
AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF
TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE ALL ABOUT-
AGING VETERANS- AND SURVIVING
SPOUSES OF VETERANS THERE'S A
HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE ASSISTED
LIVING AND NURSING FACILITIES
NURSING HOME FACILITIES AND-
SACRAMENTO COUNTY. AND WE'VE
BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF
TOUCHING ANY OF THOSE- A LOT OF
THOSE DO YOU HAVE A VETERAN
PROGRAM IN THOSE HOMES- WE'VE
BEEN OUT TO A COUPLE PRIOR TO
COAL BED- AND IT'S A GREAT. WAY
TO REACH THOSE ELDERLY AN AGING
VETERANS- AND- SIT WITH THEM
WERE ABLE TO TAKE LAPTOPS OUT SO
WITH THEM FILE THEIR CLAIMS GET
ALL THEIR PAPERWORK- AND BE
RIGHT THERE WITH THEM HOLDING
THEIR HAND THROUGH THAT PROCESS
- AND THEN OF COURSE IN
SACRAMENTO WE HAVE MADE THREE VA
HOSPITAL MCCLELLAN VA OUTPATIENT
CLINIC AND THEN TO VOTE CENTERS
IN SACRAMENTO AND CITRUS HEIGHTS
ARE WE USED TO BE REGULARLY
GOING OUT TO THOSE THAT CENTERS
AND HAVE. EIGHT APPOINTMENTS
TODAY WITH THE TRANS EXPERIENCE
MENTAL HEALTH AN MST ISSUES- AND
I. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF
TO BE ABLE TO MAN ALL OF THESE
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES ANYMORE.
WE DO WHAT WE CAN- I'M GOING OUT
TO THOUGH. WOMEN'S VETERANS.
CLINIC OUT IT MADE HER ONCE A
MONTH NOW WE'RE GETTING OUT BACK
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THE STAND
DOWNS COMING UP IN MAY SO WE'RE
WE'RE STARTING TO GET BACK OUT
AFTER COLEMAN BUT IT'S VERY
LIMITED BASIS ON WHAT I CAN
SUPPORT WITH. THEM NUMBER OF
VETERANS COMING IN OUR OFFICE
EVERY DAY- SO CHALLENGES FOR US
ARE INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF
ACCREDITED VETERAN CLAIMS REPS
TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES.
OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW WE ONLY
HAVE ONE OFFICE IN THE COUNTY
WITH NO SATELLITE LOCATIONS- SO
AND OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED- IN
THE DEL PASO HEIGHTS. AND- THE
THOMAS AREA HOMES LIKE MY BRAIN
WENT BLANK. THE THOMAS AREAS SO
IT IS NOT CENTRALLY LOCATE IN
THE COUNTY ANYMORE- AND IF YOU
TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT THAT LIKE
ELK GROVE HAS OVER TWELVE
THOUSAND VETERANS. AND THEY
DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY
TO THE THOMAS- TO SEEK SERVICES-
WITH OUR OFFICE SO- I'M- AND
THEN OBVIOUSLY THE LIMITED
OUTREACH CAPABILITIES. SO I DID-
I ENDED UP- GETTING MY MASTERS
IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND
PART OF MY FOCUS FOR MY CAPSTONE
WAS WRITING A PAPER ABOUT THE
LOCATION STAFFING AND- OUT REACH
FOR MY OFFICE I DID PUT
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE I HAVE
SOME TALKING POINTS- WHICH I DID
PUT RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEEDS
FOR MY PARTICULAR OFFICE WHICH A
LOT OF THAT IS HIRING. MORE
STAFF MORE ACCREDITED CLAIMS
WRAPS- WE NEED ABOUT TEN RIGHT
TO GET THE RATIO TO A MANAGEABLE
LEVEL OF ONE CLAIMS REP TO ABOUT
EIGHT THOUSAND. WHICH IS IF YOU
LOOK AT OUR STATE AVERAGE FOR
CVS THOSE THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THAT
IS- AND THEN HIRING A SUPERVISOR
TO HELP MANAGE DAILY OPERATIONS
BUDGET TRAINING ALL OF THOSE
THINGS THAT I AM CURRENTLY DOING
RIGHT NOW- AND THEN. LOOK AT THE
LOCATION OF OUR OFFICE WHERE WE
GOING TO PUT IT TO MAXIMIZE.
REACHING MOST OF OUR VETERANS
AND WHERE CAN WE PUT SATELLITE
LOCATIONS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE
CONTACT WITH OUR VETERANS- AND I
JUST WANNA TELL A REALLY QUICK
STORY ABOUT WHY I DON'T REACHES
IS SO IMPORTANT- LAST YEAR I
ATTENDED- I BELIEVE IT WAS THE
EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
WAS HOLDING. IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY- AND
EMPLOYMENT EVENT FOR VETERANS-
SO I WENT TO THAT EVENT. THERE
WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP TO
THE TABLE WAS VERY HESITANT TO
TALK TO US- SO I KINDA KNEW WHAT
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT- SO I WENT
AROUND THE TABLE AND I KIND OF
WHISPERED TO HIM I SAID. WERE
YOU EXPERIENCING MILITARY SEXUAL
TRAUMA IN HIS EYES GOT VERY BIG-
NEVER CONNECTED TO ANY BENEFITS
WAS ASHAMED OF WHAT WAS HONESTY
TO FOURTEEN COURAGE TEND TO COME
TO THE OFFICE HE'S NOT 100%
DISABLED FIRST PTSD THAT HE
ROUTE- EXPERIENCE AS A RESULT OF
HIS M. S. TA. TOOK ME THREE
HOURS TO WRITE HIS STRESS OR
STATEMENT BECAUSE HE NEVER
TALKED ABOUT IT- SO TO PULL THAT
OUT OF HIM AND I ACTUALLY WROTE
IT FOR HIM IN THE OFFICE AND
SUBMITTED ALL OF HIS STUFF AND
NOW HE'S GETTING THE BENEFITS
AND HE'S AND ROLLED IN A HEALTH
CARE THAT HE DESERVES SO THAT'S
WHY. ALL OF US ARE IMPORTANT TO
REACH THIS VETERANS. ON THE
GROUND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU WHAT STATION. GO
AHEAD PLEASE- DAVID. THANK YOU
SURE FRAZIER. THIS IS ONLY THE
COMMITTEE ON MY NAME'S DAVID
WEST. AND THE NEVADA COUNTY
BUSINESS SERVICES OFFICER I'M A
MARINE- SIMPLIFY- REAL QUICK
THERE'S- LATER BILLS. BUT TEN TO
TWELVE OVER. 1212% OF OUR
POPULATION IS VETERANS. WE
CONSIDER IN THE SURVIVING
SPOUSES OR DEPENDENTS RIGHT
CREATURES ONE OF THE FIFTEEN
EIGHTEEN PERCENT. MY OFFICE IS
STAFFED WITH TWO AND A HALF
MYSELF. CLOSE TO VIEW SOURCE.
AND A PART TIME TEMPORARY OFFICE
ASSISTANT. AS WE GO THREE AND A
HALF EMPLOYEES TO REACH. EIGHTY
FIVE HUNDRED VETERANS- I WILL
SUPPORTERS INVITED COUNTY- IT'S
ONE OF. NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT-
THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS
BECAUSE I FONG HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY. RIGHT IN ORDER
FOR ME TO SURVIVE. IN ORDER TO
DO THINGS WE HAVE TO
COLLABORATE. ON THIS ONE OF A.
COUNTY HOW WE OPERATE BECAUSE
OUR SOULS I PERFORM
ORGANIZATION. SO WORK WITH THE
PROGRAM MANAGERS FROM APS- SO
WE'RE FOR SERVICES ELIGIBILITY.
RIGHT WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO
SOLVE COMMON PROBLEMS IN THE
COUNTY- WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE
PROP SIXTY THREE GRANT. AND
REVIEWS THAT. WHEN WE ANNOUNCED
IN JULY OF TWENTY ONE THERE WE
WERE A FOCUSING ON REDUCING BOTH
HIS HOMELESSNESS IS ZERO ONE OF
AN ACCOUNT. AT THAT TIME WE
REDUCE OUR AMOUNT OF HOMELESS
VETERANS FROM FORTY SEVEN TO
TWENTY NINE. WAS ME WE NOW ENTER
THE LAST MILE. BUT SINCE THAT
TIME IN JULY WE HAVE HOUSED.
FORTY SEVEN. FOR SOME VETERANS.
WE'RE DOWN TO SEVEN ON OUR LIST
RIGHT NOW WITH TWO OF THOSE SIGN
A CONTRACT WE WIN THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS. AND ONLY TWO OF THOSE
PEOPLE BEING IDENTIFIED AS
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. RIGHT AND
IN THIS TIME FRAME. WE REDUCE
OUR TIME OF HOMELESSNESS FOR
THESE PEOPLE FROM THREE HUNDRED
AND SEVENTEEN DAYS TWO HUNDRED
SEVENTEEN DAYS. IN OTHER WORDS
WERE HOUSING VETERANS FASTEN THE
VA CAN DECIDE CLAIMS FOR HEARING
LOSS AND TINNITUS. AND OF THAT
ACCOUNT- ALSO IN JULY WE
ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING TO COME
OUT- WAS MILITARY APPRECIATION
WEEK. RIGHT THIS IS PART OF OUR
EFFORTS OF THE POST CODE
RECOVERY WE REACHED OUT TO
BUSINESSES LOCALLY. AS A- FOR
THE WEEK OF VETERANS DAY WE WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT. EVERYTHING HAPPENS
WITH A REALLY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
RUBIO. IT'S ONE OF THE LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND WE GOT EIGHTY
FIVE BUSINESSES TO SIGN UP. ON
AND THEY OFFER THOSE DISCOUNTS
YEAR ROUND. MOST OF THEIR ON OUR
WEBSITE WE DO THESE THINGS AND
PART OF THIS MILITARY
APPRECIATION WEEK. IS WE WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS AND SUICIDE.
RIGHT SOON JUNCTION WITH
MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEK WE'RE
UP WE'RE WE'RE PARTICIPATION
OPERATION GREEN LIGHT. WHERE WE
LATER HOW COUNTY BUILDINGS ARE
THIS IS SERVICES OFFICE
ENTERTAINER. THIS IS A MORAL
BUILDING GREEN DIAL AT THE NEED
FOR RESOURCES AND SMALL RULE
COUNTIES WERE OR LARGE COUNTIES.
AND IN THE STATE RIGHT- IN THIS
OVERVIEW SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR
COLLABORATION WE WERE ABLE TO
GET. OUR NUMBERS DOWN WE MEET BI
WEEKLY WITH TEN WITH TEN
AGENCIES INCLUDING OUR OWN.
WHERE WE FOCUS ON THE VETERAN.
RIGHT IN OUR BUSINESS WE'RE
TAUGHT TO LEARN TO FOCUS ON A-
SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES
RIGHT. BUT BUT BY THE TIME THEIR
HOMES. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE
PERSON. REMOVE THAT FROM OF THE
SORRY BEFORE THEY JOINED. ME
THAT FROM AFTERWARDS. RIGHT THEY
NEED DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING
WHAT DO THEY NEED. RIGHT WE'RE
WORKING TOGETHER POOLING OUR
RESOURCES OUR RECIDIVISM RATE.
IS NEAR ZERO. LOWER HOUSING- BIG
BARRIER TO WHAT WE TRIED TO DO
DURING COVE AND WE USED TO HAVE
A- TRANSPORTATION SERVICE WERE
LOCAL VETERANS WOULD VOLUNTEER
THEIR TIME. BEING UP IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA RIGHT. THIS IS AN
HOUR AND A HALF NORTH WHERE WE
OPENED MY EYES WILL BE BAGHDAD.
HOME THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LOCAL
RESOURCES RIGHT SO WE DRIVE.
WITH OUR WITH OUR LOCAL
VOLUNTEERS WE DRIVE OUR BRAVE
VETERANS ARE LOW INCOME OR
ELDERLY VETERANS TO THEIR-
MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS WITHIN
AUBURN MAY THIRD. OR IN THE
CLONE RIGHT OWN. CLOVER THEY
KIND OF SHUT THAT DOWN. RIGHT SO
TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO. TO GET
A DRIVER ON. AND IT IS GOOD FOR
THE MENTAL HEALTH THE SUICIDE
PREVENTION RIGHT. IF THEY DON'T
MAKE IT TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEM RIGHT TO
GET THE EXTRA STRESS ON. IN
ADDITION THE- WHEN WORKING WITH
THE ELDERLY ELDERLY IN OUR LOW
INCOME. A BIG BARRIER RIGHT NOW
IS FOOD SECURITY. RIGHT SO A LOT
OF VETERANS. LOW INCOME OR
ELDERLY. THEY'RE NO LONGER
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TAP INTO THE
CALFRESH BENEFITS. RIGHT BECAUSE
THEY'RE- THEY'RE- THEY'RE
COMPENSATION OR PENSION. IS HELD
AGAINST THEM AS AN INCOME. RIGHT
SO NOT THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING
TO COMPENSATE FOR SOMETHING
TERRIBLE MAYBE RIGHT THIS IS.
SOMETHING TERRIBLE. RIGHT NOW IS
BEING HELD AGAINST HIM THEIR
FOOD HUNGRY. AND THEY CAN'T THEY
CAN'T GET FOOD SO WE'RE- SO WE
TRY TO OVERCOME THAT I WE BILL
PROGRAMS ON. ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS
IS WE- HAVE GOOD LAST WEEK WE
WILL AS WE ENTERED A MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH GUITARS
FOR VETS. THIS IS CAN COME INTO
MY OFFICE AND LEARN TO PLAY THE
GUITAR. AFTER TEN LESSONS
THEY'RE GETTING A FREE GUITAR.
CIGARETTES AT HOME. ON TEAM
RIVER RUNNER. RIGHT WE TEACH. WE
GOT AN ORGANIZATION WE WILL
REFER THEM TO GET THEM IN A
CONTACT TO LEARN HOW TO WHITE
WATER RAFTERS DOWN THE- ROOF IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RIGHT. NOT
EVERY VISION WAS TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR FEELINGS. AND NOT EVERY
VETERAN. OWNED WANTS TO GO
FIGHTING. RIGHT NOW I WANT TO
THE GYM SOME WAS WANT TO PLAY
GUITAR. GOING TO GO ON A HIKE.
DO SOMETHING ON. I'M A FORMER
HOMES VERSION. I'M A FORMER. ARE
USED TO. SELF MEDICATE. BEFORE I
DID THIS JOB AS A SEMI BECAUSE
WITH A SHOTGUN WONDER WHAT I WAS
GOING TO DO IN LIFE. RIGHT I
TRIED BILL CREEK PROGRAMS. TO
REACH ME. BECAUSE I AM WHO WE
TRY TO REACH AND NOBODY REACHED
ME. WHEN I WAS AT THOSE POINTS
IN MY LIFE. RIGHT SERENA NEVADA
COUNTY I TRY TO BE THE HOPE. OF
WHAT WE DO. EVERYTHING AND IT'S
HARDER FOR THEM LARGER COUNTIES.
AS A SMALL COUNTY EVERYBODY
COMES TO ME I AM. THE VETERANS
SERVICES OFFICE THEY NEED ARMY
THEY RELY ON ME- AND WE TRIED
ALL PROGRAMS TO REACH THEM.
ANAVET COUNTY I DO HAVE. I HAVE
SUPPORT FROM THE TOP DOWN. C. O.
ELSON WOMEN WILL TELL YOU HER
WERE STAYS EMPLOYEE. AS AN
EMPLOYEE COUNT AS A COUNTY
EMPLOYEE. WAS WHEN THEY HAD THE
TOWN HALL AFTER A WE HAD A
SWITCH IN A- VSO ISN'T ABOUT TWO
THOUSAND A FRONT TIME FRAME.
RIGHT SOME OF THE TOUGHEST
LEVELS IN MY COUNTY. I HAVE
SUPPORT- YES WE NEED MORE
FUNDING I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE
ANOTHER VS ARE. RIGHT ON THE
CHALLENGES EASTERN NEVADA COUNTY
TRUCKEE. IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET
TO WE DO PUT THE HOME. WE DO PUT
TRACY HARD UP THERE EVERY OTHER
WEEK ON FRIDAYS. RIGHT TO GO
MEET THEM- AND WE TRY TO BE THE
HOPE FOR THE OTHER COUNTIES THIS
LITTLE COUNTY. WAS THE TRIFACTA
FOR THREE COUNTIES WE TRY TO GET
ALL OF THEM UP THERE. ON TERROR
IRELAND SHE COMES FROM SHE'S ONE
OF MY VIEW SOURCES COME FROM THE
STATE- THOSE ABILITY BACKGROUND
. I HAVE RECHARGE MY ELDERLY
VETERANS AT RISK POPULATION
RIGHT. SO WHICH IS GOING TO THE
ELDERLY HOMES IF THEY'RE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR VA. FEDERAL
PROGRAMS. SHE'S SITTING THERE
AND SAYING WHAT FOR STATE
BENEFITS. WE DON'T MAKE OUTSIDE
REFERRALS. RIGHT FOR THE SPECIAL
IS BEING A VETERAN RIGHT SO WE
HAVE SOME WE CAN DO THE JOB
WE'RE GONNA DO THE JOB. I DO
WORRY THAT MY EMPLOYEES ARE
GONNA BURN OUT. ON THESE OTHER
IRISH OPPORTUNITIES. WE TRY TO
BE WHERE THEY'RE AT. RIGHT
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
SOMETHING'S GONNA MISS. I
MISSING SOMETHING RIGHT. HERE IN
THE OFFICE AND I DO NOT RESPECT
DO NOT REASON I GET IN THE
OFFICE. WE REALLY TRY TO
VERSIFI- SERVICES ON. ONLINE
ZERO TWO LETTER ON. I HAVE A
HARD TIME IN THE DMV STUFF THEY
CAN GO ON THEY CAN GO SOME OF
THE PAPERWORK AND WE WILL. GET
IN WITH A NEW NEED ONLINE. AND
CONTINUE TO COUNSEL THEM.
BECAUSE FEW WAIVERS LET PEOPLE
HAVE A HARD TIME INTO OUR
OFFICE. STUDENTS CAN APPLY
ONLINE. SUBMIT THEIR STUFF RIGHT
WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE OUT THE
GAPS IN SERVICES. TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO THE FLOOR PROCESSES.
ON YEAH. THANK YOU GREAT THANK
YOU ALL. AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH
I MEAN I'VE SAID IT. EARLIER AND
I'M GONNA CONTINUE SAYING THAT.
THAT YOU ARE ANGELS TO US
VETERANS. WHO SERVED AND THANK
YOU FOR NOT- FORGETTING MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO SERVED
DURING THAT BIT DOWN HERE- IN
THEIR OF AGING- THEY NEED MORE
HELP. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY
CLOSE THE DOORS AS YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY DON'T
NEED HELP BUT THEY DON'T DESERVE
IT- SO I THANK YOU FOR GOING TO
THEM. IS SHALL WE JUST ASK ABOUT
YOUR HOME CARE TO GO BACK TO-
TO- JIM. ABOUT HOME CARE AND IN
TO GIVE ME SOME IDEA BECAUSE NOW
AS WE MENTIONED THE AGENT. ARE
WE DOING A WEB ARE WE WORKING
WITH THE VA WHERE WE LOOK AT
THAT THAT'S- I GET THOSE
QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. YES OF
THE- CARE VENTURE DIRECTED CARE-
IT'S L. TO ROLL OUT IN GREATER
LOS ANGELES VA AND TWENTY THIRD.
TWENTY TWENTY THREE. IN LONG
BEACH VS TWENTY TWENTY FOUR I
DON'T HAVE THE DATES ON THE REST
OF THE MEDICAL CENTERS ACROSS
THE STATE- BUT THAT PROGRAM IS
SPECIFIC TO ALLOWING A LOT OF
FLEXIBLE FUNDS. TO BE DIRECTLY
ALLOCATED TO THEIR CARE GIVERS
IN THE VETERANS- DIRECTLY TO-
MEET THEIR NEEDS TO KEEP THEM
OUT SO. TO MY UNDERSTANDING- IF
THEY NEED A RESPITE CARE THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT THOSE FLEXIBLE.
FLEXIBLE FUNDS CAN GO TOWARDS.
IF THEY NEED RAILINGS PUT IN
THEIR BATHROOM THAT'S SOMETHING
THOSE FUNDS CAN GO TOWARDS. IF
THEY NEED FOR FOOD DELIVERY
THAT'S SOMETHING THOSE FUNDS
COULD GO TOWARDS- REALLY WHO PUT
THAT BACK PROGRAM ON MY RADAR
WAS OUR DIRECTOR OF ADULT. AGING
AND DISABILITY. AND SHE SAID
THAT THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT THE
VA CAN PROVIDE THROUGH THAT-
PROGRAM. IS ASTRONOMICALLY
HIGHER THAN THE LEVEL OF CARE
THAT THEY GET. GOING TO OUR
DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY. AND SO I
WORKED WITH HER TO YOU START
MAKING THE CONNECTIONS TO THE
MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND IN
TALKING. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW
OUR- BY SHARE MENTIONED- THE
FACT THAT- THERE'S GOT TO BE
MODE MORE WAYS TO HELP OUR
VETERANS. YOU MENTIONED
CALFRESH. WE HAVE A BILL THAT-
THAT TAKES OUR YOUNG- PRIVATES
IN AND- YOU TWO ONE TWO THREE
AND FOUR. BETTER SERVING THAT
THEY'RE NOT PENALIZED FOR
HAVING. THAT INCOME AND BECAUSE
THEY JOINED IT TOGETHER. RIGHT
AND THEN THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE.
BECAUSE THEY GET HOUSING. WELL
WE'RE GONNA LOOK INTO THAT TOO
THAT THOSE ARE RECEIVING. VA
BENEFITS. CAN OPEN UP THAT DOOR
TO CALFRESH THAT'S SOMETHING WE
CAN PROBABLY LOOK INTO AS WELL
BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO
BACK TO MY BY SHARE. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. JUST A
COMMENT- M. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR TEST. AS I SAID EARLIER I
YOU KNOW. I BECAME CALLING YOUR
M. SENATOR IN NASA SACRAMENTO
SPECIALLY OR NEW AND- I THINK
SHE HAS A HEART A PASSION TO
HELP ADDRESS YOUR ISSUE. NOT
SPEAKING FOR HER BUT I THINK SHE
DOES AND THEN- OF COURSE MISTER
WEST. M. AS- IN WAS TO GET YOUR
START IN KERN COUNTY BUT I'M
REALLY GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE
TO BE ONE OF A CONSTITUENT OF
MINE BEFORE YOU MOVE TO NEVADA
COUNTY AND PURSUE YOUR DREAMS.
AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT
YOU DID THAT. AND I APPLAUD YOU
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THEN-
IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T HEARD OF
CITY SERVE. AND KIND OF REACH
OUT TO CITY SERVE CITY FOR
SERVICE SAID IS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IT'S EXPANDED-
TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE END OF THE
LAST FIVE YEARS IT'S A BRAND NEW
NONPROFIT. BUT IT HAS- ED HAD
GREAT FAVOR WITH A LOT OF
NATIONAL CORPORATIONS. THAT YOU
CAN PARTNER WITH TO PROVIDE.
FOOD ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE-
PILLOWS PLAGUE ANYTHING THAT
COSCO HAS IN ANYTHING THAT WORLD
VISION WORLD HUNGER HAVE. AND
YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON- TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUR
VETERANS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
YOU'RE DOING THAT HEARTFELT
OUTRAGE. SO YOU CAN'T GET FROM
THE GOVERNMENT GET A FROM A
NONPROFIT. AND THEN THERE ARE
LOCATED ALL OVER THE NATION AND
YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND A LOCATION
THAT TO HAVE. IN YOUR COMMUNITY
THEY HAVE ONE IN SACRAMENTO I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT. NAFTA THEY
HAVE IN THE LOS ANGELES. AND
BASICALLY IT'S JUST YOU SIGN IT.
IT'S A VERY I'M NOT PROMOTING A
NONPROFIT OVER ANOTHER AND
SAYING THIS IS A RESOURCE YOU
MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. AND IT'S A
APP AND- YOU HAVE TO SIGN A
SMALL CONTRACT THAT SAYS YOU
WILL NOT SELL BARTER OR TRADE.
ANY OF THE PRODUCT THAT YOU GET
FROM THEN THAT IS FREE- AND IN
THE END AND IF YOU RUN INTO A
VETERAN THAT GETS INTO AN
APARTMENT THAT WAS HOMELESS
BEFORE. AND YOU NEED A BED AND
BLANKETS AND- POTS AND PANS AND
UTILITIES AND CLEANING SUPPLIES
THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT I
THINK THE VETERANS BECAUSE THEY
THINK THAT SO EXPENSIVE. THEY GO
YOU KNOW WE GIVEN BEDS AND
PILLOWS AND BLANKETS AND-
FURNITURE AND COUCHES IT'S ALL
BRAND NEW. AND BUT THEY GO LIKE
CRAZY OVER THE BOX OF CLEANING
SUPPLIES THEY GOT TO AND THAT'S
KIND OF INTERESTING TO ME BUT-
AM I WOULD SUGGEST YOU THAT LIKE
I SAID THERE'S NO- THERE'S NO
COST TO YOU. AND YOU'D BUT YOU
DO HAVE TO SIGN IT LIMITED
CONTRACTING WILL SELL BARTER
TRADE THE PRODUCT THAT THEY GIVE
TO YOU. AND THEN IT'S ABOUT
SAVING LIVES IN THE CITY SERVER
BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
GUYS TO THANK YOU. THE SENATE
SENATOR MENJIVAR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH- MISTER CHAIR- NEW MEMBER
HERE I AM SO EXCITED TO BE PART
OF THIS COMMITTEE- AND SO.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING. HERE AND
SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY WHEN THIS
IS HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON THE CHAIR OF
SUB- BUDGET SUB THREE. HOUSING
NEWMAN SERVICES AND WE HEARD
ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM. WELL I
HEARD ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM AND
DIDN'T EXISTED THE VETERAN
MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES. THE SHOW
WITH FUNDING- BE ABLE TO HELP A
LOT OF OUR HOMELESS VETERANS AND
I WANTED TO. QUESTION ONE HERE
FROM YOM. ANY PREPARATION- FOR
THAT PERMANENT COME ABOUT AND
THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS. AS A
FEW MORE VETERAN YOU CAN IMAGINE
THE STORIES WE HEAR FROM OTHER
FEMALE VETERANS. AND THEY'RE
STILL THAT BARRIER I WANT TO SAY
THE PHYSICAL BARRIER. BUT JUST
THIS MENTALITY OF NOT FEELING
COMFORTABLE IN GOING INTO THE
SEA- A CV ESOS OR- THE AMERICAN
LEGION'S OR WHAT HAVE YOU I'M
JUST WONDERING. FOR MY PERSONAL
KNOWLEDGE. YOU KNOW WORK AROUND
THAT WHAT WE SEEN WHAT ARE THE
NEXT STEPS TO GET MORE MY
SISTER'S. CONNECTED TO THESE
KIND OF SERVICES.
THE ON THE- VERTICAL- VETERAN
MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES- THERE'S
BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT
GREATER LOS ANGELES VA- THE VA
IS INTERESTED IN. FINDING A WAY
TO DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS SO
THERE'S INTEREST FROM THE B. X.
AND- TO LOOK FOR THE FUNDS
NECESSARY ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING. WE'RE BUILDING
TWELVE HUNDRED PERMIT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING UNITS ON WEST L. AS
YOU'RE- PROBABLY ACUTELY AWARE-
SO THERE IS TALK OF IT-
PREPARATION ON THE COUNTY SIDE
NOT SO MUCH. BUT AS I HEAR- MORE
INFORMATION COME FROM THE VA AND
THE STATE AROUND THAT. I PLUG IN
THE UNNECESSARY COUNTY
DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE CAPITALIZING NUMBER
SHOWING UP TO THE TABLE. AS A
GOOD PARTNER AND SUPPORTING THEM
IN THOSE EFFORTS. AMONG THE BE-
WOMEN VETERANS I DON'T JUST GO
REAL QUICK- OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT A
WOMAN VETERAN BUT I'VE- I'VE
WORKED WITH A LOT OF- WOMEN
VETERAN STAFF MEMBERS AND THERE
IS A- TWENTY EIGHTEEN TO BE A
HAD A- IT WILL. THE U. S. SENATE
PASSED OR THE U. S. GOVERNMENT
PASSED A BILL CALLED THE PURE
ACT OF TWENTY EIGHTEEN WHICH
ALLOCATED A PILOT- WHERE FIFTY
DIFFERENT BE A SITES. HAD
EMPLOYEE- FEMALE VETERAN PEER
SUPPORT- TO MAKE SURE THAT-
WOMEN PEER SUPPORT ARE AVAILABLE
EVERYWHERE WOMEN GET CARE. I'VE
REALLY INGRAINED THAT IN MY
FLIGHT PHILOSOPHY OVER
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH WITH
VPN- WE MADE SURE THAT WE HIRED
AT LEAST 40% OF OUR WOMEN OF 40%
OVERSTAFFED- AS WOMEN THAT WAS
OUR GOAL WE HAD ABOUT THIRTY
SEVEN POINT FIVE- ON THAT GOAL
AND THEN. IN MY CURRENT ROLES
COUNTY BSL WERE ACTIVELY TRYING
TO RECRUIT MORE WOMEN-
ESPECIALLY WOMEN THAT THAT THAT
LOOK LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
THEY COME FROM- MAKING SURE
THAT- WE'RE NOT HIRING AND- JUST
ALL THE SAME RACE. WE'RE ALL THE
SAME GENDER WERE VERY MINDFUL OF
THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE
AND LOOKING TO TARGET A HIGHER-
FOLKS THAT. THAT REPRESENT THE
COMMUNITIES AND NOT- NOT
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES SO THAT'S
REALLY KIND OF BEEN OUR APPROACH
IN L. A. COUNTY IS. BEING VERY
RECALL- VERY MINDFUL IN THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS. BEING A
FEMALE VETERAN MYSELF I CAN TELL
YOU MY EXPERIENCE OF WALKING
INTO MAY THIRD SOMETIMES IS
UNCOMFORTABLE- I'LL BE WAITING
FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND- GET OUT
SO ARE YOU HERE WITH YOUR
VETERANS. I'M LIKE NO I AM THE
VETERAN I ACTUALLY SERVED AS
WELL SO I FEEL YOUR- EMPATHIZE
WITH MY- FELLOW SISTERS THEM. WE
DON'T NECESSARILY WEAR THE BALL
CAPS IN THE SWEAT SHIRTS AND ALL
THAT SO WE DON'T LIKE I.
IDENTIFY OURSELVES AS VETERANS A
LOT OF TIMES- MY BOSS WAS FUNNY
AND SHE SAID WELL I CAN TELL
YOU'RE A VETERAN WHEN YOU OPEN
YOUR MOUTH AND I WAS LIKE I
DON'T KNOW IF I TAKE THAT AS A
GOOD THING OR A BAD THING- BUT
FOR US I HAVE. MYSELF MY LEAD
AND TO OF A FEMALE CLAIMS REPS
IN MY OFFICE- MAY THIRD JUST HAD
THOUGH WOMEN VETERANS EVENT OUT
AT- THERE'RE CAMPUS- AND I WENT
OUT THERE AND- PARTICIPATE IN
THAT. THEY HAD THE FIRST LGBT Q.
EVENTS THERE AS WELL AND I WENT
OUT TO TENDER THAT SO I THINK
FOR US IT'S JUST GETTING. THE
WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT WE DO OFFER
THAT WE'RE HERE FOR TO SERVE
EVERY VETERAN NOT JUST. THE B. I
GUESS- TERRIO TIPPETT. MALE
COMBAT VETERAN- THAT YOU KNOW
AND I HAVE MY PICTURES ON MY
WALL SO WHEN A VETERAN WALKS
INTO MY OFFICE THEY KNOW LIKE- I
DID SERVE AS WELL SO I CAN
RELATE TO. WHATEVER VETERAN THAT
COMES INTO MY OFFICE- AND I
THINK AS- YOU KNOW MORE WOMEN
VETERANS ARE MORE VOCAL ABOUT
THEIR SERVICE AND THINGS ARE
CHANGING- SO AND I KNOW CALVET.
THEY HAVE A WHOLE WOMEN AND
MINORITY VETERANS DIVISION- THAT
FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON HOLDING
WOMEN VETERANS EVENTS AND
MINORITY BUT TURN OF EVENTS IN
THE STATE THROUGHOUT THE STATE
SO THERE'S A FEW EVENTS COMING
UP IN- I THINK IN JUNE AND JULY-
FOR THOSE SO. IT'S JUST GETTING
THE WORD OUT- THAT. YOU KNOW WE
SERVE TO- ERR WE SERVED REALLY
NOT TO WE WERE ALWAYS THERE- AND
JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE LET.
OTHER FEMALE VETERANS KNOW THAT
IT'S OKAY TO COME FOR WITH YOUR
STORIES THAT THE V. IS GONNA
TAKE CARE OF YOU JUST AS WELL AS
YOUR- MALE COUNTERPARTS. GOOD
HELLO. YES SO LAST YEAR- I TRIED
TO HAVE A WOMAN'S TOWN HALL IN
THE VATICAN. AND I FILLED WITH
GREAT. INTO THE HASN'T. THREE
WOMEN SHOWED UP ON WE HAD A
COMEDY SHOW AFTERWARDS AND JUST
OUR PEERS SHOWED UP IN THE THING
WAS THAT. I USED ALL THOSE
TRADITIONAL APPROACHES THAT I
WOULD HAVE. FOR THE MALE
POPULATION. AND THAT FAILURE WAS
ALSO SUCCESS IN THAT I LEARNED A
LOT. IN THAT WOMEN VETERANS ARE
GOING TO GO PLACES DEDICATED TO
WOMEN VETERANS. RIGHT WE HAVE TO
DO A BETTER JOB OF FINDING YOU
WHERE YOU'RE AT. RIGHT YOUR
MOM'S YOUR BUSINESS WOMEN- GOT A
LOT GOING ON. RIGHT SO- THIS IS
WHERE THAT. ASSISTANCE WITHOUT
REACH. I WE'RE TRYING TO FIND
DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND YOU
LADIES WHERE YOU'RE AT. IS AS A
MALE IS REALLY HARD FOR ME WAS
THIS HARD ENOUGH TO GET ONE OF
YOU TO GO ON A DATE WITH ME LET
ALONE ASK YOU IF I CAN HELP YOU
WITH YOUR BENEFITS. WITHOUT
LOOKING LIKE A CREEP SOMETIMES
RIGHT- SO AS WE HAVE A DIFFERENT
CHALLENGE RACE WE GO TO TRY AND
FIND A WAY. TO MEET YOU AND TALK
TO AND GET YOU CALDERON THAT'S
FINDING YOU IN A- IN A SITUATION
IN A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE AT.
RIGHT SO THAT THAT'S WHERE WE
NEED TO GO WE NEED TO BREAK THE
MOLD OF HOW WE'RE TRADITIONALLY
DOING OUR REACH. AND FIND NEW
WAYS TO FIND YOU WHERE YOU'RE
AT. CHANGES TO CLOSE READ IT AND
THAT'S EXACTLY I WAS LOOKING TO
HERE- BECAUSE THE YOU KNOW YOU
KNOW THE CHAIR MENTIONED AS A
SOCIAL WORKER I THINK ABOUT YOU
MEET THE CLIMB WHERE THEY'RE AT.
AND YOU KNOW I HEAR THESE I YOU
KNOW WHEN I GO TO THE WOMEN'S
CLINIC- I SEE THE SIGN. WOMEN
PEER BUT- IT'S IN MY HEAD. I
MEAN AT LEAST FOR ME I DON'T
HAVE TIME I CAN GO IN- YES YOU
CAN HAVE ALL THESE PROGRAMS AT
THE VA AND SO FORTH BUT WHAT ARE
WE DOING. OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS I
WANT TO SEE MORE OF. YOU KNOW- A
LOT OF FEMALE VETERANS OR NURSES
OR PHYSICIANS AND- WHAT DO WE DO
AND I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE
OUTRAGE. IN THE PLACES WHERE
FEMALE VETERANS ARE- IN DOING
PROGRAMMING WHERE THEY ARE.
THERE YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH
GOOD. AND NEXT NAV- PUBLICADO.
ELDORADO GUILT OF. ELDORADO AND
WAS. MOSTLY THAT IS NOT THE
FIRST THAT'S HAPPENED RIGHT.
WELL YOU KNOW I. I'M A REAL. OF
MY- LIKE WHO CAN I IF YOU DO. AT
DAVID WEST OF MY OF MY FOR.
RIGHT THAT. ALL RIGHT SO I'LL
BRING IT BACK. UP I WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE- I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT- I
PROBABLY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
EVERYONE ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT-
OUR OFFICE STORES WE HAVE
DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN
TO VETERANS AND WE WILL ALWAYS
BE WILLING TO DROP WHATEVER
WE'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT THE
VETERAN THAT WALKS THROUGH OUR
DOORS. RECEIVES THE SERVICES THE
CONNECTIONS HELP WITH
APPLICATIONS THAT THEY NEED. AND
I HOPE THAT WOULD BE RESONATE
ACROSS BOTH THE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY- BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF HAVING DISTRICT
OFFICES SO- IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE
FINDING THAT AS AN OBSTACLE OR
GETTING THAT FEEDBACK FROM
VETERANS THAT THAT. IS THE
OBSTACLE AVERAGING INFORMATION
BY COMING INTO STATE OFFICES.
PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE WE
COULD DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT OF
LETTING OR COLLEAGUES NOW. SO
THAT IS ONE. I THINK THE OTHER
THING THAT CAME UP FOR ME- IN
MISTER WEST I- I SERVE THE
COMMUNITY OF TRUCKEE AND THAT
THE BASIN. AND ONE THING THAT
REALLY TROUBLES ME IS THE LEVEL
OF EXTREME WEATHER PATTERNS THAT
WE'VE BEEN SEEING. AND KNOWING
THAT WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT
ARE AND HOUSE. AND HERE IN
CALIFORNIA I WANT US TO HEAR HIT
THAT GOAL OF ZERO VETERANS SPEED
AND HOUSE WHETHER WE HAVE SUNNY
BEACHES ARE WE'VE GOT. MOUNTAINS
OF SNOW- I KNOW AS A LEGISLATOR
WE CAN PRIORITIZE THAT AND NOT
CREEK NOT HAVE THIS ONE BIG
BUCKET OF. AND HOUSE PEOPLE BUT
REALLY PEEL BACK THE LAYERS OF
ONION AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE
RESOURCES FOR VETERANS AND DO
THAT EXTRA EXTRA WORK- SO.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE
SOMETHING GOING ON IN TRUCKEE I
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY TEAM HELP
SUPPORT- WITH THAT OUT REACHES
WELL. SO MY QUESTION A FOR ALL
OF YOU IS AB WHAT CAN WE DO
BETTER. AS CALIFORNIANS TO HELP
ELIMINATE THE STIGMA AROUND
SEEKING HELP. I KNOW THAT OUR
VETERANS CARRY A LOT OF BURDENS
NOT ONLY FROM SERBIAN- BUT ALSO
JUST COMING BACK HOME. I'M
AFRAID THAT THERE IS THAT LEVEL
OF STIGMA OF ASKING FOR. A
HANDOUT VERSUS A HAND UP WHAT
CAN WE DO TO HELP ELIMINATE THAT
STIGMA. WHEN YEAH ONE OF THE
THINGS CLOSING COMMENTS. I'M SO
I THINK. FOR S. OFFICE IT SHOULD
SAY THAT IT'S THEIR ERROR TO
HELP VETERANS. MY OFFICE BEING
COLOCATED WITH A WELFARE BUREAU
DOES NOT NECESSARILY SAY THAT
STATEMENT RIGHT THEY HAVE TO
DRIVE THROUGH THE WELFARE
PARKING LOT WHERE THERE'S
HOMELESS THERE'S DRUGS THERE'S
ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON. IT'S
NOT IN A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD- YES
THERE'S A SIGN UP THAT SAYS
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE
BUT SOMETIMES THEY GO IN THE
WRONG DOOR AND THEN THEY'RE IN
WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC CROWD
THE HOMELESS A PERSON TRYING TO
GET BENEFITS AND THEN. THIRD
DISSUADED FROM EVEN COMING TO MY
SIDE OF THE BUILDING- SO I THINK
FIRST AND FOREMOST AND NEEDS TO
BE A WELCOMING PLACE FOR THEM TO
COME IN AND GET SERVICE DOES
NOT- MAYBE IN. YOU KNOW ITS OWN.
LIKE THEY HAVE A LOVELY BUILDING
AN LA- I WAS ACTUALLY WENT THERE
AND WENT TWENTY NINETEEN I THINK
EARLY TWENTY NINETEEN IT WAS
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING- DON'T EXPECT
THAT IN SACRAMENTO BUT- IT WOULD
DEFINITELY BE A HELP IF WE
WEREN'T NECESSARILY COLOCATED
WITH A WELFARE BUREAU AND IT
LOOKED LIKE. A WELCOMING CENTER
FOR VETERANS TO GO IN AND GET
SERVICES THAT THEY'VE EARNED
RATHER THAN THINKING THAT- I'M
GOING INTO A WELFARE BUILDING.
THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER. I SURE DOES
THE LA COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF
MILITARY VETERAN'S AFFAIRS AND I
HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO HIRE-
COLONEL SMITH WHEN I WAS THERE
AND THEN LATER GENERAL HWANG- SO
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT
BUILDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PATRIOTIC CALL. IN MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WENT INTO THAT BUILDING
TO BRING VETERANS AND THE
COMMUNITY AND- AND- IT WAS A
JOINT VENTURE WITH THE COUNTY OF
LOS ANGELES SO YES INDEED
THERE'S A LOT OF. WRAPAROUND
SERVICES THERE BUT IT IT SEEMS
TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE
LOCATION WHERE IT'S AT AND IN
UNDER THE- JIM'S LEADERSHIP.
IT'S THRIVING THERE'S NO DOUBT
BUT WE'VE GOT A SPREAD THAT TO
EVERYONE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
COUNTIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE
AND I WILL TELL YOU WITH THIS IN
MY CLOSING. IS THE GOVERNOR OF
CALIFORNIA IS BEHIND US. A 150%
I'VE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR
SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT- OUR
VETERANS AND HE'S ALWAYS THUMBS
UP ABOUT VETERANS- AND I'M ON
HIS MILITARY COUNCIL. SO THE
SUPPORT IS THERE THE PRO TEM IS-
IN SAN DIEGO WITH SURROUNDED BY
MILITARY PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES
AND SHE'S GOT FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT HAVE SERVED. THE SUPPORT IS
THERE. FROM YOUR TESTIMONY WE'RE
GOING TO PUT THIS IN WRITING
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BE
ABLE TO DELIVER IT TO THE
COUNTIES IN THE THIRD AND TO THE
REST OF THE SENATE. SO HOPEFULLY
TWENTY THREE TWENTY FOUR AND SO
ON WE'LL SEE SOME ACTIVITY THAT
WILL BE- FAVORABLE TO ALL OF
YOU. AND WE'RE GOING TO GO IN
THAT DIRECTION SO WE'LL TRY AND
CONTINUE THE FUNDING. WILL GO
AHEAD AND TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT
ARE OF WOMEN VETERANS ARE AT
KNOWLEDGE FOR THEIR SERVICE. AND
WE REACH OUT ACROSS THE BOARD
EVERYBODY. AND I'D LIKE TO GET
BACK TO YOU. IF I CAN BECAUSE I
THINK THAT PICKING UP THE PHONE
TALKING WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE.
WE DID THIS WITH WHEN I WAS-
THOSE TWENTY FOUR YEARS THAT I
WAS THERE- WE HAD EDT- SO NOW.
YOU GO INTO A UNEMPLOYED I'M IN
OFFICE AND AS THIS WINDOW FOR
BETTER. WE CAN DO THAT FOR THE
V. D. I THINK WE CAN DO IT FOR
YOUR- YOUR LOCATION AS WELL. AND
EVERYTHING WE CAN DO WILL JUST
FUNNEL IT TOGETHER AND I THINK
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER SO THE
ASSOCIATION. WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR
BABIES PLEASE INVITE ALL OF US I
THINK WE'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE. OF
A TOGETHER SO WITH THAT I'M
GONNA CONTINUE ONE. TO- CLOSE
AND HAVE A THIRD PANEL I THINK
THAT WE'VE GOT. THANK YOU. FOR
THE INFORMATION YOU'VE GIVEN US.
YOUR THIRD PANEL AND FINAL PANEL
CONSIST OF VETERANS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS. WHO LIVE IN CALIFORNIA
HAS THE MOST POPULATED STATE IN
THE NATION. AND HOME TO ALMOST
10% OF OUR NATION'S VETERANS. IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND.
THAT THE TASK TO COME UP WITH
ONE REPRESENTATIVE GROUP. IS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BUT TO HAVE IT
A DIVERSE. GROUP COMING TOGETHER
TO SERVE OUR VETERANS POPULATION
IS IMPORTANT. SO PLEASE KEEP IN
MIND THAT THESE VETERANS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS. ARE KILLING
THEIR OWN UNIQUE STORIES. AND I
ENCOURAGE. YOU TO CONNECT WITH
THE VETERANS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
AND HEAR THEIR STORIES- AS WELL
AS SAY. THE PERSPECTIVE OF
VETERANS IN THEIR OWN WORLD. IN
THE WITHIN THE CITY THE COUNTY
SO DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE TODAY
DID. THAT IS WITH US ON THAT
THIRD PANEL. YES OF THE- AND
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME SIT UP
FRONT YOU'RE A VIP JUST LIKE THE
REST OF A COME ON UP HERE. TO
ONE. AND- PLEASE I IDENTIFY
YOURSELF I THINK WE'VE GOT
JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ. RIGHT HERE IN
THE MARINE CORPS IS THAT CORRECT
. AND WE'VE GOT- TED WILLIAMS
WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER. THAT
CORRECT. AND CHAU PLEASE LET'S
GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF
AND IN THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK
YOU MISTER CHAIRMAN AND THANK
YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DON HARPER. I AM A I'M
FROM SACRAMENTO. AND I'M A I'M
HERE TO SUPPORT ALL THE GOOD
WORK THAT THE VIDEO SHOWS HAVE
DONE IN CALIFORNIA. I'M ALSO
COMBAT SERVICE. CONNECTED
DISABLED VETERAN FROM VIETNAM
FROM VIETNAM SERVED IN THE
MARINE CORPS. ANNA RECEIVE I
BENEFITS TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
HERE IN SACRAMENTO- TO GET MY
CLAIMS. ADJUDICATED BEFORE THAT
I WAS APPROACHED BY A PREDATOR.
OF A PHONY VETERANS SERVICE
PROVIDER BEFORE DOING MY CLAIM.
HE WAS A YOU KNOW MY BACKGROUND
IN THE SERVICE IN NEW AYE
SERVING COMBAT DO A LOT OF
THINGS IN VIETNAM. THREE
APPROACH ME TO TRY TO. HE SAID I
PLUG INTO YOUR CLAIM FOR YOU
REAL QUICK AND GET YOU SOME
MONEY REAL SOON. WELL I FOUND
OUT THE- I WENT TO A VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICER IN SACRAMENTO I
GAVE MY STORY TO CLAIMS WORKER.
AND SO WE ARE GONNA FIGHT THAT
PERSON SO I AVOIDED MY CLAIM AND
I GOT A- POWER OF ATTORNEY THE
SECOND OFFENSE YOU BETTER
SERVICE OFFICER. MY NAME IS JEFF
PETER SO I GUESS I GOT MY CLAIM
IN SACRAMENTO AND I APPRECIATED
THAT. I'M ALSO SURE OF THE
LEGISLATION COULD A COMMISSION
FOR THE MIRACLE LEGION. IN
CALIFORNIA. I'M ALSO HERE TO AS
A LESION THAT WE SUPPORT THE
VIVID THE CBS I WAS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE DO HAVE OUR OWN.
US SERVICE OFFICERS IN A
DIFFERENT GROUPS. AND THEY
REALLY SERVICE THE MEMBERS OF
THE ORGANIZATION. SO THEY COVER
ABOUT 10% OF VETERANS IN
CALIFORNIA. THE HEAVY LIFTING IS
DONE BY THE OTHER 90% OF THE
VETERANS IN CALIFORNIA TO MULTI.
YEAR BY THE CVS SOS. SO WE DO
PARTNER WITH CVS- BUT THEY DO
THE HEAVY LIFTING WITH MOST.
THAT'S A GO TO PLACE FOR
VETERANS GET THEIR HELP IN
CALIFORNIA. I WANT TO PUT THAT
OUT THERE THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD
WORK. A STORY WANT TO MENTION IS
OUT. OF THE TWENTY YEARS AGO AND
IN SACRAMENTO THEY'RE GOING TO
CLOSE DOWN THE- HE CAN BE COUNTY
VSO FUNDING THEY'RE GONNA DEFINE
THE PROGRAM. AT THAT TIME.
MYSELF PART OF IT THE VETERANS
AFFILIATED COUNCIL WE WENT TO
SECOND ALL COUNTY BOARD. RAISE
SOME HELL. MASON NOISE. DOUG HAD
A RALLY TESTIFIED. WE HAD A
FIGHTER BUT STILL THEY FINALLY
GOT FUNDING BACK IN PLACE FOR
THE COUNTY VSO. SO THAT THE
COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME. VISAR
CONSIDERED TO VETERANS. US STEP
CHILDREN FOR A LONG TIME. AND
SO- I WANT TO SAY THAT THE SHOT
OUT TO. RACHELLE UGH SHE'S GONNA
TRIPIT JOB. SERVICING THE
VETERANS SACRAMENTO. HE HAS BEEN
CHALLENGES ISSUES DICTATOR VERY
WELL SO. MICHELLE THANK YOU ARE
SHALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AT
THE VSO. OUR. WE ALSO. HAD ABOUT
THE- TEN YEARS AGO. WE HAD A
SUPERVISOR. MADE ANOTHER
RECOMMENDATION TO GET RID OF THE
COUNTY VSO OFFICE SO IT'S ALWAYS
A STRUGGLE. TO KEEP THE VSO
OFFICE IN THE PAST. WE
ORIGINALLY DANIEL WE'RE VIGILANT
NOW WE NEED TO BE. SO MY BROTHER
MY LAST COME WOULD BE. I HAVE
TWO RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE. OF
IMPROVE THE FUNDING FOR THE
BSO'S BASED ON WORKLOAD FUTURE
WORKLOAD WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT
. AND PLEASE INCREASE THE
FUNDING IF YOU CAN FOR THE
COUNTY VS SELVES. DOESN'T
MENTION WHAT IS NOT THAT MONEY
TO HELP THEM KEEP STAFF AND HER
MORE STEALTH SO MORE FUNDED THE
COUNTY LEVEL REFER TO THE STATE
LEVEL. UP WITH THAT I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS
HEARING TODAY THANK YOU FOR ME
SOME TIME TO. GET MY TALK THANK
YOU. THANK YOU DON'T HARPER AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND
WELCOME HOME. NOW I UNDERSTAND
WE HAVE- TED WILLIAMS AND- DON
HARPER- ON THE PHONE NUMBER I'M
SORRY JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ ON THE
PHONE- IS THE PHONE LINE OPEN.
YES HELLO. THERE YOU GO FOR
JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ. I CLOSER. HOW
YOU DOING. GO AHEAD. RIGHT. MY
NAME IS JOSH RODRIGUEZ. STOCKTON
CALIFORNIA. ASSEMBLY CORE COMBAT
VETERANS- I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE- OBVIOUS THOSE IS HOW
MEMBERS OF OUR ARE BEFORE ME.
ARE THAT IS LARGELY AYE I COME
TO TELL DIFFERENT STORIES VIA
SO- IS SPECIAL COUNTY COUNTY-
WHEN I GOT A RECORD TWO
THOUSAND. AND SEVEN- I HAD TO.
IF WE COMMITTEE OFFICE SPACE IN
THE FEMALE FOR SEVERAL TIMES I
WAS DENIED. BENEFITS I WAS
TURNED AWAY LIKE- KIND OF BIG
TODAY- BUT I DIDN'T GET UP YOU
KNOW I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE
V. EIGHT- INITIALLY- WITH YOUR
SERVICE CAN I BUT- GARY AND I
WORKED MY WAY YOURSELF
CONNECTION- I WAS APPROACHED BY
CREDIT- YOU KNOW GET THOSE.
EARLY EIGHTEEN THE ESOS- THERE
ARE THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS-
STE WHAT WE HAVE MANAGER MAKE
AMERICAN LEGION WHO IS ABLE TO
GIVE ME AND- WHILE I WAS IN A
VECTOR TREATMENT CENTER- HE WAS
A SOLITARY BUT HE GOT ME AND- HE
SAID GIVE ME INFORMATION HE WAS
IN LA- HE WAS THE I GUESS THE
STATE. TRANSACTION AMERICANS-
HELP ME IN- LAST FOUR TO BACK
TEN YEARS- I GOT. CANCER TO BE A
- S. BY THE ADVICE MY DOCTOR I
WAS TOLD TO- GO IN AND SAY THAT
YOU WANT TO. SHOW PREPARE
ANSWER- AND- THAT YET BECAUSE
NOW WE CAN TREAT YOU BECAUSE
THERE'S A NEW ACT COMING OUT WE
CAN TRY TO GET THAT DONE- BUT
UNFORTUNATELY I WAS MET WITH
THE- EIGHT COMPETITION A PENSION
APPOINTMENT EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T
TOTAL PERMIT FOR. ELEVEN YEARS
PRIOR AND 100% AND- DURING THIS
EVALUATION IT WAS QUICK. IT
WASN'T EIGHT EIGHT ZERO I GUESS
SHOULD BE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY
MY SERVICE- AND SO WHEN I
RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THEY
DID DOWNGRADE MY PERCENTAGE. I
WAS SHOCKED MARC MY LOCAL BSO'S
LOGS MARCH- CALTRAIN WHICH IS
AMERICAN LEGION THE TIME AND- IT
WILL TOWER CAN NOW DO COPE. IT
SO FOR A YEAR AND A HALF HOURS.
CANCER GOING TO MADERA. I WOULD
. YOU KNOW DOWNGRADE TO TALK BUT
STILL REACHING OUT TO BE A SO.
NOT GETTING CALLS BACK REACH OUT
TO MAKE A LEADER BOTH. OUR BAY
AREA STATE AND NATIONAL GOT NO
RESPONSE BACK. I'M ONCE AGAIN I
WAS APPROACHED BY THE PREDATORY
CLAIMS REP. WHO EVEN WENT SO FAR
AS TO. SAY THAT- HE KNEW ME FROM
MY UNIT ARE. MY OWN MY ONLY NEW
UNIT AND- YOU KNOW AT THIS POINT
OUR- I HAD TO. GUARD YOU GOT
YOUR CHARACTER ALLIES. TO
BACKTRACK BLOCK SO HARD TO GET
MY CLAIMS. DAN BEING TOLD A
PERMIT FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS.
AND BEING TOLD THAT BECAUSE I
KNOW I'VE CANCER DEVELOPMENTAL
STAGE BECAUSE MY PTSD IS GONE.
I'M A MAJOR WORK. YOU KNOW. BACK
TO RECHARGE LOCAL GAME NUMBERS
BACK KNOW HOW. AND EVEN REACH
OUT TO POWER WHICH WHITE DOT WAS
GONNA. AND PROTECT YOU THANK YOU
. I KICKED SO ELECTABLE MIGHT.
ADAM TO KEEP THEIR P. GOING
THROUGH NAUSEA AND- THE BODY.
BUT I DO GO BACK TO BE A MYSELF
AND CALLED FEE WHAT FORMS READY
DEFENDED. COMMENT THAT'S NOT
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. IT URGED.
YOU KNOW RIGHT RIGHT WE TRY TO
TAKE CARE ON TRYING TO. YOU
KNOW. GET MY CLOTHES BACK INTO
THIS WAS FOR A KNOW. I DID ALL
THE BUT I HAD A CHILD IN COLLEGE
AT THE TIME. WHO WAS TOLD THAT
WILL BECAUSE DISCHARGES LOWER
NOW YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. OR THE FACT
THAT. YOU KNOW I'D BE TOTALLY
OUR CONTACT ME I WILL GET TO BE
A STONE I DO AND- IT'S NOT SIX
OLD CODE WERE TELEWORKING RIGHT
NOW WE CAN'T REALLY ASSIST YOU-
BUT- I REMEMBER BEING DOWN RANGE
AND I HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO
DEFEND MY COUNTRY. SO IT'S KIND
OF YOU KNOW BACK IN THE FACE-
FORTUNATELY AN ARGUMENT
WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE PAST
THAT. IT GROUND OUTSIDE THE
ESOS- ARE IN. IN DIFFERENT AREAS
WHICH I'M TRYING TO GET BACK AND
GET MY PERSON IS BACK. BUT YOU
KNOW I'M NOT HERE TO BAD MOUTH
ANYBODY OR- OR SAY NO WE'RE NOT
DOING THEIR JOB BECAUSE I KNOW
WHAT DO I DO OUR JOB BUT- I JUST
WANT TO USE MY- EXPERIENCE. TO
SHOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE ONES
IN TWO CASES THAT. YOU KNOW KIND
OF PUSH TO START. YOU KNOW THEY
NEED TO BE TOLD THAT YEAH YOU'RE
PETER HE'S BETTER. AFTER ME
TALKING A CIVILIAN DOCTOR
PROVIDED CONSTRUCTING MAYOR. SHE
DID NOT- EVEN WHEN I WAS GOING
TO CANCER TREATMENT- AND NOW THE
FACT ACT. BE A CALL YEAH YOU'RE
YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH THESE BUT
IF THEY'RE PERCENT. IF YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER OPTIONS YOU CAN GO
HIGHER. WILL YOU KNOW WHICH IT'S
SIX DIFFICULT BUT WE NEED
SOMEONE TO WALK. IS REGISTER
WHERE THEY COME BACK BECAUSE
LIKE TO JOKE WITH THEM
BEGINNING. YOU KNOW WE ALL OF
THIS ONE COUNTRY. YOU KNOW ONE.
OR HIM TO DO BECAUSE- HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF. THE SUCH A VALUED
THE HIGHEST CENTER THAT'S STAY.
AND YEAH WE WANT TO DO A- ANY
GOOD WE TO. TAKE CARE OF ONE
ANOTHER I. AND GET MAKES THEY'RE
BASICALLY VOICE. I THANK YOU AT
Y. ME BECAUSE- THANKS ARE FRONT
AND- YOU FOR YOUR- AND- AS WE
HEARD- WE NEED MORE BETTER
SERVICE OFFICERS ARE INUNDATED.
WITH CASES THEY'RE INUNDATED.
WITH PEOPLE I KNOW THAT- IN MY
DISTRICT- I TALKED TO THE
SERVICE OFFICER WHO- IS AT THE
LIBRARY. IN MY HOMETOWN AND-
EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS DOOR
IT'S GOT. TWENTY FIVE PEOPLE
STANDING THERE WAITING TO MEET
WITH THEM AND IT JUST. IT'S NOT
RIGHT- WE NEED MORE AND- THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR. AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND
TESTIMONY. AND ONCE AGAIN
WELCOME HOME THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. AND NEXT ON THE LINE-
TED WILLIAMS I BELIEVE TED ARE
YOU THERE. OPERATOR CANNOT HE
HAD ON THE LINE. SAY AGAIN. I DO
NOT HE SAID WILLIAMS ON THE LINE
OKAY. WELL ALL RIGHT WELL THANK
YOU THEN WILL WILL GO ON. SHOW
THANK YOU EVERYONE- THAT WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC
WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC
COMMENTS- BY PHONE CALL AND NOW.
PLEASE DIAL THIS TOLL FREE
NUMBER. EIGHT SEVEN SEVEN. TWO
TWO SIX EIGHT ONE SIX THREE.
WHEN PROMPTED PLEASE USE THE
ACCESS CODE. SIX NINE FOUR EIGHT
NINE THREE ZERO WE WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR FROM YOU. THE GOOD THE BAD
THE UGLY WE'RE READY FOR IT.
WHILE THEY CONNECT WILL MOVE ON
TO ANYONE HERE IN THE ROOM THEY
WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AND I WITH THANK YOU AS
WITNESSES HAVE PROVIDING YOUR
COMMENT. VIA THE TELECONFERENCE
BUT THANK YOU MODERATOR SO LET'S
KEEP THAT LINE OPEN SO WE CAN
GET SOME CALLS FROM ANYONE IN
THE PUBLIC. ANYONE HERE WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT
WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY WERE
ADDRESS ANYONE ON THE COMMITTEE
. OKAY MODERATOR DO WE HAVE
ANYONE ELSE ON THE LINE. THANK
YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN YOU MAY
PRESS ONE AND THEN ZERO FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. MEDIC ONE AND
THEN THERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
AND WE WILL GO TO LINE FORTY
FIVE YOUR LINE IS OPEN. HELLO
GOOD NIGHT I'VE YOUR LINE IS
OPEN STATE YOUR NAME AND BRANCH
OF SERVICE IF YOU'RE A VETERAN.
NO RESPONSE LEVINE AND WE HAVE
NO FURTHER COMMENT THANK YOU
OKAY WELL- HAVE YOU HEARD- FROM
THE PANELS IN INTERCOURSE-
JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ WE THANK YOU OF
THEIR NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHARE COMMENTS
. THANK YOU CHAIR FOR PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER AND ALLOWING US TO
ENGAGE WITH OUR VETERANS. THANK
YOU END OF BEFORE WE GO I'D JUST
LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMITTEE AND THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THIS COUNTRY WOULD
LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND WE CERTAINLY WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU EVERY DAY NOT
JUST VETERANS DAY NOT JUST
MEMORIAL DAY. BUT EVERY DAY
BECAUSE WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
FIGHTING FOR VETERANS WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TELLING IN OUR COUNTRY
THAT WE CAN NEVER NEVER BRING
THEM HOME. WITHOUT WE HEARD THE
YELLOW RIBBONS BUT WE NEED TO
BRING THEM HOME SO THEY KNOW
THAT THEIR LOVED AND THEY'RE
HONORED AND WE'RE READY TO TAKE
CARE OF THEM AND YES WE'VE GOT
TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEVER-
COULD STOP. VETERANS FROM COMING
FORWARD I MEAN THEY KEEP- OR MEN
AND WOMEN JOINING THE MILITARY
IT'S IT HAPPENS. AND THEN- WHEN
THEY GET HOME THEY SHOULD BE
RECOGNIZED AND I THINK THAT
WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL WE CAN. AND
PLEASE BETTER SERVICE OFFICERS.
WE KNOW WE LOVE YOU CONTINUED
GOOD SERVICE THOSE IN LEADERSHIP
PLEASE. REACH OUT RECRUIT WHEN
YOU CAN AND WE'LL KEEP LOOKING
FOR THE FUNDED. SO WITH THAT
LAYS IN GERMAN I'D LIKE TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
PARTICIPATING. IN PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. AND- THOSE THAT-
CALLED ON THE PHONE THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AND I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU
THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
ANY COMMENTS PLEASE- SUBMITTED
IN WRITING TO THE SENATE-
MILITARY VETERANS AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE. OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US WOULD
LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR
THOSE WHO CAME TODAY TO THE
HEARING- YOU FLEW OUT FROM LOS
ANGELES. DROVE IN FROM. ACROSS
THE STATE WE THANK YOU AND- WE
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.
IN SERVICE SO WITH THAT. I'D
LIKE TO TELL YOU ONCE AGAIN THAT
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE AND
REPRESENT ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS IT WAS A
LONG HEARING- AND- THIS WILL
CONCLUDE OUR HEARING. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT
. THANK YOU.