Issue Position: Supporting our Veterans and First Responders

Issue Position

Vocal believer that our veterans and first responders deserve the highest possible amount of love, care and respect for their incredible sacrifices to keep our country safe, secure and free.

A veteran who serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and Economic Opportunity Subcommittee.

Created while a State Senator the PFC Joseph Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program as part of the 2012-2013 state budget to help our veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Now proposing to expand the Dwyer Program with H.R. 4513, to take national this initiative which has been so successful in New York, and Suffolk County especially.

Secured House passage of three of his veteran's bills, including H.R. 2640, to provide Adult Day Health Care for disabled veterans at no cost, H.R. 1569, to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay accrued benefits to the estate of deceased veterans, and H.R. 1187, to eliminate the loan limit that the VA can guarantee for a veteran. Also supports multiple bills to improve treatment for veterans suffering from exposure to Agent Orange (H.R. 3423, H.R. 969).

Helped lead the successful effort to permanently reauthorize the Zadroga Act, which provides necessary healthcare for our 9/11 first responders.

Secured an East End veterans clinic in Manorville.

Supported the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R. 2658), which excludes the hours worked by EMS from being counted toward the ACA's 30-hour-a-week benchmark that determines whether an employee is classified as full-time. Also co-sponsored H.R. 4625, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act.

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