~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
Veterans from around the state trekked to Jefferson Friday morning to meet with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst at a veterans roundtable in the Greene County Community Center in Jefferson. Close to 100 persons, most of whom were veterans, attended the hour-long event.
Jim Andrew, American Legion Post 11 commander, served as moderator and introduced the guests as well as selecting the veterans who made comments and discussed issues.
Ernst touched on several issues and the bills she has introduced in Congress. She especially is working on healthcare problems. “I am so glad to be here today. We must do better,” she said.
She urged people to contact her offices with issues and had staff members in the audience to obtain information.
Lt Gov Kim Reynolds pointed with pride to the Home Based Iowa program, noting that Greene County was the first in the state to earn that designation. So far, 37 communities have been named with another 75 in the works. Through those efforts, an estimated 2,400 veterans have been hired for jobs in the state.
Jason Kemp, Home Base Iowa program manager, briefly commented on the success of the program, stressing the importance of helping veterans find jobs in the state.
Greene County supervisor Guy Richardson and Don Ihnken, VFW Post 9599 commander, kept their comments brief and to the point. Richardson talked about Traci Perez, Greene County’s veterans affairs director. Ihnken invited the veterans to visit the hall on the east side of the courthouse square.
“If the lights are on, stop in. We have coffee and soda and playing cards,” said Ihnken.
Numerous veterans, most from outside Greene County, related their experiences in dealing with the VA. Topics ranged from testing for Agent Orange, handling depleted uranium, PTSD (post tramatic stress disorder), Choice program, medications not provided in a timely manner, lack of dental care for veterans, the GI education bill and income limits for veterans benefits through the VA.
Lt Gov Reynolds summed up her philosophy, “A vet is a vet. We’ve got to stop penalizing veterans for being successful. We’ve got to fight for what is right.”
“I want to hear your stories,” concluded Ernst. “I want to see your face. Thank you for your service.”
Ernst highlighted the legislation she has encompassed during the past year and a half.
On March 23, 2015, Ernst introduced her first bill in the U.S. Senate, the Prioritizing Veterans to Mental Health Care Act of 2015, which provides an option for veterans to receive immediate authorization for non-VA mental health treatment to receive the timely and quality care they deserve.
On October 8, 2015, Ernst led nine co-sponsors in introducing the bipartisan Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015 to expand telehealth services provided by the VA to improve health care access for disabled or rural veterans.
On January 11, 2016, Ernst introduced bipartisan legislation to reinstate inurnment rights for Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) at Arlington National Cemetery after a policy change from the Army prevented these courageous World War II heroes from being allowed to have Arlington National Cemetery as their final resting place. This legislation recently passed and is headed to the President’s desk!
On February 3, 2016, Ernst joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which requires the VA to include specific metrics on female veterans in its annual evaluation of mental health and suicide prevention programs and identify which are most effective among female veterans.
On February 8, 2016, Ernst introduced the bipartisan Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment (SAVE) Act, which puts military sexual trauma survivors in control of their own health care by giving them the opportunity, flexibility, and discretion to choose treatment options that best suit their needs, even if that care is outside of a VA facility.
