001[Music] And thank you everybody so much for joining us for a community conversation on veteran and service member affairs. I'm Caitlyn Bggerabedian, the state representative for the 32nd Middle Sex District, which includes Melrose, Wakefield, and Malden. In this role, I've been glad to work closely with my local Veterans Service officers, including one here with us tonight, and the Melrose Veterans Services Advisory Board, including on bills I have filed to support the stability and well-being of veterans and service members. I've also proudly voted in favor of several recent Massachusetts laws to support this community. Tonight's event will provide us with an opportunity to hear from experts and members of the veteran and service member communities about challenges, existing resources and programs, and needed policies for those who serve our nation. In this virtual environment, we're bringing
002together a diverse group of people from a wide variety of backgrounds. I want to acknowledge those joining us from the 32nd Middle Sex District as well as those from across the Commonwealth. With that, I'm excited to review our time tonight together. After panelists introductions, we'll hear from Representative Seth Molton in DC. Uh I'll next turn to um setting a context for a panel discussion and then turn it over to each of the four panelists for their remarks. Thereafter, we're going to address some questions submitted in advance by attendees and then we'll close with further resources for learning. So, I'm very grateful to be joined this evening by a panel of esteemed experts and advocates for our veteran and service member communities. John Santiago was recently sworn in as the state's first secretary of veterans services.
003Secretary Santiago is a former state representative and current major in the US Army Reserves as well as an emergency room doctor at Boston Medical Center. Matthew or Matt McKenna is the executive director of the National Guard Association of Massachusetts. He's a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Afghanistan and a 23-year member of the Army National Guard. Bill Davidson is the senior director for veteran outreach, peer support, and volunteers at Homebase. Prior to joining Homebase, he served as a command sergeant major with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, retiring with 34 years of service. Roseanne Row Triani Mazuki is the Melrose Veteran Service Officer and a regional director for the city of Melrose and neighboring towns of Sus and Wakefield. She has 21 years of both active duty and reserve service as a military police officer and
004special agent in Army Criminal Investigations Command. Thank you all for being here. I'm really looking forward to your remarks. I'm honored now to turn to Congressman Seth Molton and grateful for his contribution to tonight's program. Since 2015, Congressman Molton has served as the US Representative for the Massachusetts 6th Congressional District, which includes the town of Wakefield. In 2001, he joined the Marine Corps shortly after his college graduation and a few months before the attacks on 911. He served four tours in Iraq, rising to the rank of captain and received the bronze star medal for his actions in the 2004 battle of Najaf. After returning home from Iraq, he used the GI Bill to earn joint degrees in business and public administration. This legislative session, among other assignments, he is a member of the United States
005House Committee on Armed Services. We'll turn now to his remarks. >> Hey everybody, Congressman Seth Molton here from Washington and thanks to Representative Liberia for inviting me to talk to you about some veterans issues that I'm working on in DC. Of course, we work on all kinds of things. We're working on a lot of transportation stuff, trying to reform the tea. Uh we're we're working on healthc care stuff. We work on fishing issues. Uh really important to Gloucester. Uh we're working on uh all this stuff with Tik Tok. I mean I'm on the select committee on China. So a lot of things we cover. Um but I'm a veteran myself, Marine Corps veteran from Iraq. And so I um wanted to talk about some of the particular things we're doing in the veteran space. One
006is the GI Bill Restoration Act. This is a bill to restore GI Bill benefits to the veterans and their descendants from World War II black veterans who were denied these benefits essentially by racist administrator. So, the GI Bill was passed back in the 1940s, race neutral. So, didn't matter if you're black, white, or any uh any background, you're going to get the benefits for that you've earned for serving in World War II. The reality though is when it came to actually getting those benefits out to veterans, there was a lot of discrimination. And we're going to fix that. And a lot of people say, you know, hey, well, this isn't your fault or this isn't our generation's fault. No, it's not my generation of veterans fault that this happened, but it absolutely is our opportunity
007to fix this, to write this wrong. And I'm very excited to have Jim Clyurn uh great Democratic uh leader here in the House to be the first co-sponsor uh with me on this bill. Um we're also uh working on the Brandon Act. The Brandon Act is a law that we passed uh over a year ago now to mandate that the Department of Defense provide a way for members on active duty military to report mental health issues and even to report them outside their chain of command. So if they feel that they have a problem with their chain of command, they're not getting the mental health treatment that they need, then they have a way to get that help. There's a scourge of suicides across America, but including among our active duty military. In fact, this
008is a frightening statistic, but four times as many servicemen and women have died in the last 20 years from suicide as have died in combat. And then finally, I want to talk about 988. I hope that you've heard about 988. We're trying to get the word out across the nation that 988 is the new mental health hotline. So you or a loved one has a mental health issue, call 988 from any cell phone, any landline, no matter what the network, no matter where you are in America. This is a way to get help. The goal is to make this as common sense as 911. You know, you wake up in the middle of that night and your house is on fire. You don't have to go find a phone book to figure out the number
009for the fire department. You just dial 911. Well, we want to make sure every American knows. You wake up in the middle of the night, you have a mental health issue, you just pick up the phone and dial 988. It's amazing how many lives this law has already saved since it was implemented this past July. Calls are up 50%. And we know that there's a especially acute crisis with mental health among our youth. Listen to this statistics. Texts, obviously, a lot of young Americans like to text. texts are up 1,445% since we established 98. So, a lot more Americans are getting help for their mental health issues. A lot of lives are being saved, but it also shows that we've got a lot more work to do. So, thanks very much for joining me and
010allowing me to explain some of our work, my team's work on these issues. I look forward to seeing you back in Massachusetts sometime soon. >> Great. I'm really grateful for Congressman Molton for those remarks. and insights uh into the work that's going on on in Capitol Hill in Congress. Um from correcting racial injustice to addressing mental well-being, Congressman Molton's experience as a service member and his perspective as a veteran undoubtedly informs his work in Congress and we're certainly better for it. So, in selecting this topic for my ninth community conversation, I thought a lot about how communities gather throughout each year, including for Memorial Day, which is coming up, and Veterans Day to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of those who put on the uniform to protect our nation, as well as their families. I
011expect my district is no different from the other 159 around the the state in honoring that service through programs, vigils, parades, and other gatherings. Our residents also look to their elected officials to establish policies that support the men and women who serve in our military and to direct financial and programmatic resources, including an annual budgets, a process that's going on right now, which I know the secretary knows well about, toward our veteran and service member population. So, when we think about Massachusetts, there are about 380,000 veterans in Massachusetts today. Our population is nearly 7 million. Additionally, recent data indicate 4,370 active duty service members in Massachusetts and nearly 18,000 National Guard and Reserve members. As this slide also notes, families should be considered when we discuss policies to support veterans and service members. Indeed, Massachusetts
012aims to be a national leader in supporting this community. However, we're not without our challenges. It can be difficult for our veterans and service members to access mental health and other supports which the congressman just spoke about. Even as veterans disproportionately face challenges in life stability, CO 19 added another devastating blow to this community with a terrible outbreak at the Holio Soldiers Home leading to nearly 80 deaths making national headlines. During the pandemic, the nation called on service members to take on new responsibilities, including vaccination administration, even bus driving, and civil unrest with the January 6th insurrection led to the deployment of Massachusetts National Guard members to DC. Research suggests that the physical and mental strain of military service can be a social determinant of health. In response to these challenges, the Massachusetts legislature has
013ushered through some important policy solutions in recent years. In July of 2021, the legislature completed its work on a law appropriating $400 million for the design and construction of a new facility for the Holio Veterans Home to ensure a modern, supportive, and healthy environment for its residents. Last summer, on August 4th, the governor signed into law legislation to overhaul state governance for our veterans programs and services, creating the Executive Office of Veteran Services with a secretary who reports directly to the governor. The law also addressed oversight and crisis response obligations at our veterans homes in Holio and Chelsea. I'm pleased to see that the Healey Driscoll administration is implementing these requirements, including the appointment of members to the Veterans Home Council. That same week back in August 2022, the governor signed the Speed Act, which
014was hailed by Major General Gary W. Keefe, adjunct general of the Massachusetts National Guard as quote, "Likely the most encompassing military and veterans bill passed in the Commonwealth in the last century." Among its quality of life provisions, the Speed Act assists military families with professional lensure flexibilities for spouses and easier school enrollment for children. I'm very glad and proud to have joined the legislature in voting for these laws aimed at creating a Massachusetts that better supports our veterans and military families. We know the work isn't done. With a new legislative session beginning this January, more than 6,600 bills were filed. Um, at last count, 121 of them were reported to the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, though I'm certain that many others impacting veterans and our service members will be considered in other
015committees. Like many of my colleagues, I filed several bills of relevance to this community and this issue. One example is House Bill 3675 that would create a waiver program for military personnel who successfully complete medical training offered through the military to sit for the LPN certification without graduating from an approved practical nursing program. Each of the bills listed here I uh that I filed was done in concert in collaboration with my local veteran service officers and the Melrose Veteran Services Advisory Board. Certainly of equal importance is our annual budget process. In her fiscal year 24 budget proposal, Governor Healey recommends $79 million for the two veterans homes and $16.5 million for ongoing programming for veterans services. I now want to transition to our panel uh because I know that we're really here to hear from
016each of you tonight um about your efforts and insights into supporting veterans and military service members in the Commonwealth. And I'd love to start with you, Secretary Santiago, to talk about the new executive office and the most pressing issues and opportunities that you see for our veterans. Thank you for joining us. >> Well, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you, Representative, for providing such a welldetailed uh background. I mean, I was amazed by some of the information you put up and I want to thank you for that. I want to thank Congressman Moltzen for for providing remarks and just really honored to be here with such a distinguished panel. people like Ro, Matt, Bill, folks on the front lines doing the work each day to fight for our ver veterans who've been doing this
017for a very long time. And now I'm in my new capacity for just about a month. I think I'm on day 33, 34, but nonetheless, very excited to be doing that. As the representative said, I I come at this with a variety of perspectives. I'm a physician. I work in the emergency room at Boston Medical Center. I'm also a former state legislator, so I was a colleague of the representatives just until a couple of months ago. and I have some experience in the in the military. I've been in the Army reserves for a while and I deployed twice and I in fact I just got back from Syria about a month ago but honored to take this new position and only be become the first secretary of veteran services for the Commonwealth. Now while there
018was a secretary in name it really didn't share the same function as the other secretariates and so this is the first time this particular position has been elevated to the cabinet uh level. And so what does that mean? And let me just say thank you to all the veterans and advocates out there that have been pushing for this for literally decades asking for this and look and we made it happen. So thank you for all the work that you've been doing. So what does that mean? And I think the representative did an excellent job clarifying and talking about some of the things that have changed. So chapter 144 was the piece of legislation that put our office into place. And so what that means is there's a direct line the veteran community folks that wrote
019Matt Bill through me to the governor right that bureaucracy that red tape that had been there that maybe limited some of the work that we wanted to do to support our veterans is no longer there. Now I'm not saying we're getting rid of every red tape and every every bureaucratic uh piece uh in government but it's significantly slashed. It also changes the governance of the homes. Prior to this bill, there were two different board of trustees, one for Holio and one for Chelsea. There were seven member boards. And a lot of the research and some of the investigations that went into looking into what happened at both homes is a result of some of the mismanagement, some of the issues um in their respective locations. And so what this did, this created, as the representatives
020said, a 19 member statewide council, but people not just with an experience on the ground, what's happening in their respective locations, but bring a wide array of experiences when it comes to the professional background. There's physicians, there's people that have worked in this field for a very long time. In fact, uh March 28th, we had our first meeting and it went well. Now, their job is to advise me and selecting the superintendent and making sure that the homes are doing the work that we have to do. And I have to say my first week in office I took a visit to Holy Oak. Second week I was in Chelsea. And in fact I've been in Chelsea uh at least once a once a week for the past couple weeks. I was just there a couple
021hours ago just getting on the ground seeing what's going on seeing we can be helpful to move things forward because a big piece which uh as as representative said we're actually creating building two new homes. In fact if anyone's been out to Chelsea there's this beautiful building on a hill. It's a magnificent one. Um it's called the CLC, the community living center, and it's going to significantly expand and support um the work of uh the Chelse the Chelsea Veterans Home. It's going to open up probably June, July, and and in Holio that we just secured a waiver from the federal government. Now, there had been a conditional waiver with some state funds that our legislators put forth, but I'm happy to report in the last couple weeks looks like that's on its way to being
022finalized. And so my guess hope in the next three, four, five years that'll be well on its way to being built. And so our office is excited about the opportunity to to support veterans in a variety of ways that we already do. We offer a number of programs whether it's chapter 115 providing economic safety net benefits, whether it's annuity programs serving 17,000 uh people across the Commonwealth. We have about 10 million bucks which we dedicate to providing for um homeless and housing services and a number of other issues uh services that we provide and we're excited about it. But I have to be honest with you, my first, second, and third priority is to build a foundation. And so what does it mean to become a secretariat? It means building out a full uh staff
023whether it's HR, whether it's department of communications, whether it's general counsel. So whereas all these departments were under the health and human services secretariat, I'm effectively building all this out. So I'm hiring a lot of people u you know over 100 people to do these jobs. And so I feel very strongly that if the foundation isn't there, if we don't have the right people in place to do the things that we need to do, then we're not going to be able to serve the veteran community to the best of our ability. With that said, I've also spent a lot of time on the road. I'm a I'm a ER uh physician. I'm a frontline type of guy. I lead from the front. And so from the get-go, we've been out in the community, Western Mass
024to Cape Cod to Massachusetts. We were just in Worcester um a couple days ago, all around Boston. And we want to go out there and see you be active, be accessible, and be engaged. And so if you're out there and if you want folks from our office to to learn about what you're doing, to see what you're doing, more than happy to team up with your local officials there and see how we can best support you. Um, so that's just a little bit of summary of what we do, but I'm h happy to provide that. And again, thank you, Representative, for bringing together this group. >> Thank you so much, Secretary Santiago. I'm really thrilled for the Commonwealth to know that you're in this position. and it's incredible the background and um expertise you bring
025to it. Um and I'm really um confident that you're going to build out a really excellent agency to support the veteran community. So, let's turn next to Matt McKenna to talk a little bit about the associate um the National Guard, sort of who you all are serving, what the service members priorities and needs are. Um and we do have some slides from you as well. Thanks so much for being here. >> Thank you very much, Representative and and Mr. Secretary. Thank you for joining us tonight. Uh, and you know, thank you for putting this together. Uh, my mom is a is a Wakefield resident. She's actually on the forum as well, so I'll be on my best behavior. Um, but thanks mom for joining us. Uh, so Matt McKenna, the uh, executive director of the
026National Guard Association here in Massachusetts. Uh, also a soontobe retired 26-year member of the Guard. So whatever whatever bio you looked at rep was probably a little bit old, so I need to I need to see what's out there. Um but uh you know our mission at the at the for the association we are the the you know the membership association of the officers uh both the army and air officers uh of the national guard and and we're dedicated to advocating both uh on Beacon Hill and in Capitol Hill to ensure that the guard uh is getting uh you know the latest equipment uh and and has the you know finest benefits and services to make sure that you know we're taking care of our guard soldiers. as as you mentioned earlier in some of
027your opening remarks, uh the mission of the Guard uh certainly uh since 911, we've had roughly 20,000 uh Guard members from Massachusetts deployed. Um certainly if anyone read the news during COVID uh between security mission DC, between school busing, between uh COVID vaccinations and testing, etc. Uh we've had guard members in the department of corrections u all over the commonwealth really for the two years. So so the guards u you know the guard's mission never ends right um always there always ready um and and our job as the association is is really just to make sure that that uh you know we're advocating uh and and making sure that that the guard uh is is always in the forefront. And one of my main jobs is to, you know, to advocate with legislators like yourself
028to to explain the guard and and and make sure that uh folks are aware of of one the, you know, the guard's existence number one, but also capabilities, etc. And then and then the need. So just just this breaks out sort of the uh the different areas, the different uh commands for the guard. uh just so folks see the type of assets that we have here in Massachusetts from a u uh from a specialty standpoint. And then just some of the locations of the armories. Uh while while we don't have a you know I know Melrose has an armory right on Main Street. Um you know not every community has the armory like they used to. uh 45 armies in the four installations throughout the state in including Hanscom joint base Cape Cod um West
029over air base and then and and West over which is a reserve base. Uh so a number of different uh locations um not again not an army in every city in town but there's certainly guard members in every city in town. So that's a quick overview. I think uh you know about roughly 8,500 uh guard members um you know that that fluctuates a little bit and and certainly you know lot of capabilities here in Massachusetts whether it be uh aviation assets or uh cyber assets given our um given our proximity to uh the Harvards, MITs and the Lincoln labs of the world. So, a lot of assets here in in Massachusetts that are important to uh you know, both the national defense, but also uh both to our our homeland defense here in Massachusetts. >>
030Thanks so much, Matt. One of the early photos on um a slide was my son and and me welcoming home the National Guard when they arrived back at the Armory in in Melrose after being deployed down to DC. Um, and actually today I was over in Springfield at a House Ways and or a Ways and Means hearing, uh, and was right next to the Armory that's in Springfield. So, got a pamphlet about it. Um, very helpful background information. Um, let's turn next to Bill. Um, Bill, you work at home base and are really focused on supporting the mental and emotional well-being of our veterans and service members. We heard from Congressman Molton that four times as many servicemen and women have died from suicide as in military combat in the last 20 years. a devastating
031statistic and I I I know some about homebased but I'm really glad to learn more about it tonight and also elevate your work for the larger community. >> Sure. Thank you so much representative for having uh me on the panel today and good to see Secretary Santiago who actually came to our clinic a couple weeks ago. Um Matt and I have worked together in the network for quite some time now and Ro it's nice to have you on the panels. I'm also a fellow MP. So, it's nice to have uh this panel put together uh today. So, those that don't know about Homebays is that we're a mental health clinic located in Charles Town. Uh we serve veterans, service members, family members, and families of the fallen um for what we call the invisible wounds
032of war. Uh so, PTSD, TBI, uh depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma. Uh we treat family, children. Um and we were founded back in 2009 by Mr. Tom Warner who's the chairman of the Red Sox and we partnered with home um with Mass General Hospital. Uh so Homebase actually falls under the psychiatry department of uh Mass General. All our services are free. Um at Home Base, we treat all ERA veterans. Doesn't matter your discharge status. Um what I call it is trying to get rid of all excuses to go get mental health treatment. Like so we try to remove all the barriers to care uh to seek treatment. Um it doesn't matter if u you're a combat vet or you had a a un uniform on for one day. We'll see you uh um at home
033base. And we have uh a few signature programs that we run. Um, we have a national two-week uh, intensive clinical program where we actually fly people in from all over the country or the world. If you're a US veteran and you're in Japan or Germany or whatever, we'll fly you in. We'll put you up in the Marriott next door. You'll get about a year's a little over a year's worth therapy uh, in two weeks all at no cost. Um, so there is no excuse for um not um seeking treatment with us. Um it's just trying to get vets to seek care. That's the hardest part, right? Um is is um trying to get vets into care. So that's one of our signature programs and we we we it's a holistic approach to care. It's not
034just the mental health treatment. Uh we treat them how to, you know, teach them how to eat right, work out right. We do art therapy, yoga, taichi. We introduce them to a bunch of stress reduction um therapies. Uh you know, locally we have uh our outpatient clinic where right now it's everything's teleaalth. Um but they could uh once we open up the clinic for outpatient, it's right there in Charles Town next constitution. Um, and it's a beautiful state-of-the-art facility, uh, right on the water there. So, it's nice. And we have several other programs. We have substance abuse program. We have a wellness program. Um, I don't need to get into all the details here, but if you go to homebase.org um, and check out our our website, I can give you a lot more details.
035Uh, I did send the representative a flyer. Uh, I'm happy to send anybody any information that um they want to help get veterans into care. Um, and that's just a a little bit of pro. We do so much and uh you know locally too we have an adventure series which is a sort of a soft touch program where a lot of um organizations give us tickets or um like for instance Boston Duck Tours uh will give us you know 100 tickets or whatever and we get a bunch of vets and their families together and we're able to talk a little bit about home base but then they get to enjoy a free event. So, we do a bunch of those um throughout New England uh all at no at no cost. Everything at home base
036is no cost. Um so, that's a little bit about our our our program, but happy to take any, you know, deeper questions or anything as as we move along here. Uh also served in Melrose on 120 Main Street in that Melrose Omry for a number of years, uh representative. So, >> know it well. >> That's great. Well, thank you, Bill, for providing us some overview of all the different programs and supports you're providing. Um, when I selected this community conversation, I I had picked it because I thought it'd be of great relevance to my district as well as across the common. Uh, and I thought that the legislature had demonstrated a real prioritization of veterans and service members and some of our recent uh laws. And then as I've shared with this u panel, the
037issue of mental well-being became very personal after selecting and inviting you all to join as Melrose lost um one of my former colleagues on the city council previously called board of aldermen tragically um a veteran who had served his community and his nation for decades uh and we're still really reeling from that loss. So, it's a very unfortunately timely conversation on a personal level as well. And we certainly will open it up a little bit more to talking about mental well-being shortly. Um, I'd like to now turn to Ro to talk a little bit about what a VSO does, how you're serving your community, what you're hearing from veterans and service members in this district, which I'm sure uh is uh relevant for other portions of the Commonwealth as well. Thanks so much for being
038here. >> Thanks for having me, Kate. Well, hello everybody. So I am the veteran service director for Melrose Wakefield and Sagas now having come here from Winthre for over nine years and um I I feel this is my mission in life having served on active duty in in the reserves. I'm the past president of the Mass Veteran Service Officers Association and uh since the PAC Act became um came to the forefront I've been non-stop with veteran claims non-stop. And for those who don't know, Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that has a veteran service officer that represents every city, every community, every city, every town. Um, so our neighboring states get a little jealous and I often get calls from veterans from New Hampshire, uh, South Carolina, Texas, uh, all over asking for
039assistance. So, and we don't we don't say no. We say yes, you know, we'll work with you. We'll help you. And I got a call today from one of my veterans. I volunteer once a month at Hanscom at the retirey activity office and I see veterans there or their family members and he called me and he said uh the claim that we filed several months ago he just got his award of 100%. So was a Vietnam veteran. So it made me quite happy today for that. Um so we not only represent the service members but we represent the family as well because like all of us who have served I I'm part of a dual military couple. So when my husband was deployed, I was home. I was deployed, he was home. At one point
040we were both deployed and we were the only dual military couple who were living in Winthre at the time. And um all four of our kids went to my parents. So it was uh you know multiple deployments and C back then used to just deploy for anywhere from a week or two to about six months. So times have changed, deployments have changed. Um, we work closely with executive office of veteran services now and several years ago we were tasked with by department of veteran services back then to update the 108 CMR. So we took it line by line literally and we went through it with a red pen and brought the changes forward and I'm happy to say now that we are almost there with getting uh reimbursements for our chapter 115 clients for mental
041health care. the uh 108 CMI had said it was not allowed to pay for that. The veteran had to go to the VA. A lot of veterans don't want to go to the VA. Uh those currently serving don't want to go to the VA. Spouses and family members also uh we have the vet centers which is great. We have home base which is great. And so we rarely are pushing that. This year we filed 14 bills with our um with Senator Rush and a lot of them uh mirror with yours Kate with for for our district here. Um and they relate to anywhere from health care to upping veteran benefits to keep up with the cost of living associated with the disability the annuities the tax write off the tax abatement which is so important.
042It hasn't changed in I don't know I'm here 10 years and hasn't changed in my time. So, um, really looking at a lot of different things and also to move veteran service officers into the retirement category of two because we all worked in our offices during COVID. We all saw veterans. We all went to veterans homes during COVID. So, at times actually quite a bit. I was the only one in my town hall in Winthrop besides the janitor. So, and I was seeing my veterans. Um it's important that what we do, although not everybody can work a computer or uh complete the DIC forms which are 72 pages. So we really help our veterans, our families and um we do it all that we can. Another thing that we have is with keeping up with
043the uh the consumer price index with raising chapter 115 benefits. That hasn't been changed in quite a while. I mean, little changes have happened over the years, but not the way it should be. And we're finding um we push our veterans and our surviving uh spouses to apply for VA benefits as well as the chapter 115 benefits. So, we take a a holistic type approach. We're going after whatever benefits that we can go, whatever they're entitled to, we push for it and we really advocate on behalf of our veteran, our veteran families. And this year we are um it sad with Scott and his uh I know his wife Mary and um for our Memorial Day parade we are honoring Gold Star families in Melrose. So um we felt it was important um given to
044what's happened uh with the suicide rate going up and you know we have to change the phrase it's uh from 22 a day to I say it's at least 34 or five a day but we want that number to go down. We don't want it to keep going up because mental health is first and foremost it's paramount. Um, and this mom said to me at at the funeral, "I want to do whatever I can to help you stop this so not another person goes through this." And um, she's a strong woman and so we're going to do whatever we can to help our veterans survive and get our veterans the help that they need and and their families as well. >> So, thank you again, Kate. >> Thank you, Ro. And I'm hopeful that this
045is one example where we're sharing out information that people will watch certainly here in real time, but also across the Commonwealth um after we share this recording so that they'll have some resources or ideas for where they might go next if they have questions whether it's to apply for benefits, whether it's because they're concerned about their well-being or family members. Um you know, and the VSO might be a great place to start, someone local in your community. And that actually takes us I want to thank you all each for those comments and a lot of them segueed right nicely into some of the um questions that we received from attendees that I can put up on the screen just for a minute and we'll sort of walk through them together. Um so the first one
046was about how can communities in Massachusetts be even more veteran friendly. So I'm um jo I am the vice chair of the joint committee on elder affairs and I'm familiar that ARP has established this age friendly community assessment tool for communities but I'm curious to hear from you all about and maybe we expand this beyond just veterans obviously to service member friendly as well. We're hearing you know from you Matt about how National Guard members are being deployed to do all sorts of things these days. So, how can communities be, you know, even more friendly and supportive of the veterans that live within their four corners or their service members? I also then want to talk a little bit about quality of life, mental well-being of veterans and service members you serve. Um, then we'll
047talk a little bit more about state benefits, not keeping up with the costs of inflation and costs of living. Uh, a little bit about a federal law that Rose is very familiar with, the Pacted Act. and then we'll close out by how we might consider inspiring others to sign up um to join the service. So, let's start with that first question. How can how can our cities and towns across Massachusetts be even more veteran friendly? Maybe Roa, can I start with you and just ask, do you think that veterans across the state are even familiar with the concept of the VSO? Um, you know, it's great to hear that we each one each city and town has one. Um, do you feel like the community is generally aware that you exist and have a sense
048of what you can do to help them? >> I am very vocal. I get out there. Yes. I even on vacation, I hand people my business card. Reach out to your local VSO. Um, and if you don't have one, just call. We'll find you one. >> And the younger veterans absolutely know us. Absolutely. the older veterans, there's still that stigmatism where they think that they're taking um away from somebody else who needs it more. And we try to express to them that everybody has their own, that you're not taking it away from anyone. You all have your own. And so we really push push push. We do lots of outreach. Um I speak whenever I can. I spoke to a woman's group in Melrose a couple weeks ago and they were had no clue the
049benefits that we offer that what we do. So the and that's that's something that as an association we decided that we are we have taken on to really get the word out there with commercials with Tik Tok. One of our VSOs is huge on Tik Tok um and and making videos Instagram and whatever we could do. >> Yes. So get it all done. Thank you. >> Thank you. So I guess that would be one that comes to my mind is sort of um maybe a community can be even more veteran friendly or you know service member friendly by ensuring that they are sharing out information about the VSO and making sure people are aware of all the amazing work that you can support them in. Other thoughts from the panelists about ways communities can be
050mindful of their veteran um the secretary. >> No, can I just add to what Ro was saying? Ro is absolutely right. We are in a special situation here at the Commonwealth where we do have ESOs and we do offer quite a bit of benefits. The challenge is that not many people are always aware of them, right? And so conversations I've had across the Commonwealth already in my 30 plus days here is that sometimes there's a difference between some VSOs who know what they're doing well experienced like Ro knows things inside and out and others who maybe are getting off the ground maybe have a new person who just joined the team there. So a lot of our team's goal and desire is to kind of make sure that there's a certain standardization how we can
051support, train, and provide resources to make sure that every DSO across the Commonwealth is doing the job of what Rose is doing out in Melrose. >> Great. Anything else, Bill or Matt, that you would add in this space? I know, for example, Matt, that one bill that I filed and that I think is, you know, something that the Veterans Services Board brought to my attention and I think it's probably filed by other colleagues as well is around municipal um employment. So probably a lot of National Guard members are state or low or public employees and sometimes they are deployed and you know has the municipality ensured that there are sufficient job protections um that leave is accounted for you know that sort of thing. I I wonder if that's one thing that communities can be
052mindful of and ensuring that they are a community that's uh you know friendly toward veterans and service members. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean I think that's that's absolutely on the table, right? As it relates to um just the g general benefits, right? I think, you know, the the what I've always seen as the challenge since I've been working in the veteran space, you know, is is the population isn't there as it used to be, right? World War II, everybody in your neighborhood probably served, right? Vietnam, you knew um you know, a few of your classmates probably were drafted and and served in Vietnam. And now, you know, post 911, you know, a typical high school like Melrose, um, you know, there's maybe one kid a year that that joins the service, right? Maybe maybe
053a few more, uh, but certainly not a lot the way it used to be, right? So, I think the the the military community is is just getting smaller. Um and I think it's important um you know to for for that community and and to interact with the other community right with the civilian community and try to you know sort of close that gap a little bit. Uh but the benefits and and and things like that uh from an employment perspective are huge especially for guard members because um you know the guard is a part-time job other than a deployment right so solid employment um outside of the guard is is a huge huge component of a a a guard member's uh you know career and ultimately ultimately their their longevity in the guard right and
054and their retention etc. So, uh, civilian employment is is a huge, uh, huge benefit and and certainly the, um, you know, anything municipalities or or or state entities, uh, agencies can be doing to support guard members, uh, with that employment, uh, certainly helps. >> Great. >> And if I can just add real real quick, >> um, so home base has four pillars basically, if you will. uh research, training, education, wellness, and clinical care. And under the training, education, we're working with the Department of Veteran Services to ask the question. So ask the question campaign is all about uh communities asking the question if someone's military connected like in your hospitals, your schools and then home base is putting on military culture training so that there's somewhere to go to um to take a look and
055and make that connection uh with the veteran. And to Rose's point, we do a lot of outreach, too. And we find that going to your community leaders helps uh like your chamber of commerce. Um um you know, like I already mentioned, schools and hospitals. Um and you talked about uh law enforcement. We're we're definitely engaged in that outreach with police and fire and um some of those other things as well. >> Great. Thank you. And actually, but we'll stick with the idea of that's really helpful. It reminds me a little of the ARP where they have some different pillars essentially that communities can look at to say are we age friendly? Sounds like in a similar way you're trying to make communities mindful that veteran status can have implications and can be important for how
056you serve people, communicate with them, make sure they're integrated into decision making and just the community more broadly. Uh, I'm interested then in how each of your organizations are thinking about quality of life and mental well-being of the veterans and service members you serve. And Bill, if we could stay with you, I was really struck by the fact that to you, one of your things you mentioned in your opening remarks is that maybe the biggest challenge is encouraging veterans to show up and seek help. Often in other areas we find that people are desperate for mental health supports and that the resources are not there to serve them that they're waiting lists um that they can't find a provider nearby. Do you also have those types of constraints or is it really more that um
057people are a little reticent um to reach out for mental support? >> Well, I I think we fill that void. Um, I think Ro mentioned it earlier, but I want to say 50 to 60% of veterans don't seek VA health care. Uh, so we fill that void being a, you know, a private uh, nonprofit clinic. Um, but at the end of the day, the vet has to want to seek that care. Uh we get a lot of calls from family members or concerned loved ones if you will um that says hey um I'm really worried about so and so but you know we we don't um reach out to them per se. Uh I'm always willing to make a phone call but at the end of the day they have to be willing to seek
058the care. And so that's that's what I meant by that earlier is that um we definitely have the services. It's just going out there. There's myriad reasons why people don't want to seek care, especially if they're still serving. I mean, that's a whole another probably, >> you know, topic, but um but we we're definitely there to provide the service. it's just them wanting to seek it um is the hardest part is to get them over that that hurdle saying, "Hey, I do need help." >> Right. I'm I'm guessing that resonates with the other panelists. Um, and I'm wondering if you know any of you want to speak to any constituents you're working with or maybe secretary, you've been out on the front lines as you mentioned, if you're hearing, you know, interesting or um or
059important perspectives about mental well-being of veterans or other quality of life issues. We talked about some of those in the speed act in terms of trying to support military families more broadly. Um but anyone else want to make provide any insight or comment on um questions around quality of life or mental? >> I'll just say that there are significant constraints and challenges throughout the health care system. I work in addition to my job as a secretary, my time as an ER physician, you know, no surprise to anyone why the ER is full of folks with substance use, mental health issues. Obviously, the veteran community is particularly at risk for some of these issues. I was just in the VA today uh in West Roxberry visiting directoring and learning about the services they provide and they
060actually do a pretty um good job with the mental health issue in the veteran community because of the support services they have particularly at Brockton. So whereas in the emergency department at Boston Medical Center or some of the other big time academic medical centers, you can have people in the hallway for days um and they're fortunately able to get them at the VA to folks like in Brockton or some partner. So they do a good job, but at the end of the day, we're suffering from a mental health crisis across this entire country. And whether you're a veteran or not a veteran, those are very important issues to address in a very comprehensive way. um you know, our communities are are more at risk for some of these issues because of their service. And so,
061it's incumbent upon each and every one of us on this phone call, whatever role we play, to make sure that we're highlighting these issues, that we're addressing issues of stigma, and that we're providing resources. And I can tell you that we're committed to doing it. From where I stand, I've told folks a number of times, if there's a dollar in DC, we will go get it for housing, for mental health, you name it. And so we're, you know, 30 days in, we're excited about the job, but really want to carry a sense of urgency and initiative and the folks that we're bringing on hiring are committed to doing the same. >> Thank you. We will turn to the ne next question. Um I I know that we have people who are watching, but we're going
062to stick with our script and then we'll certainly follow up um if we have time. So, state benefit, we heard from a lot of people actually who wrote in about state benefits not keeping up with inflation and the cost of living. Interested to hear from each of you about opportunities you see for state or federal policy to be updated to support veterans and families. Um, Ro, you mentioned a series of bills that have been filed. I filed one with you and the Miller's advisory board that received a favorable review from the committee last session. and it would have required all property tax exemptions including those which veterans are eligible for to be adjusted annually according to the average cost of living adjustment in the Commonwealth. And we've refiled that bill this session and there are
063others at play but interested for any of you all to to speak to that um that issue that a lot of people who um wrote in about >> I don't need them right now anyway. Anything else you would want to add on that topic? Just the cost of living and the benefits that are available. >> I I can talk a little bit about it. Again, I'm learning all this as we speak. I mean, obviously there's people on this phone call looking at Ro in particular who's more experienced than I come with this. But what I can tell you is that each year or every cadence there's a certain cadence where the the feds actually increase and make some adjustments for cost of living, right? So, I think this year they put it at 8.9%. Um,
064so that's an increase in social security, pension, VA benefits. And if we want to keep pace with that here in the Commonwealth, particularly with respect to Chapter 115, it has to at least be 8.9%. And I can tell you, I've had some meetings already, in fact, this week that we're committed to doing at the very least 8.9% and will likely be above that. >> That's great. Good to know. All right. Anyone else on this one? I would just say for those watching that this is definitely on the mind not only the secretary but also the legislature. Hence you do see a good number of bills that have been filed um to discuss sort of costs and the benefits and whether they're sort of um aligned with each other. >> Another it's a tricky chapter 115
065is it's it's it's part the costs are partially shared by the towns and cities as well. So it's not a completely estate you know they they pay a significant amount of it and then we reimburse them. So, you know, I'd love to go up to, you know, 50%, but you know, the state is dealing, I mean, the cities and towns are dealing with a certain budget. So, we have to be cognizant of that as well. >> Thanks for that clarification. That's not dissimilar from our student opportunity act, how we fund our public schools, right? So, there is that interplay. Absolutely. Um, next question we received in advance was around the PACED act. Um, and so this was a question about what's being done to reduce the current veterans service officer claims processing bottleneck created by
066the recent VA benefits under the new PAC Act. And Ro, you had mentioned that you might be able to talk a little bit about this. >> So since the we heard about the PAC Act coming, we've been filing VA claims related to Agent Orange and Camp Llejun and um Iraq, Afghanistan, and Thailand for years. for years and more and more veterans are coming in and and claims take a couple of hours to do. So, it's just not, you know, it's not feasible to do a claim the right way in 30 minutes or less. So, we really take the time to meet with the veteran, really interview the veteran, get sometimes we get statements from the spouses or other members who served and we a lot of veterans don't really talk about it. So it uh
067I have a lot of counseling experience. So I try to draw out and what else did you do? What else did you do? And I I take back it helps because of my own background and where I served. So to draw it out of them and that's why veteran service officers have to be veterans. Um so we're in the same boat basically and we understand each other. Um it is it's frustrating at times. I find myself um not so nice at times calling the VA and speaking my peace um especially since the presumptives what you're presumed to have sometimes don't match what our veterans have such as what campleune and you can get treated for certain ailments of cancers certain cancers but they're not in the presumptive list that will get you the compensation. So
068having know about cancer personally um cancer is cancer. It attacks the most vulnerable spots of your body and we're trying to work on that to get the VH to realize that you know these chemicals that we were we've been exposed to attack the weakest point of your body and we try to make sure our claims are really a nice neat packet and they get looked at and um we I consult constantly with my national service officer uh Tommy Ryan in Providence and Matt Ching here in Boston and we do what we can to really make sure our claim is nice and tidy and copy refused and when the VA asks for the questions it just takes a while and we understand that the VA has is shot at a chill we totally get that totally
069so um and when we need records from the record center and you know they're not back 100% yet and a lot of other people are asking for those records so I mean we're trying we're doing the best that we can um we definitely need more manpower power, woman power um to help. The VA definitely needs the help as well. So, we're more and more veterans, the more we outreach, the more veterans are coming forward saying, "Hey, I have this. Can you help me?" And yes, we can help you. So, we're just all working together. It takes collaboration. It takes working together as a team. And we work closely, of course, with the Executive Office of Veteran Services and also with with the VA. I am constantly reaching out to advocates at the VA constantly. So,
070>> right. >> Thank you. I mean, one thing I've learned from again or it's been reinforced for me is how much work and support a VSO can can provide to residents and certainly I know that I've referred people to you and this you know underscores that that is a really important um avenue to help people. Matt, were you gonna add something? >> Yeah. No, Rep. I think it's important too that that you know certainly veterans and even their family members right understand that you know there are individuals and organizations whether it be your municipal VSO or your veteran service organizations like the DAV or VFW or American Legion that have national service officers which they're they're trained uh to specifically do claims right so um you know they're human right so that every individual is
071different but they're they're trained by the VA to do these these claims. And I I would, you know, never advise anyone to try to do a claim on their own. U seek out a seek out a third party. Um whether it be your local VSO, whether it be a national service organization, you know, there's also attorneys that are out there that do this professionally. Right there, the VA claims process is complicated. Um and to Rose's point, um you know, it's not just Massachusetts, right? It's happening all over the country. there's an influx of applications and and uh and it's it's at the end of the day it's you know the three hours that or four or half a day that Rose spends on a claim um you know it goes through a probably a 30
072to 90day process at the VA right so um you know people just got to I think understand that a little bit but also um you know not try to tackle it on their own. >> Thank you. So, I'm mindful of our time and I want to be sure um that we get to the last question and then um provide everyone who is watching in real time or after the fact with opportunities to be back in touch with us again with further questions or requests for clarification. So someone had asked how and this goes to Matt's point about you know the the population of ser of veterans is dwindling um and so you know are there ways in which you all would think about in you know how can younger people maybe be inspired to consider
073service to the country whether that's you know applying to and enrolling in servicemies signing up for Rosi um you know to the degree that this is sort of a calling a personal calling for people or to assist with you know affording higher education. Any thoughts on that? >> I I'll just speak from the guard for, you know, from the guard perspective, right? So, um you know, obviously the the benefits associated with the guard as it relates to education are are amazing, right? um Massachusetts with the passage of the speed act. U you know certainly I can make a legitimate argument that the Massachusetts Guard has the uh best educational benefit in the country. Um free college tuition 130 credits tuition and fees. Um and if you um if you don't use that benefit now with
074the speed act uh you can turn that you can give that to your dependent just like you can with the federal GI bill. So, so some amazing benefits, you know, but I I do think it goes back to sort of the education and awareness, right? You know, I haven't been in a high school classroom in a long time. Um, you know, but what, you know, but what are we what are we teaching what are we teaching our kids? Are we teaching about some of the local um, you know, the local stories, right? I think, you know, uh, you know, can we can we teach kids a little bit more about the community? Can we bring in guard members to Melrose High from the local armory, right? just to, you know, just to talk to the
075kids about, you know, hey, that building you go by on Main Street near Pine Banks, you know, probably pass it five times a week. That's that's us and this is what we do. Um, you know, I think that stuff is is is helpful as well. >> Great. >> Anyone else? Yes, Secretary. >> We're just going to add to what Matt said. I I think you know I look at my I'm a like a lot of us are on this phone call a big believer in public service and whether as a physician an elected official I mean I was a Peacecore volunteer as well. I mean the idea that you know we serve our brothers and sisters domestically or internationally. I mean that's something that's very important to me. So how we inculcate that in our
076community that's something that I'm committed to doing and always up for ideas. But I think we have to provide sometimes um you know a caristic approach. It sounds like there are a couple of benefits obviously with regard here whatever we can do to elevate this um you know count me as a partner folks on the call who have any ideas how we can kind of bring this to the attention um because if it wasn't for some folks who made me aware of certain opportunities I probably wouldn't have done them and but I'm so thankful I did. >> Thank you. Well, I want to I want to thank all of you for being with us tonight um and for your service to the country. Uh it is really I feel very honored to have um had
077you all with me. I'm grac I'm very grateful of your time. I I also um you know want to be mindful of you know those who are watching there are number of you here with us in real time who are uh veterans yourselves uh veteran from veteran families and I'm sure many watching after the fact will also um be from this community. I want to thank you all as well. Um I am dedicating our conversation tonight to my friend Scott um and to his family. Um, I also want to, you know, encourage anyone here to please consider learning more about the organizations and programs that we've highlighted during our conversation today. Um, you are welcome to contact any of us. I put in highlighting the um the mental health support line that Congressman Molton mentioned.
078Uh, and certainly I'd love to hear from any of you with further questions that I can direct to this panel or to others. Um, we can also, you know, reflect on this community conversation after the fact and look for opportunities to learn more, to consider ways in which we can step up and support veterans and service members who are our neighbors and our friends. I hope that you all look for those opportunities in the months to come and that our local uh, state and federal officials continue to work together to really build on the achievements that we've had over recent years in terms of important policy updates. So stay tuned for a recording of this discussion and for future community conversations from my team. Thank you all so much and please be well.