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A MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN KAMLAGER-DOVE:
Dear Friend,
I’m back in Los Angeles for the August work period and am looking forward to seeing you at my upcoming District events this month! I began this month with my first District event, where I visited the West Los Angeles Vet Center to speak to counselors about the upcoming deadline for CA-37 veterans and survivors to take advantage of the PACT Act to receive a year's worth of backdated pay and other benefits. Last weekend, I celebrated the vibrancy of art and music in Crenshaw at the Rock The Block summer festival. As a strong advocate for our foster youth, I was also glad to recognize the achievements of some amazing young scholars at the graduation of the First Star Academy summer program at UCLA. Back in Washington, I was glad to see Senators Padilla and Feinstein introduce the Senate companion to my Eyvin Hernandez resolution.
VETERANS BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE PACT ACT
On Tuesday, I spoke with Vet Center counselors at the West Los Angeles Vet Center to call attention to the August 9th deadline to file claims under the PACT Act in order for veterans and survivors to receive a year's worth of benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
The PACT Act was a landmark piece of legislation signed into law last year and offers the most significant expansion to veterans benefits in generations. There are over 1.5 million veterans in California, but only 565 veterans out of over 14,750 in CA-37 have filed a claim to receive their PACT Act benefits. While there is no formal date by which veterans need to apply for these benefits, veterans who apply by August 9, 2023, will be eligible for benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
All eligible veterans and survivors can file a claim — or submit their intent to file a claim — for PACT Act-related benefits. If you want to learn more, you can visit VA.gov/PACT for more information. Thank you to the West Los Angeles Vet Center for welcoming me this week. I look forward to working together in the future on behalf of our veterans!
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Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove with Dr. Venessa Baumann from the West Los Angeles Vet Center.
EVENTS IN CA-37
Last Saturday, I saw the First Star's Bruin Guardian Scholars Academy in action. Congratulations to these young stars on the completion of their summer program! I will always support foster youth and the mentors at First Star Academy who ensure their students thrive.
This past Sunday, I had so much fun at the Rock The Block festival to celebrate and admire the amazing vibrancy of the art and music scene in Crenshaw. I was honored to welcome a music legend, Macy Gray, who became the first recipient of the White Hall Arts Academy’s Lifetime Change Maker Award.
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove with the students and mentors from First Star's Bruin Guardian Scholars Academy.
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove celebrating art and music at the Rock The Block summer festival in Crenshaw and honoring Macy Gray.
SENATORS PADILLA AND FEINSTEIN INTRODUCE EYVIN HERNANDEZ RESOLUTION
In Congress over the last several weeks, I have been glad to see more people recognize the importance of bringing Eyvin Hernandez home. He is one of our own, and we have an obligation to see that he is brought back safely. The House Foreign Affairs Committee marked up my resolution and voted to report it out of Committee – an important step to get this legislation on the House Floor. In addition to this, I want to thank Senators Padilla and Feinstein for introducing the Senate companion to my resolution calling for Eyvin Hernandez's release. I'm grateful to be joined by such fierce partners to bring Eyvin home. I continue to call on the State Department and President Biden to do all that they can to secure Eyvin’s release.
To learn more about the resolution, click here.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
As always, I encourage you to contact my offices with any comments or concerns about my work in Congress, the 37th District, or any other matters. Please connect with me on Facebook, , and Instagram to stay up to date on my work in Congress. If you are experiencing issues with Social Security, passports, immigration, or another Federal agency, send in a casework request, and my staff will be happy to assist you.
Sincerely,
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