January 2023 Veterans' Resources Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

As we enter the 118th Congress, I am humbled to serve Florida's Third Congressional District for a second term. Throughout the district, I see community delays in the delivery of many specialty services. I'm fighting for solutions that will enhance the appointment system and allow community care functions to operate more efficiently.

My commitment to you is that I will continue to hold the VA accountable. If you have firsthand knowledge of specific problem areas within the system, I want to hear from you. My goal is to develop solutions to the many broken promises received while in the military and during the transition to civilian life.

As always, we welcome your feedback about what you read here, and if there are any events or announcements you’d like to see featured, reach out to us by clicking here. You can also check our website for new updates on our Veterans' Services tab. And as always, if you’re a veteran in FL-03 in need of assistance with any veterans-related issues, please call our Gainesville office at 352-505-0838.

With all that’s happening this Congress, it is my greatest honor to represent you and hear from you about the issues that matter most. You can stay up to date with us here, on our website, and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

In Liberty,

Congresswoman Kat Cammack
Proudly Serving Florida’s Third Congressional District
 

The Major Richard Star Act

Major Richard Star was a United States Army officer, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a dedicated advocate for veterans' benefits. Over the course of multiple tours overseas, Major Star performed road construction and IED clearance operations. He was also exposed to burn pits, and in May 2018, learned that he had stage 4 metastatic lung cancer.

The Major Richard Star Act has been introduced to honor Major Star and recognize that DoD retirement and VA disabilities are two distinct earned benefits. This bill would allow medically retired veterans eligible for combat related special compensation (CRSC) and who have less than 20 years of active-duty service to receive their retirement pay and disability benefits concurrently. 

I'm proud to be a co-sponsor of this bill. You can learn more about the Major Richard Star Act here or by clicking the button below.

Tools to Track Your Health Through My HealtheVet

My HealtheVet offers online tools to help veterans manage their health. You may know some, such as sending a secure message or refilling prescriptions online. But there are tools that you might not have seen.

Your military history is important to your health care team. It helps them get to know you better. It also reminds you and your doctor to talk about service-related health risks. Depending on when and where you served, you could be eligible for screenings, health exams, and registries.

You can learn more about the tools offered through My HealtheVet here or by clicking the button below.

Military Exposures & Your Health Newsletter

Veterans may have been exposed to a range of chemical, physical, and environmental hazards during military service. Subscribe to the Military Exposures & Your Health Newsletter to learn about the VA’s initiatives for Veterans with service since 1990, such as the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, research on Karshi-Khanabad, screenings for breast cancer, and more.

You can read the latest issue of the Military Exposures & Your Health Newsletter here or by clicking the button below.

Florida State Veterans' Homes & Nursing Facilities

The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs operates eight skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility. All facilities are licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration and inspected annually by AHCA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The homes are supervised round the clock by registered and licensed nurses. 

Basic admission requirements for all state veterans' homes include an honorable discharge, state residency prior to admission, and certification of need of assisted living or skilled nursing care as determined by a VA physician.

You can learn more about Florida Vets nursing facilities here.

Military & Veterans Specialty License Plates

Florida is honored to provide military license plates to individuals that have served our country. All military plates except the Medal of Honor plates are available at a local motor vehicle service center. Requests to order Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and World War II Veteran plates MUST be submitted to the Department for processing. 

You can learn more about military license plates here or by clicking the button below.

Health License Fee Waivers For Veterans

The Florida Department of Health has programs in place to aid veterans in finding employment in health-related fields. The department offers expedited health care practitioner licensure through the Veterans Application for Licensure Online Response (VALOR) system. They also offer expanded licensure fee waivers for military veterans and their spouses applying for health care licensure in Florida.

The department continues to assist county health departments in recruiting military veterans and their spouses to work in health-related fields. If you were honorably discharged within the past 60 months, call (850) 488-0595 or visit www.flhealthsource.gov/valor#Veterans.

988 Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline

Signed into law in 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As part of the law, all telephone service providers in the U.S. had to activate the number no later than July 16, 2022.

Veterans can use this new option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans may still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the previous phone number—1-800-273-8255 and Press 1—by text (838255), and through chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat).

Veterans' Services Tab On Rep. Cammack's Website

The Veterans' Services tab of Rep. Cammack's website has information on a wide variety of topics, including news from the VA, resources for veterans, and more. These pages are consistently updated so our FL-03 veterans have the most updated information. Additionally, should you need assistance with the VA, our team can help you by opening a case and contacting the VA on your behalf.