September 2023 Veterans' Resources Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

Our team works hard to champion the voice of the people. With so much going on in our lives globally and locally, including Hurricane Idalia just last week, I know it's not always the first thing on your mind to check in with your congressional office, but we work to make sure we hear your concerns and take the appropriate actions to keep you informed. 

Most recently, we've heard from multiple local leaders about the threat of ending the Young Marine program. This program, which is designed to provide drug demand reduction education while teaching the core values and leadership mission of the Marine Corps, is a youthful pipeline for young men and women looking to join the military. We worked to ensure this program was fully funded in the most recent National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY24. 

Additionally, our district is blessed to have a significant number of Korean War veterans who are patriotic to the bone, but when it comes to VA benefits, they are often left behind. We've worked to make sure we advocate for their needs, and the needs of all veterans, by recognizing them appropriately for their service. 

You can read more about what we've been up to the last several weeks below, including a visit with the leadership team at the Lake City VA Medical Center, and discussions with VA personnel about the implementation of the PACT Act. 

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.

For Freedom,

Congresswoman Kat Cammack
Proudly Serving Florida’s Third Congressional District
 

Washington, D.C. Legislative Updates

Last month, I co-sponsored two bills important to our veterans in Florida's Third. Read more about them below! 

• H.R. 2447, the Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023: This bill aims to expand health care benefits and disability compensation for veterans serving in and around the Panama Canal Zone from January 1, 1958 through December 31, 1999 or the date on which the last service member departed from duty in the zone. 
• H.R. 3848: This bill would increase the per diem payments to eligible homeless veterans for housing, particularly for those who live in rural areas, areas with a high rate of suicide among veterans, and areas with a high rate of veteran homelessness. The bill also authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use appropriated funds to assist homeless veterans with food and supplies, transportation, and communication equipment and services, such as cell phones. 

Meeting With Local VA Leaders In Lake City To Discuss PACT Act & More

The team met with leaders of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System to present them with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol for display and to discuss the latest happenings related to veterans' care in Florida's Third Congressional District. 

We discussed the implementation of the PACT Act and the number of claims filed by veterans in our area for benefits related to toxic exposure. You can learn more about the PACT Act and view important information about who may be covered by clicking the button below. 

Corporal Alton Christie Returns Home To Florida

After 70 years, Jasper, Florida native U.S. Army Corporal Alton Christie's remains made their way home in June of this year.

Killed in action in the Korean War near Osan, South Korea in 1950, Christie was initially listed as missing in action. The Army found no evidence his body had been recovered after the battle, nor had they found record of him being a prisoner of war. In 1950, 20 sets of remains were recovered near Osan, the same place where Christie's unit had engaged in battle. All unidentified remains, including Body X-214, were moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.

In 2014, Christie's family reached out, thinking Body X-214 may be related to Christie somehow. After the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA to determine the identity, they found the remains were, in fact, Christie's. Earlier this summer, Christie's family laid him to rest in Jasper after seven decades away from home. May God bless Corporal Christie and his family. May we never forget his service or sacrifice for our nation.

VA Sunshine Health Network Contact Information

The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center is a service of the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) - providing 24/7, virtual care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Veterans who receive care in the network can call 1-877-741-3400 around the clock to get their health questions or concerns answered from the comfort and convenience of their home, or wherever they may be.

Services include general administrative support, nurse advice and triage, virtual visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner via telephone, VA Video Connect, or VA Health Chat.

Remembering The 1973 NPRC Fire

Fifty years ago this July, a fire destroyed millions of military personnel documents at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 

The event—unprecedented in the scale of its damage to federal records—changed how the National Archives builds its facilities, maintains its holdings, and serves veterans and the public. 

Pictured above are the firefighters working on the fire at the southeast corner of Building 100 of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri on July 13, 1973. 

Secure Messaging: What You Need To Know

You can't always go to your doctor's office or call your health care team for every question, request, or concern. This is where My HealtheVet’s Secure Messaging feature can help. Secure Messaging allows you to contact your health care team and other VA services. 

Once you send a Secure Message, your VA health care team will likely respond within at least three business days. Business days are between Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (local time) and do not include after hours, weekends, or federal holidays. This means that if you send your provider a message on Friday, you may not receive a response until Wednesday.

Update From VA Office Of Rural Engagement

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced how it has allocated funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to everyone in America as part of its "Internet for All" initiative. This funding will help rural Veterans across the country access healthcare, education, etc.

Florida Consumer Protection Program

July was National Military Consumer Protection Month, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody highlighted several resources designed to help protect military members and veterans from scams. 

The Military Consumer Protection Guide (linked below) covers topics such as:

• Predatory lending practices and how service members may be able to obtain financial assistance from military-aid societies;
• Identity theft and the laws at both the state and federal level that provide protections to service members, veterans and family members;
• Debt collection and how poor credit and excessive debt can prevent service members from obtaining or retaining security clearances and personal readiness for deployment;
• Foreclosure protections for mortgages that service members obtained prior to active duty.

Florida National Guard Update

The Florida National Guard (FLNG) is currently providing aviation support to state law enforcement to detect and report migrants approaching the Florida coastline while continuing support for the Department of Corrections with personnel in critically low-manned facilities. 306 Army and Air personnel are currently supporting the Department of Corrections mission and 62 Army and Air personnel are working in Migration support. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these men and women for keeping our state safe.

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.