IMPORTANT UPDATES from CONGRESSMAN SMUCKER

Dear Friend,

As we commemorate Veterans Day, I wanted to take this moment to thank the more than 38,000 veterans who live in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. Thank you for your brave service to our nation! Our veterans and their families have endured tremendous hardships and made significant sacrifices in their fight to preserve our freedom. While I am writing to update you on my latest work in Washington to advocate for the needs of veterans, I first want to say, if you or anyone you know needs assistance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), please call my office at (717) 393-0667 and my team of constituent advocates will assist you. 

As a Member of Congress, I work hard to ensure veterans receive the services they earned while fighting for our country. For example, I recently introduced the VA Billing Accountability Act to relieve unnecessary financial burdens on our Veterans receiving care through the VA. This legislation will authorize the VA to waive copayments for veterans who received their bill more than 180 days after receiving care at a VA facility or 18 months after they received care at a non-VA facility, if this billing delay was caused by the VA. We owe it to our service members to create a smooth transition back to their civilian life, and enacting the VA Billing Accountability Act is a sensible step to reduce financial surprises that make life more challenging. 

I also recently introduced the Home for the Brave Act (H.R. 6179), which will exempt veterans' disability benefits from counting toward total income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our veterans risked their lives to keep all of us safe back home. To return home and be priced out of housing assistance simply because they receive service-related disability benefits is just plain wrong. 

I also wrote the Warrior Wellness Act (P.L. 116-283), which was signed into law. This bill required the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress detailing the shortage of mental health providers no later than 180 days after enactment. Moreover, it required the Secretary to submit a report on the Pentagon's efforts to review and monitor prescribing practices of its providers based on its guideline recommendations to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

As the 118th Congress moves forward, rest assured I will continue working for our veterans and their families. To learn more about my work on these issues, or request assistance with a federal agency, visit smucker.house.gov.

As always, if you have any thoughts on these or other issues that are critical to your family, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can call (717) 393-0667 or send an email by visiting smucker.house.gov/contact. You can connect on Facebook and Twitter by searching Congressman Smucker and sign up for the e-Newsletter for the latest updates. It is an honor and privilege to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress

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