VETERANS NEWSLETTER

My Friend,

It’s been a busy few months in Washington, DC, and across our congressional district. We’ve honored the lives and legacies of our fallen veterans and worked on legislation to support them. I will always stand with the men and women who have served our nation.

My office will continue sending updates about the work I'm doing to support our veterans and active duty service members in and around New York City, so please be sure to share this and encourage others in your network to sign up to stay up to date with everything I'm doing for you.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

On the third Friday of September our nation honored POW/MIA Recognition Day. On the House floor, I recognized U.S. Army Air Force's 2nd Lt. Francis E. Callahan of New Brighton, Staten Island whose remains were recently identified after 80 years by the Department of Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

As a nation grateful to those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice, we must continue raising awareness of this issue and work toward the repatriation of all our POW/MIA to bring closure to their families and communities. As the POW-MIA flag states, these heroes are not forgotten, and we will do everything we can to honor their memory and bring them home.

Also in September, I joined our community at the Vietnam Veterans of America at their POW-MIA Remembrance Ceremony. We must never forget and continue to push for a full accounting & repatriation of all our military service members.

SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS BY REDUCING BARRIERS FOR VETERANS HOME CARE

I was a speaker at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting our military families and their caregivers. During the event, I discussed legislation aimed at reducing red tape and alleviating barriers to improve access to care and essential resources for veterans and their families, including the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act.

NEW COMMANDER AT

FORT HAMILTON ARMY BASE

In July, our office attended a Change of Command ceremony at Brooklyn's Fort Hamilton. We've worked closely with Col. Brian Jacobs to announce significant investments and improvements to the base, and I look forward to continuing this partnership with new Commander Col. Misty Cantwell.

In August I met with Col. Misty Cantwell, the new Commander of Fort Hamilton Army Base, and the base's second female commander in its 197-year history. 

We discussed the status of the base's infrastructure projects, day care, our work to increase our service members' housing allowance, and the details of the United States Marine Corps moving from Queens to Fort Hamilton by next summer!

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis &

Col. Misty Cantwell

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

TO VIETNAM WAR DUSTOFF CREWS

In September, the House passed S.2825 - Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act. This legislation awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Dustoff crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.

PROUD TO SUPPORT MEDAL UPGRADES FOR FOUR HEROES OF THE BATTLE OF TEZ NAWA

I was pleased to work on medal upgrades for 4 members of a unit that showed exemplary valor during the Battle of Tez Nawa, in Afghanistan (2008).  We are taking lead because the request came from our constituent, Jonathan Herbst, who is currently serving with NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. We are thankful for their heroism.

The other three service members are include:

• Joseph Minning -- (deceased), NY-02 (Rep. Andrew Garbarino) 
• Jason Reilly -- (MSG retired) NM-01 (Rep. Melanie Stansbury) 
• Mike Ake – (currently a Brigadier General) WA-10 (Rep. Marilyn Strickland)

BILLS I'M SUPPORTING

H.R.4157 - Not Just a Number Act: expands the data used by the VA to analyze veteran suicide, including information on programs like education, job training, and housing. It also adds studies on suicide prevention and improves reporting on veteran suicide deaths.

H.R. 8340 - Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act: amends the Department of Housing’s definition of annual income to exclude disability benefits received by a veteran for purposes of eligibility to qualify for housing built under the HUD-VASH program on veteran land. (PASSED unanimously 49-0 out of the House Financial Services Committee)

H.R.1413 - Expanding America’s National Cemetery Act: requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, before Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity, to expand or otherwise modify an existing national cemetery to ensure that full military honors are provided in a specified manner.

H.R. 5530 - VA Emergency Transportation Access Act: seeks to address a rule change by the VA that would reduce reimbursement rates for ground and air ambulance services to Medicare levels, potentially leading to access issues for veterans, particularly in rural areas. The bill aims to delay this rule's implementation until certain conditions are met, ensuring that new rates reflect actual transportation costs and maintain service levels for veterans. (PASSED out of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health)

H.Res.1255 - Calling upon all Americans on this Memorial Day, 2024, to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.

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