Rep. Delgado Brings U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to Meet with Upstate Veterans, Tour Veteran Service Centers

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) brought U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to meet with upstate veterans and tour veteran clinics and service centers. Rep. Delgado held a meeting of his local Veterans Advisory Committee, giving veterans the opportunity to ask the Secretary questions and discuss local needs. The Congressman and Secretary McDonough visited the Kingston VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration, and the Columbia County Veterans' Service Agency.

"It was an honor to bring Secretary McDonough to hear directly from upstate veterans," said Rep. Delgado. "In New York's 19th Congressional District, we are lucky to have resources like the Kingston VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration, and the Columbia County Veterans' Service Agency. But we need more facilities and more support to serve our veterans when they come home. I will keep working to deliver mental health care, workforce opportunities, support services, and more to our veterans. They deserve nothing less than the best."

"I want to thank Congressman Delgado for inviting me -- it's been a great visit. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to not only see our VA professionals in action, but also to see our local and county veteran organizations doing excellent work. Behind every interesting, innovative, exciting thing that's happening in this country, one finds a veteran. It's an amazing thing, it's an honor to have this job, and it's a thrill to be here today," said Secretary McDonough.

In 2019, Rep. Delgado formed a NY-19 Veterans Advisory Committee to connect with local veterans, leaders, and liaisons. The Congressman has introduced and passed several pieces of legislation based on the committee's feedback, including the Fairness for Local Veteran Cemeteries Act and the Improving Benefits for Underserved Veterans Act.

This Congress, Rep. Delgado introduced the following legislation to support upstate veterans and military families:

REACH for Veterans Act

Bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would improve the Veteran Crisis Line (VCL) and facilitate the VCL's transition to 9-8-8 as part of the national suicide prevention hotline.

VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act

Bipartisan legislation that would establish a peer support program at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

Military Spouse Hiring Act

Bipartisan legislation that incentivizes employers to hire spouses of members of the United States Armed Forces.

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