[ Austin Veterans Day Celebration and Resource Fair ]
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HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? GOOD.
UH, PLEASE EXCUSE THE TARDINESS THIS MORNING, BUT WE ARE ABOUT TO GET STARTED.
UM, I'M DAMIAN PANTOJA, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO IF YOU'VE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM OUR OFFICE, THAT WILL BE ME.
AGAIN, I AM DAMIAN PANTOJA WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.
THE RESTROOMS ARE OUT IN THE HALLWAY IN THE FOYER.
UM, ALSO WE HAVE SOME LIGHT REFRESHMENTS IN THE BACK.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED LATER TODAY.
UM, HELP YOURSELVES TO ANYTHING, UM, IN THE ROOM.
AND ALSO WE NEED TO STEP OUT, TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
UM, AND AT THIS TIME RIGHT NOW, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTING OF THE COLORS BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, HONOR GUARD AND THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY JEN ROSS.
CAN I TAKE THIS OFF? CAN YOU SEE THE, SO THE WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT THROUGH THE FOR THE FLAG? STILL THERE.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO WELCOME JESUS AL, OUR VETERAN SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR UP TO THE STAGE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
UH, SO FOR EVERY, UH, FORMAL CEREMONY WE HAVE IN THE MILITARY, I RETIRED 2012.
WE HAVE, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, WHICH REFERRED TO AS THE MISSING MAN TABLE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MISSING TABLE MEANS.
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SYMBOLIZING THE FACT THAT SOME ARE MISSING FROM OUR RANKS.THE WHITE TABLECLOTH SYMBOLIZES THE PURITY OF THEIR INTENTIONS TO RESPOND TO THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL TO ARMS. THE BLACK NAPKIN REPRESENTS THE SORROW OF CAPTIVITY.
A SINGLE RED ROSE IN AVE SIGNIFIES THE BLOODSHED TO ENSURE AMERICA'S FREEDOM.
THE YELLOW RIBBON AROUND THE VASE REPRESENTS A DEMAND FOR PROPER ACCOUNTING OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT AMONG US.
TODAY, A LEMON SLICE ON THE PLANE, UH, THE ON THE PLATE TO SHOW A CAPTIVE SOLDIER'S BITTER FATE.
GRAINS OF SALT ON THE PLATE REMINDS US OF THE COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS OF FAMILIES AS THEY WAIT AND INVERTED GLASS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TOAST WITH US AN EMPTY CHAIR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HERE.
AND A WHITE CANDLE FOR THE HOPE THAT ALL, ALL ARE MISSING WILL RETURN SOMEDAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR, TAMELA DOC.
TAMELA SALANA OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
TAMELA SALANA, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.
CAN WE ALL STAND AND GIVE A ROUND APPLAUSE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR HEROES AND OUR SHEROES WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR NATION AND OUR FREEDOM? THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE THEIR FIRST CITY OF AUSTIN'S RESOURCE FAIR HAPPEN.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I DID NOT THANK OUR VERY OWN VERY SPECIAL VETERAN WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY, VETERAN BY VETERAN, HELPING OUR VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VETERAN, OUR OWN VETERAN, JESUS TAL, WHO HOPEFULLY IS STILL IN THIS ROLE.
JESUS, YOU ARE OUR HERO AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.
OVER THE YEARS OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VETERANS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, BUT MOST RECENTLY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION TO BETTER SERVE OUR VETERANS.
OUR OFFICE HIRED OUR VERY FIRST VETERAN SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR AND BEGAN PRESENTING THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, WORKING ALONGSIDE MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY AT THIS FAIR, OUR OFFICE CREATED A INTERNAL WORKING GROUP AND CALLED OUR INTERNAL VETERANS RESOURCE GROUP OF CITY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO VERY SPECIFIC SERVICES TO OUR VETERANS, SUCH AS OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHO PROVIDES VITAL HEALTH SERVICES TO OUR VETERANS.
OUR HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT WHO PROVIDES HOUSING, UH, STRATEGIES AND HOUSING, UM, BENEFITS TO OUR VETERANS, AS WELL AS A WEALTH OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO ALSO SERVES WITH, UH, WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
OUR OFFICE ALSO CREATED A VETERANS RESOURCE DIRECTORY TO PROVIDE A ROADMAP FOR OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THIS REGION.
OUR OFFICE ALSO SUPPORTS THE VETERANS COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND THE ADVISORY BO BODY TO COUNCIL CONCERNING THE WELLBEING OF OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
I WANT TO SAY IF WE HAVE ANY OF OUR VETERANS COMMISSIONERS HERE, IF YOU COULD STAND OR JUST WAVE YOUR HAND SO THEY WILL KNOW, OR IF YOU PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE COMMISSION, YOUR SERVICE IS APPRECIATED.
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IN THE MOST RECENT EFFORTS, OUR OFFICE HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION ON HOSTING MONTHLY BRIEFINGS.AND THIS YEAR, UH, LAST YEAR, FISCAL YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE HOSTED OVER 20 MONTHLY BRIEFINGS THAT ASSIST VETERANS TO MAKE THEIR REENTRY INTO CIVILIAN TO INTO THE CIVILIAN WORLD AS EFFORTLESS AS POSSIBLE.
OUR VETERANS ARE A PRIORITY TO OUR CITY MANAGEMENT, CITY COUNCIL AND A PRIORITY FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD.
NEXT, TC, UH, MANAGE CITY MANAGER.
BROAD NEXT, BRING MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MISS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND IS ACKNOWLEDGED NATIONALLY FOR HIS NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN TACKLING COMPLEX ISSUES IN THE AREAS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
HE IS A KNOWN NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL LEADER.
AS WE COME TOGETHER TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE OUR LEADER WHO GENERALLY RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND COMMUNITY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE CITY OF AUSTIN CITY MANAGER, MR. TC BROAD.
WELL, THANK YOU TAMELA FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE HERE.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THIS INAUGURAL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AND RESOURCE FAIR.
AS TAMELA MENTIONED, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR US TODAY.
AS A PROUD CHILD OF A VETERAN, IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ESTEEMED VETERANS WHO JOIN US TODAY.
GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
I JOINED THE OTHERS WHO CAME HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOU AND TO EXPRESS OUR IMMENSE GRATITUDE FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN YOUR LIFE ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTRY AND FOR US WHO ARE PROUD TO SAY WE LIVE HERE TODAY IN AUSTIN, I AM ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF THE VETERANS FOCUS FAIR THAT IS AVAILABLE TO OFFER THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT EACH OF YOU CAN USE TO HELP YOU THRIVE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.
AND WHILE MAYOR KIRK WATSON WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US HERE TODAY, IT IS AN HONOR TO READ A PROCLAMATION ON HIS BEHALF.
AND THESE ARE SOME LITTLE WORDS, SO Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO BEAR WITH ME.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE SELFLESS SERVICE AND IMMENSE SACRIFICES OF OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE BRAVELY DEFENDED OUR NATION'S CORE PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
AND WHEREAS OUR VETERANS EMBODY THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF PATRIOTISM AND COMMITMENT, DEDICATING THEMSELVES TO PROTECT THE LIBERTIES WE CHERISH AND THE VALUES UPON WHICH OUR COUNTRY WAS BUILT.
AND WHEREAS MANY VETERANS RETURN HOME WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES RANGING FROM HEALTHCARE AND EMPLOYMENT TO HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
AND THESE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS DESERVE THE COMMUNITY STEADFAST SUPPORT AND ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, IS COMMITTED TO HONORING OUR VETERANS BY HOSTING THE INAUGURAL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AND RESOURCE FAIR AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNITE IN GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF VETERANS SACRIFICES WHILE EMPOWERING THEM WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN CIVILIAN LIFE.
AND WHEREAS VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AND RESOURCE FAIR DAY IS NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN IN THIS OBSERVATION
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TO HONOR AND SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF KURT WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024 AS VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AND RESOURCE FAIR DAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO STAND IN THIS ROOM WITH SO MANY HONORED INDIVIDUALS.
LEMME MAKE SURE THIS, THERE WE GO.
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DOM IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED THIS MORNING, WE ARE HAVING A VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATION AND A RESOURCE FAIR.
I JUST WANT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE.
UM, WE HAVE THE AUSTIN OUTPATIENT CLINIC, TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AMERICAN GI FORUM, NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, TEXAS, UH, TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD, SAMARITAN CENTER, AUSTIN FREENET, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, AUSTIN ENERGY, CARITAS OF AUSTIN, HOPE HELPERS OF CHANGE.
AND AGAIN, KERRY TO OF AUSTIN.
SO THANK YOU ALL THAT CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.
UM, I WANNA GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR FIRST PRESENTATION.
WE'RE, WE'RE A FEW MINUTES AHEAD.
UM, IF THAT'S OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
AND, UM, WE WILL ALSO ADD TIME TO YOUR LUNCH SO EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, A, A GOOD LUNCH, A GOOD OVER GOOD, OVER AN HOUR.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT SPEAKER WHO IS WITH THE VBA VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, WILLIE MOLEY, LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.
AND THEN THEY'LL JUST RUN THE SLIDE FOR YOU.
I WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTTA WACO OFFICE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT THE AUSTIN VA OUTREACH CLINIC.
UM, WE WORK ALONGSIDE OF THE TBC.
UM, WE JUST, I'M JUST HERE TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF A OVERVIEW OF VBA BENEFITS AND SERVICES, UM, THAT WE PROVIDE.
I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES.
SOME OF 'EM HAVE BEEN IN MY OFFICE ALREADY.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE ALL, UH, YOU ALL AGAIN.
SO THIS IS A OVERVIEW OF THE BENEFITS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFERS.
UH, WE ACTUALLY ARE BROKEN UP INTO THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
UH, VETERANS BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION.
I KIND OF CONCENTRATE IN HELPING INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR THOSE BENEFITS WITH THE DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND PENSION.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE FIDUCIARY, WE HAVE EDUCATION.
WE HAVE THE VETERAN VETERANS READINESS PROGRAM THAT HELPS ASSIST VETERANS, UH, TRANS TRANSITION FROM THEIR MILITARY TO CIVILIAN, TRY TO HELP THEM FIND CAREERS IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD BASED UPON THEIR SKILLS IN THE MILITARY.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY ARE LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, BUT THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ASSIST IN APPLYING FOR HOME LOANS, UM, ADMINISTRATION REVIEW THAT COULD VARY.
MILITARY SERVICE TRANSITION PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY A MILITARY SERVICE COORDINATORS.
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THE MILITARY BASES AND THEY ASSIST WITH, UH, PRE-DISCHARGE CLAIMS AND PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION TO VETERANS AS THEY TRANSITION OFF OF ACTIVE DUTY.NOW WITH THE VHA, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE HEALTH, YOUR OWN PRIVATE HEALTHCARE TO GET ENROLLED IN THE SYSTEM, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MAY COME DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THAT COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL BY YOU ALREADY GETTING THAT CARE THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT.
UM, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO, UH, TO GO GO BY THE ELIGIBILITY OFFICE AT THE CLINIC AND, AND REGISTER.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL TELL YOU THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN.
BUT I'LL, LIKE I SAID, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND THEY OFFER A, A DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF MEDICAL CARE.
ONE THING I WANT TO HIT ON IS THE VET CENTER.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO, OR THEY OFFER FREE SERVICES AT THE VETERANS CLINIC HERE IN AUSTIN AS WELL, IN OTHER, AS WELL AS IN OTHER CITIES.
UM, THEY PROVIDE COUNSELING, THEY PROVIDE, UM, DIFFERENT AVENUES AND THINGS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES OR JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST THERE FOR SUPPORT.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME SCENARIOS.
AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO GET, UM, ADDITIONAL HELP.
NATIONAL, UH, CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION.
UH, THE, THE CLOSEST ONE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH IS AT FORT SAM HOUSTON.
UM, THEY HAVE A, UH, REQUIREMENT AS WELL.
BUT, UH, YOU FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND YOU, AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN BE BURIED IN A NATIONAL CEMETERY.
ALRIGHT, WHAT IS DISABILITY COMPENSATION? IT IS A TAX-FREE BENEFIT PAID TO VETERANS FOR A DISABILITY THAT WAS INCURRED, OR, OR IN, OR IN, OR AGGRAVATED, EXCUSE ME, BY ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WHO QUALIFIES VETERANS DISCHARGED FROM SERVICE UNDER CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE AND VETERANS WHO HAVE A CURRENT DISABILITY DUTY INJURY, DISEASE, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES INCURRED IN OR AGGRAVATED BY ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE.
SO IF YOU WERE HURT OR YOU HAD AN INJURY PRIOR TO JOINING THE MILITARY, TWEAK YOUR KNEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT DUE TO YOUR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME IT GOTTEN WORSE.
IT'S A POSSIBILITY THERE MAYBE SOME BENEFITS THAT ARE, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR YOU.
THE DISABILITIES ARE RATED FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
COMBINE OVERALL RATING COMPOSITION PAYMENTS RANGE FOR 10% TO A HUNDRED PERCENT ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR DEPENDENT DEPENDENTS WITH 30% OR HIGHER.
SO IF YOU AT LEAST RATE AT 30% AND YOU'RE MARRIED, UH, YOU CAN GET ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR BEING MARRIED.
IF YOUR KIDS ARE FROM NEWBORN UP TO 18, THEN THEY, YOU CAN, UH, ADD THEM ON AS A DEPENDENT AS WELL.
UM, AND IF THEY'RE IN COLLEGE FROM 18 TO 23, YOU ALSO CAN, UH, CLAIM THEM AS DEPENDENTS.
ORIGINAL CLAIM IS THE FIRST CLAIM YOU FILE FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE VA.
THIS CAN BE FILED BY A SERVICE MEMBER, VETERAN, OR SURVIVORS OF DEC OR DECEASED VETERANS.
A NEW CLAIM IS A CLAIM FILED FOR ADDED BENEFITS OR OTHER BENEFITS REQUESTED RELATED TO AN EXISTING SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY, INCREASING A CLAIM, A CLAIM RELATED TO A CASE IN WHICH A RUNNING COMPENSATION OR PENSION AWARD IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
SO BASICALLY, IF YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING COMPENSATION FOR, UH, INJURY OR A DISEASE, YOU BASICALLY ASKING THE VA TO INCREASE IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME WITHIN REQUIREMENTS.
'CAUSE EVERY DISABILITY HAS ITS OWN MINIMUMS AND MAXIMUMS. SO, UH, SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT BEFORE YOU START.
IF YOU DO DECIDE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR INCREASE SECONDARY CLAIM, UM, IN A NUTSHELL, THESE ARE CLAIMS DIS DISABILITY DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF, OR WERE WORSENED BY ANOTHER SERVICE CON, UH, SERVICE CONNECTED CONDITION, RIGHT KNEE CONDITION AREA SECONDARY, SECONDARY TO A LEFT KNEE CONDITION.
SO IF YOUR KNEES, YOUR RIGHT KNEES HURT, OR YOUR LEFT KNEES HURT, YOUR BODY SHIFTING WEIGHT TO THE RIGHT SIDE DUE TO THAT, UM, IT CAUSES THE KNEE THAT ISN'T THAT BAD TO GET OVER AS OVER TIME.
SO IF ONE MAKES THE OTHER ONE WORSE, YOU CAN FILE A SECONDARY CLAIM FOR THAT.
SO, BACK IN THE DAY, UM, THE, UH, APPELLATE PROCESS WAS TOO LONG.
THESE USED TO BE CALLED RECONSIDERATION CLAIMS. AND YOU JUST ASK THE VA TO RE, YOU KNOW, RE MAKE, LOOK AT IT AGAIN, MAKE ANOTHER DECISION.
WE'RE GONNA PRESENT NEW MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION.
BUT THEY CHANGED IT TO SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM.
SO IT DON'T MATTER IF THE CLAIM IS 10 YEARS,
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YOU FILED 10 YEARS AGO, OR YOU FILED YESTERDAY.IF YOU HAVE NEW MEDICAL EVIDENCE FOR ANY CLAIM, YOU CAN FILE A SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM FOR THAT ISSUE AND THE VA WILL RE-LOOK AT IT IF YOU HAVE NEW MEDICAL EVIDENCE THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY USED IN THE INITIAL DECISION.
ARY BENEFITS, INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY.
SO IF YOU HAVE, IT PAYS AT THE A HUNDRED PERCENT RATE.
UH, IT'S BASED ON UNEMPLOYMENT HISTORY, CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS, REASON FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, AND CURRENT SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
SO BASICALLY, UNEMPLOYABILITY IS SAYING THAT, HEY, UM, THINK IF YOU HAVE ONE DISABILITY AT LEAST 50%, AND YOU HAVE OVERALL, UH, 70% TO 90%, IF THAT DISABILITY IS HINDERING YOU FROM GETTING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT BACK MESSED UP, I CAN'T GET, I CAN'T WORK ANYMORE.
SO THE VA YOU, YOU APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYABILITY, THEY GET A HISTORY, UH, OF YOUR WORK.
YOU PROVIDE A HISTORY OF YOUR WORK, AND YOU ALSO LET THEM KNOW WHAT DISABILITY YOU'RE SAYING THAT IS INTERFERING YOU FROM GETTING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
AND IF YOU MEET THE CRITERIA AND THE VA DECIDES IN YOUR FAVOR, THEN THEY'LL PAY YOU AT THE A HUNDRED PERCENT RATE, EVEN THOUGH YOUR OVERALL PERCENTAGE MAY NOT BE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, ESPECIALLY MONTHLY COMPENSATIONS, ADDITIONAL AMOUNT PAID TO VETERANS WITH CERTAIN SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES, VA CAN PAY ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO A VETERAN WHO AS A RESULT OF MILITARY SERVICE AND CURB THE LOSS OR LOSS OF USE OF SPECIFIC ORGANS OR EXTREMITIES.
UM, BEST WAY TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
UH, IT WAS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
UM, YOUR ARM GOT RAN OVER, UM, BY MISTAKE IN AN ACCIDENT.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU CAN'T USE YOUR ARM IN A NORMAL FASHION ANYMORE.
YOU, IT'S ONLY, YOU MAY HAVE YOUR ARM, BUT DUE TO THE NERVES AND THE DAMAGE THAT YOU SUSTAIN, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE IN A NORMAL FASHION ANYMORE.
SO THEREFORE, YOU CAN APPLY FOR A SPECIAL RATING, SPECIAL SCHEDULER, AND THEY'LL PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL, UM, COMPENSATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THAT LIMB WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
SO BASICALLY WITH THIS ONE, KIND OF FREESTYLE A LITTLE BIT, SO, 'CAUSE I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, UM, THE VA WILL PAY FOR IT.
LET'S SAY SOMEONE USES, LOSES THE LOSS OF THE, THE LEGS, UH, BUT THEY HAVE A VEHICLE, THE VA WILL PAY UP TO A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, I BELIEVE IT'S ALMOST $20,000 TO HAVE YOUR VE VEHICLE MODIFIED SO YOU CAN DRIVE IT BASED UPON YOUR DISABILITY.
UM, IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
YOU APPLY FOR IT, THEY REVIEW IT, AND IF IT'S APPROVED, YOU CAN LOOK FOR A DEALERSHIP OR FIND OR FIND A, UH, UH, UH, AUTO SALES THAT CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR VEHICLE.
SO YOU CAN OPERATE IT, UM, DUE TO, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR DISABILITY, ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT ALLOWANCE.
SO THAT COULD BE, YOU SEE, YOU SEE PEOPLE AROUND WHAT THEY HAVE, THE LITTLE RACKS WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR, UM, SCOOTERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, THEY ALSO PROVIDE THOSE TYPE OF TOOLS TO, UH, ADD TO YOUR VEHICLE SO THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, MOVE YOUR EQUIPMENT AROUND TO HELP YOU, UM, LIVE AROUND SPECIAL ADAPTIVE HOUSING.
SO LET'S SAY YOU'RE CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR OR YOU ARE ON A WALKER, OR, UM, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T GET THOSE THINGS ON A HIGH SHELF LIKE YOU USED TO WHEN YOU WAS YOUNG.
THE VA PROVIDES A GRANT, UM, FOR PROOF.
THEY'LL HAVE A CONTRACTOR COME INTO YOUR HOME, READJUST YOUR CABINETS, REDO YOUR, YOUR BATHROOM.
SO THAT WAY, UM, IT'LL BE EASIER FOR YOU TO HAVE EVERYDAY LIVING IN YOUR HOME SO THAT THERE'S ANOTHER GRANT THAT THEY PROVIDE.
SO PEOPLE ASK, HOW DO YOU APPLY? YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF.
ALL THE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
IF YOU ARE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY, YOU ALSO CAN FILE THROUGH VA.GOV.
UM, THEY HAVE TUTORIALS ON YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.
BUT I'LL ALWAYS SAY, WE WILL ALWAYS SAY THIS, CAN'T YOU A VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER? YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ONES.
WE DON'T FAVOR ONE OVER THE OTHER, BUT THEY ADVOCATE FOR YOU.
THEY WALK YOU THROUGH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE THE SAME TRAINING THAT WE WE DO AS VETERANS EMPLOYEES.
HOWEVER, WE CAN ONLY PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE IF THEY REPRESENT YOU, THEY CAN SHOW YOU, THEY CAN TELL YOU WHAT TO
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DO.I CAN ONLY, UH, DESCRIBE THE, THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO YOU AND HOW YOU CHOOSE TO USE IT.
BUT TVC, THE DAV, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, AMERICAN LEGION, THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM, ALL THOSE ARE VERY, AND I KNOW I'M LEAVING SOME OUT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF THEM.
BUT VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS OR YOUR FRIEND UTILIZE THEM AND THEY'RE FREE.
UM, SO PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, IF YOU DECIDE, PLEASE USE ONE OF THOSE, THOSE, UM, ADVOCATES.
UM, THE, THE FORM ITSELF IS A, UH, 21 DASH 5 2 6 EZ.
UM, THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL BE USING TO CLAIM FOR ANY DISABILITIES THAT YOU, UH, IF YOU DECIDE TO IN THE FUTURE.
AND, AND THAT'S ALSO, IT'S LOCATED, THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL MAIL IT OR FAX IT TO IF YOU DECIDE TO DO SO.
UM, SO THEN LET LAST FORM 21 DASH 41 42, YOU'RE AUTHORIZING THE VA TO REQUEST MILITARY RECORDS ON YOUR BEHALF.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WENT TO THE DOCTOR, YOU LIVED IN MIAMI FLOOR AND YOU LIVE NOW IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO GET IT, YOU GIVE THE VA THE PERMISSION AND THEY'LL TRY TO GET IT FOR YOU.
UM, BUT I'LL ALWAYS TELL ANYBODY, THE VA IS GONNA PROVIDE AS MUCH ASSISTANCE AS POSSIBLE.
BUT HOWEVER, REMEMBER IT IS YOUR CLAIM.
SO IF YOU CAN SPEED THAT PROCESS UP, IF YOU GOTTA, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IN, YOU KNOW, YOU GOING HOME, JUST, JUST SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR BROTHER AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO UTILIZE FOR EVIDENCE, SWING BY THE HOSPITAL AND ASK HIM, BECAUSE ALSO THEY'RE GOING TO, THEY'RE GONNA EXHAUST EVERY RESOURCE AND, AND, UH, THAT THEY CAN TO OBTAIN IT.
BUT SOMETIMES THAT CAN GET A LITTLE TIME CONSUMING.
SO IF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION YOURSELF, IT HELPS SPEEDS THE PROCESS ALONG.
SO, UM, JUST, JUST, JUST SOMETHING TO PROVIDE.
OKAY, LEMME SEE WHERE WE AT NOW.
WELL, HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE? ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
SO IT'S BASED UPON THE WORKLOAD AND HOW MANY AND, AND HOW MANY DISABILITIES YOU APPLY FOR, UH, HOW YOU KNOW THEM.
GETTING ALL THE, THE DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE NATIONAL AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
COULD BE SOONER, COULD BE LATER, BUT THAT'S A NATIONAL AVERAGE AND EVERYBODY'S CLAIM VARIES.
SO THE, THE GOVERNMENT KINDA LEARNED FROM WHAT THE VIETNAM VETERANS, UH, WENT THROUGH AND STILL LEARNING.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYBODY DIDN'T KNOW, THEY SPRAYED CHEMICALS IN THE AIR TO MAKE LEAVES FALL OFF SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THE ENEMY.
BUT THOSE CHEMICALS LONG HAD LASTING EFFECTS ON VETERANS.
UM, SO THEY DIDN'T WAIT THIS LONG BECAUSE IF YOU'VE BEEN IN, IN THOSE, IN THOSE, UH, AREAS OF DEPLOYMENT, YOU MAY HAVE BURNED HUMAN WASTE.
IT MAY HAVE BURNED TRASH, AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ALL THE CHEMICALS AND THINGS THAT, THAT WAS IN THE AIR DURING THAT TIME.
SO THEY CREATED A BACK THE PACK DECK.
SO THEY, THEY STARTED NOTICING THAT VETERANS STARTED COMING BACK WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS, SINUS ISSUES, UM, HEADACHES.
IT'S A LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY STARTED, UM, COMING HOME WITH.
SO CONGRESS SAID, WE GOING TO PASS THE PACK THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO GIVE THEM, UH, HEALTHCARE FOR THIS PARTICULAR, THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES, WE ALSO WILL PROVIDE A LANE FOR THEY CAN GET COMPENSATION.
BUT, UH, BUT IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS BASED ON EVIDENCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HAVING ANY ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU, YOU WERE EXPOSED TO WHILE YOU WAS SERVING OVERSEAS, PLEASE, I WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU, GO TO THE VHA GET YOU, LET THEM KNOW SO THEY CAN CHECK YOU OUT.
AND IF ALSO FILE A CLAIM, ONLY THING THEY CAN SAY IS NO, BUT YOU NEVER GOING TO KNOW IF YOU DON'T FILE A CLAIM FOR IT.
UM, THINK THERE'S, THINK THERE'S ONE MORE SLIDE.
THESE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
I USED TO WORK THERE, SO I'M PROBABLY SURE SOME OF Y'ALL CUSSED ME OUT ON THAT LINE, SO I'M QUITE SURE IF I KNOW THAT LINE.
SO, EDUCATION BENEFITS, THAT'S MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA, THEY HAVE THAT NUMBER LISTED RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S TWITTER.
[00:35:01]
AND LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE A LOT OF, UH, RESOURCES ON YOUTUBE THAT VA HAS PUT TOGETHER THAT CAN HELP OUT A LOT.ALL RIGHT, SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT DUE TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE OTHER PEOPLE, I WILL SUGGEST HOLD THOSE QUESTIONS TO AFTER, AFTER THE, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE, I WILL BE AT THE BACK TABLE AND I'LL HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT A LOT, I DON'T HAVE MY COMPUTER WITH ME, SO IT'S GONNA BE A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT I CAN PROVIDE THAT GENERAL INFORMATION.
BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING PARTICULARLY TO YOU, UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT YOUR FILE, I CAN'T PROPERLY ADVISE YOU.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR, YOUR SERVICE AND, UM, YOU HAVE A NICE DAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME NEXT, UM, THE VETERANS HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION.
CAN WE ALSO INVITE JESUS TO THE STAGE, PLEASE? SO DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM WHAT, WE'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS FIRST.
UM, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME WITHOUT THIS MICROPHONE? THE MICROPHONE, MICROPHONE STILL? ALL RIGHT, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW DIRECTION.
ALL
YOU THINK YOU LOUD ENOUGH TO TALK TO FOLKS? BUT, UM, MY NAME IS QUENTIN KIMBA.
I WORK WITH CDCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS VOLUNTARY SERVICES AT THE, UH, AUSTIN OUTPATIENT CLINIC.
UM, JUST SAY A FEW THINGS REAL QUICK.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMUNITY ACTUALLY IS.
UM, EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, WE DO A RESOURCE FAIR.
THIS IS ON A LARGER SCALE, BUT PART OF THAT IS BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN TO LET THEM KNOW, LET OUR VETERANS KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
AND I THINK THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE GENIUS OF JESUS.
SO I WANT TO GIVE HIM TOTAL CREDIT FOR THAT.
UM, ALL REALLY WHAT WE DO IN OUR FACILITY IS HELPS FACILITATE THAT.
AND I THINK WE DO A GREAT JOB, UH, WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIM AND OUR FACILITIES AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ONE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR WE WANT TO HONOR TODAY.
IS THERE ANY REPRESENTATION FROM VFW 89 25? THERE BETTER BE.
YOU WANNA GET 'EM ALL UP HERE? COME ON.
MATTER OF FACT, WE CAN GET YOU ALL THE TIME TO JUST COME UP HERE AND STAND DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAGE.
THIS GUY WAS JUST RUNNING SPRINTS EARLIER THIS MORNING, SO THAT
SO THIS CREW THAT'S ACTUALLY COMING UP, THEY ARE TRULY, TRULY INVALUABLE.
UM, UM, I'LL JUST SAY A LITTLE BIT THAT I'M GONNA HAND THE MICROPHONE OFF TO JESUS.
THEY MAKE BREAKFAST TACOS FOR US.
HOW MANY IS IT? A HUNDRED FIFTY, A HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE A, A BUNCH.
AND THEY'RE NOT LITTLE SKIMPY TACOS.
AND THEY DO THAT FOR EVERY WEDNESDAY.
THAT'S NOT REALLY ALL THEY DO.
UM, AND THEY FUND THIS FROM THEIR, FROM THEIR, THEIR FUND CONTROL POINT.
UM, THEY HOSTED OUR STAND DOWN, WHICH WE HAD NOT HAD ONE IN THREE, FOUR YEARS PRIOR, WELL, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WAS THE LAST ONE.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A SUCCESS.
UH, WE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THAT BUILDING, UM, IN THEIR FACILITY, WHICH THEY HOSTED IT, THEY PROVIDED FOOD, UH, LUNCH FOR OUR HOMELESS VETERANS.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE SUE SAY A FEW THINGS AND THEN WE'LL PRESENT THIS PLAQUE TO THESE YOUNG FOLKS SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THE, UH, UH, MONTHLY EVENT AT THE CLINIC SINCE ABOUT APRIL.
AND EVER SINCE THEN, UH, THIS VFW POST HAS KIND OF STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND, UH, HELPED US OUT EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
AND I THINK, UH, A A LOT OF FOLKS, INCLUDING MYSELF, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE, UH, TO THE TACOS AND INSTEAD OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO I, THE BURRITO'S GONNA BE HERE TODAY? YES.
SO AS LONG AS YOU'RE THERE, IT DON'T MATTER.
BUT IT'S, IT'S, WE JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT'S, THEY NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING AND THEY JUST SHOW UP AND, AND, AND, AND THEY'RE THERE TO HELP OUT.
[00:40:01]
THEY BRING COKES, THEY BRING WHATEVER YOU NEED, AND THEY'RE THERE FOR US EVERY TIME.AND, AND THEY HAVE, AND I'LL ACTUALLY READ WHAT THE PLA UH, THE PLAQUE SAYS.
UH, VFW POST 89 25, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN OUTPATIENT VA CLINIC AND YOUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT THIS MORNING.
UM, BEFORE WE STEP INTO A, A SMALL BREAK, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE, UM, WHO CAME IN VERY QUICK, GOT INTO PLACE AND STARTED, UM, PARTICIPATING IN THEIR ROLE.
IF WE CAN PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO JESS ROSS, WHO CAME IN AND SANG THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE ABOUT A 10 MINUTE BREAK, UM, COME BACK AND I'VE BEEN SEEING SOME FOLKS GET UP, TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
SO INSTEAD, LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUST HAVE A REFRESHER, UM, JUST SO IT CAN BE REFRESHED FOR LUNCH.
'CAUSE WE'LL HAVE A GREAT SPEAKER THEN.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
ALL RIGHTY, Y'ALL, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE PROGRAM AND WELCOME OUR NEXT TOPIC.
OUR NEXT TOPIC WILL BE THE VLB VETERANS LAND BOARD WITH JIMMY SM SGAS MANAGER MARKETING OUTREACH CALL CENTER, UM, FOR THE VETERANS LAND BOARD.
IS IT OKAY IF I JUST HOLD IT? I'M JUST GONNA HOLD THIS.
HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
UM, HEY, WAIT, WE, SO WE HAD A QUICK BREAK.
HOW, HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? GOOD.
WELL, THANKS, UH, THANKS SO MUCH, UH, TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I'M WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE LANDLORD FOR ABOUT, UH, GOING ON 13 YEARS AT THIS POINT.
SO IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM AND, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
SO, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY COME BACK, UH, TO THE TABLE AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE, ARE, UH, FAMILIAR WITH THE VETERANS LAND BOARD? SO THAT, THAT'S GREAT.
NOT EVERYBODY, WHICH IS GOOD TOO, BECAUSE THAT WAY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING TO LEARN TODAY.
SO HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU LEAVE, YOU'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THE VLB.
YOU'LL HAVE SOME PROGRAMS MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
SO, UM, I GUESS IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THE PRESENTATION STARTED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO LET ME TALK, UH, I'M JUST GONNA DO THIS REAL QUICK.
SO WE, UH, WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1946.
WE ACTUALLY CELEBRATED OUR 78TH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK.
SO I FEEL LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK PRETTY GOOD FOR 78.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE TIMELINE, HOW ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS PROGRESSED.
I'M, I'M GONNA GO OVER EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, SO IF WE COULD JUST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, UH, THE FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO EARLIER HAVE ALREADY HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, SO I APOLOGIZE IF YOU HAVE TO HEAR IT AGAIN.
BUT WE HAVE THREE MAIN PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT
[00:45:01]
LOAN PROGRAMS. IF A VETERAN MILITARY MEMBER OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER IS INTERESTED, WE HAVE, UH, HOME LOAN PROGRAMS, LAND LOAN PROGRAMS, AND HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAMS. SO WE ALSO DO THE, UH, LAND SALE PROGRAMS THAT I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.AND THEN WE DO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOMES, AND THEN WE ALSO DO THE TEXAS STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES AS WELL.
SO IF WE COULD DO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO AS FAR AS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, I'M JUST GONNA TALK THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR OUR LOAN PROGRAMS IS A VETERAN THAT SERVED AT LEAST 90 DAYS ACTIVE DUTY, AND IF THE VETERAN HAS SEPARATED FROM SERVICE, THAT THEY'RE SEPARATION IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE.
SO PRETTY BASIC, UM, PRETTY BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE A STATE OF TEXAS AGENCY, SO YOU DO HAVE TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE GET QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE, UH, WE LOVE TO HAVE MORE VETERANS IN TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR PROGRAM.
YOU DO HAVE TO LIVE IN TEXAS AT THE TIME THAT YOU APPLY.
SO IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS OR LOVED ONES INTERESTED IN COMING, JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT, UH, AS SOON AS THEY GET HERE, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE AND READY TO HELP THEM.
SO IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT SLIDE TOO.
SO AS FAR AS THE LAND LOAN PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CALLED THE TEXAS VETERANS LANDLORD.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON THIS AGENCY WAS CREATED, WAS TO HELP VETERANS WHO WERE COMING BACK FROM WORLD WAR II GET LAND TO LIVE IN TEXAS AND STAY IN TEXAS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BUILD FAMILIES.
AND BACK THEN, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS FARMING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MORE OF IT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GETTING ANY, ANY LESS EXPENSIVE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY GETTING A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO LAND IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY POPULAR THING FOR US RIGHT NOW, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ALREADY ABOUT IT.
SO LET ME KINDA RUN THROUGH REAL QUICK HOW THE LAND PROGRAM WORKS.
SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET ONE ACRE OR MORE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE CAN LOAN UP TO $150,000.
WE HAVE A MINIMUM DOWN PAYMENT OF 5%.
YOU HAVE UP TO 30 YEARS TO PAY FOR IT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY USAGE REQUIREMENTS ON THE PROPERTY AT ALL.
SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD A HOUSE ON IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ELECTRICITY OR WATER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON IT.
ALL WE WANT YOU TO DO IS BE HAPPY WITH THE LAND THAT YOU PURCHASE.
SO $150,000, A MINIMUM OF AN ACRE, 5% DOWN UP TO 30 YEARS TO PAY FOR IT AND NO PREPAYMENT PENALTY.
SO YOU CAN PAY IT OFF ANYWHERE, UH, OR ANYTIME YOU WANT.
AND ALSO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO, UM, STOP ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND YOU CAN SKIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE AS WELL.
SORRY, THIS PRESENTATION HAS A LOT OF SLIDES IN IT.
SO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS WHERE WE HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING A HOME, BUYING A PRIMARY RESIDENCE, THEIR DREAM HOME.
WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM FOR THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, THE HOME LOAN LIMIT IS $766,550.
THAT LIMIT WILL INCREASE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $800,000.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURE, UH, MEMORIZED, BUT IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $800,000.
SO THE WAY THAT OUR PROGRAM WORKS IS WE'RE A STATE AGENCY, SO WE'RE OFFERING YOU STATE BENEFITS.
YOU ALSO GET TO USE YOUR FEDERAL BENEFITS WITH THIS PROGRAM.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS YOU CAN PAIR A VA HOME LOAN WITH OUR PROGRAM.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU GET A VA LOAN AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE.
AND THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS WE WORK WITH LENDERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
HAPPENED TO HAVE ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS OVER HERE AT CHAD BOWMAN, WHO WORKS WITH VETERANS UNITED.
I DIDN'T EVEN, I WASN'T EVEN AWARE HE WAS GONNA BE HERE TODAY, SO THIS IS PERFECT.
SO, UM, HE IS ACTUALLY A PARTICIPATING VLB LENDER.
AND WE HAVE, UH, FOLKS LIKE CHAD, WELL NOT LIKE CHAD, BUT, BUT, UH, OTHER FOLKS AROUND TEXAS THAT DO OUR VA UH, VA VLB LOANS AS WELL.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD CONNECT YOU WITH ONE OF OUR LENDERS.
THEY WOULD HELP YOU GET THROUGH THE ELIGIBILITY PROCESS, GET THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, ESSENTIALLY JUST LIKE YOU'RE BUYING ANY OTHER HOME.
WHAT AGAIN, WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO GET YOU THAT HOME AT A LOWER RATE.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT INTEREST RATES FOR VETERANS.
SO WE HAVE A STANDARD RATE FOR VETERAN.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY RATING OR DON'T HAVE A DISABILITY RATING.
REALLY THE BIGGEST BENEFIT FOR VETERANS, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE A 30% OR MORE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY RATING, WE HAVE A, A LOAN RATE THAT'S HALF A PERCENT LOWER THAN OUR STANDARD RATE FOR THOSE VETERANS.
SO THAT CAN MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF A LOAN, HOW MUCH YOU'RE
[00:50:01]
PAYING FOR THAT.30% OR MORE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY RATING, YOU GET A LOWER RATE THAN THAN THE POSTED INTEREST RATE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A DISCOUNTED RATE AS WELL.
AND I, I KNOW I MENTIONED, UH, DOING A VA LOAN, YOU CAN ALSO DO AN FHA LOAN OR A CONVENTIONAL LOAN WITH OUR PROGRAM.
SO THE REASON WHY I SAY VA IS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU GET THE MOST BENEFITS THAT WAY.
NO DOWN PAYMENT, NO MORTGAGE INSURANCE, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH CREDIT TERMS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT IF YOU, IF YOU WANNA DO A V UH, AN FHA OR CONVENTIONAL, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT AS WELL.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? SO LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS.
I HAVE, UH, QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT CAME BY THE TABLE AND ASK ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAMS. SO IF YOU OWN A HOUSE BUT ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT, WE HAVE A, A HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN THAT'S FHA INSURED THAT GOES UP TO $25,000 THAT CAN DO THINGS.
LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ON THE LIST.
LIKE IF YOU NEED A NEW ROOF, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO ADD ON, UH, ADD ON A ROOM, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANNA REMODEL KITCHENS, NEW WINDOWS, LOTS OF THINGS, UH, QUALIFY FOR THESE HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE CAN'T DO.
I'LL GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN'T DO AS, UH, SWIMMING POOL, UNFORTUNATELY.
I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS A POOL AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY HOT IN THIS STATE.
AND A POOL WOULD BE GREAT, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED, WE CAN'T HELP WITH THAT.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO HAVE A POOL.
WE JUST, WE JUST, UH, IT'S JUST NOT PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE UP TO 20 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF.
THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT PART OF THAT PROGRAM IS IF YOU OWN THE HOUSE OUTRIGHT, SO YOU'RE NOT MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOAN THAT GOES UP TO $50,000.
SO $25,000 IF YOU'RE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS UP TO $50,000 IF YOU OWN THE HOME OUTRIGHT.
STILL THE SAME TERMS UP TO 20 YEARS.
AND, UM, THOSE LOANS ARE ORIGINATED, UH, IN, SO WE HAVE, OUR OFFICES ARE JUST RIGHT UP THE STREET HERE IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE FOLKS IN HERE IN OUR BUILDING THAT HELP ORIGINATE THOSE LOANS.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR IT ONLINE, JUST LIKE YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE LAND LOAN ONLINE.
SO IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THE HOME IMPROVEMENT, LET US KNOW.
THE ONE THING THAT I WILL MENTION, I WAS TALKING TO A, UM, A LADY EARLIER WHO CAME BY.
IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE OR KNOW A VETERAN WHO NEEDS SOME REMODEL WORK DONE TO YOUR HOME, SOME ADAPTABILITY WORK DONE TO YOUR HOME, LIKE LET'S SAY, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A, MAYBE A WHEELCHAIR RAMP.
SO IF YOU NEED THAT, THAT, UH, IMPROVEMENT TO YOUR HOME BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED, UH, WHILE YOU WERE IN SERVICE, THEY ALSO HAVE GRANT PROGRAMS FOR THAT.
THERE ARE ADAPTABILITY GRANTS.
I KNOW THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE EARLIER TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
WE GET QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME ABOUT VETERANS THAT NEED TO WIDEN DOORWAYS OR PUT RAMPS IN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ALWAYS TELL THEM TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A GRANT PROGRAM FOR THAT FIRST, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT MONEY BACK.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT THING IF YOU HAPPEN TO NEED IT.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, WE'RE BACK TO LAND.
SO WE'RE THE TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD.
A LOT OF FOLKS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR LAND SELL.
SO EACH QUARTER WE DO WHAT'S CALLED A VETERAN'S ONLY LAND SALE, WHERE WE OFFER LAND SALES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC.
ESSENTIALLY IT'S LIKE A SILENT AUCTION.
SO YOU HAVE THE LAND AVAILABLE ONLINE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO, UH, GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, WALK AROUND.
WE HAVE PICTURES ONLINE AND, AND I CALL IT A SILENT AUCTION BECAUSE IT'S, UM, OPEN FOR ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS AND THERE'S A MINIMUM BID AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO BID ANYTHING YOU WANT AS LONG AS IT'S THE MINIMUM OR MORE.
AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE OTHER VETERANS BIDDING AGAINST YOU.
AND WE DON'T POST WHAT THE OTHER VETERANS ARE BIDDING.
SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE A SILENT AUCTION, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T NECESSARILY CALL IT THAT.
NEXT ONE'S COMING UP, UM, EARLY DECEMBER.
AND THE NICE THING ABOUT THE THIS LAND SALE IS YOU'RE WELCOME TO BID ON A TRACK, BUT IT DOESN'T OBLIGATE YOU TO ANYTHING.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN ON A TRACK, EVEN IF YOU'RE THE WINNING BIDDER AND YOU DECIDE YOU DON'T WANT IT COMPLETELY FINE, WE JUST GO TO THE NEXT PERSON DOWN, DOWN THE LIST AND AND SEE IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN IT.
SO ANY, ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR, EVERYBODY? YES SIR.
CAN WE GET THE EMAIL OR WHATEVER? YEAH.
SO THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WE, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT, UM, UH, UH, EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST.
WE DO A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED WHEN THINGS LIKE THE LAND SALES, UH, ARE OPEN.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AS MANY NAMES ON THAT LIST AS POSSIBLE.
'CAUSE WE ALSO TALK ABOUT NEW BENEFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO THE, UM, THAT'S THE TYPE TWO, YEAH.
SO BASICALLY THE TYPE TWO LAND SALE IS, UH, CONSIDERED A PUBLIC LAND SALE.
SO IT'S OPEN TO ANYBODY, NOT JUST VETERANS.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IS, UH, THIS LAND SALE IS ONGOING, SO YOU CAN JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND CHECK IT OUT.
[00:55:01]
14 OR 15 TRACKS AND, UH, WHATEVER THE PRICE IS THAT YOU SEE ON THE WEBSITE IS ESSENTIALLY THE PRICE FOR THE, THE PRICE FOR THE TRACKS.AGAIN, UM, VETERANS ARE O OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO USE IT.
AND ALSO, UM, ALSO THE PUBLIC, THE ONE THING THAT I DID FORGET TO MENTION WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE LAND LOAN PROGRAM IS THE $150,000 LIMIT FOR LAND IS FOR A VETERAN THAT APPLIES EITHER BY THEMSELVES OR WITH A SPOUSE WHO IS NOT A VETERAN.
SO WE JUST, AND I, AND I ALWAYS FORGET THIS BECAUSE, OR I'M FORGETTING IT BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW BENEFIT, BUT STARTING THIS MONTH, WE ARE DOING WHAT'S CALLED A DUAL SPOUSE LAND LOAN, UH, PROGRAM.
AND SO WHAT THAT PROGRAM ALLOWS VETERANS TO DO IS THAT BOTH SPOUSES OR VETERANS AND BOTH SPOUSES INDIVIDUALLY QUALIFY FOR THE LOAN THEY CAN APPLY TOGETHER AND GET UP TO $225,000.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF VETERAN COUPLES OUT THERE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING LAND.
SO THIS JUST GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BUY EVEN MORE LAND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, LAND'S NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND.
CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? UH, JUST, SO, JUST REAL QUICK, UM, WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FOLKS ASKING, CAN I USE THE LAND LOAN PROGRAM MORE THAN ONCE? CAN I HAVE TWO HOME LOANS AT THE SAME TIME? SO THE WAY THAT, THAT OUR PROGRAMS WORK, WE HAVE LAND HOME HOME IMPROVEMENT, YOU CAN HAVE ONE OF EACH AT A TIME.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A LAND LOAN, HOME LOAN AND HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT YOU CAN'T DO TWO LAND LOANS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE SAME TIME.
SO ONE OF EACH, BUT NOT TWO OF THE SAME ONE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST KIND OF THE, THE REGULAR STUFF.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S CREDIT PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU GO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS OBVIOUSLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE GONNA GET OLDER, HOPEFULLY VERY OLD, AND THERE'S TIMES WHEN WE MAY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE, LONG-TERM CARE, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF AT THE VETERANS LANDLORD ARE OUR NON SOON TO BE 10 TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOMES.
SO THESE ARE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES FOR VETERANS, AND ALSO THE VETERAN SPOUSE IF THEY REQUIRE 24 HOUR LONG-TERM NURSING CARE.
SO THESE, THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY NURSING HOMES FOR VETERANS.
SO AS LONG AS THE VETERAN HAS A NOTE FROM THEIR DOCTOR THAT STATES THAT THEY REQUIRE LONG-TERM CARE, THEN THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR HOMES.
SO ALL WE NEED IS, UH, VERIFY, UH, VERIFY YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THAT YOU REQUIRE LONG-TERM CARE.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS A LOT OF VETERANS HAVE DISABILITY RATINGS OF VARYING DEGREES.
SO IF YOU ARE A VETERAN WHO NEEDS THIS TYPE OF CARE AND NEEDS TO LIVE IN ONE OF THESE HOMES OR, OR NEEDS THIS TYPE OF CARE AND WANTS TO LIVE IN ONE OF THESE HOMES, IF YOU HAVE A 70% OR MORE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY RATING, IT'S ENTIRELY FREE FOR YOU TO LIVE IN ONE OF THESE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
AND NOT ONLY IS IT ENTIRELY FREE FOR YOU TO LIVE IN THE HOME, IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOUR OTHER BENEFITS.
SO IF YOU HAVE OTHER MONETARY BENEFITS COMING TO YOU, YOU STILL GET THOSE AND YOU CAN LIVE IN THIS HOME FOR FREE.
IT INCLUDES YOUR STAY MEDICATIONS, EVERYTHING.
SO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT MAGIC 70% NUMBER YOU CAN HAVE.
SO WE ALSO HAVE THIS GREAT PROGRAM CALLED MAIL DROP.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GETTING AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF VETERANS WHO LIVE IN OUR HOMES MAY NOT HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS LEFT.
THEY MAY BE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST ONE.
AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT COME BY AND VISIT WITH THEM OR TALK WITH THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE FOLKS GET LONELY WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
SO WE STARTED THIS MAIL DROP PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO WRITE LETTERS, SEND CARDS, DRAW PICTURES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO TO CONNECT TO A VETERAN THROUGH THE MAIL.
SO YOU CAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEND A CARD FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A THANKSGIVING CARD, A CHRISTMAS CARD.
WE DO A BIG THING AT VALENTINE'S CALLED VALENTINE'S FOR VETS.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO WRITE A VETERAN A LETTER TALKING ABOUT IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, MAYBE TALKING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO IT'S JUST REALLY A WAY TO CONNECT WITH OUR VETERANS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THESE HOMES REALIZE THAT THEY'RE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT PEOPLE STILL LOVE THEM.
AND SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND, UH, IT'S CALLED THE MAIL DROP PROGRAM.
SO CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO THE A HUNDRED FOR A HUNDRED, I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THIS REAL QUICK.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, QUITE A FEW VETERANS WHO LIVE IN OUR VETERANS HOMES WHO HAVE TURNED A HUNDRED YEARS OLD WHILE THEY'VE LIVED IN THE HOME.
AND WE DO A PRETTY BIG, UH, UH, PRESS RELEASE AND PUSH FOR, UH, CARDS FOR THESE FOLKS.
THE LAST ONE THAT WE HAD THAT I RECALL WAS IN OUR BIG SPRING VETERAN'S HOME.
AND THIS VETERAN THAT TURNED A HUNDRED RECEIVED OVER 5,000 CARDS FROM ALL OVER, NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY TEXAS, NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALL OVER THE ENTIRE WORLD.
SO THEY RECEIVED OVER 5,000 CARDS WISHING THEM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
AND WE DO THIS FOR ANY VETERAN WHO TURNS A HUNDRED,
[01:00:01]
WHO, UH, IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.WE ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW VETERANS WHO ARE A HUNDRED PLUS YEARS OLD LIVING IN OUR HOME.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A NICE THING TO DO TO RECOGNIZE THEM, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR SERVICE, BUT JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING A HUNDRED YEARS OLD BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
SO THE TEXAS STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES, IN ADDITION TO VETERANS HOMES, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO HELP VETERANS THROUGH REALLY THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE LIFE ALL THE WAY UNTIL ALL THE WAY UNTIL THEY NEED A CEMETERY.
SO WE HAVE FOUR TEXAS STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES RIGHT NOW, ABILENE, CORPUS CHRISTI MISSION AND KILLEEN, AND WE'RE WORKING ON NUMBER FIVE IN LUBBOCK.
SO OUR CEMETERIES ARE, ARE TEXAS STATE VETERAN CEMETERIES OWNED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS BY THE VETERANS LANDLORD.
AND THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE FOR THE VETERAN AND ALSO FOR THE VETERAN'S SPOUSE.
SO THE PLOT IS FREE, UH, THE SERVICE AT THE CEMETERY IS FREE, PERPETUAL CARE IS FREE.
SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE CEMETERY, 100% FREE FOR THE VETERAN AND 100% FREE FOR THE SPOUSE AS WELL.
SO THAT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO GET PRE-REGISTERED FOR IT.
SO WE HAVE A ONLINE APPLICATION, IT'S A PRE-REGISTRATION APPLICATION THAT YOU CAN DO AHEAD OF TIME.
SO WHEN THE TIME COMES AND YOU NEED IT, YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS THAT COME, A LOT OF YOUNGER VETERANS THAT COME TO US THAT WANT TO GET THIS PAPERWORK DONE NOW.
THAT WAY, WHEN THEY NEED IT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND THEIR FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
SO AGAIN, FOUR RIGHT NOW WORKING ON NUMBER FIVE, AND I KNOW THAT WE TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN EARLIER WHO I BELIEVE WAS FROM EAST TEXAS, OR AT LEAST HAD AN EAST TEXAS CONNECTION.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY, UM, IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A CEMETERY IN EAST TEXAS AS WELL.
SO IN THE TYLER LONGVIEW AREA.
SO LUBBOCK IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ONE IN, IN THE TYLER LONGVIEW AREA WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS OR SO.
ONCE, ONCE THAT KIND OF TAKES OFF.
CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO, UM, SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE UNACCOMPANIED VETERAN BURIAL PROGRAM.
IF A VETERAN HAS KNOWN, KNOWN NEXT OF KIN OR THE NEXT OF KIN FOR WHATEVER REASON, DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN INVOLVED IN THEIR BURIAL SERVICES, WE TAKE, UH, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT VETERAN IS NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT THEY'RE HONORED IN THE WAY THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN UNACCOMPANIED VETERAN BURIAL.
WE DO THESE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THEY GET JUST TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.
YOU, I DON'T KNOW, HAS ANYBODY IN HERE EVER BEEN TO AN UNACCOMPANIED VETERAN BURIAL AND ONE OF OUR CEMETERIES? YOU HAVE? YES, SIR.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP FOR THESE, FOR THESE CEREMONIES FOR A VETERAN THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW.
SO ESSENTIALLY IF THEY DON'T HAVE FAMILY, WE BECOME THEIR FAMILY.
SO THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT FORGOTTEN, THEY'RE NOT LEFT ALONE.
AND WE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE BURIED WITH THE DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE.
SO IT'S AN, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM AND I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU EVER HAVE TIME AND YOU EVER SEE ONE OF THESE SERVICES, THE CLOSEST ONE TO US WOULD BE IN KILLEEN.
IT'S A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE, VERY MOVING AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
OKAY, SO LAST THING THAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS OUR VOICES OF VETERANS PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE ONE OF THE, UM, ONE OF THE ORAL HISTORY PROGRAMS IN THE STATE THAT'S GEARED JUST FOR VETERANS.
AND SO IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
WHAT WE DO IS WE INTERVIEW VETERANS AND RECORD THEIR STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 500 OF THESE INTERVIEWS THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S JUST YOU TELLING YOUR STORY IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
SO IT CAN BE SAFE FOR YEARS TO COME, FOR OTHER GENERATIONS TO HEAR, FOR YOUR FAMILIES TO HEAR.
SO IF ANYBODY IN THE ROOM IS INTERESTED IN SHARING THEIR STORY, PLEASE COME BY AND SEE ME AT THE TABLE OVER THERE.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION AND PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE PERSON WHO DOES IT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S A VERY INFORMAL, UH, SHE'LL ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU BASICALLY JUST TALK ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE, WHATEVER YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT.
AND WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS WE HAVE VETERANS THAT TELL HER THINGS THAT THEY'VE NEVER EVEN TOLD THEIR FAMILY.
AND SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SO THESE COULD BE VERY POWERFUL AND MOVING STORIES.
AND, AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO, TO, UH, TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
WE'D LOVE TO GET MORE, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE AS MANY VETERANS SHARE THEIR STORIES AS POSSIBLE.
SO PLEASE COME CHAT WITH ME AFTERWARDS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
AND I THINK THE NEXT SLIDE IS OUR CONTACT.
UM, PLEASE CHECK US OUT ONLINE, VB.TEXAS.GOV.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY.
THAT IS A STATEWIDE COST SERVICE CENTER NUMBER FOR ANYTHING VETERAN RELATED.
SO NOT JUST FOR, UH, THE TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD, OBVIOUSLY I SEE MY GOOD FRIENDS FROM THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION SITTING IN FRONT OF ME.
SO WE ALSO ANSWER THE PHONE FOR THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.
SO IF YOU'RE A VETERAN THAT HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOANS, LONG-TERM CARE CEMETERIES, IF YOU HAVE
[01:05:01]
A QUESTION ABOUT CLAIMS, BENEFITS, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, I DON'T WANNA TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPEAKER THAT'S GONNA SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT.BUT ANYTHING RELATED TO VETERANS CALL US AND, AND WE'LL HELP YOU.
IS SURVIVING SPOUSE, DOES THE SURVIVING SPOUSE HAVE A RIGHT TO ANY OF THE PROGRAMS? SO THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS, UH, AN UNMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A VETERAN IS TYPICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME BENEFITS THAT THAT VETERAN WOULD'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR WHEN THEY WERE STILL AROUND.
SO THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS, UM, UNMARRIED, SURVIVING SPOUSE AND, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME BENEFITS THAT THE VETERAN WOULD'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR.
SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, PLEASE COME TALK TO ME AND, AND I CAN CERTAINLY HELP YOU WITH THAT.
YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, UH, TWITTER, UM, YOUTUBE.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONNECT WITH US.
CHECK US OUT ONLINE, WE'RE HERE AND HAPPY TO HELP.
SO OUR CALL CENTER IS OPEN SEVEN 30 TO FIVE 30, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
WE'LL CALL YOU BACK THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.
UH, JIMMY, JUST A QUESTION ON THE, UH, STATE VETERAN'S HOMES ARE SPOUSES ELIGIBLE TO BE AT THE STATE VETERAN'S HOME WITH THE VETERAN? YES, SIR, THEY ARE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO AS LONG AS THE SPOUSE MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT, THEY ARE, THEY'RE WELCOME IN THE VETERAN'S HOME AS WELL.
SO IT'S, SO IT'S FOR THE VETERAN, FOR THE VETERAN'S SPOUSE, AND THEN ALSO FOR GOLD STAR PARENTS.
I'M SORRY, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT.
SO GOLD STAR PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY, UH, ARE ALSO, ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO LIVE IN THE HOME AS WELL.
SO THANK THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
SURVIVING SPOUSE IS THERE, IS THERE AN INCOME LIMIT? UM, IS AN INCOME, YEAH, INCOME LIMIT FOR THE SURVIVING SPOUSE.
SO THE ONLY, THE ONLY INCOME REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE FOR ONE OF THE LOAN PROGRAMS. SO THERE'S NO INCOME LIMIT THAT WOULD, UH, EXCLUDE YOU FROM A PROGRAM IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, RIGHT? NO, NOT AT, NOT AT ALL.
SO AS LONG AS YOU, AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS, WOULD IT, IT DOESN'T ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU MEAN, IF YOU, IF YOU'RE ASKING IF YOU WOULD MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY, THE ANSWER WOULD BE NO.
AND THERE'S NO MINIMUM INCOME REQUIREMENT EITHER.
SO I HOPE THAT, I HOPE THAT HELPED.
I ALWAYS, I KEEP WONDERING IF I'M GONNA FALL OFF THE EDGE OF THIS THING
I I FEEL LIKE I JUST WANNA KEEP LIKE WALKING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO EVERYBODY.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION, UH, AGAIN ON THE ASSISTED LIVING.
IS IT, WOULD IT JUST BE FOR TEXAS VETERAN OR TEXAS RESIDENTS WHO ARE VETERANS? OR WOULD, DOES IT, DOES IT HAVE TO APPLY TO LIKE YOU HAD TO ENTER THE SERVICE IN TEXAS OR GET DISCHARGED FROM TEXAS? YEAH, SO THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY HEARD THAT QUESTION OR NOT.
SO SHE WAS ASKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UH, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS ENCE RESIDENCY, TEXAS RESIDENCY FOR THE VETERAN'S HOME BECAUSE THESE VETERANS HOMES WERE BUILT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VA.
SO THE VA FUNDS A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND COSTS AND A, AND A LOT OF THE CARE AS WELL FOR THE VETERANS HOME.
SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A TEXAS RESIDENT TO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR VETERAN'S HOMES.
SO WE HAVE VETERANS WHO COME FROM OTHER STATES AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GONNA LIVE IN TEXAS WHEN YOU GET INTO VETERAN'S HOME BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE HOME IS.
BUT, BUT IT'S, THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN TEXAS FOR A MONTH OR A YEAR OR THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE ENLISTED IN TEXAS.
IN FACT, FOR NONE OF OUR PROGRAMS DO WE REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, THAT YOU HAD TO ENLIST IN TEXAS.
SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO US WHERE YOU CAME FROM AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN TEXAS NOW.
REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT, THAT WOULD APPLY TO, THAT WE EVER DISCUSS IS THE HAZELWOOD ACT EDUCATION BENEFITS THAT THE VETERAN HAS TO HAVE ENLISTED IN TEXAS.
BUT AS FAR AS OUR PROGRAMS, WE JUST WANT YOU TO BE IN TEXAS WHEN YOU APPLY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VETERAN'S HOME.
AND, AND WE HAVE VETERANS WHO COME FROM OTHER STATES, UM, ALL THE TIME THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME WHO COME FROM OKLAHOMA AND NEW MEXICO, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.
SO WE'RE HAPPY, WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK, I THINK, UH, MY TIME IS UP, SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AND I'LL BE OVER HERE AT THE, UH, TABLE WITH, UH, THE CAMOUFLAGE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU JIMMY, FOR THAT TODAY.
UM, QUESTION AND THEN I'LL GIVE HOUSEKEEPING RULES BEFORE WE GO INTO LUNCH.
WHO LEARNS SOMETHING NEW TODAY?
[01:10:01]
NICE.UM, MOST OF OUR, MOST OF THE RESOURCES PRESENTATIONS TODAY, UM, THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE RESOURCE DIRECTORY IN THE BE THAT'S IN YOUR BACK.
SO ALL OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A VETERANS RESOURCE DIRECTORY IS THAT SPIRAL JOURNAL.
ALL OF THIS, ALL OF TODAY'S INFORMATION IS ALSO IN THERE.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH NAMES, CONTACTS, LOCATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, IT IS ALL IN THERE.
THERE IS A CONTEXT DIRECTORY, THAT FIRST PAGE THAT WILL, UM, HELP YOU NAVIGATE THAT SPIRAL AS WE GO INTO LUNCH.
UM, WE WILL NOW BE TRANSITIONING THERE.
IT IS A, UM, THEY WILL BE, WE WILL HAVE SLAB BARBECUE SERVING YOU LUNCH.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS A TIGHT SPACE OUT THERE.
ALSO, SLAB BARBECUE IS VETERAN OWNED AND LOCALLY OWNED OF COURSE.
SO FOR LUNCH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FROM THIS TABLE, THIS ONE AND THAT BACK ONE, Y'ALL ARE GONNA GO FIRST FOR, FOR A FEW MINUTES.
THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYONE'S GONNA GET THE SAME OPTION.
SO, UM, IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BEGIN, WE'RE GONNA WANT FROM THESE TWO TABLES ON THIS WAY TO GO FIRST.
EVERYONE THIS WAY, LET'S WAIT ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES BECAUSE IT'S GONNA GET TIGHT IN THAT, IN THAT BREEZEWAY.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE GOOD ON, ON INSTRUCTIONS THERE.
AND THEN WHEN WE GET, WHEN WE GET BACK AROUND 1215, WE WILL BEGIN OUR GREAT SPEAKER AT THAT TIME WE'LL PROVIDE THEIR INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN WE'LL LET HIM AND HIS TEAM, UM, GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
AND THEN I, LET ME JUST CONFIRM AND THEN I'LL COME RIGHT BACK FOR, FOR THE LUNCH.
UH, REAL QUICK, UH, WILLIE WANTED ME TO MENTION THE, UH, VETERANS BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION.
WILLIE IS ALSO THE MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA COORDINATOR FOR OUR AREA.
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A FACT OF LIFE, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE MILITARY.
SO WILLIE IS THE COORDINATOR FOR THIS AREA.
AND AGAIN, HE WORKS OUT OF THE AUSTIN VA CLINIC, SO HE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF THAT.
AND I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS AN APPETITE 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN TO SLAB AND IT'S REALLY GOOD.
SO FROM THESE TABLES ON THIS WAY, WE ARE GOOD TO GO.
HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING THIS AFTERNOON? GOOD, PERFECT QUESTION.
SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I WILL ALLOW ANGELA WOOLNER UP TO THE STAGE WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, AND THAT IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR OTHER STATE PARTNER OVER THERE THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM JIMMY WITH THE VETERANS LAND BOARD.
AND WE OF COURSE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS LIKE THE VA AND THE DOL AND OF COURSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOLDING THIS EVENT.
I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE MY BOSS, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THOMAS PALADINO.
HE HAS BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE 2010, SO OVER 14 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE STATE.
AND BY THE WAY, IN THAT TIME, THE AGENCY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, AND I THINK HE'S ALSO THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM.
HE RETIRED AS A COLONEL FROM THE US ARMY AFTER 27 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND HE'S GONNA TELL YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND ALL THE SERVICES WE HAVE.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MR. PALADINO, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
[01:15:01]
OKAY? YEAH.I'M GONNA MOVE THIS OVER HERE SO I CAN PUT MY THING HERE.
NOT THAT I'M GONNA, NOT THAT I'M GONNA USE IT.
WELL, I WANNA THANK ALL THE VETERANS HERE TODAY.
SO IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO I WANNA THANK, UH, JESUS AL, WHO'S THE, UH, VETERAN ADMINISTRATIVE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MY, MY, I MIGHT HAVE SAY DAMIEN TUYA.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THIS.
SO TODAY IS NOVEMBER 13TH, AND THIS IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A WAR MEMORIAL IN DC IN 1982.
WHAT WAS THAT? THE VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL 1982 WAS DEDICATED NOVEMBER 13TH, 1982.
AND WHY DO I BRING THAT UP? WELL, I BRING IT UP BECAUSE IT'S THE ANNIVERSARY, BUT ALSO IT'S TWO DAYS AFTER VETERAN'S DAY, RIGHT? SO VETERAN'S DAY AT DAN, WE THANK ALL OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WELL, VIETNAM VETERANS, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE, ARE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE NOT ALL VIETNAM VETERANS GOT THE SAME THANK YOU AND WELCOME THAT VETERANS OF TODAY GET THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION GOD OR THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS, GOD OR THE WORLD WAR I VETERANS GOD OR CURRENT VETERANS.
YOU KNOW, THE POST, UH, YOU KNOW, GULF WAR NINE 11 VETERANS.
SO THE VIETNAM VETERANS DIDN'T, DIDN'T GET THAT IN MOST CASES.
AND THAT WALL HAS OVER 58,220 NAMES ON IT OF THOSE WHO NEVER CAME BACK.
AND IN 1993, IT TOOK ANOTHER 11 YEARS TO GET A WOMAN'S A VIETNAM WOMAN'S MEMORIAL TO HONOR THE TWO 65,000 WOMEN VETERANS THAT SERVED IN VIETNAM.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO DC AND SEEN THAT, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL FOR, FOR BOTH OF THOSE.
SO WE'RE THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, AS ANGELA STATED, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.
EVERY STATE HAS A STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS THAT SERVES OUR VETERANS AND ADVOCATES FOR THEM, AND GETS YOU ACCESS TO THE VETERANS, TO THE SERVICES, MEET YOUR NEEDS.
WE WORK WITH THE CITY, WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY, RIGHT? WE WORK WITH NONPROFITS, WE WORK WITH THE VA, WE WORK WITH ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO WORK WITH US TO HELP VETERANS.
WELL, WE PARTNERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
IT WAS THE AMERICAN VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION TO THANK AND HONOR VIETNAM VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE STARTED, UH, 2015 AND ENDS 2025.
SO IT'S THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
SO WE, UM, AND THIS INCLUDES ALL VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR, INCLUDING PERSONNEL WHO HELD AS PRISONS OF WAR, MISSING AN ACTION, UM, AND ONES THAT SERVED IN THE, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, BUT NOT, DIDN'T EXACTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WEREN'T, MAYBE WEREN'T A COUNTRY, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE SERVICE DURING THE WAR.
SO WE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO THANK VIETNAM VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
SO IT'S A, THERE'S NOT A BETTER TIME TO DO THAT.
SO IF WE HAVE ANY VIETNAM VETERANS IN THE HOUSE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME FORWARD.
'CAUSE WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU TO SAY FROM A GRATEFUL NATION, THANK YOU.
AND HONORING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
SO, VIETNAM VETERANS, WOULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE, RIGHT HERE.
AND WE'RE GONNA PRESENT, JUST LINE UP HERE AND FACE THE AUDIENCE, LINE UP HERE AND FACE THE AUDIENCE.
WE'RE GONNA PRESENT A COIN FROM THE TEXAS S COMMISSION, WHICH HAS THE VIETNAM WAR CAMPAIGN MEDAL ON THE BACK.
AND ALSO THESE PINS, THEIR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PINS THAT SAY, A GRATEFUL NATION, THANKS AND HONORS YOU, JESUS.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THE LINE.
JESUS GONNA HELP YOUR SERVICE.
[01:21:57]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WOMEN, ANY WOMEN, VIETNAM WAR VETERANS.
OH, WE DO HAVE WHAT? WOMEN, IF YOU'RE A WOMAN VETERAN, RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO WE WANT TO THANK OUR VIETNAM VETERANS AND OUR WOMEN VETERANS, TWO POPULATIONS THAT DIDN'T ALWAYS GET THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY, THAT THEY DESERVED AND EARNED.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SINCE 1973, WOMEN VETERANS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, FULLY PART OF THE, OF THE, OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
I MEAN, THEY WERE PART OF IT BEFORE, BUT, YOU KNOW, FULLY INTEGRATED WAS 1973.
SO TODAY IS TWO DAYS AFTER VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11TH.
AND IT'S A DAY WHERE WE HONOR ALL VETERAN SERVICES.
WHETHER THEY SERVED IN PEACE AND WAR, OR IF THEY SERVED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVERSEAS, OR IN COMBAT, OUTTA COMBAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER, RIGHT? SO WE, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO WERE CALLED UPON TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AND WHY A VETERAN, SPECIAL VETERANS ARE SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE.
NOW, IN SOME CASES BEFORE 73, THEY, THEY WERE DRAFTED, BUT THEY STILL SERVED.
SAME WITH WORLD WAR I, KOREA, VIETNAM.
BUT THEY SERVED, THEY PUT THE UNIFORM ON YOU AND THE AUDIENCE, AND YOU WENT TO WHERE YOUR COUNTRY ASKED YOU TO GO, AND YOU DID WHAT THEY ASKED YOU TO DO.
AND YOU PROTECTED THE MEN AND WOMEN IN YOUR UNIT.
PROTECTED OUR VALUES, OUR WORKED WITH OUR ALLIES, PROTECTED FREEDOMS AGAINST AGGRESSION FROM OTHERS, INCREASED THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION.
AND THEN AFTER ALL OF THAT, WHETHER IT WAS DURING THE COLD WAR OR DURING, IT WAS DURING, DURING HOT WARS OR DURING DEPLOYMENTS IN THE NAVY, AIR FORCE, ARMY, MARINES, COAST GUARD, AND NOW THE SPACE FORCE, THEY CAME HOME AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY STARTED ANOTHER CAREER.
SOME STAYED AND, AND, AND, AND YOU, AND YOU, YOU KNOW, GOT A RETIREMENT, OTHERS DIDN'T.
THEY MOVED ON TO OTHER CAREERS, RAISED A FAMILY, CONTRIBUTED BACK TO BACK TO OUR GREAT NATION.
AND SO WE THANK THOSE, ALL OF THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO SERVED AND PREPARED TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE.
IF IT WAS DEMANDED OF THEM IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE.
WE ALSO STAND WITH THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS, SPOUSES, SONS, DAUGHTERS, MOTHERS AND FATHERS.
YOU'RE A FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN.
RAISE YOUR HAND, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
AND YOU VETERANS, THANK YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS FOR THE SUPPORT THEY GAVE YOU WHILE YOU WERE GONE AND, AND WHILE YOU SERVE, FAMILY MEMBERS MAKE THEIR OWN SACRIFICES SUPPORTING THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS, MULTI-GENERATIONAL VETERANS GOES BACK
[01:25:01]
A HUNDRED YEARS.SO ON VETERAN'S DAY IS THE DAY WE NOT ONLY THANK THE VETERAN, WE THANK THE FAMILY AND WE FULFILLED PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S CHALLENGE WAY BACK IN THE CIVIL WAR, IS TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO SHALL BORN THE BATTLE IN THEIR CAREGIVERS AND SURVIVORS.
106 YEARS AMERICANS HAVE RECOGNIZED VETERANS ON VETERANS DAY.
IT STARTED OUT AS ARMS TO STAY NOVEMBER 11TH, 1918.
IT WAS THE END OF THE GREAT WAR.
THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH AS WE REMEMBER IT.
AND IT STAYED THAT WAY ALL THE WAY UNTIL AFTER WORLD WAR II IN THE KOREAN WAR WHERE PRESIDENT EISENHOWER GOT CONGRESS TO CHANGE THE NAME TO VETERANS DAY, TO RECOGNIZE VETERANS OF ALL WARS.
NOT JUST, NOT JUST, NOT JUST THE, THE GREAT WAR, WORLD WAR I.
AND SO SINCE THOSE DAYS STAYS WHEN IT WAS PUT DOWN ON THE BOOKS, WE RECOGNIZED OUR VETERANS FOR THAT VERY REASON.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION PUT ON A UNIFORM AND GONE TO SERVE AND CAME BACK.
BUT THEY ALSO, AS WE LIKE TO TALK TO EMPLOYERS, VETERANS MAKE GREAT EMPLOYEES, VETERANS MAKE GREAT TEAM MEMBERS, GREAT LEADERS, AND THEY CONTRIBUTE BACK TO SOCIETY BECAUSE VETERANS JOIN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMPLEXITY TO ENLIST, WE USED TO CALL IT.
MOST OF YOU, MOST OF US DON'T.
WHY DID YOU JOIN? THERE'S SOMETHING IN US WE WANTED TO JOIN.
IT'S A, IT'S A PROPENSITY TO SERVE, TO SERVE OTHERS, TO SERVE YOUR BUDDIES, TO SERVE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIT TO SERVE.
AND WHEN YOU COME BACK, SERVE YOUR COUNTRY, WHEN YOU COME BACK, YOU STILL WANNA SERVE.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
THEY, THEY MAKE GREAT TEAM MEMBERS, GREAT, GREAT LEADERS.
SOME OF THEM GET ELECTED TO OFFICE.
WE NEED MORE VETERANS ELECTED TO OFFICE.
SO VETERANS MAKE GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND THIS GOES BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION.
BACK TO 1775, RIGHT WHEN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR STARTED WITH PAUL REVERE, GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE FIRST CONTINENTAL ARMY.
AND HE GOES OUT THROUGH ALL THE WARS SINCE THEN.
ALL THE VETERANS THAT SERVED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WAR OF 18, 12, THE WAR OF MEXICO, THE CIVIL WAR, SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, THE GULF WARS PANAMA, THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND SYRIA, ALL THE WARS IN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND ALL THE COLD WAR IN BETWEEN AND ALL THE DEPLOYMENTS DURING PEACE TIME.
THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT'LL COME UP AND SAY, I'M NOT A VETERAN.
NO, THE DEFINITION OF A VETERAN IS SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.
AND IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SERVE.
YEAH, IT COULD BE A COMBAT VETERAN, BUT YOU CAN ALSO BE A, A VETERAN THAT DIDN'T THAT, THAT WASN'T IN COMBAT.
'CAUSE YOU ALL SERVE, YOU ARE ALL THERE AND YOU HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE IN HARM'S WAY OR NOT.
AND ACTUALLY YOU WERE IN HARM'S WAY NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF VETERANS THAT GET KILLED, UH, IN ACTION, GET KILLED IN TRAINING.
THEY COME DOWN WITH AN ILLNESS BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO TOXINS.
AND SO YOU'RE ALL IN DANGER AT ALL TIMES.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT.
SO WE MUST NEVER FORGET EVERY GENERATION THAT'S SERVED IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR FREEDOM IN AND WORKED WITH OTHERS, RIGHT? TO INCREASE OUR SECURITIES AND GAVE BACK.
SO THE SELFLESS SERVICE THAT YOU ALL GAVE MADE OUR NATION A GREATER NATION.
THEY CALL THEM THE GEN GREATEST GENERATION.
BUT I THINK EVERY GENERATION HAS A PIECE OF THE GREATEST GENERATION.
MY DAD WAS WORLD WAR II VETERAN.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS WORLD ONE VETERANS.
AND MY DAD WA WAS IN NORTH AFRICA.
AND IN ITALY, THIS IS YOU, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE, HAVE RELATIVES THAT WERE WORLD WAR II, WORLD WAR ONE VETERANS.
THEY CAME BACK AFTER THE WAR AND THEY HELPED BUILD THIS COUNTRY INTO THE GREAT NATION IT IS TODAY.
THEY DID THAT JUST LIKE WE DO IT, YOU DO IT TODAY, YOU FOLLOW THE, THEIR LEGACY.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM WHO'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS WHO WE ARE.
AND AS PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT SAID 26 PRESIDENT, 1926, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1903 ON THE 4TH OF JULY, HE SAID, IF A MAN, ANY MAN IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR HIS COUNTRY IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET A SQUARE DEAL AFTERWARDS.
AND I CHANGE THAT QUOTE TO ANY MAN OR
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WOMAN THAT'S SERVED IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET A SQUARE DEAL AFTERWARDS.THAT'S WHERE THE SQUARE DEAL COMES FROM.
SO A SQUARE DEAL IS YOU GET A FAIR SHAKE.
WE DON'T GIVE HANDOUTS TO VETERANS.
WE GIVE THEM A HAND UP, WE GIVE 'EM A HELPING HAND.
AND SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHY, WHY DO VETERANS GET SPECIAL TREATMENT? WELL, WHILE THE VETERANS ARE OFF DOING, WHEN YOU AND THE SERVICE MEMBERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DID AND SERVED TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, THEY'RE AWAY FROM HOME, AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND AWAY FROM A CIVILIAN CAREER.
AS YOU WERE ALL SERVING, YOUR PEERS WERE MAYBE GOING TO SCHOOL.
MAYBE THEY'RE GETTING LICENSES AND DEGREES AND CERTIFICATIONS.
MAYBE THEY STARTED A CAREER, MAYBE THEY STARTED THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
NOTHING AGAINST THAT, THE AMERICAN WAY.
BUT WHAT WERE US VETERANS DOING? YOU WERE SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
SO WHEN WE CAME BACK, YOU APPLY FOR A JOB AND YOU DON'T GET AN INTERVIEW AND YOU'RE LIKE, AND THEY, AND THEY, AND IF YOU ASK WHY, THEY'LL SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE IN THE, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
WELL, WHERE IS THE VETERAN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS? WELL, THEY WERE DEPLOYED IN IRAQ OR ON A SHIP SOMEWHERE.
SO TO ME, I, I ALWAYS PROFESS TO EMPLOYERS IS GIVE THE VETERANS A FAIR SHAKE, GIVE 'EM A SQUARE DEAL.
WE HAVE A GUIDE TO HELP EMPLOYERS HIRE VETERANS.
I LIKE TO CALL IT HOW NOT TO WEED OUT ALL THE VETERANS FROM THE INTERVIEW.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO CALL THAT BOOK.
SO THE PROMISE WE HAVE A NATION HAVE TO OUR VETERANS IS WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU.
YOU TAKE CARE OF US, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
IF YOU FIGHT FOR US, WE FIGHT FOR YOU.
IF YOU HAVE OUR BACKS, WE HAVE YOUR BACK, OUR NATION, THE WHOLE MAKES THAT PROMISE.
AND WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES IN THE PAST, LIKE THE VIETNAM WAR, WE DON'T TURN OUR BACKS ON OUR VETERANS.
IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE WAR, FINE EVERYBODY.
AND IF YOU DISAGREE AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WANTS TO PROTEST THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN SOME CONFLICT, THAT'S ALL FINE.
BUT DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE VETERAN.
DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE SERVICE MEMBER.
SERVICE MEMBER DOES WHAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
AND SO HERE WE ARE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS.
SO AS THE AGENCY, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION AT STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES.
WE HAVE A TABLE HERE TODAY THAT GOES OVER SOME OF THEM.
AND OUR WEBSITE, IT'S NOT UP THERE, BUT IT'S T VVC, WHICH IS TAKE TANGO VICTOR CHARLIE.TEXAS.GOV, RIGHT? AND ON THERE WE HAVE, WE'RE ACCREDITED WITH THE VA TO FILE DISABILITY CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF VETERANS.
SO WE HAVE 150 VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS AROUND THE STATE AND THEY REPRESENT A VETERAN WITH THE VA TO FILE DISABILITY CLAIMS AND APPEALS.
WE ALSO WORK WITH ALL THE COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS AND ALL THE COUNTIES DO THE SAME THING.
WE ALSO HAVE A HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU USE VA HEALTHCARE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH APPOINTMENTS OR WITH GETTING A VISIT OR WITH THE SERVICE YOU GOT.
WE HAVE A HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY HELPS YOU RESOLVE THAT.
AND THEY'RE DOWN HERE IN AUSTIN AT THE OUT VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC.
WE HAVE BOTH THOSE SERVICES DOWN AT THE VAAL PATIENT, VA, VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC.
WE WORK WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS ON MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T SCREW OVER OUR VETERANS.
AND USING THE GI BILL IS TO USE PLAIN LANGUAGE, RIGHT? SO WE HELP YOU GET ACCESS TO GI BILL IN YOUR STATE HAZELWOOD EDUCATION BENEFIT IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
HAZELWOOD IS, IF YOU END OF SERVICE IN TEXAS SERVED AT LEAST 180 DAYS, YOU GET 150 HOURS OF EXEMPT TUITION AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.
AND IF YOU DON'T USE IT, YOU COULD PASS IT ON TO ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT 26 YEARS OR OLDER.
BUT YOU GOTTA DO GI BILL FIRST.
SO, OR A COMBINATION OF, BUT WE WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES TO MAKE SURE VETERANS ARE AWARE OF THESE BENEFITS AND CAN USE THEM.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
IT'S PART OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, UH, GRANT.
BUT WE HAVE 180 VETERAN EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY WORK IN THE STATE, IN THE AMERICAN JOB CENTERS.
AND THEY HELP VETERANS WITH THEIR JOB SKILLS.
AND THEY ALSO WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO HIRE VETERANS.
AND SO IT, BETWEEN THAT COMBINATION, WE PUT MORE VETERANS TO WORK THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN, IN THE NATION.
SO IF YOU NEED HELP WITH JOB SKILLS, YOU CAN COME TO US.
IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER, WANNA HIRE VETERANS, WE CAN HELP YOU HIRE VETERANS.
WE'RE THE ONLY STATE OF THE NATION.
WE, THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION HAS A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
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MOST STATES HAVE THE DISABILITY CLAIMS AND THE, AND THE, AND THE EMPLOYMENT.THEY DON'T HAVE THE HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY.
UH, SOME, THEY, MOST OF THEM HAVE THE EDUCATION, THE ENTREPRENEUR, NO OTHER STATE HAS THAT.
WE HELP VETERANS START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND WE LEAD THE NATION TO THAT TOO.
WE HELP VETERANS START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND MAINTAIN 'EM.
AND THEN WE MENTOR, WE DO BUSINESS PLANS, HELP THEM WITH, UH, FINANCING.
I MEAN WE GET ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP DO THAT.
BUT WE WILL HELP YOU WORK ON THAT.
ALSO, FILING WITH THE VETERAN VERIFICATION LETTER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO GET EXEMPTED FROM THE STARTUP FEES AND THE COMPTROLLER FROM THE FRANCHISE.
WE HAVE A VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT, UH, WORKS WITH ALL ENTITIES AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.
THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO HELP VETERANS GET ANY RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED FROM MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE, UH, VETERAN PEER COORDINATORS THAT WILL GET A VETERAN LINKED UP WITH, UH, VOLUNTEERS THAT DO PEER-TO-PEER COUNSELING.
IF YOU WANT TO, IF WE NEED TO GET INTO CLINICAL COUNSELING, WE CAN DO THAT.
A LOT OF VETERANS OVER THE YEARS USED TO BE A STIGMA.
NOBODY EVER WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY HAD, UH, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS OR THEY HAD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO CALL THAT SHELL SHOCK OR BATTLE FATIGUE AND YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S A REAL THING.
JUST AS BOXERS AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAVE FOUND OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IS A REAL THING.
AND, UM, SO WE HELP GET VETERANS INTO THOSE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM, RIGHT? TO HELP THEM HAVE A STABLE LIFE SO THEY CAN PURSUE, YOU KNOW, OTHER CAREERS IN, IN A FAMILY.
AND SO THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE THERE.
WE ALSO WORK WITH HOMELESS VETERANS.
WE HAVE A JUST INVOLVED VETERAN PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH INCARCERATED VETERANS, VETERANS IN THE JAILS.
AND WE SUPPORT VETERAN TREATMENT COURTS.
THERE'S 40 VETERAN TREATMENT COURTS IN TEXAS.
AND IF A VETERAN GETS ARRESTED, THERE'S ANY HISTORY OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL OR MENTAL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY CAN BE REFERRED INTO A VETERAN TREATMENT COURT.
THERE'S ONE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND IF YOU GO THROUGH PROGRAM, UH, FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND STAYING CLEAN, THEN YOU GET, UH, WHEN YOU GRADUATE, YOU GET THE CHARGES DROPPED.
WE HAVE A WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM, THE ONLY STATE THAT HAS A WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
WE HAVE MORE VETERANS THAN ANY OTHER STATE.
WE, WE EDGED OUT CALIFORNIA LAST YEAR.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WANNA BE BETTER THAN CALIFORNIA.
AND WE HAVE OVER 200,000 WOMEN VETERANS.
SO WE HAVE A WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM.
AND UH, SO WE HAVE WOMEN VETERANS THAT ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATE RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AROUND THE STATE.
WE WORK WITH THE VA, BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL, UH, SOURCES.
NONPROFITS, IT COULD BE SINGLE PARENT ISSUES, CAREER EDU.
UM, EMPLOYMENT COULD BE, UH, CHILDCARE, HEALTH ISSUES.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE FOCUS IN ON WHAT WOMEN VETERANS NEED.
WE TRY TO FIND OUT THEIR NEEDS, ASSESSMENTS, WHAT VETERANS NEED, AND TRY TO GET THOSE RESOURCES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
I DUNNO IF YOU EVER BOUGHT THE LOTTERY TICKETS, RIGHT? THE LOTTERY TICKETS.
WELL, THERE'S ONE CALLED A VETERAN CASH TICKET, $2 TICKET.
AND PART OF THAT MONEY GOES TO A FUND FOR VETERAN ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, FIVE COMMISSIONERS THAT, UM, THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THEY, AND THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, OVERSEE THE AGENCY.
THEY AWARD THE GRANTS EVERY YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE AWARDED $44 MILLION TO ABOUT 160 ORGANIZATIONS SINCE 2010 WHEN IT STARTED, WE WERE OVER 300 MILLION.
AND SO IT GOES TO NONPROFITS, ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP VETERANS.
IT CAN GO TO COUNTIES AND CITIES IF THEY APPLY.
AND, UM, IT CAN GO TO, UH, IT COULD ALSO GO TO VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE, UH, VFW, AMERICAN LEGION, DAV.
AND THERE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, LIKE A VAN TO GET YOU TO PLACE, TO PLACE, UH, RENOVATING HOMES FOR DISABLED VETERANS OR LOW INCOME VETERANS IF YOU KNOW, A DA MAKE IT A DA, UH, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANT.
WE ALSO DO VETERAN TREATMENT COURTS.
WE DO LEGAL ASSISTANCE, LEGAL AID, YOU KNOW, UH, CIVIL, UM, YOU CAN GET, UH, LIKE WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY.
UM, WE ALSO HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS.
SO THOSE, ON OUR WEBSITE, THERE'S A LISTING OF ALL THOSE RESOURCES.
SO WE REALLY, A BIG BELIEVER IN PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU GO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY IN AN ORGANIZATION HELPING YOU WITH SERVICES, THEY SHOULD ASK YOU WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED? AND THEN THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER RESOURCES OUT THERE TO TRY TO GET THESE VETERANS.
AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS TOO CAN QUALIFY TO GET INTO SOME OF THESE SERVICES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
UM, THERE'S ANOTHER WEBSITE OUT THERE CALLED THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK, WHICH WE COLLABORATE WITH.
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AND THEY HAVE A CONTRACT FOR THE WHOLE STATE.AND IT'S A, IT'S A DATABASE ACROSS THE STATE THAT ALL THESE RESOURCES ARE IN THERE.
SO IF YOU MAKE A PROFILE IN THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK, UM, AND YOU SAY, I NEED SOMETHING, THERE'LL BE OTHER ALL FREE, NOTHING.
YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY FOR A SERVICE EVER.
ESPECIALLY IN DISABILITY CLAIMS. THERE'S WHAT WE CALL CLAIM SHARKS OUT THERE THAT GET VETERANS TO PAY THEM.
YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY, DON'T EVER DO THAT.
GET AHOLD OF US OR ONE OF THE VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP YOU WITH FILING CLAIMS. BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY.
AND ALL THESE SERVICES ARE FREE AND YOU CAN GET IN THERE TO, UH, TO, TO HELP YOU WITH FINDING THE SERVICE TO MEET YOU NEED.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY WITH TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE AT THE, AT THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, RIGHT? TALKING TO BRAND NEW SERVICE MEMBERS THAT ARE LEAVING.
AND SOME OF THEM COME BACK TO TEXAS, SOME OF 'EM STAY HERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW.
JUST LIKE YOU MAYBE DIDN'T KNOW.
IT'S LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I DID 27 YEARS IN THE ARMY AND I GOT OFF THE ARMY AND I, YOU KNOW, I KNEW A LITTLE BIT, BUT I KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE.
AND SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO AN OUTREACH TO CONNECT VETERANS IN THE FAMILIES TO THE RESOURCES OUT THERE.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE IN CASE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY NEED SOMETHING.
AND, UM, AND SO WE JUST SPREAD THE WORD AS AS, AS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
'CAUSE TEXAS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE A VETERAN AND PROBABLY HAS MORE, I THINK IT DOES, HAS MORE SERVICES THAN ANY OTHER IN ANY OTHER STATE.
AND AS SAM HOUSTON SAID, THERE'S TWO TONS OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN TEXAS, THE ONES WHO WERE BORN HERE, AND THE ONES THAT GOT HERE AS FAST AS THEY COULD.
I GREW UP IN BOSTON, BUT I WAS STATIONED AT FORT BLISS.
WHO EVER BEEN THERE? ANYBODY BEEN TO FOR BLISS? NO PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU MARRY A TEXAS GIRL, YOU RETIRE IN TEXAS.
SO WE GOT AS FAST, AS FAST AS WE COULD.
UM, SO YOU CAN GET A HOLD OF US, GO ON OUR WEBSITE.
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS, IS THERE, UM, YOU CAN EVEN SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR DISABILITY CLAIMS. TALK TO US.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AGAIN AND YOUR FAMILY.
UH, I WANT TO GOD BLESS ALL OUR VETERANS OUT THERE ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY PLUS TWO, AND ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR NATION'S SECURITY AND TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN YOU'VE COME HOME, WHICH IS SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT AND, UM, CAN NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH.
SO GOD BLESS YOU, GOD BLESS TEXAS AND GOD BLESS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND I'M NOT RUNNING FOR ANYONE.
WE OKAY ON TIME? YEAH, WE'RE GOOD.
WE ARE NOW IN OUR LAST SEGMENT OF TODAY'S PROGRAMMING.
UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I KNOW IT WAS A LONG MORNING, A GOOD AFTERNOON, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT LUNCH KEPT YOU IN THE ROOM AND KEPT YOU ACTIVE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA NOW TRANSITION INTO THAT FULL HOUR OF RESOURCE FAIR WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH ALL THE RESOURCES IN THE ROOM, ASK QUESTIONS THAT ARE INDIVIDUAL TO YOU, GET CONTACT INFORMATION.
SO AGAIN, THIS DOES CONCLUDE OUR PROGRAMMING FOR THE, FOR THIS.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE HOUR IN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING WITH OUR VENDORS THAT ARE HERE.
THANK YOU ALL AND I WANNA GIVE ROUND APPLAUSE TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS IN THE ROOM.
AND I WANT TO GIVE TWO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, UM, OUR AWESOME PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF FOR HAVING US IN THIS ROOM.
SO IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, THE, THE, THE CATERER SLAB, CAN WE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? AND THE CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES WHO HELPED PUT THIS ON TOGETHER.
SO LET ALSO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.