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NORWALK, CA – Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) today hosted the First Annual Veterans Health and Employment Expo for veterans and their families from throughout Southern California. Over 200 veterans attended the event at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex where they were offered free health screening and rehabilitation counseling, assistance with benefits claims, unemployment and disability insurance services, and career training and job placement.
“Our veterans are our true American heroes,” said Napolitano. “For too long the Bush Administration has neglected the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend America and freedom around the world. We are working hard to honor our veterans by making sure these dignified patriots get the help and services they need to continue their valuable contributions to our country. Today’s event was an opportunity to educate and inform our veterans on the benefits and services available to them and connect them with employers eager to bring them on board.”
Congresswoman Napolitano presented the First Annual Veterans Health and Employment Expo in conjunction with the California Employment Development Department (CA EDD) and the Cities of Norwalk and Montebello. The Expo featured free health screenings on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mobile Health Screening Bus, VA workshops on assistance with benefits claims and health and rehabilitation counseling, unemployment and disability insurance services offered by CA EDD, career training and job placement from the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board (SELACO WIB), and over 110 employers looking to hire.
This year the House of Representatives has made it a priority to meet the needs of our new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as our heroes from previous generations. The House-passed Military Construction/VA spending bill for Fiscal Year 2008 includes the largest single funding increase in the history of the VA so that we can adequately maintain VA facilities, reduce the benefits claims backlog, and better treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The House-passed Wounded Warriors Assistance Act addresses deficiencies in treatment by improving outpatient care, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and easing the transition from the Armed Services to the VA system. And the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which gives the VA the tools it needs to treat veterans at increased risk of suicide, is ready for the President to enact into law.
“We have done a lot to help our Veterans, but there remains more to do,” said Napolitano. “I will continue my efforts to make sure that every single veteran is treated with dignity and respect and gets the benefits and services our heroes deserve.”
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