Brown, Wilson promote bill to increase aid for area veterans
Chillicothe Gazette – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and 6th District U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson hope a new bill to authorize a cooperative agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Appalachian Regional Commission will help boost services to veterans in Appalachian areas.
"Veterans in Appalachia deserve the same level of services and benefits received by veterans in Cleveland, Columbus or Cincinnati," Brown said during a conference call with reporters this week. "But veterans in Appalachia face unique challenges — from geographic isolation to misallocation and distribution of resources. Too many Appalachian veterans struggle with the VA. It is vital that the VA utilize the ARC's unique knowledge of the region so all of Ohio's veterans receive services and benefits they have earned."
The announcement comes after Brown made a series of visits to various VA facilities in Appalachian areas of the state, including one to Chillicothe. The federal secretary of veterans affairs, Eric Shinseki, also visited the Chillicothe VA to review federal stimulus projects underway at the VA and to speak with veterans about their concerns.
