Serving our Veterans

8/11/2019 Serving our Veterans

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Maine has one of the highest per capita veteran populations in the country. As a state, weneed to better recognize that those who served are current and future business leaders,teachers, farmers and neighbors, and we owe it to veterans to build and expand uponexisting services and programs.

From mental health care to job transition assistance to support for military families, our state

wins by enabling and empowering our veterans.

MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE MAINE PROVIDES THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE FOROUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I BELIEVE HOW WE HONOR THOSE WHO

SERVED US SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE NATURE OF OUR SOCIETY.AND MAINE CAN DO BETTER.

Maine must be prepared to meet the needs of the modern day veteran.

The silent cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is estimated to surpass $4 trillion once long-

term medical care and disability compensation for service members and veterans is factoredin.1Maine must be ready to support the men and women who have served in uniform as theyreturn for conflict and not repeat mistakes made by our nation after past conflicts.

Our military members are volunteers who know and accept they may be sent into harms wayto protect our freedoms. As a state, we must accept our inherent responsibility to ensureveterans are cared for when they return and that we work to help them be successful.

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SERVING OUR VETERANSMAINES COMMITMENT TO LEAVING NO HERO BEHIN

INTRODUCTION


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To make veteran services better, we will perform a head-to-toe assessment of Maines Bureauof Veterans Services to identify the transformational changes necessary to ensure we aremeeting the needs of veterans and military service members today.

As governor, I will demand efficient and effective government, and I not allow bureaucracy tostand in the way of progress. No veteran will be left behind because of a lack of information.

EVERY STATE DEPARTMENT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP WILL MAKE IDENTIFYING ANDINFORMING VETERANS ABOUT AVAILABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL SERVICES

A TOP PRIORITY.

Furthermore, I intend to shine a spotlight on four issues relating to care:

Mental Health.I believe that mental health issues are at the root of other problems affectingthe veteran community, like homelessness and suicide. This is why mental health care forveterans should be a top priority. Ensuring that adequate programs and resources areavailable will enable those who served to get the care they need.

Rural Access. Having served in Congress for 12 years, I know the issues facing veteranswho live in rural Maine. While in Washington, I fought to create a pilot program in AroostookCounty called Project ARCH to get timely access to high-quality, specialized care for ourveterans.2Our state needs to explore additional options so that those who live in rural areas particularly our elder veterans have easy and regular access to care.

Women Veteran Services.According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, women makeup 8 percent of Maines veteran population, a statistic that is directly in line with the nationalaverage.3As we look to transform Maines Bureau of Veteran Services, womens issues mustbe at the forefront of the conversation.

Maximizing Federal Relationships. After 12 years in Washington, I know Maine can bettercoordinate with the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to ensure we take fulladvantage of federally authorized funds for Maines veterans. We need a governor who willstrengthen, not undermine, relationships with the federal government to enhance our supportfor veterans.

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CREATING EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESSPerforming a head-to-toe assessment of Maines Bureau of Veterans

Services, and the entire Department of Defense, Veterans and EmergencyManagement


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By elevating these specific issues, we can begin to achieve goals.

We can end veteran homelessness in the state of Maine. We can make childcare servicesaccessible for single, oftentimes female, parents who have daylong appointments at VAhealthcare facilities. And we can assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in eliminatingbacklog by providing adequate resources to Maines Veteran Service Officers to enhance thenumber of Fully Developed Claims submitted.

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Modernizing the Bureau of Veterans Services to meet the needs of todays veteran is only thebeginning. Reintegration is paramount. After serving, these men and women return home withnew talents, skills and ideas, and as a state, we need to make it easier to translate theirexperience and skills into jobs. To do so, we must focus on:

Information Access.Veterans cannot use programs and resources if they do not know theyexist. As governor, the Bureau of Veterans Services will become a one-stop source forinformation, not only for state and federal programs, but also for Maines many Veterans

Service Organizations.

Community Integration. Our veterans deserve to feel at home in Maine. By buildingrelationships with Veterans Service Organizations, other nonprofits, local businesses andcommunities, we can make the transition from military life to civilian life much easier. Strongcommunity involvement is the key to a successful transition.

Education.Education is critical in building a strong economy. It is also critical in gettingveterans working. As governor, I want to ensure full GI Bill benefits are utilized and maximumfederal and state level benefits are available. In addition, I will ensure that the educationpolicies outlined in my MAINE MADE plan to break down barriers to higher education andjob training are tailored to meet the needs of veterans.

Employment. Above all, getting veterans into careers must be our top priority. We mustleverage the special skills, training and experience veterans receive in the military and expandtheir access to the Maine job market. This means resume writing courses, job fairs and otherforms of vocational rehabilitation. Maine needs to continue building partnerships with localbusinesses, communities and Veterans Service Organization to improve transition assistanceand employment service programs available to our veterans.

Ive always felt a duty as a Mainer to honor and support those whove sacrificed for ourfreedom as Americans, as well the brave men and women who continue to serve in ourarmed services today. I will continue to uphold my commitment to Maines veterans asgovernor. Their service to our country can never be forgotten.

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FOCUSING ON REINTEGRATION

Ensuring men and women who served this country can easily translatetheir experience and new skills into employment and work at home.


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1Bilmes, Linda J. "The Financial Legacy of Iraq and Afghanistan: How Wartime Spending Decisions WillConstrain Future National Security Budgets." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP13-006, March2013.

2Joe Lawler. (2014, June 12). Pilot program in Maine could be model to ease VA backlogs nationally. The Portland Press

Herald. Retrieved from http://www.pressherald.com/

3Department of Veterans Affairs, Table 6L: VetPop2011, at http://www.va.gov/vetdata/
http://www.pressherald.com/http://www.pressherald.com/

Serving our Veterans

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