Davids Honors Veterans Day in the Third District, Shares Federal Funding for Veterans and Servicemembers

Representative Sharice Davids honored Veterans Day at the Overland Park Veterans Day celebration, meeting with local veterans and servicemembers, members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and Army Legion Band, and local first responders.

Rep. Davids meets U.S. Marines at the Overland Park Veterans Day celebration

"As we mark Veterans Day today, I am thinking of my mom, who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and taught me the values of service and honor," said Davids. "For her and the thousands of other veterans in the Third District have served our nation honorably, and I am committed to ensuring they have the tools they need to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives."

The American Rescue Plan allocated $17 billion in economic and health care relief funds to veterans. These funds directly assist facilities like the newly opened Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in Lenexa, which will eventually serve more than 5,000 Veterans in Johnson County and surrounding areas. Davids is the only member of the Kansas delegation who voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, which included:

• $14.5 billion for COVID-19 related health care, ensuring access for 9.2 million enrolled veterans who may have delayed seeking care or taken on more complex health needs due to the pandemic.
• $1 billion to waive VA health care copayments through September and to reimburse veterans who paid a copay for care and prescriptions from April 6, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.
• $750 million to construct new Veteran State Homes to greatly improve the living conditions of our most vulnerable veterans.
• $386 million for employment training and employment assistance, providing up to 12 months of training for unemployed veterans and a housing allowance for those who enroll in the program.
• $272 million to reduce the backlog of compensation claims, pension claims, and hearing requests, helping veterans economically by resolving their VA appeals and, if granted, allowing them to begin receiving compensation and services.
• A detailed list of American Rescue Plan provisions benefiting veterans can be found here.

"Every day, the Kansas City VA Medical Center team cares for veterans from across the Kansas City Metro and beyond," said Lisa Curnes, KCVAInterim Medical Center Director. "The investments afforded veterans through the American Rescue Plan have enabled us to expand our mental health, telehealth and community outreach capabilities to reach even more veterans in the communities where they live. The newest KCVA facility in Lenexa, Kansas, is a perfect example of providing expanded community-based services that were previously only available at our main hospital."

Rep. Davids at the Overland Park Veterans Day celebration

Additionally, Davids voted to increase VA funding in this year's Appropriations bills, specifically to increase housing, mental health, and health care services. Veterans make up roughly 11 percent of all adults experiencing homelessness and many suffer from mental health conditions, including an estimated 30 percent of those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. The investments Davids voted to support include:

• $13.2 billion for mental health services, including record levels for suicide prevention programs
• $778.5 for gender-specific care for women veterans
• $621 million for opioid abuse prevention programs
• $902 million for medical and prosthetic research to improve care for veterans
• $2.2 billion in increased funding for homelessness assistance programs to enhance the VA's ability to support veterans reentering the workforce and offer rental assistance to low-income veterans
• $2.2 billion to improve safety and expand services at VA facilities