Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Connors, Cruz-Perez and Madden
SYNOPSIS
Urges United States Department of Veterans Affairs to expand Veterans Transportation Program between New Jersey to Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transportation for veterans in South Jersey to VA health care facilities in Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) that provides options to eligible military veterans, at little or no cost, for travel to and from VA healthcare facilities or VA-approved health care appointments; and
Whereas, While the federal government’s role in veterans transportation services is focused on helping veterans access health care by means of the VTP, the VA does not provide those services to veterans in South Jersey who continue to struggle accessing VA health care facilities in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Without full transportation services, many veterans in Southern New Jersey find it difficult to access the benefits they have earned through their service to this country and to meet the challenges associated with returning to civilian life; and
Whereas, Veterans may face transportation challenges because they cannot drive or no longer drive and public transportation is not available or is time consuming; and
Whereas, Veterans are at higher risk for unemployment, homelessness, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, major depression, and suicide, which makes it crucial that they receive adequate health care; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey does provide transportation services for veterans, through a State program funded by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to the East Orange VA health care facility, but not to VA health care facilities in Wilmington or Philadelphia; and
Whereas, New Jersey military veterans who live in Southern New Jersey have served with honor and dignity and they deserve quality services such as full VTP benefits to and from VA health care facilities wherever these centers are and whenever they need them; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate of the State of New Jersey urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to expand the Veterans Transportation Program to include transportation for New Jersey veterans who live in Southern New Jersey to health care facilities in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the United States Congress from the State of New Jersey, and the Adjutant General of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) to include transportation for New Jersey veterans who live in Southern New Jersey to VA health care facilities in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The VTP offers transportation solutions to eligible New Jersey veterans to and from the VA health care facilities in East Orange, New Jersey. However, many of the veterans in South Jersey often lack reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation services to VA health care facilities in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey military veterans have selflessly served this country with honor and dignity, putting their lives on the line to protect this country. For this reason, veterans deserve quality services such as transportation to the nearest VA health care facility.