Senator Hassan Visits VA Regional Office in Bedford to Discuss Importance of Supporting Veterans and their Families

Senator Hassan tours the VA Regional Office in Bedford, MA. 

BEDFORD, MA – Senator Maggie Hassan visited the VA Regional Office today, where she met with leadership of the VA New England Health Care System, visited with veterans, and highlighted the importance of ensuring that veterans in New Hampshire and across the country have the care and support that they need and have earned.

Senator Hassan met with Acting Network Director, Barrett Franklin; Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lisa Lehmann; Medical Center Director, Dr. Joan Clifford; and Chief Communications Officer, Maureen Heard. Senator Hassan and leadership of the VA New England Health Care System also discussed recent reports of nursing homes not meeting the needs of veterans.

“Our veterans have sacrificed bravely in defense of our freedoms, and we must constantly be working to uphold the ideals that they so valiantly fought for and to build a stronger country that is ever-worthy of their service,” Senator Hassan said. “As part of those efforts, we must ensure that our selfless veterans and their families receive the support and care that they need and have earned. I will continue to work to hold the VA accountable for meeting the needs of our veterans, and I will continue working with the VA New England Health Care System to improve the health and well-being of our veterans.” 

Supporting New Hampshire’s veterans is a top priority for Senator Hassan, and she recently voted to pass the bipartisan VA MISSION Act, which has now been signed into law and works to strengthen the VA system, while also recognizing the importance of community-based care. In the latest bipartisan appropriations legislation that passed out of the Senate, Senators Hassan and Shaheen introduced an amendment that would prohibit the use of funds for the realignment of facilities in states like New Hampshire without a full-service VA facility until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs certifies that changes would not result in the disruption or reduction of services for veterans in those states.  Additionally, Senator Hassan recently introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) that would prioritize veteran employment and education programs at the VA.

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