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In this Update:
February 24: Veteran Service Officer Day
My office hosts monthly Veteran Service Officer Days to help veterans and their loved ones navigate and apply for benefits earned through military service. Our next scheduled date is Tuesday, February 24th, in my Mahanoy City Office. For an appointment, please call (570) 773-0891. Attention Veterans: Shenandoah Valley Sports Locker & Veterans Support Fund is Here to Help!
The mission of the Shenandoah Valley Sports Locker & Veterans Support Fund is to assist Schuylkill County veterans facing immediate hardships, including overdue utility bills, late rent or mortgage payments, unforeseen car expenses, or food insecurity. Veterans seeking assistance or more information about available services are encouraged to contact the Schuylkill County Veterans Affairs Office in Pottsville at 570-628-1400. Thank you all for undertaking this incredibly impactful work on behalf of local heroes. Ensuring Access to Veterans Assistance Programs Across Pennsylvania
Legislation to improve the distribution of funding for veterans’ programs across the commonwealth is awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 146, introduced by Sen. Lisa Baker and unanimously passed by the Senate last March, would increase assistance and support provided by statewide charitable organizations to veterans and their families in underserved regions of the commonwealth through the Veterans’ Trust Fund. The Veterans’ Trust Fund provides grants to veterans’ service and non-profit organizations that assist veterans with issues including housing, financial matters, food, training, recovery assistance, transportation and health. Senate Bill 146 also raises awareness about the programs and resources supported by the Veterans’ Trust Fund. More Disabled Pennsylvanians Now Eligible for PA ABLE Savings Accounts
More Pennsylvanians – including veterans – are eligible to participate in the PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Savings Program in 2026. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Pennsylvanians with a qualifying disability occurring prior to age 46 are eligible to open a PA ABLE account. Previously, eligibility required the disability to occur before age 26. PA ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save up to $19,000 per year tax-free without impacting important benefits. For veterans, savings and investments in PA ABLE accounts do not impact VA benefits. PA ABLE offers several saving options, including an interest-bearing checking account or investment options. Funds can be used for qualified expenses such as housing, health care, transportation and assistive technology. Contributions are deductible on state income taxes, and qualified withdrawals are exempt from state and federal income taxes. PA ABLE is administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, herself a veteran, said, “This significant expansion of eligibility to save with PA ABLE will usher in an era of greater financial independence and security for more of our friends and family members living with disabilities.” Assisting Veterans with Financial Literacy
If your New Year’s resolution is to increase financial literacy, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers resources to help veterans manage their personal finances, including:
Improving Health Care Outcomes for Veterans
To enhance health care outcomes for Pennsylvania veterans, a bipartisan legislative package has been introduced in the Senate designed to better equip health care providers and practitioners with information regarding their veteran patients and special risks to their health. As noted in a study conducted by a legislative task force, many veterans receiving their care outside of the VA do not identify themselves as veterans to their health care providers, despite their increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), suicide and toxic exposures. The bills include: Senate Bill 1060 requires health care providers and practitioners to screen new patients for veteran status prior to consulting with or providing treatment but does not allow care to be denied if a patient refuses to give their veterans status. Senate Bill 1061 requires the county directors of veterans affairs training program to specifically include the topics of trauma-informed care, MST, PTSD, TBI and other forms of trauma-informed care. Senate Bill 1062 requires physicians to complete training on veteran-related illness as part of their initial licensure and continuing medical education. Advertising Veterans’ Resources in Workplaces
Beginning this month, all employers with more than 50 employees are required to physically display or post on their websites a notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, providing contact information for veterans’ resources and information regarding federal and state benefits and services for veterans. The Great American Outdoor Show
The Great American Outdoor Show is coming to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Billed as the “world’s largest outdoor show,” it includes nine days of celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions with exhibitors, live music, speaking events, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, seminars, demos and more. While there is a cost to attend and no specific veteran discount offered, the show has several special ticket prices.
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