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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      CONTACT: Murray Press Office

Wednesday, July 1, 2015                                                                      (202) 224-2834

 

VETERANS: Murray: Walla Walla Veterans Home Result of Outstanding Community Partnerships, Persistence, and Dedication

 

Groundbreaking continues decades-long effort to support vets in Southeastern Washington

80-bed facility will serve veterans from 10 counties near Walla Walla

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Senator Murray with local, state, and federal officials this morning breaking ground on the state veterans home.

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray joined local, state, and federal officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the long-awaited Walla Walla Veterans Home. For more than a decade, Senator Murray has worked with veterans, community leaders, and local officials to support the large veterans community in Eastern Washington.  She has consistently pushed VA officials, including numerous VA Secretaries, to commit funding for the Walla Walla State Veterans Home project, and in 2014, secured $23 million in federal funding to help the project keep moving forward.

“After so many years, the reason why this long effort is finally coming to fruition is because you all believe the same thing I do –our veterans in Walla Walla deserve the care and support this home will offer – and we owed it to them to get this done,” said Senator Patty Murray. “It took an amazing level of coordinated effort to make today’s veterans home and the continued existence of this VA campus a reality… this is a community that has let their veterans know – we’ve got your back.”

“Your Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs could not be more excited to finally break ground on the Walla Walla State Veterans Home,” said Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos, WDVA Director. “This project showcases a federal-state partnership that is unprecedented in Washington State.  Now, thanks to the Federal VA, we have the opportunity to co-locate a long-term nursing care facility on the grounds of the Walla Walla VA Medical Center.”

Walla Walla VA’s Medical Center Director, Brian Westfield, states: “Our commitment is to honor President Abraham Lincoln’s immortalized words by ‘Honoring America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.’  The Walla Walla VA is proud to partner with our community and other agencies to collaboratively support Veterans and bring their care closer to their home.”

“This is another example of the ‘Walla Walla Way’ — you imagine what is possible and work hard to make it happen,” said Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. “ I’m so grateful for the support this community provides to our Veterans. This new Veterans Home means more Veterans will receive the care they need here in Walla Walla.”

 

Also in attendance were VISN 20 Director Larry Carroll, Walla Walla Mayor Jerry Cummins, Walla Walla Veterans Task Force Representative Tim McCarty, Walla Walla VAMC Director Brian Westfield, Executive Director of the Port of Walla Walla James Kuntz, and tribal representatives.

Washington has state veterans homes in Spokane, Kitsap County and Pierce County, but the southeastern corner has yet to have a state veterans home. The new home is being built on the campus of the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla and will serve 80 veterans at a time and create 100 local jobs.  Earlier this year, Senator Murray cut the ribbon at the new, 67,000 sq. ft., VA Outpatient Clinic in Walla Walla.

Senator Murray’s full remarks as prepared are below:

“I am honored and truly excited to be here today, after many years fighting for the Walla Walla State Veterans Home. After so many years, the reason why this long effort is finally coming to fruition is because you all believe the same thing I do – our veterans in Walla Walla deserve the care and support this home will offer, and we owed it to them to get this done.

“The celebration today would not have been possible without several dedicated individuals, who I am proud to call great partners and friends – Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, Director of the Washington state VA, Larry Caroll, Director of our VA regional health network, Tim McCarty of the Walla Walla Task Force, Mayor Jerry Cummins and the former Walla Walla City Manager Duane Cole, Members of the local advisory panel, the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, and the Nez Perce Tribe, who all played a critical role here. And a special welcome to guest Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

“There are countless individuals who contributed to the completion of this project who may not be mentioned-but should know their work has not gone unnoticed. And of course, the Walla Walla community is the strong foundation whose work we simply built upon to get where we are today, so I want to say to everyone here today – thank you.

“I am proud to stand here with you to celebrate the groundbreaking of a facility that will serve our veterans, and remind us what is possible with a lot of hard work and a little bit of stubbornness.

“It took an amazing level of coordinated effort to make today’s veterans home and the continued existence of this VA campus a reality – from veterans here in Walla Walla to local government, state government, and up to the federal government, and several Secretaries of Veterans Affairs.

“The story of this campus goes back to 2003 when it was put on a list for closure by the CARES Commission – and then just a year later, despite pleas to consider the devastating effect on the Walla Walla community – its closure was finalized.

“I probably heard from every single veteran in this part of the state about how important this facility is. So I took that message straight to President Bush.

“I let the President and everyone at every level of the VA know what this facility meant to this region, and how wrong it would be to leave veterans without services here in Southeast Washington. And all of you refused to back down. You wrote, you called, you attended committee hearings, and eventually, we proved to them that this place was more than worth keeping open – it was worth expanding.

“After VA Secretary Peake visited in 2008, he announced that after years of fighting for every dollar we needed to keep the doors open, he would authorize $70 million for the state of the art facility that opened last April.

“Together, we went from losing this entire facility and having vets drive to Spokane and Seattle for care, to having it taken off the closure list altogether. And after securing $23 million in federal funding last year and having the official land transfer to the state happen just 2 months ago, I am proud to stand alongside you here today in your victory to expand these facilities.

“And now, veterans from 10 counties with a combined population of more than 50,000 will benefit from this home. 80 veterans and surviving spouses will have a bed to sleep in, and skilled staff to care for them. This is a community that has let their veterans know – we’ve got your back.

“I want veterans in the Walla Walla community to know that I also have your back. As the daughter of a World War II veteran who struggled from multiple sclerosis, I understand how important it is to get support.

“And after sacrificing so much for their country, it’s the least we can do to ensure veterans are properly cared for by their community and their government.

“I consider one of the most important parts of my job to be listening to the people I represent in Washington state, and sharing your stories in DC. As a senior member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I vow to keep fighting the good fight to keep veterans in this facility taken care of, and veterans all across Washington state.

“I can’t say it enough – I am so thankful to have had such an outstanding group of dedicated people here in Walla Walla to work with all these years. It’s people like you who inspire me to keep doing my job the best I can–people like you who show us how we should be caring for each other and making our communities – and our country – a better place.

“Thank you.”

###

Leah Kennebeck

Deputy Press Secretary

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray

202-224-2834

Uncategorized

HUD-VASH vouchers

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On Friday, June 26, HUD published a set-aside notice for project-based HUD-VASH vouchers. This would be additional HUD-VASH vouchers, to be used in a setting where the HUD-VASH voucher is assigned to a rental unit and not an individual Veteran, allocated to your Public Housing Authority (PHA).  If one of your PHAs is planning to apply, they must be able to document support from the VA.

This is a competitive award process. Approximately $7 million in funding is available for this set-aside which will support roughly 1,000 units. Applications are due on August 28, 2015.  The full notice can be found here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=15-11pihn.pdf

Jobs

Working with Our Troops: Veterans’ & Spouses Career Expo Tickets, Seattle | Eventbrite

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Click the link below to sign up!

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/working-with-our-troops-veterans-spouses-career-expo-tickets-11910475553

Working with Our Troops: Veterans’ & Spouses Career Expo

WorkSource Seattle-King County, King County Veterans’ Program, and Washington State Convention Center

Tuesday, July 15, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (PDT)

Ticket Information

TYPE END QUANTITY
Working with Our Troops: Veterans’ & Spouses Career Expo Ended Free N/A

Event Details

This event is a partnership between the Washington State Convention Center, the King County Veterans’ Program, and WorkSource Seattle-King County.
We welcome Veterans and spouses to this event for Veterans seeking jobs or wanting to improve their job-seeking skills.
The event will include:
~ Dozens of Employers (see list below)
~ Optional 1-1 resume writing/review session tailored to Vets
~ A presentation for job seekers on presenting yourself in your best light
~ Complimentary beverages, coffee, and boxed lunches
~ Validated parking

Free Shuttle service to/from the Convention Center:
Kitsap County:
Buses depart at 8:30 for the WA State Convention Center and leave back for Kitsap at 1:30
Address: 1950 Mile Hill Drive, Port Orchard WA 98366

Pierce County:
First Bus departs at 9 and Second Bus departs at 9:30, and leave back for Tacoma at 1:30
Address: Tacoma Dome Parking Lot, 727 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98421

Snohomish County:
Bus departs at 8:30
Address: Smokey Point Naval Support Complex, 13900 45TH Ave NE, Marysville, WA 98271
100+ PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS (subject to change):
ABM
Aerojet Rocketdyne
Allegiance Staffing
Amazon
American Construction Company
Atech Logistics Inc.
Auto Warehouse Company
Bartelson Transportation
Berkshire Hathaway HS Northwest Real Estate
Boeing Company
Brandman University
Bonneville Power Administration
Carlile Transportation
CertainTeed Gypsum
Chameleon Technologies
Commercial Drivers School (CDS)
Community Health Plan of Washington
CompuCom
Coastal Transportation Inc.
Crowley Maritime Corporation
Cummins Northwest
DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport
Equity Residential
Exotic Metals Forming Company
Falcon Freight Services
Farmers Insurance
Fastenal Company
FedEx Ground
Fikes Products
First Command Financial Planning
First Student
Fisherman’s Finest Inc.
Foss Maritime Company
Gary Merlino Construction
Group Health Cooperative
Hanson Bros. Transfer and Storage Co.
Harris Rebar
HDR Engineering Inc.
Hexcel Corporation
Hoffman Construction Co.
Impel Neuropharma
Indemand Interpreting
Interstate Distributor Inc.
Kelly Services
King County
King County 2-1-1
King County Sheriff’s Office
Lee & Eastes Tank Lines Inc.
LegalShield
Lowe’s
Macy’s Bellevue Square
Madden Industrial Craftsmen Inc.
McLendon Hardware Inc.
Microsoft
Oberto Brands
PACCAR
PCL Construction
Perkins Coie LLP
PetroCard Inc.
Pioneer Human Services
Plymouth Housing Group
Port of Seattle
Prince Telecom
Prologistix
Public Safety Testing
Puget Sound Blood Center
Puget Sound Energy
Recology
ResCare HomeCare
Resource Recycling Technologies
Ring and Pinion Service, Inc.
Riverstone Residential Group
Republic Parking NW
S&B Truck Service Inc.
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle City Light
Seattle Goodwill
Seattle Parks & Municipal Court
Seattle Police Department
Securitas Security Service USA Inc.
Security Industry Specialists
Service Linen Supply
7-Eleven Inc.
Smart Talent
Sound Community Bank
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
Tableau Software
Tacoma Police Department
Terex/Genie
Thrivent Financial
ThyssenKrupp Aerospace NA
Tradesmen International
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
UPS
US Customs & Border Protection
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs
US Foods
US General Services Administration
UW Medicine NW Hospital
University of Washington Physicians
Volt
Washington Health Care Authority
Washington River Protection Solutions
Washington State Convention Center
Washington State Dept. of Ecology
Washington State Dept. of Enterprise Services
Washington State Patrol
Werner Enterprises
World Vision
Xerox
Yakima Police Department
 
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE EVENT ON THIS PAGE AND PRE-ORDER YOUR COMPLIMENTARY BOXED LUNCH
 
WorkSource partners are equal opportunity employers and providers of employment and training services. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to people with disabilities.
Have questions about Working with Our Troops: Veterans’ & Spouses Career Expo? Contact WorkSource Seattle-King County, King County Veterans’ Program, and Washington State Convention Center
Health, Vietnam

VFW Salutes New Agent Orange Decision

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image003WASHINGTON (June 18, 2015) — The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United is saluting today’s decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin accepting disability claims from veterans potentially exposed to Agent Orange-contaminated aircraft in the post-Vietnam era. The decision by VA Secretary Bob McDonald could now benefit as many as 1,500 to 2,100 Air Force and Air Force Reserve personnel who might suffer from any of 14 presumptive medical conditions that have been determined to be related to Agent Orange exposure.
The VA secretary made the decision to expand benefits following a 2015 report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine on Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft. The report found evidence that those who served aboard or worked on the C-123 aircraft were exposed to the herbicide, both during and after Vietnam, when many of the aircraft remained in service for aeromedical transportation or in a mosquito abatement role back in the U.S.
“The VFW has been pushing for this decision for years,” said VFW National Commander John W. Stroud, “because something inside these aircraft was making people sick years after the plane last flew a defoliating mission in Vietnam. We thank the Institute of Medicine for determining a contributing link between exposure and the 14 medical conditions, and Secretary McDonald for making a quick call to care for more veterans.”
All airmen who were assigned to flight, ground or medical crew duties at Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio (the 906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons), at Massachusetts’s Westover AFB (the 731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron), or with the 758th Airlift Squadron in Pittsburgh, during the period 1969 to 1986, and who may have developed an Agent Orange-related disability, are encouraged to file a disability compensation claim through the VA’s eBenefits web portal (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/), or to seek the free and expert assistance of a national VFW Service Officer at http://www.vfw.org/NVS/.
Read more about the today’s decision at http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/20825/va-expands-disability-benefits-for-air-force-personnel-exposed-to-contaminated-c-123-aircraft/.
VetCorps

Recruiting for Vet Corps National Service Positions!

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Hello colleagues and friends,

I am writing to announce the open recruitment period for the Corporation for National and Community Service, Americorps  program Vet Corps in Washington State. We have several sites open throughout King and Peirce County…as well as through  out the state.

The WDVA Vet Corps is funded through an AmeriCorps grant. Vet Corps members are stationed at many colleges throughout the state.

Vet Corps members help veterans achieve their higher education goals by:

  • Providing training and support to college faculty, staff and administration to increase awareness of student veterans’ needs;
  • Providing a peer connection for veterans new to higher education;
  • Helping the college to meet the needs of student veterans; and
  • Providing veterans with connections to federal, state or local veteran’s benefits.

The Vet Corps helps veterans and their family members navigate Washington’s higher education and training programs as veterans adjust from military to college life.

Please liberally share this e-mail and attached flyer.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested in applying or learning more about the program feel free to contact me directly.

Rebecca Murch, B.A.B.S.

King County Regional Coordinator

VetCorps – Americorps

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

425-802-6628

PTSD, VA

VA Campaign Encourages Public to Help Raise PTSD Awareness

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vafacebook_originalWASHINGTON – As the country recognizes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, the VA National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) is inviting the public to participate in its “PTSD Awareness: June 2015” campaign, which began June 1. This year’s goal is to help more Veterans, their families, caregivers and community members understand what PTSD is and know that there are specific treatments that can help improve and save lives.
“Raising PTSD awareness is essential to overcoming the myth, misinformation and stigma that too often prevents Veterans from seeking help,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “VA is one of the largest integrated mental health systems in the United States that provides specialized treatment for PTSD, so we know that care works. We encourage everyone to join us in this important effort to share important information about PTSD and help Veterans receive care they need.”
This year’s campaign focuses on online materials and encourages the general public to “learn, connect, and share” to raise PTSD awareness. Anyone can “learn” how PTSD treatment can help, “connect” by reaching out to someone, and “share” what they learn by spreading the word.
June 27 also has been designated by VA as PTSD Awareness Day for the fourth consecutive year. For more information on PTSD and the ways to raise awareness throughout the year, professionals and members of the public can visit the National Center for PTSD website, www.ptsd.va.gov/about/PTSD-awareness/. This site offers resources such as:

  • PTSD Coach Online and the award-winning PTSD Coach mobile app, which provide symptom-management strategies. The app is always with you when you need it.
  • Continuing Education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) opportunities for providers, including PTSD 101 Courses, on the best practices in PTSD treatment (CEs/CMEs offered).
  • AboutFace:  An online video gallery of Veterans talking about PTSD and how treatment can turn your life around.
  • Whiteboards: Short animated videos to learn about PTSD and effective treatments.
  • Subscribe to the PTSD Monthly Update –  Stay up to date on new information about PTSD and trauma year round.

VA’S Treatment of PTSD
The health and well-being of the courageous men and women who have served in uniform is the highest priority for VA.

  •  VA is one of the largest integrated mental health systems in the United States that provides specialized treatment for PTSD.
  • From October 1, 2001, to December 31, 2014, nearly 400,000 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Veterans were seen for potential PTSD at VA facilities following their return from these overseas deployments.
  •  In fiscal year 2014, more than 535,000 of the nearly 6 million Veterans who sought care at VA healthcare facilities received treatment for PTSD.
  • As of September 2014, more than 5,900 VA mental health staff members have received training in Prolonged Exposure and/or Cognitive Processing Therapy, the most effective known therapies for PTSD.

About the National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD is the center of excellence for research and education on the prevention, understanding, and treatment of PTSD. Its seven divisions across the country provide expertise on all types of trauma – from natural disasters, terrorism, violence and abuse, to combat exposure.
Although the Center provides no direct clinical care, its purpose is to improve the well-being and understanding of individuals who have experienced traumatic events, with a focus on American Veterans. The Center conducts cutting edge research and applies the findings to advance the science of traumatic stress and promote its understanding.