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DAV official urges stronger VA accountability, flags $1,000 indigent burial shortfall
Summary
William Hartman of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Ohio told the House Veterans and Military Development Committee that the DAV seeks greater enforcement of VA promises, highlighted delays in care and said Trumbull Countyreceives $1,000 for indigent veteran burials, an amount he called inadequate.
William Hartman, representing the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio, told the Ohio House Veterans and Military Development Committee that the DAV is pushing for stronger accountability from the Department of Veterans Affairs and urged lawmakers to attend to local gaps in services for indigent veterans.
Hartman said the DAVworks to help veterans access VA benefits, advocates on Capitol Hill and educates the public about veteransneeds. He told the committee that DAV services cover both physical and "invisible" wounds, explicitly including post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Yes. It does include the invisible scars and wounds such as post traumatic stress," Hartman said when asked whether DAV advocacy encompasses mental-health injuries.
Hartman told legislators that many veterans face lengthy waits for care and that no one is forcing the VA to deliver timely treatment as promised. He also raised a local funding problem: in Trumbull County, Hartman said, the county receives $1,000 to cover the body of a deceased indigent veteran, an amount he said is insufficient to cover cremation costs after a local funeral home that had absorbed the shortfall sold its business.
"Lots of veterans in not just Ohio but around the country arewait listed for treatment," Hartman said. "Another aspect of that would be... the county gets a thousand dollars to deal with the body of a deceased indigent veteran. That's not even enough for cremation anymore."
Representative Thomas thanked Hartman and asked what single change the legislature could pursue. Hartman replied that, in his view, holding the VA more accountable for timely care would be the priority.
The committeeresponded with interest in ongoing communication with DAV and invited Hartman to share recommendations about indigent-veteran burial policies and other local needs.
The presentation was delivered during a regular committee meeting that also included two other veteran-service presenters and concluded with an announcement about an April 28 field hearing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Hartmanis identified in the record as representing the DAV Department of Ohio; committee questions came from Representative Gambari, Representative Thomas and Chair Richardson.
