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Committee hears briefings on veterans services, cemetery, veterans home and VA care in New Hampshire
Summary
Committee members received updates on veterans benefits and services from the state Division of Veterans Services, New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery and Veterans Home, Manchester VA Medical Center, and the state's community-based military programs.
CONCORD — The State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee heard a series of briefings on state and federal veterans services, including claims assistance, cemetery eligibility, long-term care for veterans and VA health care access.
Division of Veterans Services
William Goudreau, director of the New Hampshire Division of Veterans Services, told the committee the state office helps veterans file claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He said the division had about 9,000 active clients and credited service officers and partner organizations for helping veterans secure roughly $100 million in federal benefits in the prior year. He outlined the division27s statewide presence, with service officers located in Portsmouth, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Keene and the North Country.
New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery
Sean Buck, director of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, described eligibility and services, noted a recent change expanding eligibility for some National Guard and Reserve members, and said the cemetery27s visitor programs, outreach and volunteer opportunities are active. Buck said dependents remain eligible and that the cemetery planned an expansion of columbarium and ground cremation spaces funded through federal Veterans Cemetery Grants.
New Hampshire Veterans Home
Commandant Kim McKay and operations chief Brian Baker briefed the committee on the New Hampshire Veterans Home27s operations, census and staffing. They said the licensed facility is budgeted for 225 beds and licensed for 250 but that staffing shortages have limited census and required recruitment and training programs for licensed nursing assistants. McKay outlined recent capital improvements, energy-saving projects and plans for a 20-bed addition focused on larger (bariatric) rooms and improved infection control.
Manchester VA Medical Center
Julie Vos, associate director of the VA Manchester Healthcare System, summarized the medical center27s sites, telehealth expansion and programs for veterans. She noted an enrollment milestone (30,000 veterans enrolled) and described hospital partnership programs and a community navigator effort intended to connect hospitalized veterans with ongoing VA care. Vos also discussed access, a growing telehealth workload, and new patient-facing programming.
Division of Community-Based Military Programs and SVAC
Brent Frazier, of the division of community-based military programs, and Leo Paquin and Kevin Grady of the State Veterans Advisory Committee (SVAC) reviewed outreach, veteran employment and homelessness initiatives, and partnerships that support veteran-friendly employers and training. Frazier described the state27s veteran-friendly business network, suicide-prevention and regional coalition work to reduce homelessness.
Why it matters: Committee members said they relied on the briefings to prepare for legislation affecting veterans27 benefits, cemetery policy, facility capital projects and state coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Source: Committee hearing transcript; testimony and handouts from Division of Veterans Services, New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, New Hampshire Veterans Home, VA Manchester and the Division of Community-Based Military Programs.
