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Assembly hearing: proposed federal staffing cuts would strain VA care and local veteran services
Summary
At an informational hearing of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs, state and county veterans officials, nonprofit providers and the California adjutant general warned that proposed federal staff reductions and other federal cuts would disrupt veterans' health care, claims processing, housing and local programs in California.
Assemblymember Schiavo, chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs, opened an informational hearing saying federal proposals to cut Department of Veterans Affairs staff and other federal programs threaten the health, housing and employment supports veterans rely on.
Witnesses told the committee that planned reductions — including an administration proposal to cut tens of thousands of federal staff — would slow claims processing, reduce clinical and research capacity at the VA and undermine county and nonprofit programs that help veterans secure benefits and housing.
The hearing featured testimony from CalVet Deputy Secretary Roberto Herrera, Los Angeles County veterans director Jim Zenner, legal-services representatives from Swords to Plowshares and a panel of community providers. Herrera said California has nearly 1.5 million veterans and described CalVet's work…
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