Ray Flores, the County of San Diego's military and veterans affairs officer, introduced himself and described the county office that helps veterans and their families access benefits.

Flores said he leads 35 staff at four county locations who provide federal, state and local benefits to roughly 1,100,000 service-connected residents across San Diego County. "We provide them their federal, state, and local benefits that they have earned through their military service," he said.

He listed specific services the office helps arrange, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, disability benefits, college tuition fee waivers and driver's license designations. Flores said the work covers a broad mix of federal and local programs and paperwork handling to connect veterans with earned benefits.

A 21-year U.S. Navy veteran, Flores said he moved into the private sector after retiring and later worked for a nonprofit serving veterans, a path that brought him from Santa Barbara to San Diego. "I get to take care of veterans and their families," Flores said. "I love it because I'm able to make an impact on the veterans and their families."

The remarks were an introductory statement about the office's role and Flores's background; no formal actions or policy proposals were announced during these remarks.