Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 22, 2019 03:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brian Kirkland |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Free Medical Records for Homeless Veterans |
| Currently, half of our approximately 1,200 homeless veterans within the Commonwealth struggle with a war-related injury or disability that prevents them from earning a living wage to provide for themselves. A devastating physical or mental disability often intensifies a homeless veteran’s financial crisis, standing in the way of their health and security after their years of service to our country. Paying the fee to access an individual’s medical record often takes a back seat for someone who is uncertain where they are sleeping that evening or even when they may eat again. This bill would provide one, free-of-charge medical record to any homeless veteran for the purpose of applying for disability benefits. My hope for this legislation is to better support our service members as they transition back into society, linking them with the treatment and resources they need to regain their independence. While this is a modest step in making our veterans’ health a priority, it is a small change we can make in tearing down one of the many barriers veterans face when seeking the healthcare and therapies they so desperately need and deserve in exchange for their sacrifice. Supporting this legislation may be the first step in opening the doors that have remained shut for too long on those who have devoted their lives to protecting and preserving our country. |
Introduced as HB1967