Message from Councilman Roshan M. White | 3/19/21

As a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Gulf War, I believe a key role in my service to Scotch Plains is to educate veterans about the many programs and services that are offered to them.

With news of the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan – which includes $10.2 billion for the state – I was pleased to see a number of funding initiatives that can benefit our local veterans through the “American Rescue Plan Act.”

This new funding:
Ensures our local veterans will not have any copays or cost-sharing for preventative treatment or services related to COVID-19 going back to April 2020 and authorizes the VA to reimburse those veterans who already submitted payments for care during this period.
Includes more than $14.5 billion for the VA to provide health care services and other related supports – including suicide prevention, Women’s health services, telehealth expansion, medical facility improvements – to eligible veterans and allows up to $4 billion in spending for the Veterans Community Care Program.
Provides nearly $400 million for up to 12 months of rapid retraining for veterans who are unemployed as a result of the pandemic and do not have access to other veteran education benefits. This funding covers a housing allowance.
Click here to read the entire message from Councilman White.