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good morning.

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My name is ed flynn.

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Boston city council I am the

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vice chair of the boston city

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council committee and veterans

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military families military

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affairs.

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Today is AUGUST 28th, 2026.

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The exact time is 10:00.

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This hearing is being recorded

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.

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It is also being live streamed

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at boston.Gov/city council tv

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and broadcast on xfinity

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channel eight rcn channel 82

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fios channel 964.

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Written comments MAY be sent to

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the committee email at seek dot

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that's at boston.Gov and will

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be made part of the record and

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available to all city

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councilors.

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Public testimony will be taken

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at the end of this hearing or

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if anyone would like to testify

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virtually.

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We'll try to get you in during

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during the hearing.

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If you have any scheduling

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related issues and you need to

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testify immediately, please let

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me know and I'll try to get you

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in to testify as we speak.

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Individuals will be called on

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in the order in which they sign

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up, and they'll have two

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minutes to testify.

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I will not cut anyone off if

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you need to speak for more than

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two minutes.

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Please take the time that you

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need.

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If you are interested in

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testifying in person, please

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add your name to the sign up

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sheet near the entrance of the

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city council chamber.

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If you are looking to testify

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virtually, please email our

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city council central staff

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liaison shane pac and shane s h

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a n a.Pack@boston.Gov.

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For the link in your name will

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be added to the list.

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Today's hearing is on actually

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two dockets docket 0273.

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It's an order for a hearing to

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discuss lung cancer rates among

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black veterans.

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And the second docket is docket

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0274, which is an order for a

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hearing to discuss services for

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women veterans.

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Docket 0273 was sponsored by um

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by myself.

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Councilor councilor murphy and

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councilor santana and it was

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referred to the committee on

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FEBRUARY 4th 2026.

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I am joined by my

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council colleagues in order

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of arrival of arrival

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council murphy.

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Um I do want to acknowledge

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well, I do want to acknowledge

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as the vice chair I will be

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chairing this um this hearing

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today and councilor um henry

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santana does, um, express his

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respect for the veterans that

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are here in the veterans

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throughout the city of boston.

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He's just unable to be here.

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But he wanted me to know that

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he is paying close attention to

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this and want to acknowledge

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his chief of staff ana calderon

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,who really helped set up this

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meeting as well.

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So I want to say thank you to

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ana for her support and

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commitment to veterans military

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families across the city

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of boston as well.

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Um, I do have a letter

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of absence that I do want to

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read into the record and then

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I'm going to give an

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opportunity for my

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council colleague

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councilor murphy to give an

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opening statement and then I

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and then um, I want to ask each

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panelist, um, to give an

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opening statement as well.

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But before we do that, could I

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just ask the panel maybe to um

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go go starting from

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commissioner santiago, could

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you just, um, state your name

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for the record and what

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organization um, you you were

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with?

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So let me start with that,

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commissioner santiago, please.

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Uh, good morning,

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councilor flynn.

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Councilor murphy, uh, thank you

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very much for.

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Having me.

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I am commissioner robert

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santiago, city of boston

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veterans services.

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Thank you commissioner.

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Good morning, councilor flynn.

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Councilor murphy, my name is

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craig diehl, a resident of the

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city of boston.

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And I am the state commander

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of the veterans of foreign

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wars.

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Good morning, councilor flynn.

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Councilor murphy.

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My name is mark kennedy.

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I'm with the boston.

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Public health commission.

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Good morning.

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My name is malika whitley.

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I'm with the american legion

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post 78 and I also work with va

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benefits.

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And good.

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Is this on?

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Yes.

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>> okay.

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Good morning.

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Uh, councilor flynn and

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councilor murphy.

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My name is brenda wiener.

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i am a pulmonary physician and

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researcher at the va boston

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health care system and the, uh

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,center for health

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optimization and implementation

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research there.

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Thank you to this distinguished

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panel for being here.

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Um, thank you for testifying.

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More importantly, thank you for

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your commitment to veterans and

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military families across the

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city really across the country

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as well.

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I'm going to read a letter into

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the record that I'm going to go

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to straight to council.

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Murphy dear chair santana, this

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is from city councilor city

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council PRESIDENT Bratton I

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regret that I am unable to

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attend to tomorrow's hearing on

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docket 0273027 for hearing to

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discuss lung cancer rates among

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black veterans services for

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women veterans.

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While I am unable to attend the

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hearing, members of my team

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will be listening in to this

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critically important discussion

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and I plan to review the

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recording.

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I kindly ask that you read this

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letter into the record.

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Thank you.

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Elizabeth and city

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council PRESIDENT.

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Uh we are also joined by city

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councilor at large large rosie

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louijeune.

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Let me go to councilor murphy

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for an opening statement.

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Thank you.

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Councilor flynn and.

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Thank you to the panelists.

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Thank you.

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Commissioner santiago for all

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you do here at the city and

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obviously across the state and

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country always showing up for

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veterans as a veteran yourself.

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Um, I mean I don't want to take

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all my time just thanking

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people for being here but craig

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also and coming from like the

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va and the different posts

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across the city, we know that

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many veterans when they come to

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those places it's not just for

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socialization even though

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that's a wonderful thing.

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It's also to connect and help

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connect to the benefits that we

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know the veterans.

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Earned and in many times aren't

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always aware of what's out

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there for them.

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And when we have subgroups like

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this I think it's very

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important.

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>> that.

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We're talking about and thank

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you for uplifting these

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concerns about the lung

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cancer rates among our black

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veterans and making sure our

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women veterans are getting

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everything they need while

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they're enlisted but also when

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they come home making sure that

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they're supported.

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So as a veteran mom, I know

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it's important that we always

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support our veterans.

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But as a councilor I think it's

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also important that we're

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making sure and there's no

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groups around the city who are

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feeling as though they're not

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getting what they need.

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So just happy to be here and

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also public health commission

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in the va.

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My pop up papa jack, my step

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dad 92 now and he's getting a

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lot of support from the va and

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the senior home health care and

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it's just wonderful to see full

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circle, you know, spending your

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life giving and then when

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you're near the end people

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showing up for you and it's

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just great.

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So thank you for all you do.

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And thank you councilor murphy

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.

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I do want to give

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council louijeune an

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opportunity for an opening

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statement louijeune.

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Good morning everyone and thank

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you for being here.

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I want to thank you,

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councilor flynn for your

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leadership and for your service

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to our country.

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I also want to thank all of our

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panelists for your leadership

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and your service to our

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country.

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And uh, I want to thank you,

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starting with the commissioner

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for all the incredible work

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that you do in the office

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of veterans services to make

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sure that our veterans in the

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city have the resources that

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they need, uh, once they come

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home, um, to thrive and to

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really, uh, be thanked for the

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work that you've done.

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I know you're celebrating, uh,

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a lifetime of service this year

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and it is a well-deserved one.

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And uh, to everyone who is

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here, uh, doctor wiener to um

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uh and all of the panelists I'm

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really, really appreciative

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of the work that you do at the

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post.

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Um, uh, george is that I'm

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00:08:57,696 --> 00:08:58,530
sorry.

292
00:08:58,530 --> 00:08:59,131
Craig.

293
00:08:59,131 --> 00:09:01,131
Craig.

294
00:09:01,366 --> 00:09:02,535
Craig I'm sorry craig and uh

295
00:09:02,535 --> 00:09:03,735
and mark craig and mark, thank

296
00:09:03,735 --> 00:09:05,737
you for being with us today.

297
00:09:05,737 --> 00:09:07,839
Um, we there are a lot of race

298
00:09:07,839 --> 00:09:08,730
based health gaps in this

299
00:09:08,730 --> 00:09:09,608
country.

300
00:09:09,608 --> 00:09:11,309
um, and that is also true for

301
00:09:11,309 --> 00:09:12,377
our veterans when it comes to

302
00:09:12,377 --> 00:09:12,845
lung cancer and other types

303
00:09:12,845 --> 00:09:14,446
of cancer.

304
00:09:14,446 --> 00:09:16,348
So just know that in me and in

305
00:09:16,348 --> 00:09:17,382
the city council you have

306
00:09:17,382 --> 00:09:18,183
allies and people who are

307
00:09:18,183 --> 00:09:19,451
committed to making sure that

308
00:09:19,451 --> 00:09:20,318
we're doing everything we can

309
00:09:20,318 --> 00:09:22,154
to close those gaps.

310
00:09:22,154 --> 00:09:23,221
So thank you and we look

311
00:09:23,221 --> 00:09:24,189
forward to continuing working

312
00:09:24,189 --> 00:09:24,423
with you and partnering with

313
00:09:24,423 --> 00:09:25,224
you.

314
00:09:25,224 --> 00:09:26,592
Thank you.

315
00:09:26,592 --> 00:09:26,826
Thank you, councilor louijeune

316
00:09:26,826 --> 00:09:28,461
.

317
00:09:28,461 --> 00:09:29,828
I'll give an opening statement

318
00:09:29,828 --> 00:09:30,950
then I'll go right to our

319
00:09:30,950 --> 00:09:32,950
panel.

320
00:09:32,531 --> 00:09:32,798
Um, hopefully I only take two

321
00:09:32,798 --> 00:09:34,798
minutes.

322
00:09:35,234 --> 00:09:36,501
Woman veterans are one of the

323
00:09:36,501 --> 00:09:37,769
fastest growing populations

324
00:09:37,769 --> 00:09:39,838
within the united states

325
00:09:39,838 --> 00:09:40,706
military and the department

326
00:09:40,706 --> 00:09:42,706
of veterans affairs.

327
00:09:42,942 --> 00:09:44,209
Yet many continue to face

328
00:09:44,209 --> 00:09:44,676
barriers after leaving the

329
00:09:44,676 --> 00:09:46,676
service.

330
00:09:48,313 --> 00:09:51,217
Women veterans make up nearly

331
00:09:51,217 --> 00:09:53,617
20% of those serving military

332
00:09:53,919 --> 00:09:54,553
personnel and about 10% of the

333
00:09:54,553 --> 00:09:56,553
veteran population.

334
00:09:56,789 --> 00:09:58,890
But many struggle to access

335
00:09:58,890 --> 00:10:00,358
gender specific health care,

336
00:10:00,358 --> 00:10:02,227
mental health services,

337
00:10:02,227 --> 00:10:04,227
childcare, housing employment.

338
00:10:05,297 --> 00:10:07,297
Approximately 25% of women

339
00:10:07,766 --> 00:10:09,668
experience military sexual

340
00:10:09,668 --> 00:10:11,737
trauma, which can increase the

341
00:10:11,737 --> 00:10:13,639
risk of ptsd, depression,

342
00:10:13,639 --> 00:10:15,639
substance use suicide.

343
00:10:16,275 --> 00:10:17,976
Some women also avoid va

344
00:10:17,976 --> 00:10:20,279
services because returning to a

345
00:10:20,279 --> 00:10:20,713
military environment can cause

346
00:10:20,713 --> 00:10:22,713
anxiety.

347
00:10:22,981 --> 00:10:24,450
The va has taken steps to

348
00:10:24,450 --> 00:10:25,617
improve care through efforts

349
00:10:25,617 --> 00:10:27,920
such as the deborah sampson

350
00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,188
act, which expands primary care

351
00:10:29,188 --> 00:10:30,560
in counseling services for

352
00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:32,560
women veterans.

353
00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:36,862
Other legislation including um

354
00:10:36,862 --> 00:10:38,230
,the coding the brave act and

355
00:10:38,230 --> 00:10:40,630
other pieces of legislation

356
00:10:40,933 --> 00:10:41,600
focus on maternity and mental

357
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,600
health needs.

358
00:10:44,236 --> 00:10:45,905
Massachusetts also supports

359
00:10:45,905 --> 00:10:48,207
women veterans through the

360
00:10:48,207 --> 00:10:50,308
women veterans network which

361
00:10:50,308 --> 00:10:50,776
provide information resources

362
00:10:50,776 --> 00:10:52,776
support.

363
00:10:53,110 --> 00:10:54,914
However, more gender specific

364
00:10:54,914 --> 00:10:56,782
health care counseling

365
00:10:56,782 --> 00:10:57,816
childcare career transition

366
00:10:57,816 --> 00:10:59,816
programs are needed.

367
00:11:01,286 --> 00:11:02,755
The va should also work to fill

368
00:11:02,755 --> 00:11:04,755
counseling positions and

369
00:11:04,823 --> 00:11:05,691
increase the number of women

370
00:11:05,691 --> 00:11:07,526
providing care.

371
00:11:07,526 --> 00:11:09,795
Veterans also face serious

372
00:11:09,795 --> 00:11:10,280
health risk including lung

373
00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,280
cancer.

374
00:11:12,898 --> 00:11:15,801
Military exposure such as a

375
00:11:15,801 --> 00:11:16,635
dose can increase veterans risk

376
00:11:16,635 --> 00:11:19,350
of developing the disease.

377
00:11:19,905 --> 00:11:22,305
African american veterans face

378
00:11:23,208 --> 00:11:24,811
additional disparities in lung

379
00:11:24,811 --> 00:11:27,211
cancer diagnosis, treatment and

380
00:11:27,279 --> 00:11:29,381
survival, improving access to

381
00:11:29,381 --> 00:11:31,781
early screening and quality

382
00:11:31,850 --> 00:11:32,918
treatment is especially

383
00:11:32,918 --> 00:11:33,152
important for those communities

384
00:11:33,152 --> 00:11:35,152
.

385
00:11:35,387 --> 00:11:37,490
In boston, organizations such

386
00:11:37,490 --> 00:11:38,958
as the va health care system

387
00:11:38,958 --> 00:11:41,358
and the veterans outreach

388
00:11:41,460 --> 00:11:42,495
center at harvard street

389
00:11:42,495 --> 00:11:43,963
neighborhood health center

390
00:11:43,963 --> 00:11:46,310
provide veterans with health

391
00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:48,300
care in other resources.

392
00:11:48,300 --> 00:11:50,700
Expanding these services can

393
00:11:50,769 --> 00:11:52,638
help address the racial gap,

394
00:11:52,638 --> 00:11:54,638
gender disparities ensure

395
00:11:54,740 --> 00:11:57,140
veterans receive the support

396
00:11:57,209 --> 00:11:57,676
they need after their military

397
00:11:57,676 --> 00:11:59,676
service.

398
00:11:59,712 --> 00:12:01,380
We must continue to work

399
00:12:01,380 --> 00:12:03,449
together to provide all

400
00:12:03,449 --> 00:12:06,352
veterans with access to the

401
00:12:06,352 --> 00:12:06,785
critical care and services they

402
00:12:06,785 --> 00:12:08,785
earned.

403
00:12:08,821 --> 00:12:11,323
Before I go to council,

404
00:12:11,323 --> 00:12:12,992
fitzgerald uh for an opening

405
00:12:12,992 --> 00:12:14,259
statement I do want to

406
00:12:14,259 --> 00:12:16,362
acknowledge the incredible work

407
00:12:16,362 --> 00:12:18,362
uh, commissioner santiago

408
00:12:19,865 --> 00:12:22,335
of your team um of you of your

409
00:12:22,335 --> 00:12:24,837
dedication and support of women

410
00:12:24,837 --> 00:12:26,837
veterans, of support

411
00:12:27,740 --> 00:12:31,243
of veterans of color and also

412
00:12:31,243 --> 00:12:32,945
working closely to ensure lgbtq

413
00:12:32,945 --> 00:12:34,813
plus veterans are treated with

414
00:12:34,813 --> 00:12:35,481
the dignity and respect that

415
00:12:35,481 --> 00:12:37,481
they have earned.

416
00:12:38,317 --> 00:12:39,785
Um, so having said that, I

417
00:12:39,785 --> 00:12:40,352
wanted to give

418
00:12:40,352 --> 00:12:41,620
councilor fitzgerald an

419
00:12:41,620 --> 00:12:41,887
opportunity for an opening

420
00:12:41,887 --> 00:12:43,880
statement.

421
00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:44,924
Uh thank you chair.

422
00:12:44,924 --> 00:12:46,592
Uh, I appreciate it and thank

423
00:12:46,592 --> 00:12:48,627
you all for being here today.

424
00:12:48,627 --> 00:12:50,296
Uh, in regards to this matter,

425
00:12:50,296 --> 00:12:52,398
um, really here to learn more

426
00:12:52,398 --> 00:12:53,866
about uh what sort of some

427
00:12:53,866 --> 00:12:55,935
of the, uh, deficiencies MAY be

428
00:12:55,935 --> 00:12:57,803
where we can be better how we

429
00:12:57,803 --> 00:13:00,105
can help, uh, strengthen those

430
00:13:00,105 --> 00:13:01,273
uh, going further, um, and

431
00:13:01,273 --> 00:13:01,674
really look to you guys have

432
00:13:01,674 --> 00:13:03,576
the answers.

433
00:13:03,576 --> 00:13:05,450
So, uh, I just here for you to

434
00:13:05,450 --> 00:13:06,513
educate us on how we can be

435
00:13:06,513 --> 00:13:06,745
more, uh, supportive of you

436
00:13:06,745 --> 00:13:08,581
all.

437
00:13:08,581 --> 00:13:10,820
Um, and as always, thank you

438
00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:11,350
for everything that you guys do

439
00:13:11,350 --> 00:13:11,951
not just for our city but for

440
00:13:11,951 --> 00:13:13,520
our country as well.

441
00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:13,719
So thank you, councilor flynn,

442
00:13:13,719 --> 00:13:15,120
I appreciate it.

443
00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:15,321
Thank you, councilor fitzgerald

444
00:13:15,321 --> 00:13:17,321
.

445
00:13:17,556 --> 00:13:18,825
Um, at this time I do want to

446
00:13:18,825 --> 00:13:20,292
ask the panel if they would

447
00:13:20,292 --> 00:13:22,795
like to provide an opening

448
00:13:22,795 --> 00:13:25,795
statement on women veterans on

449
00:13:26,650 --> 00:13:27,133
how we're able to support, uh,

450
00:13:27,133 --> 00:13:29,133
veterans of color.

451
00:13:29,402 --> 00:13:31,470
Um, I know there's two specific

452
00:13:31,470 --> 00:13:32,972
dockets, but we can combine

453
00:13:32,972 --> 00:13:33,639
them into one if that's okay

454
00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:35,639
with everybody.

455
00:13:36,750 --> 00:13:38,344
And, um, I don't necessarily

456
00:13:38,344 --> 00:13:39,812
have any time um, that I'm

457
00:13:39,812 --> 00:13:41,847
putting the panelists on.

458
00:13:41,847 --> 00:13:43,916
So take the time that you need

459
00:13:43,916 --> 00:13:45,185
to make sure your message gets

460
00:13:45,185 --> 00:13:46,218
out to the public.

461
00:13:46,218 --> 00:13:48,618
I'd like to do.

462
00:13:48,854 --> 00:13:50,956
These hearings because the

463
00:13:50,956 --> 00:13:52,250
public does watch these and I'd

464
00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:54,930
like to educate the public

465
00:13:54,930 --> 00:13:56,362
about what we're doing here in

466
00:13:56,362 --> 00:13:58,665
city hall and to ensure that if

467
00:13:58,665 --> 00:14:00,132
veterans are watching they know

468
00:14:00,132 --> 00:14:00,766
who to contact if they are in

469
00:14:00,766 --> 00:14:02,401
need of services.

470
00:14:02,401 --> 00:14:04,503
So let me start with

471
00:14:04,503 --> 00:14:05,638
commissioner santiago and we'll

472
00:14:05,638 --> 00:14:07,139
go right down the right down

473
00:14:07,139 --> 00:14:09,209
the line and take the time you

474
00:14:09,209 --> 00:14:09,876
need to discuss whatever is

475
00:14:09,876 --> 00:14:11,310
important to you.

476
00:14:11,310 --> 00:14:11,877
Uh thank you.

477
00:14:11,877 --> 00:14:12,211
Chair flynn.

478
00:14:12,211 --> 00:14:13,120
Good morning.

479
00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:14,547
>> chair flynn.

480
00:14:14,547 --> 00:14:15,481
Councilor murphy,

481
00:14:15,481 --> 00:14:16,282
councilor louijeune

482
00:14:16,282 --> 00:14:17,750
councilor fitzgerald, thank you

483
00:14:17,750 --> 00:14:19,685
for, um for having us here.

484
00:14:19,685 --> 00:14:19,952
Um, I do just want to touch on

485
00:14:19,952 --> 00:14:20,252
something.

486
00:14:20,252 --> 00:14:21,253
I wanted.

487
00:14:21,253 --> 00:14:22,688
>> to thank.

488
00:14:22,688 --> 00:14:23,923
The city council.

489
00:14:23,923 --> 00:14:25,923
I know, um.

490
00:14:26,359 --> 00:14:28,227
You know, it's it says a lot

491
00:14:28,227 --> 00:14:30,463
about, um, your actions.

492
00:14:30,463 --> 00:14:31,664
And, um, in your passion for

493
00:14:31,664 --> 00:14:33,532
our veterans here in the city

494
00:14:33,532 --> 00:14:35,201
of boston by showing up not

495
00:14:35,201 --> 00:14:36,669
just on memorial day or

496
00:14:36,669 --> 00:14:37,703
veterans day but also year

497
00:14:37,703 --> 00:14:38,738
round for our veterans.

498
00:14:38,738 --> 00:14:40,206
And that is definitely

499
00:14:40,206 --> 00:14:41,675
something that, uh, that I see

500
00:14:41,675 --> 00:14:42,775
on a daily basis and as a

501
00:14:42,775 --> 00:14:44,430
veteran and as a commissioner

502
00:14:44,430 --> 00:14:46,780
um, I do thank you.

503
00:14:46,780 --> 00:14:47,146
Um, I also just want to thank

504
00:14:47,146 --> 00:14:47,780
my fellow panelists who are

505
00:14:47,780 --> 00:14:49,615
here today.

506
00:14:49,615 --> 00:14:51,830
Uh, my fellow veterans who are

507
00:14:51,830 --> 00:14:51,350
watching advocates and

508
00:14:51,350 --> 00:14:52,752
neighbors.

509
00:14:52,752 --> 00:14:53,190
Um, this is an important

510
00:14:53,190 --> 00:14:55,190
hearing.

511
00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:57,356
Um, and one thing that I love

512
00:14:57,356 --> 00:14:59,250
about having this hearing is

513
00:14:59,250 --> 00:15:00,293
that it's more of just a

514
00:15:00,293 --> 00:15:01,761
hearing is also a conversation

515
00:15:01,761 --> 00:15:03,262
about what we could do best for

516
00:15:03,262 --> 00:15:04,530
our veterans when it comes to

517
00:15:04,530 --> 00:15:05,998
the topics that we are talking

518
00:15:05,998 --> 00:15:07,700
about today and sometimes it

519
00:15:07,700 --> 00:15:08,535
rears into other topics as well

520
00:15:08,535 --> 00:15:10,569
which is also welcomed.

521
00:15:10,569 --> 00:15:12,380
Uh but today we're talking

522
00:15:12,380 --> 00:15:13,639
about lung cancer uh rates

523
00:15:13,639 --> 00:15:15,508
amongst african-american

524
00:15:15,508 --> 00:15:16,409
veterans and uh our support

525
00:15:16,409 --> 00:15:18,809
of our women veterans.

526
00:15:19,450 --> 00:15:20,213
Uh, lung cancer is not simply a

527
00:15:20,213 --> 00:15:21,414
medical issue and going to hear

528
00:15:21,414 --> 00:15:22,882
a whole lot more about that a

529
00:15:22,882 --> 00:15:24,149
little bit later on from uh,

530
00:15:24,149 --> 00:15:24,584
doctor wiener who is here from

531
00:15:24,584 --> 00:15:26,584
the va.

532
00:15:27,253 --> 00:15:28,221
Uh, it's an issue that as far

533
00:15:28,221 --> 00:15:30,122
as I'm concerned and many of us

534
00:15:30,122 --> 00:15:32,792
are concerned um, is a racial

535
00:15:32,792 --> 00:15:34,590
equity issue of access trust

536
00:15:34,590 --> 00:15:35,728
early detection and whether

537
00:15:35,728 --> 00:15:37,630
veterans receive the care that

538
00:15:37,630 --> 00:15:37,864
they earned through their

539
00:15:37,864 --> 00:15:39,864
service.

540
00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:42,568
Many veterans face elevated

541
00:15:42,568 --> 00:15:44,870
risks because of smoking

542
00:15:44,870 --> 00:15:46,772
secondhand smoking uh, asbestos

543
00:15:46,772 --> 00:15:48,608
especially those like myself

544
00:15:48,608 --> 00:15:48,875
who have served on older navy

545
00:15:48,875 --> 00:15:50,710
ships.

546
00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:51,978
Uh, those who served in burn

547
00:15:51,978 --> 00:15:53,412
pits around burn pits.

548
00:15:53,412 --> 00:15:55,315
Uh airborne hazardous chemicals

549
00:15:55,315 --> 00:15:56,149
and other toxic exposures that

550
00:15:56,149 --> 00:15:56,816
are encountered through

551
00:15:56,816 --> 00:15:58,816
military service.

552
00:15:59,252 --> 00:16:00,319
Yet exposure alone does not

553
00:16:00,319 --> 00:16:01,955
determine an outcome.

554
00:16:01,955 --> 00:16:03,356
Timely screening.

555
00:16:03,356 --> 00:16:05,356
Early diagnosis.

556
00:16:06,626 --> 00:16:08,528
Access to specialists, reliable

557
00:16:08,528 --> 00:16:09,395
transportation and trust in the

558
00:16:09,395 --> 00:16:10,620
health care system can

559
00:16:10,620 --> 00:16:11,931
determine whether cancer is

560
00:16:11,931 --> 00:16:12,999
found when it is treatable or

561
00:16:12,999 --> 00:16:15,468
after it has also progressed.

562
00:16:15,468 --> 00:16:17,136
Va research indicates that

563
00:16:17,136 --> 00:16:18,405
fewer than 10% of the

564
00:16:18,405 --> 00:16:19,380
approximately 1.

565
00:16:19,380 --> 00:16:20,473
>> million eligible.

566
00:16:20,473 --> 00:16:22,475
Veterans studied have received

567
00:16:22,475 --> 00:16:24,143
lung cancer screening, with

568
00:16:24,143 --> 00:16:25,120
screening rates even lower

569
00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:25,812
amongst black veterans.

570
00:16:25,812 --> 00:16:26,445
The research.

571
00:16:26,445 --> 00:16:28,445
The research.

572
00:16:29,810 --> 00:16:31,481
Also indicates and identifies

573
00:16:31,984 --> 00:16:33,984
barriers including limited

574
00:16:34,530 --> 00:16:35,521
awareness, mistrust, stigma,

575
00:16:35,521 --> 00:16:37,521
unequal relationships with

576
00:16:37,590 --> 00:16:38,892
their providers and adverse

577
00:16:38,892 --> 00:16:41,292
social determinants of health.

578
00:16:41,527 --> 00:16:41,994
These are not failures of our

579
00:16:41,994 --> 00:16:43,994
veterans.

580
00:16:44,630 --> 00:16:47,630
These are warnings that our

581
00:16:48,135 --> 00:16:49,100
systems must do a better job

582
00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:49,869
of reaching the people that

583
00:16:49,869 --> 00:16:52,138
they were created to serve.

584
00:16:52,138 --> 00:16:53,406
There is also encouraging

585
00:16:53,406 --> 00:16:54,440
evidence studies that found

586
00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:55,742
that when black veterans

587
00:16:55,742 --> 00:16:57,577
receive care within an

588
00:16:57,577 --> 00:16:58,978
integrated va system, their

589
00:16:58,978 --> 00:17:01,470
lung cancer treatment and

590
00:17:01,470 --> 00:17:02,715
outcomes can be comparable and

591
00:17:02,715 --> 00:17:03,983
sometimes better than those

592
00:17:03,983 --> 00:17:04,450
of their white veteran

593
00:17:04,450 --> 00:17:06,450
counterparts.

594
00:17:06,486 --> 00:17:06,919
That tells us something that's

595
00:17:06,919 --> 00:17:08,919
very important.

596
00:17:09,155 --> 00:17:11,155
Disparities are not.

597
00:17:11,591 --> 00:17:13,292
Inevitable when care is

598
00:17:13,292 --> 00:17:15,692
accessible and it's coordinated

599
00:17:16,563 --> 00:17:16,829
,culturally responsive and

600
00:17:16,829 --> 00:17:18,829
equitable.

601
00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:20,967
We can save lives and our women

602
00:17:20,967 --> 00:17:22,769
veterans.

603
00:17:22,769 --> 00:17:24,370
As the councilor has mentioned,

604
00:17:24,370 --> 00:17:25,305
our fastest growing segment

605
00:17:25,305 --> 00:17:27,807
of the veterans population with

606
00:17:27,807 --> 00:17:28,875
more than 2.1 million women

607
00:17:28,875 --> 00:17:29,142
veterans in the united states

608
00:17:29,142 --> 00:17:31,142
today.

609
00:17:32,211 --> 00:17:34,800
Approximately 20% of veterans

610
00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:36,549
women veterans are black and

611
00:17:36,549 --> 00:17:39,520
42% of women using va health

612
00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:39,919
care system belong to race, a

613
00:17:39,919 --> 00:17:40,920
racial or.

614
00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:42,920
Ethnic minority group.

615
00:17:42,989 --> 00:17:45,258
Yet women veterans are still

616
00:17:45,258 --> 00:17:47,658
too often overlooked, mistaken

617
00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,228
for military spouses or made to

618
00:17:49,228 --> 00:17:50,496
feel that veteran programs and

619
00:17:50,496 --> 00:17:51,764
facilities were designed

620
00:17:51,764 --> 00:17:52,465
primarily for their male

621
00:17:52,465 --> 00:17:54,670
veteran counterparts.

622
00:17:54,670 --> 00:17:56,670
Women veterans.

623
00:17:56,102 --> 00:17:57,570
Need comprehensive and

624
00:17:57,570 --> 00:17:59,970
respectful care that includes

625
00:18:01,174 --> 00:18:02,242
primary care, cancer screening,

626
00:18:02,242 --> 00:18:02,875
reproductive and maternal

627
00:18:02,875 --> 00:18:03,910
health care.

628
00:18:03,910 --> 00:18:05,910
Mental health.

629
00:18:06,145 --> 00:18:06,813
Treatment support following

630
00:18:06,813 --> 00:18:07,113
military sexual.

631
00:18:07,113 --> 00:18:09,113
Trauma.

632
00:18:09,349 --> 00:18:10,650
>> menopause care toxics

633
00:18:10,650 --> 00:18:12,652
exposure evaluations as well.

634
00:18:12,652 --> 00:18:14,153
Homelessness prevention and

635
00:18:14,153 --> 00:18:15,388
assistance navigating

636
00:18:15,388 --> 00:18:17,788
disability claims and benefits.

637
00:18:18,570 --> 00:18:20,126
They also need providers who

638
00:18:20,126 --> 00:18:21,194
understand how systems, risk

639
00:18:21,194 --> 00:18:22,895
factors and treatment

640
00:18:22,895 --> 00:18:23,563
experiences are different for

641
00:18:23,563 --> 00:18:25,563
them as women.

642
00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:27,700
I want to recognize the

643
00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:29,168
outstanding work of the women

644
00:18:29,168 --> 00:18:30,436
veterans care center within the

645
00:18:30,436 --> 00:18:32,706
va boston health care system

646
00:18:32,706 --> 00:18:34,775
and its program manager carolyn

647
00:18:34,775 --> 00:18:35,410
mason holly, whom I spoke with

648
00:18:35,410 --> 00:18:37,410
yesterday.

649
00:18:37,677 --> 00:18:39,345
This program here in boston

650
00:18:39,345 --> 00:18:40,413
provides women veterans with

651
00:18:40,413 --> 00:18:42,810
comprehensive coordinated care

652
00:18:42,810 --> 00:18:44,350
in an environment where their

653
00:18:44,350 --> 00:18:45,418
service, their experiences and

654
00:18:45,418 --> 00:18:47,287
individual health care needs

655
00:18:47,287 --> 00:18:47,554
are understood and also

656
00:18:47,554 --> 00:18:49,554
respected.

657
00:18:50,790 --> 00:18:53,190
Its specially trained providers

658
00:18:53,293 --> 00:18:54,327
offer primary care gynecology,

659
00:18:54,327 --> 00:18:56,327
maternal and postmortem

660
00:18:56,829 --> 00:18:57,697
support, mammograms and other

661
00:18:57,697 --> 00:18:59,165
preventive screenings,

662
00:18:59,165 --> 00:19:00,667
menopause care mental health

663
00:19:00,667 --> 00:19:01,734
counseling, support for

664
00:19:01,734 --> 00:19:03,300
survivors of military sexual

665
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:04,437
trauma and also.

666
00:19:04,437 --> 00:19:06,437
Family planning services.

667
00:19:07,674 --> 00:19:08,741
Just as importantly, the

668
00:19:08,741 --> 00:19:11,440
programs help women veterans

669
00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:12,412
navigate the va health care

670
00:19:12,412 --> 00:19:13,680
system and it connects them

671
00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,148
with the specialists and

672
00:19:15,148 --> 00:19:16,150
resources that they have earned

673
00:19:16,150 --> 00:19:18,415
because of their service.

674
00:19:18,685 --> 00:19:20,753
The center reflects an

675
00:19:20,753 --> 00:19:22,822
important promise that women

676
00:19:22,822 --> 00:19:25,125
veterans should never feel

677
00:19:25,125 --> 00:19:26,626
invisible or like an

678
00:19:26,626 --> 00:19:28,950
afterthought within the system

679
00:19:28,950 --> 00:19:30,960
that they serve to defend.

680
00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:31,765
They deserve timely,

681
00:19:31,765 --> 00:19:33,765
compassionate, gender specific

682
00:19:33,867 --> 00:19:35,135
care and a place where they are

683
00:19:35,135 --> 00:19:36,200
recognized first and foremost

684
00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,200
as veterans.

685
00:19:39,239 --> 00:19:40,907
Also available to our women

686
00:19:40,907 --> 00:19:43,209
veterans is the veterans call

687
00:19:43,209 --> 00:19:44,277
center, which provides women

688
00:19:44,277 --> 00:19:46,179
veterans with information about

689
00:19:46,179 --> 00:19:47,470
va services and resources,

690
00:19:47,470 --> 00:19:48,882
benefits and eligibility.

691
00:19:48,882 --> 00:19:49,949
It's a toll free hotline which

692
00:19:49,949 --> 00:19:52,349
is available monday through

693
00:19:52,552 --> 00:19:54,220
friday from 8 A.M. To 10 P.M.

694
00:19:54,220 --> 00:19:56,490
Eastern standard time and on

695
00:19:56,490 --> 00:19:57,390
saturdays from 8 A.M. To 6:30

696
00:19:57,390 --> 00:20:00,390
P.M. Eastern standard time.

697
00:20:00,427 --> 00:20:03,427
The phone number is 855 va

698
00:20:06,466 --> 00:20:07,330
women or (855) 829-6636 and

699
00:20:07,330 --> 00:20:09,433
I'll repeat it again.

700
00:20:12,105 --> 00:20:13,807
(855) 829-6636 and if you

701
00:20:13,807 --> 00:20:16,807
wanted to contact the boston

702
00:20:18,712 --> 00:20:19,179
office you can call

703
00:20:19,179 --> 00:20:21,179
(617) 981-9277.

704
00:20:21,815 --> 00:20:23,216
Also here in the commonwealth

705
00:20:23,216 --> 00:20:25,850
of massachusetts the primary

706
00:20:25,850 --> 00:20:25,752
program for women veterans as

707
00:20:25,752 --> 00:20:27,320
was mentioned by

708
00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:28,821
councilor flynn within the

709
00:20:28,821 --> 00:20:29,889
massachusetts executive office

710
00:20:29,889 --> 00:20:31,958
of veterans services or any

711
00:20:31,958 --> 00:20:33,827
of us is a massachusetts

712
00:20:33,827 --> 00:20:35,295
women's veterans network which

713
00:20:35,295 --> 00:20:36,763
acts as a central resource peer

714
00:20:36,763 --> 00:20:38,310
group an advocacy body

715
00:20:38,310 --> 00:20:40,431
dedicated to empowering women

716
00:20:41,335 --> 00:20:41,768
who have served in the military

717
00:20:41,768 --> 00:20:43,768
since nine.

718
00:20:44,204 --> 00:20:45,505
Since 2019, the mayor's office

719
00:20:45,505 --> 00:20:46,773
of veterans services here in

720
00:20:46,773 --> 00:20:48,241
the city of boston has hosted

721
00:20:48,241 --> 00:20:50,310
an annual women veterans

722
00:20:50,310 --> 00:20:51,811
retreat roundtable which has

723
00:20:51,811 --> 00:20:53,480
provided women veterans with a

724
00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,949
welcoming and trusted space to

725
00:20:55,949 --> 00:20:57,217
share their experiences, learn

726
00:20:57,217 --> 00:20:58,718
about available benefits and

727
00:20:58,718 --> 00:21:00,820
healthcare resources and speak

728
00:21:00,820 --> 00:21:02,880
directly with the leaders and

729
00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:04,325
organizations that serve them.

730
00:21:04,325 --> 00:21:05,792
Most importantly, the

731
00:21:05,792 --> 00:21:06,860
roundtable ensures that women

732
00:21:06,860 --> 00:21:09,260
veterans help shape the

733
00:21:09,362 --> 00:21:10,196
programs and policies intended

734
00:21:10,196 --> 00:21:12,432
to meet their needs.

735
00:21:12,432 --> 00:21:13,700
It reinforces a simple but

736
00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:15,168
essential message that women

737
00:21:15,168 --> 00:21:17,568
veterans are not invisible.

738
00:21:17,837 --> 00:21:19,306
They served, they sacrificed

739
00:21:19,306 --> 00:21:21,941
and the voices must be heard.

740
00:21:21,941 --> 00:21:23,810
Also here in the city of boston

741
00:21:23,810 --> 00:21:25,879
we host an annual black

742
00:21:25,879 --> 00:21:26,779
veterans appreciation brunch

743
00:21:26,779 --> 00:21:28,779
recognizing the extraordinary

744
00:21:28,848 --> 00:21:30,317
service, sacrifice and

745
00:21:30,317 --> 00:21:31,385
continuing contributions of our

746
00:21:31,385 --> 00:21:32,520
black veterans throughout

747
00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,520
boston's history.

748
00:21:34,287 --> 00:21:35,755
It is also an opportunity to

749
00:21:35,755 --> 00:21:37,224
connect veterans and their

750
00:21:37,224 --> 00:21:38,892
families with benefits, health

751
00:21:38,892 --> 00:21:40,760
care and community resources

752
00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:41,828
while creating honest

753
00:21:41,828 --> 00:21:43,530
conversations about the

754
00:21:43,530 --> 00:21:45,398
disparities that they have and

755
00:21:45,398 --> 00:21:46,866
MAY encounter by celebrating

756
00:21:46,866 --> 00:21:48,168
their achievements and

757
00:21:48,168 --> 00:21:50,568
listening to their experiences.

758
00:21:50,770 --> 00:21:52,239
We affirm that honoring black

759
00:21:52,239 --> 00:21:52,706
veterans requires more than

760
00:21:52,706 --> 00:21:54,706
recognition.

761
00:21:55,775 --> 00:21:57,845
It requires sustained advocacy,

762
00:21:57,845 --> 00:21:58,111
equitable access and meaningful

763
00:21:58,111 --> 00:22:00,111
action.

764
00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:01,948
Here in boston, we are

765
00:22:01,948 --> 00:22:03,617
fortunate to have the va health

766
00:22:03,617 --> 00:22:05,318
care system which is one of the

767
00:22:05,318 --> 00:22:07,587
best in the country and the

768
00:22:07,587 --> 00:22:09,890
world which includes campuses

769
00:22:09,890 --> 00:22:09,322
in west roxbury and in jamaica

770
00:22:09,322 --> 00:22:11,322
plain.

771
00:22:11,358 --> 00:22:12,359
We also have world class

772
00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:13,994
hospitals and cancer centers.

773
00:22:13,994 --> 00:22:14,661
We have the boston public

774
00:22:14,661 --> 00:22:15,929
health commission which we're

775
00:22:15,929 --> 00:22:16,196
going to hear from here very

776
00:22:16,196 --> 00:22:17,597
shortly.

777
00:22:17,597 --> 00:22:19,990
We have community health

778
00:22:19,990 --> 00:22:20,967
centers, the massachusetts

779
00:22:20,967 --> 00:22:21,835
executive office of veterans

780
00:22:21,835 --> 00:22:23,904
services with secretary eric

781
00:22:23,904 --> 00:22:25,472
grinnell and deputy secretary

782
00:22:25,472 --> 00:22:25,672
andrea gail bennett at the

783
00:22:25,672 --> 00:22:26,873
helm.

784
00:22:26,873 --> 00:22:28,509
We also have the massachusetts

785
00:22:28,509 --> 00:22:30,177
women's veterans network led by

786
00:22:30,177 --> 00:22:32,177
director jessica frost.

787
00:22:32,446 --> 00:22:33,914
Veterans organizations like the

788
00:22:33,914 --> 00:22:35,982
vfw, like the american legion

789
00:22:35,982 --> 00:22:36,650
and the dav and trusted

790
00:22:36,650 --> 00:22:38,518
neighborhood leaders.

791
00:22:38,518 --> 00:22:39,953
And of course our partnerships

792
00:22:39,953 --> 00:22:40,821
with our fellow city

793
00:22:40,821 --> 00:22:42,489
departments like the boston

794
00:22:42,489 --> 00:22:43,957
public health commission, h

795
00:22:43,957 --> 00:22:45,625
strong, the office of food

796
00:22:45,625 --> 00:22:46,493
justice, the mayor's office

797
00:22:46,493 --> 00:22:47,761
of housing and neighborhood

798
00:22:47,761 --> 00:22:49,996
services just to name a few.

799
00:22:49,996 --> 00:22:50,865
We all work together to help

800
00:22:50,865 --> 00:22:51,298
connect veterans and their

801
00:22:51,298 --> 00:22:51,832
families with.

802
00:22:51,832 --> 00:22:53,467
Health care.

803
00:22:53,467 --> 00:22:55,467
And wellness resources,

804
00:22:55,936 --> 00:22:57,637
nutritious food, food access

805
00:22:57,637 --> 00:22:59,506
programs, housing assistance,

806
00:22:59,506 --> 00:23:00,574
transportation benefits

807
00:23:00,574 --> 00:23:02,443
advocacy, mental health support

808
00:23:02,443 --> 00:23:02,876
and services for our older

809
00:23:02,876 --> 00:23:04,876
veterans.

810
00:23:04,911 --> 00:23:07,130
By working across agencies, we

811
00:23:07,130 --> 00:23:07,447
can and continue to address the

812
00:23:07,447 --> 00:23:09,447
social and.

813
00:23:09,483 --> 00:23:11,351
Practical barriers that too

814
00:23:11,351 --> 00:23:12,419
often prevent veterans

815
00:23:12,419 --> 00:23:13,920
especially women veterans,

816
00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:15,155
black veterans and all the

817
00:23:15,155 --> 00:23:16,423
veterans and those facing

818
00:23:16,423 --> 00:23:17,891
financial hardships from

819
00:23:17,891 --> 00:23:19,359
receiving the care and support

820
00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:21,628
that they have earned.

821
00:23:21,628 --> 00:23:23,897
My hope is that this hearing

822
00:23:23,897 --> 00:23:25,599
here today will lead to greater

823
00:23:25,599 --> 00:23:27,599
awareness, measurable and

824
00:23:27,868 --> 00:23:28,735
measurable action where more

825
00:23:28,735 --> 00:23:30,735
veterans are screened.

826
00:23:31,171 --> 00:23:31,438
More cancers are detected early

827
00:23:31,438 --> 00:23:33,730
.

828
00:23:33,730 --> 00:23:34,942
More women veterans receiving

829
00:23:34,942 --> 00:23:36,410
the care designed around their

830
00:23:36,410 --> 00:23:38,245
needs and life saved.

831
00:23:38,245 --> 00:23:40,245
Lastly.

832
00:23:40,447 --> 00:23:42,549
>> as part of our continuing

833
00:23:42,549 --> 00:23:44,618
commitment to honor service and

834
00:23:44,618 --> 00:23:46,520
sacrifice and as our nation not

835
00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,920
only marks the 250th

836
00:23:48,989 --> 00:23:51,910
anniversary of our country but

837
00:23:51,910 --> 00:23:53,961
also here in a couple of weeks

838
00:23:53,961 --> 00:23:55,280
the 25th anniversary

839
00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:55,295
of SEPTEMBER 11th 2001

840
00:23:55,295 --> 00:23:57,295
terrorist.

841
00:23:57,531 --> 00:23:59,399
Attacks we must never forget

842
00:23:59,399 --> 00:24:00,467
the nearly 3000 innocent lives

843
00:24:00,467 --> 00:24:02,467
taken that day.

844
00:24:02,903 --> 00:24:04,971
The first responders who ran

845
00:24:04,971 --> 00:24:06,440
toward danger and all those who

846
00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:07,308
continue to live with this

847
00:24:07,308 --> 00:24:09,308
lasting effects.

848
00:24:09,743 --> 00:24:11,450
SEPTEMBER 11th forever changed

849
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:13,113
our country and redefined

850
00:24:13,113 --> 00:24:13,413
service for an entire

851
00:24:13,413 --> 00:24:15,413
generation.

852
00:24:15,415 --> 00:24:16,683
And in the days and years that

853
00:24:16,683 --> 00:24:17,317
followed, americans step

854
00:24:17,317 --> 00:24:17,851
forward to serve.

855
00:24:17,851 --> 00:24:18,385
In our.

856
00:24:18,385 --> 00:24:18,785
>> armed.

857
00:24:18,785 --> 00:24:20,555
Forces.

858
00:24:20,555 --> 00:24:22,222
>> in our fire and police

859
00:24:22,222 --> 00:24:24,125
departments, in our emergency

860
00:24:24,125 --> 00:24:25,592
service and in our communities

861
00:24:25,592 --> 00:24:27,494
united by shared commitment to

862
00:24:27,494 --> 00:24:28,762
defend our nation well more

863
00:24:28,762 --> 00:24:28,996
importantly to care for one

864
00:24:28,996 --> 00:24:30,996
another.

865
00:24:31,665 --> 00:24:33,533
We especially honor the post

866
00:24:33,533 --> 00:24:35,636
9/11 veterans who answered that

867
00:24:35,636 --> 00:24:36,703
call, including those who never

868
00:24:36,703 --> 00:24:38,572
returned home and those who

869
00:24:38,572 --> 00:24:39,406
still carry the visible and

870
00:24:39,406 --> 00:24:41,806
invisible wounds of war.

871
00:24:42,476 --> 00:24:43,343
25 years later, our

872
00:24:43,343 --> 00:24:45,343
responsibility remains clear.

873
00:24:45,746 --> 00:24:48,146
Remember every life lost.

874
00:24:48,815 --> 00:24:50,484
Honor every person who served

875
00:24:50,484 --> 00:24:52,553
our country and ensured that

876
00:24:52,553 --> 00:24:53,200
their sacrifices are never

877
00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:54,655
forgotten.

878
00:24:54,655 --> 00:24:54,888
The city of boston will never

879
00:24:54,888 --> 00:24:56,888
forget.

880
00:24:57,257 --> 00:24:59,126
This year we're also going to

881
00:24:59,126 --> 00:25:01,195
host our annual recognition

882
00:25:01,195 --> 00:25:01,862
ceremony on SEPTEMBER 18th in

883
00:25:01,862 --> 00:25:03,697
city hall plaza.

884
00:25:03,697 --> 00:25:05,365
We will gather with veterans,

885
00:25:05,365 --> 00:25:07,235
families, community members and

886
00:25:07,235 --> 00:25:08,702
the state leaderships of the

887
00:25:08,702 --> 00:25:10,170
vfw, dav and the american

888
00:25:10,170 --> 00:25:11,638
legion to reaffirm that our

889
00:25:11,638 --> 00:25:13,741
prisoners of war and our

890
00:25:13,741 --> 00:25:14,800
missing personnel will never be

891
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,800
forgotten.

892
00:25:16,430 --> 00:25:17,277
We also invite everyone to join

893
00:25:17,277 --> 00:25:18,979
us for boston's veterans day

894
00:25:18,979 --> 00:25:20,130
parade on NOVEMBER 9th, where

895
00:25:20,130 --> 00:25:21,915
we will recognize veterans

896
00:25:21,915 --> 00:25:24,184
of every generation including

897
00:25:24,184 --> 00:25:26,253
the post 911 veterans who

898
00:25:26,253 --> 00:25:27,521
answered our nation's call

899
00:25:27,521 --> 00:25:29,790
during these past 25 years.

900
00:25:29,790 --> 00:25:31,692
together, these observances

901
00:25:31,692 --> 00:25:34,161
remind our veterans that boston

902
00:25:34,161 --> 00:25:36,263
remembers their service, boston

903
00:25:36,263 --> 00:25:38,131
honors their sacrifices and

904
00:25:38,131 --> 00:25:39,800
boston remains committed to

905
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:40,670
supporting them and their

906
00:25:40,670 --> 00:25:42,670
families.

907
00:25:42,690 --> 00:25:43,137
Thank you to the council for

908
00:25:43,137 --> 00:25:44,838
bringing attention to these

909
00:25:44,838 --> 00:25:45,672
critical issues and for your

910
00:25:45,672 --> 00:25:47,175
continued commitment to our

911
00:25:47,175 --> 00:25:47,441
boston veterans and their

912
00:25:47,441 --> 00:25:49,420
families.

913
00:25:49,420 --> 00:25:49,911
And I'm looking forward to the

914
00:25:49,911 --> 00:25:51,911
conversation here today.

915
00:25:52,346 --> 00:25:54,346
Commissioner santiago, thank

916
00:25:54,414 --> 00:25:55,682
you very much for the um for

917
00:25:55,682 --> 00:25:56,150
your testimony for your

918
00:25:56,150 --> 00:25:58,150
leadership.

919
00:25:58,151 --> 00:25:59,853
I do want to make one one

920
00:25:59,853 --> 00:26:00,870
change to what I mentioned

921
00:26:00,870 --> 00:26:01,722
earlier.

922
00:26:01,722 --> 00:26:02,589
I know we were going to go

923
00:26:02,589 --> 00:26:04,989
straight down the line.

924
00:26:05,826 --> 00:26:07,528
Uh, commander meredith tuitt is

925
00:26:07,528 --> 00:26:10,197
a member of the american legion

926
00:26:10,197 --> 00:26:11,265
in the court of post and I know

927
00:26:11,265 --> 00:26:12,933
she's going to the american

928
00:26:12,933 --> 00:26:15,333
legion post convention now.

929
00:26:15,569 --> 00:26:16,360
Um, I do want to take her out

930
00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:18,360
of order.

931
00:26:18,272 --> 00:26:18,505
Give her the opportunity to

932
00:26:18,505 --> 00:26:20,505
speak.

933
00:26:20,540 --> 00:26:21,800
Uh, provide an opening

934
00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:22,843
statement.

935
00:26:22,843 --> 00:26:25,112
Um, because I have great

936
00:26:25,112 --> 00:26:27,215
respect for her as a as a

937
00:26:27,215 --> 00:26:29,683
veteran as a as a as a woman

938
00:26:29,683 --> 00:26:31,351
veteran, a veteran of color but

939
00:26:31,351 --> 00:26:31,618
also um, a member of the court

940
00:26:31,618 --> 00:26:33,530
opposed.

941
00:26:33,530 --> 00:26:33,721
So I have to take care of my

942
00:26:33,721 --> 00:26:34,221
commander as well.

943
00:26:34,221 --> 00:26:36,221
All right.

944
00:26:37,691 --> 00:26:40,160
Um, so could we ask, uh,

945
00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:41,280
commander to it to um if we

946
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,970
could bring up sir?

947
00:26:43,970 --> 00:26:43,931
Oh good morning, commander.

948
00:26:43,931 --> 00:26:44,965
It's good to be with you.

949
00:26:44,965 --> 00:26:46,000
Good morning.

950
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,401
morning, CHAIRMAN.

951
00:26:47,401 --> 00:26:49,401
And morning everyone.

952
00:26:51,272 --> 00:26:53,374
Um, I do appreciate you, um,

953
00:26:53,374 --> 00:26:54,208
chair and the committee pulling

954
00:26:54,208 --> 00:26:56,608
me out of turn.

955
00:26:56,677 --> 00:26:58,312
As you know, I am out running

956
00:26:58,312 --> 00:26:59,780
errands getting ready to head

957
00:26:59,780 --> 00:27:01,248
to louisville, kentucky for the

958
00:27:01,248 --> 00:27:01,715
national american legion

959
00:27:01,715 --> 00:27:02,516
convention.

960
00:27:02,516 --> 00:27:04,516
So I appreciate.

961
00:27:04,585 --> 00:27:06,820
You pulling me out of turn.

962
00:27:06,820 --> 00:27:07,888
Um, also I want to, um, thank

963
00:27:07,888 --> 00:27:08,989
commissioner santiago for all

964
00:27:08,989 --> 00:27:09,423
the work that he does.

965
00:27:09,423 --> 00:27:10,658
>> for.

966
00:27:10,658 --> 00:27:12,126
The veterans here in the city

967
00:27:12,126 --> 00:27:13,294
of boston and all the other

968
00:27:13,294 --> 00:27:13,560
panelists that are going to be

969
00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:15,560
speaking.

970
00:27:15,596 --> 00:27:17,197
Um thank you.

971
00:27:17,197 --> 00:27:17,665
That will be we all have to

972
00:27:17,665 --> 00:27:18,265
continue.

973
00:27:18,265 --> 00:27:19,900
Our service.

974
00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:22,900
For veterans veterans of color.

975
00:27:22,937 --> 00:27:23,404
Um, and also for female

976
00:27:23,404 --> 00:27:24,205
veterans.

977
00:27:24,205 --> 00:27:26,205
I am district.

978
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:27,700
Seven suffolk county

979
00:27:27,700 --> 00:27:28,750
council commander for the

980
00:27:28,750 --> 00:27:30,750
american legion.

981
00:27:30,110 --> 00:27:31,378
So I have about 20 posts under

982
00:27:31,378 --> 00:27:32,847
me and then also commander

983
00:27:32,847 --> 00:27:33,113
of the carter post in mattapan

984
00:27:33,113 --> 00:27:35,113
.

985
00:27:35,349 --> 00:27:36,618
So I'm always speaking with my

986
00:27:36,618 --> 00:27:37,485
veterans veterans of color

987
00:27:37,485 --> 00:27:39,485
female veterans.

988
00:27:41,155 --> 00:27:43,230
I'm part of the vn, um and and

989
00:27:43,230 --> 00:27:45,230
many other organizations.

990
00:27:46,293 --> 00:27:48,762
Um first I want to say I, I

991
00:27:48,762 --> 00:27:51,265
applaud and I appreciate the

992
00:27:51,265 --> 00:27:52,900
doctors and the um the

993
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:53,801
advocates from the va who have

994
00:27:53,801 --> 00:27:55,669
been working around the

995
00:27:55,669 --> 00:27:57,271
screening of lung

996
00:27:57,271 --> 00:27:59,671
cancer especially for african

997
00:27:59,740 --> 00:28:01,810
american veterans and how

998
00:28:01,810 --> 00:28:04,111
indigenous um veterans here in

999
00:28:04,111 --> 00:28:06,780
the city of boston they have

1000
00:28:06,780 --> 00:28:08,249
been doing um screening and

1001
00:28:08,249 --> 00:28:09,750
going to different locations,

1002
00:28:09,750 --> 00:28:11,619
different posts over the past

1003
00:28:11,619 --> 00:28:14,655
uh, say two years or more.

1004
00:28:14,655 --> 00:28:17,358
Um, to be able to screen as

1005
00:28:17,358 --> 00:28:20,261
many of our comrades as they

1006
00:28:20,261 --> 00:28:21,529
possibly can to um, you know,

1007
00:28:21,529 --> 00:28:23,797
get them assistance and get

1008
00:28:23,797 --> 00:28:25,666
them help for those that um are

1009
00:28:25,666 --> 00:28:27,168
detected or and also to make

1010
00:28:27,168 --> 00:28:29,837
sure that those that don't have

1011
00:28:29,837 --> 00:28:31,706
a no they don't have but the

1012
00:28:31,706 --> 00:28:34,208
problem that I want to touch on

1013
00:28:34,208 --> 00:28:36,510
this base is here is that even

1014
00:28:36,510 --> 00:28:37,812
though they're visiting our

1015
00:28:37,812 --> 00:28:39,880
communities and coming into our

1016
00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:41,148
post and hello, we still lose

1017
00:28:41,148 --> 00:28:44,510
and we're still missing some

1018
00:28:44,510 --> 00:28:45,119
of our comrades who might have

1019
00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:47,119
lung cancer.

1020
00:28:47,354 --> 00:28:49,754
Our older generation who

1021
00:28:50,257 --> 00:28:51,926
sometimes can't get out to be

1022
00:28:51,926 --> 00:28:52,159
screened or at these locations

1023
00:28:52,159 --> 00:28:54,159
.

1024
00:28:54,429 --> 00:28:54,662
So how do we improve upon that

1025
00:28:54,662 --> 00:28:55,996
?

1026
00:28:55,996 --> 00:28:56,865
And I'm going to throw that on

1027
00:28:56,865 --> 00:28:57,131
your desk, commissioner

1028
00:28:57,131 --> 00:28:58,866
santiago.

1029
00:28:58,866 --> 00:29:01,368
I'm going to throw it on the

1030
00:29:01,368 --> 00:29:03,471
desk of our va um, doctor

1031
00:29:03,471 --> 00:29:05,539
because we need to be able to

1032
00:29:05,539 --> 00:29:07,408
work with our, um our system

1033
00:29:07,408 --> 00:29:08,375
and how we are doing the

1034
00:29:08,375 --> 00:29:11,278
screenings to be able to

1035
00:29:11,278 --> 00:29:12,746
accommodate our elders who

1036
00:29:12,746 --> 00:29:14,382
don't come out when they.

1037
00:29:14,382 --> 00:29:15,450
When there's a screening

1038
00:29:15,450 --> 00:29:17,485
because one they don't.

1039
00:29:17,485 --> 00:29:19,153
Follow social media to they

1040
00:29:19,153 --> 00:29:21,789
might not see a flier.

1041
00:29:21,789 --> 00:29:22,256
Um and ah we we've done

1042
00:29:22,256 --> 00:29:23,290
barbershops.

1043
00:29:23,290 --> 00:29:24,558
We've done all sorts

1044
00:29:24,558 --> 00:29:26,260
of different locations when we

1045
00:29:26,260 --> 00:29:27,828
were doing it at the um carter

1046
00:29:27,828 --> 00:29:29,563
post but we still MISS It.

1047
00:29:29,563 --> 00:29:30,831
So I just wanted to put that

1048
00:29:30,831 --> 00:29:32,500
out there was still missing a

1049
00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:32,767
lot of our comrades that should

1050
00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:33,201
.

1051
00:29:33,201 --> 00:29:34,335
Be able.

1052
00:29:34,335 --> 00:29:34,735
>> to get screened.

1053
00:29:34,735 --> 00:29:36,735
Right.

1054
00:29:37,405 --> 00:29:38,239
But I do applaud them for what

1055
00:29:38,239 --> 00:29:40,639
they have been doing.

1056
00:29:41,308 --> 00:29:43,177
Um, let's talk about service

1057
00:29:43,177 --> 00:29:44,812
for, um, female veterans.

1058
00:29:44,812 --> 00:29:46,480
A lot of times I have veterans

1059
00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:47,147
that say we shouldn't say

1060
00:29:47,147 --> 00:29:48,282
female veterans.

1061
00:29:48,282 --> 00:29:51,282
A veteran is a veteran.

1062
00:29:51,919 --> 00:29:53,588
Yes, but female veterans health

1063
00:29:53,588 --> 00:29:55,588
care is different.

1064
00:29:58,893 --> 00:29:59,126
We we, um you know, we give

1065
00:29:59,126 --> 00:30:01,126
birth.

1066
00:30:02,196 --> 00:30:04,899
We we carry children so we need

1067
00:30:04,899 --> 00:30:07,601
that um, again we need that

1068
00:30:07,601 --> 00:30:09,470
that that ob doctor to to deal

1069
00:30:09,470 --> 00:30:11,339
with and it took a while for

1070
00:30:11,339 --> 00:30:12,206
when the ob doctor left jamaica

1071
00:30:12,206 --> 00:30:12,974
plain it took them.

1072
00:30:12,974 --> 00:30:14,375
>> almost two years.

1073
00:30:14,375 --> 00:30:16,430
Before they found another one

1074
00:30:16,430 --> 00:30:17,511
and I I applaud carolyn for all

1075
00:30:17,511 --> 00:30:19,413
of the hard work she does to

1076
00:30:19,413 --> 00:30:20,247
make sure that we do have

1077
00:30:20,247 --> 00:30:20,881
doctors within.

1078
00:30:20,881 --> 00:30:22,881
The the.

1079
00:30:22,883 --> 00:30:24,352
Women's clinic and the new

1080
00:30:24,352 --> 00:30:25,219
clinic that they opened up

1081
00:30:25,219 --> 00:30:27,219
focused on.

1082
00:30:27,855 --> 00:30:31,993
Um menopause I think it's in um

1083
00:30:31,993 --> 00:30:34,862
in the bedford location but men

1084
00:30:34,862 --> 00:30:35,329
don't think about those things

1085
00:30:35,329 --> 00:30:37,650
women do.

1086
00:30:37,650 --> 00:30:37,698
So we have perimenopause, we

1087
00:30:37,698 --> 00:30:39,698
have menopause.

1088
00:30:40,568 --> 00:30:42,636
We have we have um carrying

1089
00:30:42,636 --> 00:30:44,872
children, we have our fibroids.

1090
00:30:44,872 --> 00:30:48,472
We have all these things that

1091
00:30:48,576 --> 00:30:51,479
men don't have that are crucial

1092
00:30:51,479 --> 00:30:53,948
to our livelihood and and our

1093
00:30:53,948 --> 00:30:55,616
health and our our mental

1094
00:30:55,616 --> 00:30:57,919
health is also something else

1095
00:30:57,919 --> 00:30:59,987
that is a different you know,

1096
00:30:59,987 --> 00:31:02,890
we we struggle with depression

1097
00:31:02,890 --> 00:31:03,157
in a different way because not

1098
00:31:03,157 --> 00:31:04,759
only depression about.

1099
00:31:04,759 --> 00:31:06,627
Our service.

1100
00:31:06,627 --> 00:31:08,496
especially women who have msi

1101
00:31:08,496 --> 00:31:10,965
and our military sexual trauma

1102
00:31:10,965 --> 00:31:13,670
and those that have the post

1103
00:31:13,670 --> 00:31:13,301
trauma, you know, um, and so

1104
00:31:13,301 --> 00:31:15,301
on.

1105
00:31:15,536 --> 00:31:17,839
But at many times we are all

1106
00:31:17,839 --> 00:31:19,708
focused on our children and and

1107
00:31:19,708 --> 00:31:22,410
taking care of our household

1108
00:31:22,410 --> 00:31:24,679
and and keeping our jobs and

1109
00:31:24,679 --> 00:31:26,347
you know, and being looked as

1110
00:31:26,347 --> 00:31:28,449
if we you know, as we are being

1111
00:31:28,449 --> 00:31:28,883
too aggressive and to this and

1112
00:31:28,883 --> 00:31:30,883
to that.

1113
00:31:31,519 --> 00:31:33,621
So the the the mental health

1114
00:31:33,621 --> 00:31:33,888
for female veterans is

1115
00:31:33,888 --> 00:31:35,888
different.

1116
00:31:37,125 --> 00:31:37,960
So that's something that we we

1117
00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,960
could do better.

1118
00:31:40,628 --> 00:31:42,697
You know um I have a lot of my

1119
00:31:42,697 --> 00:31:44,165
sister uh sister veterans who

1120
00:31:44,165 --> 00:31:45,833
say to me sometimes when they

1121
00:31:45,833 --> 00:31:47,301
go to a therapist that they

1122
00:31:47,301 --> 00:31:48,569
don't think the therapist is

1123
00:31:48,569 --> 00:31:50,672
really listening to them

1124
00:31:50,672 --> 00:31:52,773
because some therapists say, oh

1125
00:31:52,773 --> 00:31:53,400
,you know, you could you can

1126
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:53,641
handle it.

1127
00:31:53,641 --> 00:31:55,641
You got.

1128
00:31:55,676 --> 00:31:57,545
Your strong you know, sometimes

1129
00:31:57,545 --> 00:31:59,614
we don't want to hear that, you

1130
00:31:59,614 --> 00:32:01,282
know and um those are things

1131
00:32:01,282 --> 00:32:03,585
that we need to be able to have

1132
00:32:03,585 --> 00:32:05,985
that cultural competency that

1133
00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:08,589
that um mental competency, that

1134
00:32:08,589 --> 00:32:10,825
environment that we're in.

1135
00:32:10,825 --> 00:32:12,427
So those are the things that we

1136
00:32:12,427 --> 00:32:13,495
we need to focus in that I

1137
00:32:13,495 --> 00:32:15,396
don't know if it's more

1138
00:32:15,396 --> 00:32:17,640
training or or how do we do it,

1139
00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,167
but those are the that I hear a

1140
00:32:19,167 --> 00:32:21,636
lot about from my sister um

1141
00:32:21,636 --> 00:32:25,836
comrades and I want to say um

1142
00:32:26,575 --> 00:32:28,643
for myself I went through um a

1143
00:32:28,643 --> 00:32:30,712
traumatic loss of like my

1144
00:32:30,712 --> 00:32:31,579
second mother uh, about a year

1145
00:32:31,579 --> 00:32:33,979
and a half ago.

1146
00:32:34,215 --> 00:32:37,118
And I want to tell people I

1147
00:32:37,118 --> 00:32:39,587
went to therapy because that

1148
00:32:39,587 --> 00:32:41,656
loss put me in a depression

1149
00:32:41,656 --> 00:32:42,924
that I didn't even realize i

1150
00:32:42,924 --> 00:32:44,558
could experience it.

1151
00:32:44,558 --> 00:32:46,427
And I'm always out here telling

1152
00:32:46,427 --> 00:32:47,495
my sisters go get help, go

1153
00:32:47,495 --> 00:32:49,130
going talk going this.

1154
00:32:49,130 --> 00:32:50,599
And I finally had to say to

1155
00:32:50,599 --> 00:32:53,435
myself go and get help.

1156
00:32:53,435 --> 00:32:53,601
Go and talk to someone because

1157
00:32:53,601 --> 00:32:54,335
it.

1158
00:32:54,335 --> 00:32:56,170
>> was very.

1159
00:32:56,170 --> 00:32:57,872
Hard and when I walked out my

1160
00:32:57,872 --> 00:32:59,740
door I still had to put on that

1161
00:32:59,740 --> 00:33:00,775
face that strong face because I

1162
00:33:00,775 --> 00:33:02,243
was working with veterans,

1163
00:33:02,243 --> 00:33:03,111
working with women and trying

1164
00:33:03,111 --> 00:33:03,945
to get things done.

1165
00:33:03,945 --> 00:33:05,546
But internally.

1166
00:33:05,546 --> 00:33:07,546
I was screaming.

1167
00:33:08,816 --> 00:33:10,850
But I was able to talk to a

1168
00:33:10,850 --> 00:33:10,952
therapist that was able to get

1169
00:33:10,952 --> 00:33:12,952
me through that.

1170
00:33:13,321 --> 00:33:13,521
So a lot of times we have to

1171
00:33:13,521 --> 00:33:15,521
think.

1172
00:33:15,723 --> 00:33:17,125
About women's depression.

1173
00:33:17,125 --> 00:33:19,270
Women's mental health is

1174
00:33:19,270 --> 00:33:22,270
impacted in different ways, you

1175
00:33:22,363 --> 00:33:23,831
know, um, also again I want to

1176
00:33:23,831 --> 00:33:24,299
thank commissioner santiago for

1177
00:33:24,299 --> 00:33:26,299
bringing it up.

1178
00:33:26,335 --> 00:33:27,802
A lot of times female veterans

1179
00:33:27,802 --> 00:33:31,306
are looked at as just the

1180
00:33:31,306 --> 00:33:32,607
spouse of a veteran and I've

1181
00:33:32,607 --> 00:33:35,277
been you know, talking about

1182
00:33:35,277 --> 00:33:38,379
you know, ways that we can

1183
00:33:38,379 --> 00:33:39,847
acknowledge that women served

1184
00:33:39,847 --> 00:33:40,949
you know, if it's a license

1185
00:33:40,949 --> 00:33:42,350
plate or whatever, I'm going to

1186
00:33:42,350 --> 00:33:44,180
have to go back and rally this

1187
00:33:44,180 --> 00:33:45,486
year to see if we can get some

1188
00:33:45,486 --> 00:33:47,886
legislation around that because

1189
00:33:48,790 --> 00:33:50,570
my veteran's plate on my car

1190
00:33:50,570 --> 00:33:50,325
people think it's my husband's

1191
00:33:50,325 --> 00:33:52,325
plate.

1192
00:33:53,161 --> 00:33:55,830
I don't have a husband yet, you

1193
00:33:55,830 --> 00:33:58,733
know, but those are things we

1194
00:33:58,733 --> 00:33:59,735
we um we work we talk.

1195
00:33:59,735 --> 00:34:01,735
About um.

1196
00:34:02,370 --> 00:34:04,306
Within the the female veterans

1197
00:34:04,306 --> 00:34:05,940
community it being acknowledged

1198
00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:07,575
not we used to be invisible.

1199
00:34:07,575 --> 00:34:09,211
We are now we're still in a

1200
00:34:09,211 --> 00:34:10,478
little bit in the saddle but

1201
00:34:10,478 --> 00:34:13,478
we're coming coming out you

1202
00:34:14,415 --> 00:34:15,283
know and um but it's not it's

1203
00:34:15,283 --> 00:34:16,318
not done.

1204
00:34:16,318 --> 00:34:17,180
We have more.

1205
00:34:17,180 --> 00:34:17,852
Work to do.

1206
00:34:17,852 --> 00:34:19,852
Right.

1207
00:34:20,288 --> 00:34:21,923
>> and a lot of times too.

1208
00:34:21,923 --> 00:34:22,758
Now what I'm having a lot of my

1209
00:34:22,758 --> 00:34:24,192
sister um.

1210
00:34:24,192 --> 00:34:26,192
Veterans talk about.

1211
00:34:26,628 --> 00:34:26,895
Is how they get looked at say

1212
00:34:26,895 --> 00:34:27,462
they go.

1213
00:34:27,462 --> 00:34:28,863
>> through a.

1214
00:34:28,863 --> 00:34:29,731
Divorce and there's child

1215
00:34:29,731 --> 00:34:30,765
custody issues and.

1216
00:34:30,765 --> 00:34:32,765
So on.

1217
00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,470
A lot of times because they're

1218
00:34:35,470 --> 00:34:37,172
female veterans, they're being

1219
00:34:37,172 --> 00:34:39,841
treated a certain way in the

1220
00:34:39,841 --> 00:34:41,510
court system because of the

1221
00:34:41,510 --> 00:34:43,211
they have female veteran or

1222
00:34:43,211 --> 00:34:44,913
they might have messed they

1223
00:34:44,913 --> 00:34:45,246
might have ptsd, it might have

1224
00:34:45,246 --> 00:34:46,115
this and.

1225
00:34:46,115 --> 00:34:48,115
>> the judges are.

1226
00:34:48,149 --> 00:34:49,184
Using that that because the

1227
00:34:49,184 --> 00:34:50,819
spouse that the.

1228
00:34:50,819 --> 00:34:52,254
The uh um battling.

1229
00:34:52,254 --> 00:34:52,487
With is using that against

1230
00:34:52,487 --> 00:34:54,322
them.

1231
00:34:54,322 --> 00:34:56,191
So those are things that I want

1232
00:34:56,191 --> 00:34:57,692
to put out there so we can

1233
00:34:57,692 --> 00:34:58,927
figure out how are we going to.

1234
00:34:58,927 --> 00:34:59,961
Work with our.

1235
00:34:59,961 --> 00:35:01,663
Systems to.

1236
00:35:01,663 --> 00:35:02,765
>> help our sisters that help

1237
00:35:02,765 --> 00:35:05,165
my sisters help my.

1238
00:35:05,633 --> 00:35:07,502
Sister comrades and I never you

1239
00:35:07,502 --> 00:35:09,404
know I'm not going to leave um,

1240
00:35:09,404 --> 00:35:11,406
my my veterans of color.

1241
00:35:11,406 --> 00:35:13,806
I serve as a.

1242
00:35:14,420 --> 00:35:17,579
Commander at, uh, long stand at

1243
00:35:17,579 --> 00:35:18,847
107 year old um post that was

1244
00:35:18,847 --> 00:35:19,848
strongly, um.

1245
00:35:19,848 --> 00:35:20,849
Veterans of color.

1246
00:35:20,849 --> 00:35:22,849
Um.

1247
00:35:26,755 --> 00:35:28,890
We we are treated differently.

1248
00:35:28,890 --> 00:35:29,558
And that's another thing when

1249
00:35:29,558 --> 00:35:30,250
you think about how different

1250
00:35:30,250 --> 00:35:32,250
ways.

1251
00:35:32,260 --> 00:35:33,161
That veterans are treated, you

1252
00:35:33,161 --> 00:35:33,595
know, and then you have to.

1253
00:35:33,595 --> 00:35:35,290
Think about.

1254
00:35:35,290 --> 00:35:36,298
When you are a veteran of color

1255
00:35:36,298 --> 00:35:38,298
and an indigenous.

1256
00:35:38,333 --> 00:35:39,801
Veteran and or also on how.

1257
00:35:39,801 --> 00:35:42,103
>> people look at you if it's

1258
00:35:42,103 --> 00:35:42,270
not your medical claim, if it's

1259
00:35:42,270 --> 00:35:43,672
not.

1260
00:35:43,672 --> 00:35:46,720
Your housing, if it's.

1261
00:35:46,108 --> 00:35:46,975
Not your mental health and and

1262
00:35:46,975 --> 00:35:48,610
so on.

1263
00:35:48,610 --> 00:35:50,679
People think that oh we're

1264
00:35:50,679 --> 00:35:50,945
making this up but no we are

1265
00:35:50,945 --> 00:35:52,945
treated.

1266
00:35:53,148 --> 00:35:53,415
Differently in all of these

1267
00:35:53,415 --> 00:35:54,883
avenues.

1268
00:35:54,883 --> 00:35:56,510
Because of the pigmentation.

1269
00:35:56,510 --> 00:35:56,851
Of our skin.

1270
00:35:56,851 --> 00:35:58,851
You know.

1271
00:35:59,321 --> 00:36:01,721
And is that fear?

1272
00:36:02,357 --> 00:36:03,250
No, because we all served when

1273
00:36:03,250 --> 00:36:05,250
we're on the.

1274
00:36:05,660 --> 00:36:07,562
Field together we don't see

1275
00:36:07,562 --> 00:36:09,197
skin color anymore like they

1276
00:36:09,197 --> 00:36:10,899
used to do back in the days

1277
00:36:10,899 --> 00:36:11,533
because when I went in they

1278
00:36:11,533 --> 00:36:13,368
still saw it.

1279
00:36:13,368 --> 00:36:15,360
But here we are now.

1280
00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:17,305
We're still going through.

1281
00:36:17,305 --> 00:36:19,741
Things because we are veterans.

1282
00:36:19,741 --> 00:36:19,975
And military attached of color

1283
00:36:19,975 --> 00:36:21,975
.

1284
00:36:22,645 --> 00:36:23,511
And so I want to say that

1285
00:36:23,511 --> 00:36:25,511
commissioner santiago's.

1286
00:36:26,982 --> 00:36:31,860
Office does as much as they can

1287
00:36:31,860 --> 00:36:33,788
um, comrade flynn, as a fellow

1288
00:36:33,788 --> 00:36:34,223
sailor we know that.

1289
00:36:34,223 --> 00:36:34,823
There are.

1290
00:36:34,823 --> 00:36:35,457
Still struggles.

1291
00:36:35,457 --> 00:36:37,457
Out there.

1292
00:36:37,492 --> 00:36:39,595
And we and that's what I

1293
00:36:39,595 --> 00:36:40,161
appreciate when you have these

1294
00:36:40,161 --> 00:36:40,762
hearings so we can.

1295
00:36:40,762 --> 00:36:42,397
Talk about.

1296
00:36:42,397 --> 00:36:43,432
What has.

1297
00:36:43,432 --> 00:36:45,432
Been done.

1298
00:36:45,867 --> 00:36:46,735
Good and what still needs.

1299
00:36:46,735 --> 00:36:49,135
>> to be worked on.

1300
00:36:49,571 --> 00:36:51,640
and um, I know I'll get beaten

1301
00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:53,508
up by by haywood fanelli and

1302
00:36:53,508 --> 00:36:53,975
some of my other comrades if I

1303
00:36:53,975 --> 00:36:55,610
don't talk.

1304
00:36:55,610 --> 00:36:55,844
About the veterans that are

1305
00:36:55,844 --> 00:36:57,379
still.

1306
00:36:57,379 --> 00:36:59,379
>> on the streets.

1307
00:37:00,448 --> 00:37:02,848
Still homeless, still looking

1308
00:37:03,552 --> 00:37:04,190
for a single room somewhere or

1309
00:37:04,190 --> 00:37:04,519
our.

1310
00:37:04,519 --> 00:37:06,188
Veterans that.

1311
00:37:06,188 --> 00:37:07,656
>> are on the street because

1312
00:37:07,656 --> 00:37:08,490
they don't take their meds and

1313
00:37:08,490 --> 00:37:10,759
they're off their meds.

1314
00:37:10,759 --> 00:37:12,227
I have one of my comrades right

1315
00:37:12,227 --> 00:37:13,495
now who we can't even find him

1316
00:37:13,495 --> 00:37:13,795
on the streets.

1317
00:37:13,795 --> 00:37:15,795
He.

1318
00:37:15,830 --> 00:37:17,465
Um stopped his meds.

1319
00:37:17,465 --> 00:37:18,867
He lost his apartment.

1320
00:37:18,867 --> 00:37:20,535
We know he's on the streets.

1321
00:37:20,535 --> 00:37:22,404
We know he's checking into pine

1322
00:37:22,404 --> 00:37:22,705
street but we haven't seen him

1323
00:37:22,705 --> 00:37:24,105
in months.

1324
00:37:24,105 --> 00:37:24,907
And we're still trying to.

1325
00:37:24,907 --> 00:37:25,507
Find him.

1326
00:37:25,507 --> 00:37:27,243
You know?

1327
00:37:27,243 --> 00:37:27,509
So these are things we need to

1328
00:37:27,509 --> 00:37:28,843
do.

1329
00:37:28,843 --> 00:37:31,313
Maybe we need to put together.

1330
00:37:31,313 --> 00:37:31,546
A group where we can go out and

1331
00:37:31,546 --> 00:37:33,381
.

1332
00:37:33,381 --> 00:37:35,183
Look for those that we know.

1333
00:37:35,183 --> 00:37:36,752
Are on the streets.

1334
00:37:36,752 --> 00:37:37,719
And their families are worried

1335
00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:39,354
about them and so on.

1336
00:37:39,354 --> 00:37:40,122
So those are things that I'd

1337
00:37:40,122 --> 00:37:42,570
like to get on.

1338
00:37:42,570 --> 00:37:44,292
>> to the the um onto.

1339
00:37:44,292 --> 00:37:44,559
The table onto a piece

1340
00:37:44,559 --> 00:37:46,161
of paper.

1341
00:37:46,161 --> 00:37:46,428
Somewhere so we can do more

1342
00:37:46,428 --> 00:37:47,462
work.

1343
00:37:47,462 --> 00:37:48,630
And maybe pull some.

1344
00:37:48,630 --> 00:37:49,731
Types of.

1345
00:37:49,731 --> 00:37:51,399
>> meetings together to talk

1346
00:37:51,399 --> 00:37:53,468
about how do we do this, how do

1347
00:37:53,468 --> 00:37:54,936
we walk the corridor and find

1348
00:37:54,936 --> 00:37:56,138
our missing homeless.

1349
00:37:56,138 --> 00:37:57,673
Veterans that are out there?

1350
00:37:57,673 --> 00:37:57,839
and I want to thank you for

1351
00:37:57,839 --> 00:37:58,273
the.

1352
00:37:58,273 --> 00:37:59,408
Time that you.

1353
00:37:59,408 --> 00:38:00,900
>> gave me counselor.

1354
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:00,876
Um.

1355
00:38:00,876 --> 00:38:01,243
>> I want to thank the.

1356
00:38:01,243 --> 00:38:03,243
Committee for.

1357
00:38:03,645 --> 00:38:05,714
Allowing me to, um, join you

1358
00:38:05,714 --> 00:38:06,348
today and speak and also again

1359
00:38:06,348 --> 00:38:07,616
thank you to everyone.

1360
00:38:07,616 --> 00:38:07,883
Else who is going to be

1361
00:38:07,883 --> 00:38:09,117
speaking.

1362
00:38:09,117 --> 00:38:10,752
Behind me on the.

1363
00:38:10,752 --> 00:38:12,621
Panels and thank you,

1364
00:38:12,621 --> 00:38:13,488
commissioner santiago for the

1365
00:38:13,488 --> 00:38:14,923
work that you do.

1366
00:38:14,923 --> 00:38:16,923
And um.

1367
00:38:17,159 --> 00:38:18,427
I'm going to enjoy louisville,

1368
00:38:18,427 --> 00:38:19,362
kentucky for you guys.

1369
00:38:19,362 --> 00:38:20,395
Thank you so much.

1370
00:38:20,395 --> 00:38:20,929
Well thank.

1371
00:38:20,929 --> 00:38:22,765
>> you.

1372
00:38:22,765 --> 00:38:25,634
Thank you commended to it and I

1373
00:38:25,634 --> 00:38:26,535
know I speak on behalf of my

1374
00:38:26,535 --> 00:38:27,803
council colleagues in for the

1375
00:38:27,803 --> 00:38:30,500
panel, but we have a tremendous

1376
00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:30,672
amount of respect for you for

1377
00:38:30,672 --> 00:38:33,720
the work you do.

1378
00:38:33,742 --> 00:38:35,210
So safe travel and um enjoy the

1379
00:38:35,210 --> 00:38:35,745
conference and we'll talk when

1380
00:38:35,745 --> 00:38:36,780
you get back.

1381
00:38:36,780 --> 00:38:36,712
Thank you.

1382
00:38:36,712 --> 00:38:38,712
Committed to it.

1383
00:38:41,983 --> 00:38:42,517
Um, let us let us continue.

1384
00:38:42,517 --> 00:38:44,517
Uh, commander.

1385
00:38:45,870 --> 00:38:47,255
Good morning, councilor flynn.

1386
00:38:47,255 --> 00:38:47,689
Councilor murphy

1387
00:38:47,689 --> 00:38:48,457
council fitzgerald.

1388
00:38:48,457 --> 00:38:50,457
Um.

1389
00:38:50,893 --> 00:38:52,561
There's not many people that I

1390
00:38:52,561 --> 00:38:54,630
would let, uh, hop the line in

1391
00:38:54,630 --> 00:38:55,931
front of of myself, but, uh, my

1392
00:38:55,931 --> 00:38:57,999
comrade commander and good

1393
00:38:57,999 --> 00:38:59,868
friend uh, the commander to it

1394
00:38:59,868 --> 00:39:01,336
uh, she's definitely one that I

1395
00:39:01,336 --> 00:39:02,170
would yield waved for so yeah.

1396
00:39:02,170 --> 00:39:02,571
Yeah.

1397
00:39:02,571 --> 00:39:03,572
Enjoy.

1398
00:39:03,572 --> 00:39:05,572
Louisville commander.

1399
00:39:06,842 --> 00:39:07,309
Uh, again my name is craig

1400
00:39:07,309 --> 00:39:09,309
dealed.

1401
00:39:09,345 --> 00:39:10,612
I am, uh, resident of the city

1402
00:39:10,612 --> 00:39:11,460
of boston and live in south

1403
00:39:11,460 --> 00:39:13,460
boston.

1404
00:39:13,516 --> 00:39:17,419
Uh, I'm a member of the boston

1405
00:39:17,419 --> 00:39:19,688
police post vfw 1018 uh, and I

1406
00:39:19,688 --> 00:39:21,556
currently serve the vfw as the

1407
00:39:21,556 --> 00:39:24,556
state commander uh, in that

1408
00:39:24,660 --> 00:39:26,762
role um overall responsible for

1409
00:39:26,762 --> 00:39:28,762
146 posts across the

1410
00:39:29,265 --> 00:39:30,632
commonwealth, uh, between our

1411
00:39:30,632 --> 00:39:32,301
combat veterans and our

1412
00:39:32,301 --> 00:39:34,169
auxiliary members, brothers and

1413
00:39:34,169 --> 00:39:36,271
sisters, uh, there's over

1414
00:39:36,271 --> 00:39:37,339
20,000 of us across the

1415
00:39:37,339 --> 00:39:39,207
commonwealth and just here

1416
00:39:39,207 --> 00:39:40,676
within the city of boston we

1417
00:39:40,676 --> 00:39:42,745
have four vibrant posts that

1418
00:39:42,745 --> 00:39:44,212
are out advocating for our

1419
00:39:44,212 --> 00:39:45,280
veterans, advocating for our

1420
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:47,680
neighborhoods every single day.

1421
00:39:48,717 --> 00:39:50,786
Um, so there is always a

1422
00:39:50,786 --> 00:39:53,288
presence of our veterans and

1423
00:39:53,288 --> 00:39:55,357
I'm not here only on behalf

1424
00:39:55,357 --> 00:39:57,860
of the state organization of of

1425
00:39:57,860 --> 00:39:59,728
the vfw but also again as a

1426
00:39:59,728 --> 00:40:01,196
resident of the city of boston

1427
00:40:01,196 --> 00:40:03,980
and uh, to speak on uh on

1428
00:40:03,980 --> 00:40:03,865
behalf of our four vibrant post

1429
00:40:03,865 --> 00:40:06,265
here in the city.

1430
00:40:08,737 --> 00:40:10,205
Um overall the the lung

1431
00:40:10,205 --> 00:40:13,308
cancer rates with our our black

1432
00:40:13,308 --> 00:40:15,978
veterans is alarming and a lot

1433
00:40:15,978 --> 00:40:18,280
of it goes back to uh, a darker

1434
00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:19,315
time within the defense

1435
00:40:19,315 --> 00:40:20,683
department, department of war,

1436
00:40:20,683 --> 00:40:22,985
whatever you want to call it,

1437
00:40:22,985 --> 00:40:25,287
uh, where there was significant

1438
00:40:25,287 --> 00:40:26,755
,uh, segregation of different

1439
00:40:26,755 --> 00:40:28,223
types of people in different

1440
00:40:28,223 --> 00:40:28,691
types of units and doing

1441
00:40:28,691 --> 00:40:30,691
different work.

1442
00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:33,228
Uh, as commissioner santiago

1443
00:40:33,228 --> 00:40:35,331
mentioned before there there's

1444
00:40:35,331 --> 00:40:36,799
folks that would be, you know,

1445
00:40:36,799 --> 00:40:37,666
serving in the navy that would

1446
00:40:37,666 --> 00:40:39,268
always be below decks.

1447
00:40:39,268 --> 00:40:41,770
They'd never see the light

1448
00:40:41,770 --> 00:40:43,500
of day and they're in

1449
00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:45,500
environments where there's

1450
00:40:45,707 --> 00:40:47,776
going to be a substance in that

1451
00:40:47,776 --> 00:40:49,245
environment and breathing in

1452
00:40:49,245 --> 00:40:50,746
fumes from the engine rooms

1453
00:40:50,746 --> 00:40:52,746
they're around hazardous

1454
00:40:52,815 --> 00:40:55,718
materials is just you know, the

1455
00:40:55,718 --> 00:40:58,587
part and parcel of uh, being on

1456
00:40:58,587 --> 00:40:59,855
the navy a navy ship, uh, you

1457
00:40:59,855 --> 00:41:01,523
know, the land forces they're

1458
00:41:01,523 --> 00:41:04,260
they're always going to be

1459
00:41:04,260 --> 00:41:06,729
again, uh, toxic exposures the

1460
00:41:06,729 --> 00:41:09,729
,uh between the burn pits

1461
00:41:09,832 --> 00:41:12,101
again being in hazardous uh,

1462
00:41:12,101 --> 00:41:13,569
locations of uh even being in a

1463
00:41:13,569 --> 00:41:15,237
in a tank in an armored vehicle

1464
00:41:15,237 --> 00:41:17,539
and infantry fighting vehicle

1465
00:41:17,539 --> 00:41:17,806
you're around those uh, you

1466
00:41:17,806 --> 00:41:19,806
know.

1467
00:41:20,420 --> 00:41:21,911
Those fumes you're around the

1468
00:41:21,911 --> 00:41:23,379
the fluids and those

1469
00:41:23,379 --> 00:41:23,846
environments are inherently

1470
00:41:23,846 --> 00:41:25,846
hazardous.

1471
00:41:26,820 --> 00:41:27,483
Uh, I mean, we all understand

1472
00:41:27,483 --> 00:41:29,952
when we raised our right hand,

1473
00:41:29,952 --> 00:41:31,854
uh, enjoyed the service, uh, as

1474
00:41:31,854 --> 00:41:33,522
a volunteer that we were going

1475
00:41:33,522 --> 00:41:35,240
to be putting ourselves into

1476
00:41:35,240 --> 00:41:36,492
these situations and for the

1477
00:41:36,492 --> 00:41:38,892
benefit of our communities

1478
00:41:38,961 --> 00:41:40,262
of of our country and in for

1479
00:41:40,262 --> 00:41:40,863
the world in general.

1480
00:41:40,863 --> 00:41:42,863
Uh, overall.

1481
00:41:43,899 --> 00:41:46,202
Know we don't go into the

1482
00:41:46,202 --> 00:41:47,203
service um broken.

1483
00:41:47,203 --> 00:41:49,203
Yeah.

1484
00:41:49,271 --> 00:41:50,939
But a lot of times will come

1485
00:41:50,939 --> 00:41:53,409
out of the service in that

1486
00:41:53,409 --> 00:41:55,277
state uh, again you know, it

1487
00:41:55,277 --> 00:41:55,744
might not be due to a

1488
00:41:55,744 --> 00:41:57,346
combat injury.

1489
00:41:57,346 --> 00:41:59,448
It could be just regular

1490
00:41:59,448 --> 00:42:01,750
occupational hazards within uh,

1491
00:42:01,750 --> 00:42:03,986
our our nature of our service.

1492
00:42:03,986 --> 00:42:06,989
But the the cancer rates within

1493
00:42:06,989 --> 00:42:07,256
our african-american, uh, black

1494
00:42:07,256 --> 00:42:08,257
comrades.

1495
00:42:08,257 --> 00:42:10,257
Uh.

1496
00:42:10,493 --> 00:42:11,961
>> is something that needs to

1497
00:42:11,961 --> 00:42:15,640
be continue to look at looked

1498
00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:17,566
at by by not only the va but as

1499
00:42:17,566 --> 00:42:19,350
as part of the overall health

1500
00:42:19,350 --> 00:42:20,200
care system that we're you

1501
00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:22,271
know, we're involved with it.

1502
00:42:22,271 --> 00:42:23,940
Uh, you know, I've had the you

1503
00:42:23,940 --> 00:42:25,207
know, the honor and pleasure

1504
00:42:25,207 --> 00:42:27,677
of working at uh both brigham

1505
00:42:27,677 --> 00:42:30,579
and women's and dana-farber uh

1506
00:42:30,579 --> 00:42:33,480
,for cip for many years and I

1507
00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:35,550
know firsthand and used to see

1508
00:42:35,550 --> 00:42:37,950
the the outstanding effects

1509
00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:40,890
that our health care system has

1510
00:42:40,890 --> 00:42:41,991
for not only our black veterans

1511
00:42:41,991 --> 00:42:43,659
but, you know, every anybody

1512
00:42:43,659 --> 00:42:44,426
within the city of boston in

1513
00:42:44,426 --> 00:42:46,280
the world at large.

1514
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:46,695
Boston is a medical mecca

1515
00:42:46,695 --> 00:42:47,897
of the world.

1516
00:42:47,897 --> 00:42:49,398
You know there's no better

1517
00:42:49,398 --> 00:42:51,467
place to get sick or be hurt

1518
00:42:51,467 --> 00:42:53,135
now than that within the city

1519
00:42:53,135 --> 00:42:55,400
of boston between uh, the

1520
00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:57,404
pre-hospital care that boston

1521
00:42:57,907 --> 00:42:59,375
ems provides right through uh

1522
00:42:59,375 --> 00:43:02,770
through the va hospitals and

1523
00:43:02,770 --> 00:43:03,179
our uh our great, uh, you know,

1524
00:43:03,179 --> 00:43:03,412
health care system here in the

1525
00:43:03,412 --> 00:43:05,247
city.

1526
00:43:05,247 --> 00:43:07,950
Uh, what we're looking at

1527
00:43:07,950 --> 00:43:09,180
though is making sure that all

1528
00:43:09,180 --> 00:43:11,418
veterans and especially our

1529
00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:14,520
black veterans within uh, this

1530
00:43:15,240 --> 00:43:15,257
subset, uh, do have that access

1531
00:43:15,257 --> 00:43:17,126
of care.

1532
00:43:17,126 --> 00:43:18,995
Uh, we need to make sure that

1533
00:43:18,995 --> 00:43:20,262
we have between our

1534
00:43:20,262 --> 00:43:21,931
partnerships with, you know,

1535
00:43:21,931 --> 00:43:23,999
through the vfw, the

1536
00:43:23,999 --> 00:43:25,267
commissioner's office and the

1537
00:43:25,267 --> 00:43:28,104
through the va that we need.

1538
00:43:28,104 --> 00:43:29,372
To make sure that when I have a

1539
00:43:29,372 --> 00:43:32,750
veteran come to me saying hey,

1540
00:43:32,750 --> 00:43:32,908
I've got this stuff going on,

1541
00:43:32,908 --> 00:43:34,343
where can I go?

1542
00:43:34,343 --> 00:43:36,212
Uh, you.

1543
00:43:36,212 --> 00:43:36,545
Know, the vfw is there to be

1544
00:43:36,545 --> 00:43:36,779
able to.

1545
00:43:36,779 --> 00:43:38,779
Help.

1546
00:43:39,248 --> 00:43:41,517
>> uh, steer the veterans in

1547
00:43:41,517 --> 00:43:43,619
the right direction to get that

1548
00:43:43,619 --> 00:43:44,887
care be it uh, city service

1549
00:43:44,887 --> 00:43:45,321
going back through that through

1550
00:43:45,321 --> 00:43:47,321
the va.

1551
00:43:48,391 --> 00:43:51,600
Uh, we have a an incredible

1552
00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:53,362
network of veterans service

1553
00:43:53,362 --> 00:43:55,664
officers who assist uh, any

1554
00:43:55,664 --> 00:43:58,664
veteran not just vfw members,

1555
00:43:59,168 --> 00:44:01,470
any veteran with filing their

1556
00:44:01,470 --> 00:44:02,705
va, uh, disability claims and

1557
00:44:02,705 --> 00:44:05,700
we'll take them right through

1558
00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:07,100
the initial intake and if they.

1559
00:44:07,100 --> 00:44:08,770
Need if they get denied

1560
00:44:08,770 --> 00:44:09,979
initially we'll help them

1561
00:44:09,979 --> 00:44:11,647
through the appeals process

1562
00:44:11,647 --> 00:44:12,715
even though going as far as to

1563
00:44:12,715 --> 00:44:13,983
a hearing in front of an

1564
00:44:13,983 --> 00:44:15,510
administrative judge and we'll

1565
00:44:15,510 --> 00:44:18,510
take them through that whole

1566
00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:18,387
process free of charge to that

1567
00:44:18,387 --> 00:44:20,256
veteran.

1568
00:44:20,256 --> 00:44:20,523
Uh, we don't look for anything

1569
00:44:20,523 --> 00:44:21,925
in return.

1570
00:44:21,925 --> 00:44:22,992
We don't put any membership

1571
00:44:22,992 --> 00:44:24,992
requirements on anything.

1572
00:44:25,270 --> 00:44:27,530
We'll if you will help any

1573
00:44:27,530 --> 00:44:28,564
veteran uh, so that that's

1574
00:44:28,564 --> 00:44:30,666
important that's an important

1575
00:44:30,666 --> 00:44:31,534
distinction that, uh, we want

1576
00:44:31,534 --> 00:44:34,370
and need to make sure.

1577
00:44:34,370 --> 00:44:37,370
That through that process the

1578
00:44:38,740 --> 00:44:39,775
the vfw uh, in their power

1579
00:44:39,775 --> 00:44:42,440
of power of attorneys through

1580
00:44:42,440 --> 00:44:43,713
the veterans that receive va

1581
00:44:43,713 --> 00:44:45,615
benefits, uh, since the start

1582
00:44:45,615 --> 00:44:49,215
of the federal fiscal year this

1583
00:44:49,519 --> 00:44:51,587
past OCTOBER 1st have brought

1584
00:44:51,587 --> 00:44:53,456
$87 million back directly back

1585
00:44:53,456 --> 00:44:55,240
into the economy of the

1586
00:44:55,240 --> 00:44:56,659
commonwealth of massachusetts.

1587
00:44:56,659 --> 00:44:58,528
That doesn't get filtered to

1588
00:44:58,528 --> 00:45:00,830
any other attorneys that goes

1589
00:45:00,830 --> 00:45:03,230
directly into the pockets

1590
00:45:03,499 --> 00:45:05,401
of our veterans, um, that are

1591
00:45:05,401 --> 00:45:06,836
within our our commonwealth.

1592
00:45:06,836 --> 00:45:08,305
You know, the numbers are a

1593
00:45:08,305 --> 00:45:10,172
little skewed because some

1594
00:45:10,172 --> 00:45:11,641
of the south coast does get

1595
00:45:11,641 --> 00:45:11,908
pulled into the providence

1596
00:45:11,908 --> 00:45:13,908
numbers.

1597
00:45:14,144 --> 00:45:15,645
Uh, but that's you know, that's

1598
00:45:15,645 --> 00:45:16,913
fine as long as where those

1599
00:45:16,913 --> 00:45:17,146
veterans are being taken care

1600
00:45:17,146 --> 00:45:18,781
of.

1601
00:45:18,781 --> 00:45:21,484
Uh, if we extrapolate the

1602
00:45:21,484 --> 00:45:23,152
numbers, we're looking at $105

1603
00:45:23,152 --> 00:45:25,255
million directly into the

1604
00:45:25,255 --> 00:45:25,922
pockets of veterans, uh, with

1605
00:45:25,922 --> 00:45:27,922
across the commonwealth.

1606
00:45:28,580 --> 00:45:30,326
Uh, I wish I was able to then

1607
00:45:30,326 --> 00:45:31,828
break out what the what comes

1608
00:45:31,828 --> 00:45:32,950
back directly into the city

1609
00:45:32,950 --> 00:45:33,362
of boston?

1610
00:45:33,362 --> 00:45:34,300
Uh, I'm sure it's a very

1611
00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:36,300
impressive number.

1612
00:45:37,300 --> 00:45:40,603
Uh, but again through the vfw

1613
00:45:40,603 --> 00:45:43,105
and our service officers, um,

1614
00:45:43,105 --> 00:45:45,174
that economic impact that we're

1615
00:45:45,174 --> 00:45:47,844
making is huge and that does go

1616
00:45:47,844 --> 00:45:50,313
towards the access of care.

1617
00:45:50,313 --> 00:45:51,800
You know, if they're secure and

1618
00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:53,282
financially they're going to be

1619
00:45:53,282 --> 00:45:54,500
a little bit more secure in

1620
00:45:54,500 --> 00:45:54,684
themselves, you know, seeking

1621
00:45:54,684 --> 00:45:56,319
the medical help.

1622
00:45:56,319 --> 00:45:58,588
They feel like they're going to

1623
00:45:58,588 --> 00:45:58,855
be able to to go and seek that

1624
00:45:58,855 --> 00:46:00,855
help.

1625
00:46:00,890 --> 00:46:02,358
Uh so we get to get better to

1626
00:46:02,358 --> 00:46:02,992
get that at home so they get

1627
00:46:02,992 --> 00:46:04,992
that care through.

1628
00:46:05,428 --> 00:46:09,280
Uh and from start to finish.

1629
00:46:09,298 --> 00:46:09,766
Um uh transitioning to uh

1630
00:46:09,766 --> 00:46:11,766
women's veterans.

1631
00:46:12,301 --> 00:46:14,701
Uh, I had the.

1632
00:46:14,737 --> 00:46:17,640
I entered the service and uh I

1633
00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:19,909
got commissioned in 1991 uh,

1634
00:46:19,909 --> 00:46:22,412
over the years the the nature

1635
00:46:22,412 --> 00:46:23,513
of our military has has changed

1636
00:46:23,513 --> 00:46:25,513
quite drastically.

1637
00:46:26,149 --> 00:46:28,217
We have women serving in uh in

1638
00:46:28,217 --> 00:46:30,286
the air force in combat, uh,

1639
00:46:30,286 --> 00:46:30,553
equipped jets and strike

1640
00:46:30,553 --> 00:46:32,553
fighters.

1641
00:46:34,224 --> 00:46:36,693
Uh, we have uh, women sailors

1642
00:46:36,693 --> 00:46:39,796
serving on um armed combat and

1643
00:46:39,796 --> 00:46:41,465
ships and uh, the submarines

1644
00:46:41,465 --> 00:46:42,732
uh, we have women in the army

1645
00:46:42,732 --> 00:46:43,600
in the marine corps serving in

1646
00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:45,600
infantry billets.

1647
00:46:45,601 --> 00:46:47,704
Uh, there's they're doing the

1648
00:46:47,704 --> 00:46:47,937
same thing that the men are

1649
00:46:47,937 --> 00:46:48,571
doing.

1650
00:46:48,571 --> 00:46:49,573
uh.

1651
00:46:49,573 --> 00:46:51,573
We we.

1652
00:46:52,442 --> 00:46:53,910
Need to look at you know, again

1653
00:46:53,910 --> 00:46:55,778
embracing overall our women

1654
00:46:55,778 --> 00:46:57,460
veterans and we try to do that

1655
00:46:57,460 --> 00:46:59,446
by through the vfw.

1656
00:46:59,682 --> 00:47:01,985
We're encouraging our women

1657
00:47:01,985 --> 00:47:03,453
veterans that are members to

1658
00:47:03,453 --> 00:47:05,521
take on leadership positions

1659
00:47:05,521 --> 00:47:06,990
within our post, you know, to

1660
00:47:06,990 --> 00:47:08,858
so we can uplift their voices

1661
00:47:08,858 --> 00:47:10,359
to get another different point

1662
00:47:10,359 --> 00:47:13,429
of view than just the old boy

1663
00:47:13,429 --> 00:47:17,290
network of, you know, the smoky

1664
00:47:17,166 --> 00:47:19,350
uh, cave of a vfw or american

1665
00:47:19,350 --> 00:47:19,269
legion post of the days

1666
00:47:19,269 --> 00:47:20,904
of yore.

1667
00:47:20,904 --> 00:47:23,806
And those who thankfully don't

1668
00:47:23,806 --> 00:47:25,750
exist anymore uh, as uh,

1669
00:47:25,750 --> 00:47:27,475
commander tuitt had mentioned

1670
00:47:28,378 --> 00:47:30,790
uh uh, how you know, she's had

1671
00:47:30,790 --> 00:47:32,148
experiences where as somebody

1672
00:47:32,148 --> 00:47:33,816
has come up to to her and you

1673
00:47:33,816 --> 00:47:35,850
know, didn't recognize her as

1674
00:47:35,850 --> 00:47:36,119
the as the veteran.

1675
00:47:36,119 --> 00:47:38,119
Um.

1676
00:47:38,555 --> 00:47:41,257
>> you know, we make I try to

1677
00:47:41,257 --> 00:47:42,726
make my own personal point if I

1678
00:47:42,726 --> 00:47:43,159
have a couple come in front

1679
00:47:43,159 --> 00:47:44,794
of me.

1680
00:47:44,794 --> 00:47:47,297
Uh, I'll start with the with

1681
00:47:47,297 --> 00:47:49,165
the woman in front of me and

1682
00:47:49,165 --> 00:47:52,435
ask her where did you serve?

1683
00:47:52,435 --> 00:47:54,737
And oh, great, I served here I

1684
00:47:54,737 --> 00:47:56,406
served there or oh, I'm not the

1685
00:47:56,406 --> 00:47:58,475
veteran my my husband is well

1686
00:47:58,475 --> 00:48:00,977
still she's part of the veteran

1687
00:48:00,977 --> 00:48:03,446
family and that's important as

1688
00:48:03,446 --> 00:48:04,948
well that we embrace you know

1689
00:48:04,948 --> 00:48:07,160
not just the veteran the

1690
00:48:07,160 --> 00:48:08,284
service member but the entire

1691
00:48:08,284 --> 00:48:09,352
veteran and service members

1692
00:48:09,352 --> 00:48:09,786
family because they're serving

1693
00:48:09,786 --> 00:48:11,786
as well.

1694
00:48:11,855 --> 00:48:13,323
They're going through hardships

1695
00:48:13,323 --> 00:48:14,991
just as much as the service

1696
00:48:14,991 --> 00:48:16,459
member does is what, you know

1697
00:48:16,459 --> 00:48:17,127
when they go deploy and do

1698
00:48:17,127 --> 00:48:19,127
their jobs.

1699
00:48:19,362 --> 00:48:21,431
Uh, so it's very important that

1700
00:48:21,431 --> 00:48:23,133
again, we're uplifting our our

1701
00:48:23,133 --> 00:48:25,100
feet and women veterans making

1702
00:48:25,100 --> 00:48:27,871
sure their voices are heard uh

1703
00:48:27,871 --> 00:48:28,338
for uh expanding their the

1704
00:48:28,338 --> 00:48:30,338
leadership.

1705
00:48:31,374 --> 00:48:32,842
Uh of of our service

1706
00:48:32,842 --> 00:48:34,911
organizations to reflect the

1707
00:48:34,911 --> 00:48:36,179
true nature and the

1708
00:48:36,179 --> 00:48:36,446
demographics of our military

1709
00:48:36,446 --> 00:48:38,446
service.

1710
00:48:39,883 --> 00:48:41,985
Uh, you know, finally at the uh

1711
00:48:41,985 --> 00:48:43,453
at the police post we have our

1712
00:48:43,453 --> 00:48:45,121
we currently have our first

1713
00:48:45,121 --> 00:48:46,990
female or woman uh, command

1714
00:48:46,990 --> 00:48:48,692
post commander and lisa venus,

1715
00:48:48,692 --> 00:48:50,560
she's retired or soon to be

1716
00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:52,960
retired uh, boston police

1717
00:48:53,229 --> 00:48:54,397
sergeant, uh, army veteran and

1718
00:48:54,397 --> 00:48:56,299
uh she is our post's first

1719
00:48:56,299 --> 00:48:58,368
female commander and uh and

1720
00:48:58,368 --> 00:48:59,836
we're excited she's she's been

1721
00:48:59,836 --> 00:49:01,505
a hard charger coming up

1722
00:49:01,505 --> 00:49:03,573
through the ranks and uh, we're

1723
00:49:03,573 --> 00:49:04,841
looking forward to some great

1724
00:49:04,841 --> 00:49:06,509
opportunities with her uh,

1725
00:49:06,509 --> 00:49:06,776
through this year and going

1726
00:49:06,776 --> 00:49:08,776
forward.

1727
00:49:09,412 --> 00:49:10,880
Uh, so there is a changing

1728
00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:13,149
of the of the scenery, you

1729
00:49:13,149 --> 00:49:13,817
know, throughout the veteran

1730
00:49:13,817 --> 00:49:15,352
service organization.

1731
00:49:15,352 --> 00:49:17,654
So you know, I applaud you know

1732
00:49:17,654 --> 00:49:19,923
commander to it and there are

1733
00:49:19,923 --> 00:49:21,391
commanders here that know again

1734
00:49:21,391 --> 00:49:23,260
they're taking that leadership

1735
00:49:23,260 --> 00:49:23,626
role and their voices matter.

1736
00:49:23,626 --> 00:49:25,462
You know.

1737
00:49:25,462 --> 00:49:26,896
>> without their voices nothing

1738
00:49:26,896 --> 00:49:28,365
will change across our our

1739
00:49:28,365 --> 00:49:30,365
service organizations to

1740
00:49:31,701 --> 00:49:32,368
reflect the true nature of our

1741
00:49:32,368 --> 00:49:34,170
environment right now.

1742
00:49:34,170 --> 00:49:36,170
Um.

1743
00:49:36,439 --> 00:49:39,509
Uh, last I'd like to mentioned

1744
00:49:39,509 --> 00:49:42,120
as uh commander tuitt mentioned

1745
00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:42,278
the uh uh our homeless

1746
00:49:42,278 --> 00:49:42,879
veterans.

1747
00:49:42,879 --> 00:49:44,682
Yeah.

1748
00:49:44,682 --> 00:49:46,916
They count they're out there.

1749
00:49:46,916 --> 00:49:49,420
You know, it doesn't matter

1750
00:49:49,420 --> 00:49:50,720
that you know there are part

1751
00:49:50,720 --> 00:49:51,755
of any of our organizations

1752
00:49:51,755 --> 00:49:53,556
they served there.

1753
00:49:53,556 --> 00:49:54,825
They deserve our respect,

1754
00:49:54,825 --> 00:49:56,825
deserve our support.

1755
00:49:57,600 --> 00:49:58,962
Uh, the vfw will do everything

1756
00:49:58,962 --> 00:50:00,430
that we can to make sure that

1757
00:50:00,430 --> 00:50:02,532
across the board and through

1758
00:50:02,532 --> 00:50:05,235
our partnerships with, uh, the

1759
00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:07,304
with commissioner santiago and

1760
00:50:07,304 --> 00:50:09,600
his department that we do look

1761
00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:09,439
out and look after these

1762
00:50:09,439 --> 00:50:10,273
veterans.

1763
00:50:10,273 --> 00:50:12,273
Uh.

1764
00:50:12,309 --> 00:50:14,978
>> and the veterans of foreign

1765
00:50:14,978 --> 00:50:16,613
wars has a a national home.

1766
00:50:16,613 --> 00:50:18,682
Oh, meeting rapids michigan

1767
00:50:18,682 --> 00:50:20,784
that, uh, has been around for

1768
00:50:20,784 --> 00:50:23,453
over 100 years and they help

1769
00:50:23,453 --> 00:50:25,122
support uh servicemen service

1770
00:50:25,122 --> 00:50:27,224
members, their families that

1771
00:50:27,224 --> 00:50:28,625
are looking for a little, you

1772
00:50:28,625 --> 00:50:28,859
know, not a handout but a hand

1773
00:50:28,859 --> 00:50:30,727
up.

1774
00:50:30,727 --> 00:50:31,195
You know, they can go they move

1775
00:50:31,195 --> 00:50:33,195
their family there.

1776
00:50:34,231 --> 00:50:35,499
They stay rent free utilities

1777
00:50:35,499 --> 00:50:37,000
free for a number of years to

1778
00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:39,870
get back on their feet so

1779
00:50:39,870 --> 00:50:41,538
they're able to move on back to

1780
00:50:41,538 --> 00:50:43,600
you know, their communities

1781
00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:46,600
that you know that they're

1782
00:50:46,109 --> 00:50:47,377
looking to join or rejoin and

1783
00:50:47,377 --> 00:50:49,679
uh that might be something that

1784
00:50:49,679 --> 00:50:51,948
we can look at to uh within the

1785
00:50:51,948 --> 00:50:52,649
city there's a lot

1786
00:50:52,649 --> 00:50:54,510
of opportunities out there.

1787
00:50:54,510 --> 00:50:56,119
There's a lot of great

1788
00:50:56,119 --> 00:50:58,519
organizations that are doing

1789
00:50:58,588 --> 00:51:00,891
incredible things in their own

1790
00:51:00,891 --> 00:51:03,126
little of uh, their own lands.

1791
00:51:03,126 --> 00:51:05,629
But again, you look across the

1792
00:51:05,629 --> 00:51:08,498
table and across the room here

1793
00:51:08,498 --> 00:51:10,767
uh, it does take a village to

1794
00:51:10,767 --> 00:51:12,669
uh to support the veterans

1795
00:51:12,669 --> 00:51:12,970
community and all of our

1796
00:51:12,970 --> 00:51:13,303
communities.

1797
00:51:13,303 --> 00:51:15,138
Yeah.

1798
00:51:15,138 --> 00:51:15,405
This is not an individual

1799
00:51:15,405 --> 00:51:17,207
sport.

1800
00:51:17,207 --> 00:51:17,475
uh, we can't do it by

1801
00:51:17,475 --> 00:51:19,109
ourselves.

1802
00:51:19,109 --> 00:51:20,577
It does take a team and then

1803
00:51:20,577 --> 00:51:22,846
we've got a great team here

1804
00:51:22,846 --> 00:51:23,947
and, uh, we I do applaud the

1805
00:51:23,947 --> 00:51:25,482
the the city councilor.

1806
00:51:25,482 --> 00:51:26,183
Councilor flynn.

1807
00:51:26,183 --> 00:51:28,183
Councilor murphy.

1808
00:51:28,752 --> 00:51:29,820
Uh, councilor fitzgerald, I do

1809
00:51:29,820 --> 00:51:30,530
appreciate you taking the time

1810
00:51:30,530 --> 00:51:30,487
on.

1811
00:51:30,487 --> 00:51:32,487
>> a.

1812
00:51:32,522 --> 00:51:34,191
On a friday morning at the end

1813
00:51:34,191 --> 00:51:35,859
of AUGUST, uh, as the waning

1814
00:51:35,859 --> 00:51:36,526
days of summer are closing in

1815
00:51:36,526 --> 00:51:38,161
on us.

1816
00:51:38,161 --> 00:51:38,395
Uh, I do appreciate that you

1817
00:51:38,395 --> 00:51:40,300
guys.

1818
00:51:40,300 --> 00:51:40,697
You're all taking the time to

1819
00:51:40,697 --> 00:51:42,697
listen to us.

1820
00:51:43,333 --> 00:51:45,836
Uh, I would implore that you

1821
00:51:45,836 --> 00:51:48,105
take the time, um, in your busy

1822
00:51:48,105 --> 00:51:49,573
days to go visit our posts not

1823
00:51:49,573 --> 00:51:52,676
just when they're having a, uh,

1824
00:51:52,676 --> 00:51:55,779
a chicken bake or any type of,

1825
00:51:55,779 --> 00:51:57,247
um, you know, a fundraiser or

1826
00:51:57,247 --> 00:51:58,715
anything like that, you know,

1827
00:51:58,715 --> 00:51:59,149
reach out to the post, go to.

1828
00:51:59,149 --> 00:51:59,783
One of.

1829
00:51:59,783 --> 00:52:01,783
>> their meetings.

1830
00:52:02,853 --> 00:52:04,121
Um, that's when you're going to

1831
00:52:04,121 --> 00:52:05,188
have the one on one

1832
00:52:05,188 --> 00:52:06,656
conversations with our veterans

1833
00:52:06,656 --> 00:52:07,891
and you're going to find out

1834
00:52:07,891 --> 00:52:09,960
really what's on their mind.

1835
00:52:09,960 --> 00:52:10,995
So you got to take that with a

1836
00:52:10,995 --> 00:52:11,895
grain of salt that you might

1837
00:52:11,895 --> 00:52:12,663
not want to hear everything

1838
00:52:12,663 --> 00:52:15,630
that's on their mind.

1839
00:52:15,299 --> 00:52:17,601
But the you know, the veteran

1840
00:52:17,601 --> 00:52:20,700
is going to be able to give

1841
00:52:20,700 --> 00:52:21,171
you, uh, a true perspective on

1842
00:52:21,171 --> 00:52:23,674
the ground what they're dealing

1843
00:52:23,674 --> 00:52:25,742
with and it's going to be that

1844
00:52:25,742 --> 00:52:27,544
one on one interaction that is

1845
00:52:27,544 --> 00:52:27,878
going to really bring it home

1846
00:52:27,878 --> 00:52:29,878
to you.

1847
00:52:30,147 --> 00:52:31,215
Uh, when you're making your

1848
00:52:31,215 --> 00:52:33,215
deliberations, you're having

1849
00:52:33,684 --> 00:52:35,152
your your discussions, uh, in

1850
00:52:35,152 --> 00:52:36,420
matters not only dealing with

1851
00:52:36,420 --> 00:52:36,686
veterans but across the city

1852
00:52:36,686 --> 00:52:37,688
that.

1853
00:52:37,688 --> 00:52:39,688
You know.

1854
00:52:40,123 --> 00:52:41,392
Veterans are a small subset

1855
00:52:41,392 --> 00:52:43,392
of our society.

1856
00:52:44,628 --> 00:52:46,330
But you know, it's a very

1857
00:52:46,330 --> 00:52:47,998
diverse and distinctive group

1858
00:52:47,998 --> 00:52:49,466
that has already dedicated

1859
00:52:49,466 --> 00:52:51,602
their lives to public service.

1860
00:52:51,602 --> 00:52:51,802
Uh, they've raised their right

1861
00:52:51,802 --> 00:52:53,802
hand.

1862
00:52:53,804 --> 00:52:56,273
They've served uh they've given

1863
00:52:56,273 --> 00:52:59,176
their blood, sweat, tears, uh,

1864
00:52:59,176 --> 00:53:00,845
body parts and some of them um,

1865
00:53:00,845 --> 00:53:02,713
part of their minds to the

1866
00:53:02,713 --> 00:53:03,580
defense of our country and the

1867
00:53:03,580 --> 00:53:05,980
betterment of our society.

1868
00:53:06,216 --> 00:53:07,484
So again, thank you for your

1869
00:53:07,484 --> 00:53:08,552
support and I look forward to

1870
00:53:08,552 --> 00:53:08,752
any questions that you might

1871
00:53:08,752 --> 00:53:09,320
have.

1872
00:53:09,320 --> 00:53:10,720
Thank you.

1873
00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:12,720
Thank you commander.

1874
00:53:13,791 --> 00:53:14,858
Um, we have uh, mr kennedy from

1875
00:53:14,858 --> 00:53:16,126
the boston public health

1876
00:53:16,126 --> 00:53:17,595
commission, sir.

1877
00:53:17,595 --> 00:53:19,930
Thank you for being with us.

1878
00:53:19,930 --> 00:53:21,798
And I want to give you an

1879
00:53:21,798 --> 00:53:23,100
opportunity to, um, give an

1880
00:53:23,100 --> 00:53:25,100
opening statement again.

1881
00:53:25,335 --> 00:53:27,638
Uh, want to make sure we you

1882
00:53:27,638 --> 00:53:29,306
take the the amount of time

1883
00:53:29,306 --> 00:53:31,175
that you need to make sure that

1884
00:53:31,175 --> 00:53:32,876
your message gets out because I

1885
00:53:32,876 --> 00:53:35,145
do know a lot of veterans watch

1886
00:53:35,145 --> 00:53:36,313
this program on television and

1887
00:53:36,313 --> 00:53:37,181
want to give you an opportunity

1888
00:53:37,181 --> 00:53:39,216
for your opening statement.

1889
00:53:39,216 --> 00:53:39,683
Mr kennedy, uh, thank you for

1890
00:53:39,683 --> 00:53:41,285
being here.

1891
00:53:41,285 --> 00:53:41,685
Excuse me.

1892
00:53:41,685 --> 00:53:43,220
Uh.

1893
00:53:43,220 --> 00:53:43,554
Thank you, councilor flynn.

1894
00:53:43,554 --> 00:53:44,888
.

1895
00:53:44,888 --> 00:53:45,289
>> and of course, uh,

1896
00:53:45,289 --> 00:53:46,490
councilor murphy.

1897
00:53:46,490 --> 00:53:47,900
>> and fitzgerald as well.

1898
00:53:47,900 --> 00:53:47,925
Uh.

1899
00:53:47,925 --> 00:53:48,258
>> if I MAY.

1900
00:53:48,258 --> 00:53:48,992
for just.

1901
00:53:48,992 --> 00:53:50,992
>> one second.

1902
00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:53,130
Um, it was a real pleasure to

1903
00:53:53,130 --> 00:53:54,298
hear from, uh, matter to it.

1904
00:53:54,298 --> 00:53:55,990
I worked with her quite a bit

1905
00:53:55,990 --> 00:53:56,700
in the past while she was.

1906
00:53:56,700 --> 00:53:57,101
With state rep gloria fox.

1907
00:53:57,101 --> 00:53:57,434
Okay.

1908
00:53:57,434 --> 00:53:59,690
Yeah.

1909
00:53:59,690 --> 00:53:59,536
I was just a real pleasure to

1910
00:53:59,536 --> 00:54:00,137
hear from her.

1911
00:54:00,137 --> 00:54:01,272
Um.

1912
00:54:01,272 --> 00:54:02,272
>> again, my.

1913
00:54:02,272 --> 00:54:03,474
>> name is mark kennedy.

1914
00:54:03,474 --> 00:54:03,707
Thank you so much for having

1915
00:54:03,707 --> 00:54:04,675
me.

1916
00:54:04,675 --> 00:54:05,309
It's my pleasure and honor to.

1917
00:54:05,309 --> 00:54:07,309
>> be here.

1918
00:54:07,344 --> 00:54:08,612
I'm a senior program manager in

1919
00:54:08,612 --> 00:54:10,800
the chronic disease prevention

1920
00:54:10,800 --> 00:54:11,148
and control division at the

1921
00:54:11,148 --> 00:54:11,382
boston public health commission

1922
00:54:11,382 --> 00:54:13,382
.

1923
00:54:13,817 --> 00:54:15,190
And I'm leading the creation

1924
00:54:15,190 --> 00:54:16,420
and implementation.

1925
00:54:16,420 --> 00:54:16,887
Of the commission's first

1926
00:54:16,887 --> 00:54:17,688
chronic.

1927
00:54:17,688 --> 00:54:18,722
Disease and cancer.

1928
00:54:18,722 --> 00:54:20,722
Early detection initiative.

1929
00:54:21,158 --> 00:54:22,826
The mission of the boston

1930
00:54:22,826 --> 00:54:23,895
public health commission is to

1931
00:54:23,895 --> 00:54:24,962
work in partnership with

1932
00:54:24,962 --> 00:54:26,430
communities to protect and

1933
00:54:26,430 --> 00:54:27,699
promote the health and

1934
00:54:27,699 --> 00:54:29,166
well-being of all boston

1935
00:54:29,166 --> 00:54:30,868
residents, especially those

1936
00:54:30,868 --> 00:54:32,336
that have been impacted by

1937
00:54:32,336 --> 00:54:33,971
racism or systemic inequities.

1938
00:54:33,971 --> 00:54:35,406
To put my comments.

1939
00:54:35,406 --> 00:54:36,573
About lung cancer among

1940
00:54:36,573 --> 00:54:36,840
african-american veterans in

1941
00:54:36,840 --> 00:54:37,241
that.

1942
00:54:37,241 --> 00:54:39,241
Context.

1943
00:54:39,476 --> 00:54:40,545
>> let me start by highlighting

1944
00:54:40,545 --> 00:54:41,412
the city of boston and the

1945
00:54:41,412 --> 00:54:43,412
boston public health

1946
00:54:43,481 --> 00:54:45,481
commission's first population

1947
00:54:45,549 --> 00:54:48,452
health equity agenda, which we

1948
00:54:48,452 --> 00:54:50,120
refer to as live long and well

1949
00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:50,355
to live longer well agenda is

1950
00:54:50,355 --> 00:54:51,989
about.

1951
00:54:51,989 --> 00:54:53,657
Convening partners across

1952
00:54:53,657 --> 00:54:54,959
sectors to address the three

1953
00:54:54,959 --> 00:54:57,227
leading causes of premature

1954
00:54:57,227 --> 00:54:59,627
mortality in boston unintended

1955
00:55:00,300 --> 00:55:02,300
drug overdoses, cardiometabolic

1956
00:55:02,990 --> 00:55:03,167
disease and yes preventable

1957
00:55:03,167 --> 00:55:05,200
cancers.

1958
00:55:05,200 --> 00:55:07,710
Major cancers including lung

1959
00:55:07,710 --> 00:55:08,539
cancer are referred to as

1960
00:55:08,539 --> 00:55:08,806
preventable because there's a

1961
00:55:08,806 --> 00:55:10,441
screening.

1962
00:55:10,441 --> 00:55:11,375
Guideline associated with them

1963
00:55:11,375 --> 00:55:13,745
that can help to.

1964
00:55:13,745 --> 00:55:14,812
Detect these cancers early when

1965
00:55:14,812 --> 00:55:15,679
they can be treated with the

1966
00:55:15,679 --> 00:55:15,980
with the best chance

1967
00:55:15,980 --> 00:55:17,980
of survival.

1968
00:55:18,182 --> 00:55:20,182
Nationally.

1969
00:55:21,180 --> 00:55:21,885
,statewide and in boston, lung

1970
00:55:21,885 --> 00:55:24,554
cancer is the top cause

1971
00:55:24,554 --> 00:55:26,657
of cancer related mortality in

1972
00:55:26,657 --> 00:55:28,125
boston, lung cancer is the

1973
00:55:28,125 --> 00:55:29,994
deadliest and most frequently

1974
00:55:29,994 --> 00:55:30,828
diagnosed fatal cancer for both

1975
00:55:30,828 --> 00:55:32,463
men and women.

1976
00:55:32,463 --> 00:55:34,463
For black men.

1977
00:55:34,698 --> 00:55:37,980
Low I'm sorry lung

1978
00:55:37,601 --> 00:55:40,700
cancer causes more death than,

1979
00:55:40,700 --> 00:55:40,337
colorectal and prostate cancers

1980
00:55:40,337 --> 00:55:42,337
combined.

1981
00:55:42,373 --> 00:55:43,908
Overall.

1982
00:55:43,908 --> 00:55:45,609
>> when we look at trend data

1983
00:55:45,609 --> 00:55:45,876
mortality from lung cancer has

1984
00:55:45,876 --> 00:55:47,678
trended.

1985
00:55:47,678 --> 00:55:47,945
Downward but of course not for

1986
00:55:47,945 --> 00:55:49,945
everyone.

1987
00:55:50,582 --> 00:55:52,650
Massachusetts is near the top

1988
00:55:52,650 --> 00:55:54,318
nationally for early diagnosis

1989
00:55:54,318 --> 00:55:56,318
,surgical treatment.

1990
00:55:56,987 --> 00:55:58,255
And overall survivorship but

1991
00:55:58,255 --> 00:56:00,558
total incidence which includes

1992
00:56:00,558 --> 00:56:01,250
new cases is higher than the

1993
00:56:01,250 --> 00:56:03,250
national average.

1994
00:56:03,260 --> 00:56:03,527
This could be due to increased

1995
00:56:03,527 --> 00:56:04,929
screening.

1996
00:56:04,929 --> 00:56:06,764
But new cases are.

1997
00:56:06,764 --> 00:56:07,898
Not necessarily.

1998
00:56:07,898 --> 00:56:08,365
>> cases where the cancer was

1999
00:56:08,365 --> 00:56:10,365
diagnosed early.

2000
00:56:11,100 --> 00:56:11,802
we'll continue to.

2001
00:56:11,802 --> 00:56:13,637
Track local.

2002
00:56:13,637 --> 00:56:15,473
Data on age and stage of.

2003
00:56:15,473 --> 00:56:15,973
Diagnosis to quantify that.

2004
00:56:15,973 --> 00:56:17,973
Finding more.

2005
00:56:18,420 --> 00:56:20,277
>> new cases early leads to.

2006
00:56:20,277 --> 00:56:22,113
Less mortality.

2007
00:56:22,113 --> 00:56:23,380
Meanwhile, boston's black

2008
00:56:23,380 --> 00:56:24,648
population has a lower

2009
00:56:24,648 --> 00:56:24,883
incidence of lung cancer than

2010
00:56:24,883 --> 00:56:25,483
the.

2011
00:56:25,483 --> 00:56:27,483
National average.

2012
00:56:27,752 --> 00:56:28,786
Nationally, black individuals

2013
00:56:28,786 --> 00:56:30,421
with lung cancer.

2014
00:56:30,421 --> 00:56:31,210
>> were 13%.

2015
00:56:31,210 --> 00:56:32,457
Less likely.

2016
00:56:32,457 --> 00:56:34,492
To be diagnosed early.

2017
00:56:34,492 --> 00:56:36,127
They were 19%.

2018
00:56:36,127 --> 00:56:38,596
Less likely to receive surgical

2019
00:56:38,596 --> 00:56:39,263
treatment, 11% more likely to

2020
00:56:39,263 --> 00:56:41,263
not receive.

2021
00:56:42,990 --> 00:56:42,767
Any treatment and 13% less

2022
00:56:42,767 --> 00:56:43,567
likely to survive.

2023
00:56:43,567 --> 00:56:45,567
Five years.

2024
00:56:45,603 --> 00:56:45,903
When you compare to white

2025
00:56:45,903 --> 00:56:47,903
individuals.

2026
00:56:49,306 --> 00:56:50,575
All that said, lung cancer is

2027
00:56:50,575 --> 00:56:52,243
the leading cause of cancer

2028
00:56:52,243 --> 00:56:52,510
related death among U.S.

2029
00:56:52,510 --> 00:56:54,311
Veterans.

2030
00:56:54,311 --> 00:56:55,450
Veterans have a higher.

2031
00:56:55,450 --> 00:56:56,681
Rate of.

2032
00:56:56,681 --> 00:56:58,182
>> lung cancer and a lower rate

2033
00:56:58,182 --> 00:56:58,482
of survival than the general

2034
00:56:58,482 --> 00:57:00,482
population.

2035
00:57:01,850 --> 00:57:03,485
African american veterans face

2036
00:57:03,554 --> 00:57:05,623
higher risk to military related

2037
00:57:05,623 --> 00:57:07,910
exposures like asbestos,

2038
00:57:07,910 --> 00:57:08,359
according to the us department

2039
00:57:08,359 --> 00:57:10,759
of veterans affairs, veterans

2040
00:57:12,960 --> 00:57:14,799
have a 25 to 76% higher risk

2041
00:57:14,799 --> 00:57:16,667
of lung cancer and asbestos

2042
00:57:16,667 --> 00:57:18,135
exposure remains a significant

2043
00:57:18,135 --> 00:57:20,370
contributor to salivated risk,

2044
00:57:20,370 --> 00:57:21,380
which exacerbates risk for.

2045
00:57:21,380 --> 00:57:23,380
Black men.

2046
00:57:23,675 --> 00:57:25,675
African american veterans

2047
00:57:25,776 --> 00:57:26,430
experience disparities in

2048
00:57:26,430 --> 00:57:27,445
diagnosis.

2049
00:57:27,445 --> 00:57:28,479
Treatment and.

2050
00:57:28,479 --> 00:57:28,913
survival rates compared to

2051
00:57:28,913 --> 00:57:30,913
other groups.

2052
00:57:31,983 --> 00:57:33,685
The U.S. Department of veterans

2053
00:57:33,685 --> 00:57:34,118
affairs diagnosis it treats

2054
00:57:34,118 --> 00:57:36,118
approximately.

2055
00:57:36,354 --> 00:57:37,880
8000 veterans for lung cancer.

2056
00:57:37,880 --> 00:57:39,880
Each year.

2057
00:57:40,125 --> 00:57:40,992
>> veterans have a higher risk

2058
00:57:40,992 --> 00:57:41,592
for lung cancer due to.

2059
00:57:41,592 --> 00:57:43,592
Older age.

2060
00:57:43,628 --> 00:57:44,862
Smoking and.

2061
00:57:44,862 --> 00:57:46,531
Environmental exposures during

2062
00:57:46,531 --> 00:57:48,366
and after military service.

2063
00:57:48,366 --> 00:57:49,834
Smoking is the primary cause

2064
00:57:49,834 --> 00:57:50,901
of lung cancer, with many

2065
00:57:50,901 --> 00:57:52,737
veterans reporting that.

2066
00:57:52,737 --> 00:57:53,400
They started using tobacco

2067
00:57:53,400 --> 00:57:54,500
after.

2068
00:57:54,500 --> 00:57:56,500
Entering military service.

2069
00:57:56,874 --> 00:57:57,708
Exposure to radon gas is the

2070
00:57:57,708 --> 00:57:59,644
second leading cause.

2071
00:57:59,644 --> 00:58:01,279
I want you to note here.

2072
00:58:01,279 --> 00:58:02,747
If you would, that in addition

2073
00:58:02,747 --> 00:58:04,849
to these risk factors that

2074
00:58:04,849 --> 00:58:07,249
contribute to incidents, not

2075
00:58:07,351 --> 00:58:08,419
getting screened is also a

2076
00:58:08,419 --> 00:58:10,721
significant risk factor and

2077
00:58:10,721 --> 00:58:11,589
that contributes to mortality

2078
00:58:11,589 --> 00:58:13,989
because for lung cancer.

2079
00:58:14,358 --> 00:58:15,126
And any other cancer catching

2080
00:58:15,126 --> 00:58:17,126
and treated it.

2081
00:58:18,162 --> 00:58:18,629
Early exponentially increases

2082
00:58:18,629 --> 00:58:20,629
survivorship.

2083
00:58:21,660 --> 00:58:21,966
Systemically black veterans

2084
00:58:21,966 --> 00:58:23,534
have lower odds of completing

2085
00:58:23,534 --> 00:58:24,769
lung cancer screening than

2086
00:58:24,769 --> 00:58:26,237
white veterans, particularly

2087
00:58:26,237 --> 00:58:28,339
due to loss between referral

2088
00:58:28,339 --> 00:58:28,773
and the connection with

2089
00:58:28,773 --> 00:58:30,207
screening programs.

2090
00:58:30,207 --> 00:58:32,207
Let me conclude.

2091
00:58:33,277 --> 00:58:34,246
By saying this for lung

2092
00:58:34,246 --> 00:58:34,478
cancer veterans and the

2093
00:58:34,478 --> 00:58:36,478
general.

2094
00:58:36,715 --> 00:58:38,216
Population would benefit

2095
00:58:38,216 --> 00:58:38,616
tremendously from changes.

2096
00:58:38,616 --> 00:58:39,750
To the.

2097
00:58:39,750 --> 00:58:40,218
>> screening guidelines that

2098
00:58:40,218 --> 00:58:42,218
would further.

2099
00:58:43,255 --> 00:58:44,922
Expand access to screening in

2100
00:58:44,922 --> 00:58:47,191
2021, the U.S. Preventive

2101
00:58:47,191 --> 00:58:48,593
services task force expanded

2102
00:58:48,593 --> 00:58:50,561
access to lung cancer screening

2103
00:58:50,561 --> 00:58:52,864
to catch lung cancer earlier in

2104
00:58:52,864 --> 00:58:54,532
high risk groups, particularly

2105
00:58:54,532 --> 00:58:55,800
women as well as black adults

2106
00:58:55,800 --> 00:58:57,501
who adults who often develop

2107
00:58:57,501 --> 00:58:57,768
lung cancer with lower smoking

2108
00:58:57,768 --> 00:58:59,768
exposure.

2109
00:59:00,171 --> 00:59:02,473
The task force the task force

2110
00:59:02,473 --> 00:59:04,742
and talk expanded access by

2111
00:59:04,742 --> 00:59:06,645
lowering the starting gate from

2112
00:59:06,645 --> 00:59:08,312
55 to 50 and from reducing the

2113
00:59:08,312 --> 00:59:09,981
pack history requirement from

2114
00:59:09,981 --> 00:59:12,817
30 pack using a to 20 pack.

2115
00:59:12,817 --> 00:59:14,286
Use it here a year I'm

2116
00:59:14,286 --> 00:59:15,753
sorry you do still have to be a

2117
00:59:15,753 --> 00:59:17,255
current smoker or have quit

2118
00:59:17,255 --> 00:59:17,522
within the past 15 years to be

2119
00:59:17,522 --> 00:59:19,522
eligible.

2120
00:59:21,359 --> 00:59:22,827
In 2023, the american

2121
00:59:22,827 --> 00:59:24,695
cancer society went further and

2122
00:59:24,695 --> 00:59:25,163
eliminated 15 years since quit

2123
00:59:25,163 --> 00:59:27,163
criteria.

2124
00:59:27,298 --> 00:59:29,367
But lung cancer screening is

2125
00:59:29,367 --> 00:59:31,669
still tied strictly to tobacco

2126
00:59:31,669 --> 00:59:33,971
use for veterans who are

2127
00:59:33,971 --> 00:59:34,238
exposed to radon and or

2128
00:59:34,238 --> 00:59:36,238
asbestos.

2129
00:59:36,274 --> 00:59:38,743
For individuals who work in

2130
00:59:38,743 --> 00:59:41,143
occupations such as firefighter

2131
00:59:42,246 --> 00:59:43,748
construction, hair salons, etc.

2132
00:59:43,748 --> 00:59:44,816
For general public city

2133
00:59:44,816 --> 00:59:46,284
dwellers they were exposed to

2134
00:59:46,284 --> 00:59:48,353
elevated levels of automobile

2135
00:59:48,353 --> 00:59:50,210
exhaust and other environmental

2136
00:59:50,210 --> 00:59:52,390
carcinogens on a daily basis.

2137
00:59:52,390 --> 00:59:53,225
Lung cancer screening

2138
00:59:53,225 --> 00:59:55,625
eligibility needs to be

2139
00:59:56,327 --> 00:59:56,560
expanded beyond just tobacco

2140
00:59:56,560 --> 00:59:58,560
use.

2141
00:59:59,430 --> 01:00:00,598
Also, systemic changes need to

2142
01:00:00,598 --> 01:00:02,300
be made so that veterans who

2143
01:00:02,300 --> 01:00:03,167
are referred to or referred to

2144
01:00:03,167 --> 01:00:04,235
screening don't fall through

2145
01:00:04,235 --> 01:00:05,870
the cracks.

2146
01:00:05,870 --> 01:00:07,338
I'll conclude there and again

2147
01:00:07,338 --> 01:00:09,600
thank you for allowing me an

2148
01:00:09,600 --> 01:00:09,907
opportunity to speak and I look

2149
01:00:09,907 --> 01:00:10,375
forward to any questions that

2150
01:00:10,375 --> 01:00:12,210
you might have.

2151
01:00:12,210 --> 01:00:14,610
Thank you, mr kennedy.

2152
01:00:14,846 --> 01:00:16,715
Uh, we have with us now um,

2153
01:00:16,715 --> 01:00:18,216
doctor whitley who is also a

2154
01:00:18,216 --> 01:00:19,840
veteran and a member of the

2155
01:00:19,840 --> 01:00:20,840
american legion post.

2156
01:00:20,840 --> 01:00:20,819
Okay.

2157
01:00:20,819 --> 01:00:21,252
>> thank you.

2158
01:00:21,252 --> 01:00:23,252
Thank you.

2159
01:00:23,387 --> 01:00:23,688
Councilor flynn murphy

2160
01:00:23,688 --> 01:00:25,688
fitzgerald.

2161
01:00:27,492 --> 01:00:28,626
I didn't write anything.

2162
01:00:28,626 --> 01:00:30,626
Um, because, um.

2163
01:00:32,697 --> 01:00:35,800
One of the things that you know

2164
01:00:35,800 --> 01:00:37,468
happened to me yesterday was I

2165
01:00:37,468 --> 01:00:38,102
attended a debate and my

2166
01:00:38,102 --> 01:00:40,102
question was.

2167
01:00:41,573 --> 01:00:44,573
What laws or what funding.

2168
01:00:45,843 --> 01:00:48,747
Would you implement for high

2169
01:00:48,747 --> 01:00:50,615
denial cases denied among black

2170
01:00:50,615 --> 01:00:52,615
men?

2171
01:00:53,251 --> 01:00:53,685
And that question wasn't quite

2172
01:00:53,685 --> 01:00:55,685
answered.

2173
01:00:55,754 --> 01:00:58,754
So then I thought about.

2174
01:00:58,990 --> 01:01:01,990
When then I thought about.

2175
01:01:02,160 --> 01:01:05,290
When councilor murphy was um.

2176
01:01:05,290 --> 01:01:06,898
She she was campaigning for

2177
01:01:06,898 --> 01:01:09,400
her, um, you know, to compete

2178
01:01:09,400 --> 01:01:09,635
become a city councilor at

2179
01:01:09,635 --> 01:01:11,635
large.

2180
01:01:11,869 --> 01:01:13,571
And I stopped her and she was

2181
01:01:13,571 --> 01:01:16,275
in hyde park and I was having

2182
01:01:16,275 --> 01:01:17,742
this trouble with my claims and

2183
01:01:17,742 --> 01:01:18,409
I said to her, well, what do.

2184
01:01:18,409 --> 01:01:20,409
>> I do?

2185
01:01:20,478 --> 01:01:21,946
>> I need a 5 to 6 0995 and she

2186
01:01:21,946 --> 01:01:24,849
was like, give me your number

2187
01:01:24,849 --> 01:01:26,518
and then I have someone call

2188
01:01:26,518 --> 01:01:28,186
me um a via cell to walk

2189
01:01:28,186 --> 01:01:30,855
me through those um claims.

2190
01:01:30,855 --> 01:01:33,325
But I started to think about

2191
01:01:33,325 --> 01:01:35,827
when I wrote my dissertation

2192
01:01:35,827 --> 01:01:36,261
and why I became a doctor

2193
01:01:36,261 --> 01:01:38,261
of education.

2194
01:01:39,297 --> 01:01:40,999
So one of the things that I

2195
01:01:40,999 --> 01:01:42,267
noticed and I started to study

2196
01:01:42,267 --> 01:01:43,702
black women so that made it,

2197
01:01:43,702 --> 01:01:44,770
you know, kind of limited too

2198
01:01:44,770 --> 01:01:46,805
to black women veterans.

2199
01:01:46,805 --> 01:01:49,205
I one of the.

2200
01:01:50,475 --> 01:01:53,378
things I thought about years

2201
01:01:53,378 --> 01:01:54,646
ago because I just I just um

2202
01:01:54,646 --> 01:01:56,247
retired JUNE 1st.

2203
01:01:56,247 --> 01:01:56,515
I spent many years in the

2204
01:01:56,515 --> 01:01:58,515
military.

2205
01:02:00,385 --> 01:02:03,385
I had trouble navigating the

2206
01:02:04,689 --> 01:02:07,125
system and so I am happy.

2207
01:02:07,125 --> 01:02:09,125
With the statistics.

2208
01:02:11,196 --> 01:02:14,196
The lung cancer, the nasty.

2209
01:02:16,267 --> 01:02:18,136
But when I will press the

2210
01:02:18,136 --> 01:02:21,136
participants for my my study.

2211
01:02:22,407 --> 01:02:25,510
At all the 70 black women that

2212
01:02:25,510 --> 01:02:26,745
in that ten participant the

2213
01:02:26,745 --> 01:02:28,790
data exaggerated.

2214
01:02:28,790 --> 01:02:29,814
And one.

2215
01:02:29,814 --> 01:02:31,116
>> of the things they said to

2216
01:02:31,116 --> 01:02:33,585
me and you know we talked about

2217
01:02:33,585 --> 01:02:35,854
the va and how great the

2218
01:02:35,854 --> 01:02:37,922
healthcare was and um, women

2219
01:02:37,922 --> 01:02:38,189
the women trauma center they

2220
01:02:38,189 --> 01:02:40,189
said.

2221
01:02:40,626 --> 01:02:41,593
How how.

2222
01:02:41,593 --> 01:02:43,595
>> do I get there?

2223
01:02:43,595 --> 01:02:45,995
How do I navigate?

2224
01:02:48,700 --> 01:02:50,535
So with the.

2225
01:02:50,535 --> 01:02:52,805
Programs and all the great

2226
01:02:52,805 --> 01:02:54,873
things that we have, how do we

2227
01:02:54,873 --> 01:02:56,141
get our women black women vets

2228
01:02:56,141 --> 01:02:58,541
to go for screening.

2229
01:03:00,412 --> 01:03:03,115
If it's a high number of denial

2230
01:03:03,115 --> 01:03:03,348
for claims maybe not the fault

2231
01:03:03,348 --> 01:03:03,782
of.

2232
01:03:03,782 --> 01:03:05,417
>> them.

2233
01:03:05,417 --> 01:03:06,885
Themselves, maybe they just

2234
01:03:06,885 --> 01:03:08,530
don't know how to write the

2235
01:03:08,530 --> 01:03:08,586
claims or maybe they.

2236
01:03:08,586 --> 01:03:09,921
>> need.

2237
01:03:09,921 --> 01:03:11,189
Help with the claims that maybe

2238
01:03:11,189 --> 01:03:12,257
they MISS A part after they

2239
01:03:12,257 --> 01:03:14,657
hear the claim closes.

2240
01:03:14,693 --> 01:03:17,930
So I think about.

2241
01:03:17,563 --> 01:03:19,563
In the community.

2242
01:03:22,234 --> 01:03:23,235
We need to implement of if.

2243
01:03:23,235 --> 01:03:23,868
We're at the post.

2244
01:03:23,868 --> 01:03:25,868
That someone.

2245
01:03:25,905 --> 01:03:27,772
Can walk in and say you know

2246
01:03:27,772 --> 01:03:30,750
how do I do you know, how do I

2247
01:03:30,750 --> 01:03:31,343
complete a um claim if I'm able

2248
01:03:31,343 --> 01:03:32,410
to walk into the municipal

2249
01:03:32,410 --> 01:03:33,812
building in hyde park?

2250
01:03:33,812 --> 01:03:34,980
how do I.

2251
01:03:34,980 --> 01:03:36,581
Complete a claim as a vet?

2252
01:03:36,581 --> 01:03:38,984
So one of the things that I

2253
01:03:38,984 --> 01:03:39,718
want to say is that if I was.

2254
01:03:39,718 --> 01:03:40,852
If I was.

2255
01:03:40,852 --> 01:03:44,452
Watching this and I was just

2256
01:03:44,589 --> 01:03:45,857
out of the military and um or

2257
01:03:45,857 --> 01:03:46,925
msd, a trauma happened to

2258
01:03:46,925 --> 01:03:47,158
me because I served 30 years

2259
01:03:47,158 --> 01:03:49,158
ago.

2260
01:03:50,228 --> 01:03:52,640
How would I do it?

2261
01:03:52,640 --> 01:03:52,330
How would I navigate through

2262
01:03:52,330 --> 01:03:54,330
this?

2263
01:03:55,167 --> 01:03:56,635
So I oftentime just think about

2264
01:03:56,635 --> 01:03:58,270
that were to navigate.

2265
01:03:58,270 --> 01:03:58,904
Through the system and that.

2266
01:03:58,904 --> 01:04:00,739
Was that was.

2267
01:04:00,739 --> 01:04:03,139
>> my dissertation um black

2268
01:04:03,408 --> 01:04:05,808
women veteran navigating the

2269
01:04:05,910 --> 01:04:06,378
mental health system after

2270
01:04:06,378 --> 01:04:08,378
trauma.

2271
01:04:09,140 --> 01:04:10,882
So you know, I think I thank

2272
01:04:10,882 --> 01:04:11,349
you guys all for um the

2273
01:04:11,349 --> 01:04:13,349
statistics.

2274
01:04:13,585 --> 01:04:15,985
But I think that.

2275
01:04:18,560 --> 01:04:20,358
We need to focus on how do we

2276
01:04:20,358 --> 01:04:22,761
get them into the va.

2277
01:04:22,761 --> 01:04:23,495
What do we do on a city level?

2278
01:04:23,495 --> 01:04:24,429
What do we do.

2279
01:04:24,429 --> 01:04:26,829
On a community level?

2280
01:04:27,399 --> 01:04:27,899
To bring them in?

2281
01:04:27,899 --> 01:04:28,967
What if we.

2282
01:04:28,967 --> 01:04:30,568
>> want to talk?

2283
01:04:30,568 --> 01:04:32,605
You know what if we want to.

2284
01:04:32,605 --> 01:04:33,838
Say hey I want to do a claim.

2285
01:04:33,838 --> 01:04:36,238
Where do they go.

2286
01:04:36,675 --> 01:04:38,143
If they've never been to the va

2287
01:04:38,143 --> 01:04:39,177
or maybe denied for the va?

2288
01:04:39,177 --> 01:04:41,177
So.

2289
01:04:42,615 --> 01:04:45,150
>> thank thank you doctor.

2290
01:04:45,584 --> 01:04:47,652
Um important recommendations I

2291
01:04:47,652 --> 01:04:48,453
know we'll we'll be discussing

2292
01:04:48,453 --> 01:04:49,989
them in a couple of minutes.

2293
01:04:49,989 --> 01:04:50,856
So thank you for bringing

2294
01:04:50,856 --> 01:04:51,323
bringing that information

2295
01:04:51,323 --> 01:04:52,725
forward.

2296
01:04:52,725 --> 01:04:55,725
Thank you for your service.

2297
01:04:58,431 --> 01:05:01,933
Um, doctor wiener um, from the

2298
01:05:01,933 --> 01:05:04,536
va the center for health

2299
01:05:04,536 --> 01:05:04,804
optimization implementation

2300
01:05:04,804 --> 01:05:05,805
research.

2301
01:05:05,805 --> 01:05:07,805
Um, doctor europe.

2302
01:05:07,839 --> 01:05:10,750
Thank you so much.

2303
01:05:10,750 --> 01:05:11,309
Um good morning everyone and

2304
01:05:11,309 --> 01:05:13,211
thank you to the council for

2305
01:05:13,211 --> 01:05:14,680
the opportunity to participate

2306
01:05:14,680 --> 01:05:14,913
today and such an important

2307
01:05:14,913 --> 01:05:16,913
hearing.

2308
01:05:17,148 --> 01:05:19,451
And I want to also thank the

2309
01:05:19,451 --> 01:05:21,119
veterans who are present for,

2310
01:05:21,119 --> 01:05:21,353
uh, your service to the country

2311
01:05:21,353 --> 01:05:23,353
.

2312
01:05:24,623 --> 01:05:26,291
Um, my name is brenda wiener

2313
01:05:26,291 --> 01:05:28,560
and as I've already mentioned,

2314
01:05:28,560 --> 01:05:29,661
I'm a pulmonary physician and a

2315
01:05:29,661 --> 01:05:31,329
researcher at the va boston

2316
01:05:31,329 --> 01:05:32,398
health care system and it's

2317
01:05:32,398 --> 01:05:34,660
been my great honor and

2318
01:05:34,660 --> 01:05:34,933
privilege to take care

2319
01:05:34,933 --> 01:05:36,602
of veterans with lung

2320
01:05:36,602 --> 01:05:38,470
conditions for more than 20

2321
01:05:38,470 --> 01:05:39,972
years, including lung cancer,

2322
01:05:39,972 --> 01:05:41,406
and to engage in research to

2323
01:05:41,406 --> 01:05:43,750
try to address some of the

2324
01:05:43,750 --> 01:05:43,543
issues that we're talking about

2325
01:05:43,543 --> 01:05:45,543
today.

2326
01:05:45,778 --> 01:05:46,110
How do we improve veteran

2327
01:05:46,110 --> 01:05:48,110
health?

2328
01:05:48,460 --> 01:05:51,149
How do we improve access to

2329
01:05:51,149 --> 01:05:51,416
care and uh, and improve

2330
01:05:51,416 --> 01:05:53,416
equity?

2331
01:05:55,254 --> 01:05:57,123
Um, in addition to my roles as

2332
01:05:57,123 --> 01:05:58,590
a physician and researcher, I

2333
01:05:58,590 --> 01:06:00,492
also am the deputy chief

2334
01:06:00,492 --> 01:06:01,560
consultant for the national

2335
01:06:01,560 --> 01:06:02,327
center for lung

2336
01:06:02,327 --> 01:06:03,495
cancer screening for the

2337
01:06:03,495 --> 01:06:05,495
veterans health administration.

2338
01:06:05,931 --> 01:06:07,199
And I'm a professor of medicine

2339
01:06:07,199 --> 01:06:09,301
at the boston university

2340
01:06:09,301 --> 01:06:09,601
chobani and and avid dc school

2341
01:06:09,601 --> 01:06:11,601
of medicine.

2342
01:06:11,770 --> 01:06:13,438
I have also been a physician at

2343
01:06:13,438 --> 01:06:15,438
boston medical center.

2344
01:06:16,708 --> 01:06:18,377
So um I'm speaking from those

2345
01:06:18,377 --> 01:06:20,646
various perspectives but I do

2346
01:06:20,646 --> 01:06:22,515
need to also disclose that, um,

2347
01:06:22,515 --> 01:06:23,782
the perspectives I'll share in

2348
01:06:23,782 --> 01:06:25,885
this hearing are my own views

2349
01:06:25,885 --> 01:06:27,353
and don't necessarily represent

2350
01:06:27,353 --> 01:06:28,420
the positions or policy of the

2351
01:06:28,420 --> 01:06:29,488
department of veterans affairs

2352
01:06:29,488 --> 01:06:31,888
or U.S. Government.

2353
01:06:32,525 --> 01:06:34,760
So I'm here today because.

2354
01:06:34,760 --> 01:06:35,828
Veterans in our city,

2355
01:06:35,828 --> 01:06:38,228
especially black veterans are

2356
01:06:38,297 --> 01:06:39,566
dying from lung cancer and many

2357
01:06:39,566 --> 01:06:41,600
of these are needless deaths.

2358
01:06:41,600 --> 01:06:44,303
We are so fortunate that the

2359
01:06:44,303 --> 01:06:45,804
greater boston area is home to

2360
01:06:45,804 --> 01:06:47,172
some of the most active lung

2361
01:06:47,172 --> 01:06:49,275
cancer screening programs in

2362
01:06:49,275 --> 01:06:49,708
the country, including at the

2363
01:06:49,708 --> 01:06:51,708
boston va.

2364
01:06:51,743 --> 01:06:53,212
And if we were reaching more

2365
01:06:53,212 --> 01:06:54,790
veterans for screening we could

2366
01:06:54,790 --> 01:06:56,479
be saving more lives.

2367
01:06:56,715 --> 01:06:58,617
You've heard that lung

2368
01:06:58,617 --> 01:06:59,452
cancer is a critical issue

2369
01:06:59,452 --> 01:07:01,452
facing veterans.

2370
01:07:02,121 --> 01:07:03,789
Uh, and that 8000 veterans are

2371
01:07:03,789 --> 01:07:04,423
diagnosed with lung

2372
01:07:04,423 --> 01:07:06,423
cancer every year.

2373
01:07:07,292 --> 01:07:08,361
And just take a moment to think

2374
01:07:08,361 --> 01:07:10,429
about that and how many

2375
01:07:10,429 --> 01:07:10,662
families are affected by this

2376
01:07:10,662 --> 01:07:12,662
disease.

2377
01:07:13,499 --> 01:07:14,566
You've also heard that, uh,

2378
01:07:14,566 --> 01:07:16,235
veterans have higher rates

2379
01:07:16,235 --> 01:07:18,737
of lung cancer than others and

2380
01:07:18,737 --> 01:07:20,839
the us population due to um

2381
01:07:20,839 --> 01:07:21,730
military exposures among other

2382
01:07:21,730 --> 01:07:23,730
issues.

2383
01:07:24,743 --> 01:07:25,210
But perhaps more dire still is

2384
01:07:25,210 --> 01:07:26,110
this.

2385
01:07:26,110 --> 01:07:27,646
So I.

2386
01:07:27,646 --> 01:07:29,114
Testified before this

2387
01:07:29,114 --> 01:07:31,583
council about a year and a half

2388
01:07:31,583 --> 01:07:34,286
ago and during that time

2389
01:07:34,286 --> 01:07:35,755
approximately 7500 veterans in

2390
01:07:35,755 --> 01:07:36,622
this country have died from

2391
01:07:36,622 --> 01:07:38,457
lung cancer.

2392
01:07:38,457 --> 01:07:39,525
It's an average of 15 veterans

2393
01:07:39,525 --> 01:07:41,525
every single day.

2394
01:07:43,195 --> 01:07:44,263
In fact, lung cancer is far and

2395
01:07:44,263 --> 01:07:45,931
away the leading cause

2396
01:07:45,931 --> 01:07:46,165
of cancer deaths among veterans

2397
01:07:46,165 --> 01:07:48,165
.

2398
01:07:48,233 --> 01:07:49,468
But again, many of those deaths

2399
01:07:49,468 --> 01:07:51,868
could have been prevented.

2400
01:07:51,937 --> 01:07:54,937
catching cancer early when it's

2401
01:07:55,641 --> 01:07:57,420
still treatable is critical to

2402
01:07:57,420 --> 01:07:57,276
improving lung cancer outcomes

2403
01:07:57,276 --> 01:07:59,276
.

2404
01:07:59,711 --> 01:08:00,913
Early detection through lung

2405
01:08:00,913 --> 01:08:03,182
cancer screening followed by

2406
01:08:03,182 --> 01:08:05,830
timely treatment represents our

2407
01:08:05,830 --> 01:08:06,552
best hope to improve outcomes

2408
01:08:06,552 --> 01:08:07,620
for veterans and others at risk

2409
01:08:07,620 --> 01:08:09,620
of lung cancer.

2410
01:08:09,955 --> 01:08:11,223
Lung cancer screening means

2411
01:08:11,223 --> 01:08:13,125
getting a simple cat scan

2412
01:08:13,125 --> 01:08:13,359
of the chest takes just a few

2413
01:08:13,359 --> 01:08:15,359
minutes.

2414
01:08:15,795 --> 01:08:17,296
It's painless and having a

2415
01:08:17,296 --> 01:08:18,564
screening cat scan every year

2416
01:08:18,564 --> 01:08:19,598
can reduce lung cancer deaths

2417
01:08:19,598 --> 01:08:21,598
by 20%.

2418
01:08:22,868 --> 01:08:24,136
One of the hard truths we've

2419
01:08:24,136 --> 01:08:26,380
already begun to hear about is

2420
01:08:26,380 --> 01:08:28,540
that black veterans and black

2421
01:08:28,540 --> 01:08:29,808
men nationwide die of lung

2422
01:08:29,808 --> 01:08:31,277
cancer more often than any

2423
01:08:31,277 --> 01:08:31,744
other group in the us

2424
01:08:31,744 --> 01:08:33,744
population.

2425
01:08:34,580 --> 01:08:36,810
Um many develop lung cancer at

2426
01:08:36,810 --> 01:08:37,750
a younger age and with a lower

2427
01:08:37,750 --> 01:08:38,217
smoking history than white

2428
01:08:38,217 --> 01:08:40,217
americans.

2429
01:08:40,219 --> 01:08:42,619
And why is that?

2430
01:08:42,655 --> 01:08:43,722
It's because they don't often

2431
01:08:43,722 --> 01:08:45,225
know that screening is an

2432
01:08:45,225 --> 01:08:47,660
option or how to access it.

2433
01:08:47,660 --> 01:08:48,694
As you alluded to um and.

2434
01:08:48,694 --> 01:08:50,694
Then they experience.

2435
01:08:50,929 --> 01:08:52,798
Delays and gaps in every step

2436
01:08:52,798 --> 01:08:54,466
of the pathway from diagnosis

2437
01:08:54,466 --> 01:08:56,769
through treatment and are less

2438
01:08:56,769 --> 01:08:58,437
likely to get the best, most

2439
01:08:58,437 --> 01:08:58,705
effective treatments for lung

2440
01:08:58,705 --> 01:09:00,705
cancer.

2441
01:09:01,741 --> 01:09:04,430
The good news is that the va

2442
01:09:04,430 --> 01:09:05,770
system breaks this pattern when

2443
01:09:05,770 --> 01:09:06,245
black veterans.

2444
01:09:06,245 --> 01:09:07,780
Get care through the va.

2445
01:09:07,780 --> 01:09:09,682
>> their lung cancer survival

2446
01:09:09,682 --> 01:09:12,852
is the same as white veterans.

2447
01:09:12,852 --> 01:09:14,190
Va lung cancer screening rates

2448
01:09:14,190 --> 01:09:16,880
early cancer detection rates

2449
01:09:16,880 --> 01:09:17,556
and survival rates are equal or

2450
01:09:17,556 --> 01:09:19,250
better across the board than

2451
01:09:19,250 --> 01:09:19,291
those outside of the va system

2452
01:09:19,291 --> 01:09:21,291
.

2453
01:09:21,727 --> 01:09:22,161
And the difference here isn't

2454
01:09:22,161 --> 01:09:23,729
biology.

2455
01:09:23,729 --> 01:09:24,764
>> it's access to timely,

2456
01:09:24,764 --> 01:09:26,764
equitable health care.

2457
01:09:27,330 --> 01:09:29,502
And we're fortunate that within

2458
01:09:29,502 --> 01:09:31,270
the va system, va bostons lung

2459
01:09:31,270 --> 01:09:32,338
cancer screening program is one

2460
01:09:32,338 --> 01:09:34,173
of the leaders in the nation.

2461
01:09:34,173 --> 01:09:35,407
But many.

2462
01:09:35,407 --> 01:09:36,976
People who are eligible for

2463
01:09:36,976 --> 01:09:37,243
lung cancer screening veterans

2464
01:09:37,243 --> 01:09:38,878
and.

2465
01:09:38,878 --> 01:09:40,513
Other bostonians have never

2466
01:09:40,513 --> 01:09:41,815
heard of screening and they

2467
01:09:41,815 --> 01:09:43,282
don't realize that they qualify

2468
01:09:43,282 --> 01:09:45,682
for this lifesaving test.

2469
01:09:46,519 --> 01:09:47,753
In fact, fewer than 25%.

2470
01:09:47,753 --> 01:09:49,421
>> of eligible americans have

2471
01:09:49,421 --> 01:09:50,289
been screened for lung

2472
01:09:50,289 --> 01:09:51,757
cancer and black people are

2473
01:09:51,757 --> 01:09:52,825
even less likely to have been

2474
01:09:52,825 --> 01:09:53,258
screened than others in the

2475
01:09:53,258 --> 01:09:55,258
population.

2476
01:09:55,295 --> 01:09:56,929
So let me just take a.

2477
01:09:56,929 --> 01:09:57,763
Minute to raise awareness on

2478
01:09:57,763 --> 01:09:59,198
some key facts.

2479
01:09:59,198 --> 01:10:00,533
Guidelines recommend.

2480
01:10:00,533 --> 01:10:01,167
Lung cancer screening for

2481
01:10:01,167 --> 01:10:02,201
people ages.

2482
01:10:02,201 --> 01:10:04,360
50 to 80 years.

2483
01:10:04,360 --> 01:10:04,270
Old with a significant smoking

2484
01:10:04,270 --> 01:10:06,138
history.

2485
01:10:06,138 --> 01:10:07,806
And regardless of whether you

2486
01:10:07,806 --> 01:10:08,808
get it through the va or.

2487
01:10:08,808 --> 01:10:10,242
Outside of the va.

2488
01:10:10,242 --> 01:10:10,509
Screening is covered by

2489
01:10:10,509 --> 01:10:12,509
insurance.

2490
01:10:12,545 --> 01:10:13,813
>> and completely free with no

2491
01:10:13,813 --> 01:10:16,282
co-pays for people who qualify.

2492
01:10:16,282 --> 01:10:17,917
But sharing information.

2493
01:10:17,917 --> 01:10:18,384
>> at meetings like this isn't

2494
01:10:18,384 --> 01:10:20,219
enough.

2495
01:10:20,219 --> 01:10:22,880
Our teams at va boston.

2496
01:10:22,880 --> 01:10:22,321
>> and at our research center

2497
01:10:22,321 --> 01:10:24,321
choir.

2498
01:10:25,591 --> 01:10:26,559
Are actively working to improve

2499
01:10:26,559 --> 01:10:28,559
lung cancer screening.

2500
01:10:28,561 --> 01:10:28,828
awareness and expand access to

2501
01:10:28,828 --> 01:10:30,162
screening.

2502
01:10:30,162 --> 01:10:31,765
And we're doing this work.

2503
01:10:31,765 --> 01:10:33,999
Right now here in boston.

2504
01:10:33,999 --> 01:10:34,868
So first uh, the vet peer

2505
01:10:34,868 --> 01:10:35,901
connect study.

2506
01:10:35,901 --> 01:10:37,436
Um, last.

2507
01:10:37,436 --> 01:10:38,304
>> year we partnered with black

2508
01:10:38,304 --> 01:10:40,139
veterans and community.

2509
01:10:40,139 --> 01:10:41,607
Groups like nab vets, the

2510
01:10:41,607 --> 01:10:43,276
national association for black

2511
01:10:43,276 --> 01:10:44,744
veterans and the triad veterans

2512
01:10:44,744 --> 01:10:45,411
league led by boston's own

2513
01:10:45,411 --> 01:10:47,411
heywood for now.

2514
01:10:47,847 --> 01:10:49,448
To co-design a community.

2515
01:10:49,448 --> 01:10:50,916
Outreach program by black

2516
01:10:50,916 --> 01:10:52,351
veterans for black veterans.

2517
01:10:52,351 --> 01:10:54,351
We partnered.

2518
01:10:54,587 --> 01:10:55,888
Actually with with many people

2519
01:10:55,888 --> 01:10:56,889
um, here today.

2520
01:10:56,889 --> 01:10:58,889
We partnered with.

2521
01:10:58,924 --> 01:11:01,270
The um office of veterans

2522
01:11:01,270 --> 01:11:01,460
services from the city and the

2523
01:11:01,460 --> 01:11:03,460
commonwealth.

2524
01:11:04,130 --> 01:11:06,130
And veteran organizations

2525
01:11:06,599 --> 01:11:08,667
including the vfw and american

2526
01:11:08,667 --> 01:11:10,667
legion um, including

2527
01:11:11,971 --> 01:11:14,730
specifically uh vfw post uh

2528
01:11:14,730 --> 01:11:16,108
1018 and the carter post.

2529
01:11:16,108 --> 01:11:17,376
So thank you again for your

2530
01:11:17,376 --> 01:11:18,378
support and partnership.

2531
01:11:18,378 --> 01:11:20,378
Um.

2532
01:11:22,480 --> 01:11:22,615
So uh we partnered with those

2533
01:11:22,615 --> 01:11:24,615
groups to hold.

2534
01:11:24,650 --> 01:11:26,118
Community events around greater

2535
01:11:26,118 --> 01:11:26,385
boston trying to reach

2536
01:11:26,385 --> 01:11:27,386
veterans.

2537
01:11:27,386 --> 01:11:28,655
Where they.

2538
01:11:28,655 --> 01:11:29,522
>> are and help get them

2539
01:11:29,522 --> 01:11:30,890
connected to lung

2540
01:11:30,890 --> 01:11:32,890
cancer screening.

2541
01:11:34,260 --> 01:11:34,193
So we're now building on what

2542
01:11:34,193 --> 01:11:34,827
we.

2543
01:11:34,827 --> 01:11:36,262
Learned and vet.

2544
01:11:36,262 --> 01:11:36,729
>> peer connects to create a

2545
01:11:36,729 --> 01:11:37,964
sustainable program.

2546
01:11:37,964 --> 01:11:39,964
>> with greater reach.

2547
01:11:40,199 --> 01:11:42,670
We launched a new website and

2548
01:11:42,670 --> 01:11:42,501
social media campaign developed

2549
01:11:42,501 --> 01:11:43,736
together with.

2550
01:11:43,736 --> 01:11:44,300
veterans to share their stories

2551
01:11:44,300 --> 01:11:45,500
.

2552
01:11:45,500 --> 01:11:46,839
About screening.

2553
01:11:46,839 --> 01:11:48,375
And we're creating a toolkit.

2554
01:11:48,375 --> 01:11:49,909
>> for veteran organizations.

2555
01:11:49,909 --> 01:11:50,910
,uh, to use with.

2556
01:11:50,910 --> 01:11:52,910
Their own members.

2557
01:11:54,180 --> 01:11:56,480
We're also leading a precision

2558
01:11:56,480 --> 01:11:58,117
screening trial across 28 va

2559
01:11:58,117 --> 01:12:00,517
medical centers, including va

2560
01:12:00,820 --> 01:12:02,880
boston that's designed to

2561
01:12:02,880 --> 01:12:02,922
engage veterans who have the

2562
01:12:02,922 --> 01:12:04,357
highest benefit.

2563
01:12:04,357 --> 01:12:05,250
From screening but haven't yet

2564
01:12:05,250 --> 01:12:06,659
been reached.

2565
01:12:06,659 --> 01:12:06,926
And many of these are black

2566
01:12:06,926 --> 01:12:08,926
veterans.

2567
01:12:09,562 --> 01:12:11,230
And finally, we're kicking off

2568
01:12:11,230 --> 01:12:13,990
a project to connect veterans

2569
01:12:13,990 --> 01:12:15,100
who have a history of toxic

2570
01:12:15,100 --> 01:12:17,100
military exposures.

2571
01:12:18,638 --> 01:12:18,938
,um, to uh, the whole health

2572
01:12:18,938 --> 01:12:20,938
well-being.

2573
01:12:22,141 --> 01:12:23,610
Services at the va and also

2574
01:12:23,610 --> 01:12:24,577
connecting them to clinical

2575
01:12:24,577 --> 01:12:26,212
trials that will help better.

2576
01:12:26,212 --> 01:12:26,479
Understand the relationship

2577
01:12:26,479 --> 01:12:27,880
between.

2578
01:12:27,880 --> 01:12:29,880
Military exposures.

2579
01:12:29,916 --> 01:12:31,585
And lung cancer and what the

2580
01:12:31,585 --> 01:12:32,452
role of screening might be for

2581
01:12:32,452 --> 01:12:34,452
those veterans.

2582
01:12:35,689 --> 01:12:36,956
And these things are working

2583
01:12:36,956 --> 01:12:38,624
one veteran at a time.

2584
01:12:38,624 --> 01:12:39,892
People are talking to their

2585
01:12:39,892 --> 01:12:41,892
doctors getting screened.

2586
01:12:42,528 --> 01:12:43,796
Regaining trust in the va and

2587
01:12:43,796 --> 01:12:44,630
accessing the health care that

2588
01:12:44,630 --> 01:12:45,980
they.

2589
01:12:45,980 --> 01:12:47,980
Earned and deserve.

2590
01:12:47,533 --> 01:12:47,700
I want to acknowledge and thank

2591
01:12:47,700 --> 01:12:48,601
the.

2592
01:12:48,601 --> 01:12:49,680
Many veterans, community

2593
01:12:49,680 --> 01:12:50,703
partners.

2594
01:12:50,703 --> 01:12:52,138
And va staff who have helped.

2595
01:12:52,138 --> 01:12:54,730
Make this series of studies a

2596
01:12:54,730 --> 01:12:54,240
success as well as the support

2597
01:12:54,240 --> 01:12:55,441
of.

2598
01:12:55,441 --> 01:12:55,775
>> the city and the

2599
01:12:55,775 --> 01:12:57,643
commonwealth.

2600
01:12:57,643 --> 01:12:58,778
most importantly, I want to.

2601
01:12:58,778 --> 01:13:00,246
Thank the men and women

2602
01:13:00,246 --> 01:13:00,913
veterans who inspire our team

2603
01:13:00,913 --> 01:13:02,515
every day.

2604
01:13:02,515 --> 01:13:03,249
But there is still more work.

2605
01:13:03,249 --> 01:13:04,484
>> to do.

2606
01:13:04,484 --> 01:13:06,484
And we.

2607
01:13:06,619 --> 01:13:08,521
>> need the council and all

2608
01:13:08,521 --> 01:13:08,988
of your uh, help in these

2609
01:13:08,988 --> 01:13:10,988
efforts.

2610
01:13:11,425 --> 01:13:12,291
First, we hope you'll help us

2611
01:13:12,291 --> 01:13:13,426
to continue to build.

2612
01:13:13,426 --> 01:13:14,827
>> on this momentum.

2613
01:13:14,827 --> 01:13:16,296
The approaches that we've

2614
01:13:16,296 --> 01:13:17,530
developed are resonating with.

2615
01:13:17,530 --> 01:13:18,965
Boston veterans.

2616
01:13:18,965 --> 01:13:20,133
And let's continue to sustain

2617
01:13:20,133 --> 01:13:21,134
these partnerships and the.

2618
01:13:21,134 --> 01:13:22,769
Trust that we've built with.

2619
01:13:22,769 --> 01:13:23,102
Veterans and community

2620
01:13:23,102 --> 01:13:25,102
organizations.

2621
01:13:25,705 --> 01:13:26,939
And second, please help us to

2622
01:13:26,939 --> 01:13:28,775
continue to get the word out.

2623
01:13:28,775 --> 01:13:30,243
Partner with us to amplify

2624
01:13:30,243 --> 01:13:31,344
screening awareness through the

2625
01:13:31,344 --> 01:13:32,345
city's many channels.

2626
01:13:32,345 --> 01:13:34,345
>> and resources.

2627
01:13:34,781 --> 01:13:35,848
And then also as individuals

2628
01:13:35,848 --> 01:13:37,583
tell other veterans.

2629
01:13:37,583 --> 01:13:39,652
About lung cancer screening.

2630
01:13:39,652 --> 01:13:40,119
These one on one interactions

2631
01:13:40,119 --> 01:13:41,554
are.

2632
01:13:41,554 --> 01:13:43,456
Incredibly powerful and could

2633
01:13:43,456 --> 01:13:45,291
help save a veteran's life.

2634
01:13:45,291 --> 01:13:46,759
I can't think of a more

2635
01:13:46,759 --> 01:13:48,270
important goal than getting

2636
01:13:48,270 --> 01:13:49,195
veterans the screening and.

2637
01:13:49,195 --> 01:13:49,862
>> the health care that they

2638
01:13:49,862 --> 01:13:50,997
earned and deserve.

2639
01:13:50,997 --> 01:13:52,997
Especially black.

2640
01:13:53,320 --> 01:13:53,933
>> veterans and women veterans.

2641
01:13:53,933 --> 01:13:55,670
Who have.

2642
01:13:55,670 --> 01:13:57,670
>> been left behind.

2643
01:13:57,504 --> 01:13:57,737
That's not just my mission as a

2644
01:13:57,737 --> 01:13:58,204
doctor.

2645
01:13:58,204 --> 01:13:59,839
I really.

2646
01:13:59,839 --> 01:14:01,908
Believe that for all of us,

2647
01:14:01,908 --> 01:14:02,575
improving equity is a value we

2648
01:14:02,575 --> 01:14:04,210
all share.

2649
01:14:04,210 --> 01:14:05,678
And I'm honored to fight for

2650
01:14:05,678 --> 01:14:07,347
that and hope you'll continue

2651
01:14:07,347 --> 01:14:07,580
to work with us to achieve that

2652
01:14:07,580 --> 01:14:09,416
goal.

2653
01:14:09,416 --> 01:14:10,650
Thank you doctor.

2654
01:14:10,650 --> 01:14:12,118
Thank you for being here.

2655
01:14:12,118 --> 01:14:12,852
Thank you for the important

2656
01:14:12,852 --> 01:14:15,252
work you were doing.

2657
01:14:16,322 --> 01:14:19,425
Before I go to my colleagues to

2658
01:14:19,425 --> 01:14:22,929
ask questions um I do want to

2659
01:14:22,929 --> 01:14:24,998
go to public testimony and if

2660
01:14:24,998 --> 01:14:27,300
there is anyone here I know my

2661
01:14:27,300 --> 01:14:27,534
friend, um, donald mitchell is

2662
01:14:27,534 --> 01:14:29,534
here.

2663
01:14:29,569 --> 01:14:30,360
I believe he's an air force

2664
01:14:30,360 --> 01:14:32,360
veteran.

2665
01:14:32,272 --> 01:14:34,774
Uh, want to give him the the

2666
01:14:34,774 --> 01:14:36,442
opportunity to to speak and to

2667
01:14:36,442 --> 01:14:38,442
,testify?

2668
01:14:40,146 --> 01:14:41,715
Usually, donald, you got 2 or 3

2669
01:14:41,715 --> 01:14:42,549
minutes, but, uh, I don't cut

2670
01:14:42,549 --> 01:14:44,317
off any veteran.

2671
01:14:44,317 --> 01:14:45,785
A veteran thought a veteran

2672
01:14:45,785 --> 01:14:46,152
could speak as long as they

2673
01:14:46,152 --> 01:14:46,686
want you.

2674
01:14:46,686 --> 01:14:48,686
You've earned it.

2675
01:14:49,122 --> 01:14:50,990
I also want to acknowledge our

2676
01:14:50,990 --> 01:14:52,625
our friend that is not here.

2677
01:14:52,625 --> 01:14:54,727
I know he's been mentioned

2678
01:14:54,727 --> 01:14:57,127
heywood finnell a wonderful

2679
01:14:57,230 --> 01:14:58,665
advocate in the city um for for

2680
01:14:58,665 --> 01:14:59,566
veterans, military families,

2681
01:14:59,566 --> 01:15:01,566
veterans of color.

2682
01:15:01,601 --> 01:15:02,168
But donald um, would love to

2683
01:15:02,168 --> 01:15:04,168
hear your testimony.

2684
01:15:04,204 --> 01:15:06,273
Uh, my name is thomas you I'm

2685
01:15:06,273 --> 01:15:07,540
the PRESIDENT And ceo of don

2686
01:15:07,540 --> 01:15:09,800
foundation, which is a

2687
01:15:09,800 --> 01:15:11,800
nonprofit organization that

2688
01:15:13,713 --> 01:15:16,216
helps veterans to, uh, with the

2689
01:15:16,216 --> 01:15:19,319
resources that they need to get

2690
01:15:19,319 --> 01:15:20,186
housing, uh, a rent housing,

2691
01:15:20,186 --> 01:15:22,186
uh, furniture.

2692
01:15:22,755 --> 01:15:25,250
So, uh, certifications to help

2693
01:15:25,250 --> 01:15:26,459
them get jobs in the industry.

2694
01:15:26,459 --> 01:15:28,294
Uh, key to uh, key.

2695
01:15:28,294 --> 01:15:30,797
Problem with veterans or people

2696
01:15:30,797 --> 01:15:33,700
who are homeless is the fact

2697
01:15:33,700 --> 01:15:34,901
that they, uh, when come out

2698
01:15:34,901 --> 01:15:36,770
of incarceration or out there

2699
01:15:36,770 --> 01:15:40,370
they feel they you don't have

2700
01:15:41,708 --> 01:15:43,777
the the housing and employment

2701
01:15:43,777 --> 01:15:44,210
which is key to for their

2702
01:15:44,210 --> 01:15:45,645
salvation.

2703
01:15:45,645 --> 01:15:47,280
We help them out.

2704
01:15:47,280 --> 01:15:49,749
I organization will help them

2705
01:15:49,749 --> 01:15:52,252
out to uh find these resources

2706
01:15:52,252 --> 01:15:53,920
to to pay for some of these

2707
01:15:53,920 --> 01:15:56,320
things that they need.

2708
01:15:57,790 --> 01:15:58,225
Um um uh friends with my

2709
01:15:58,225 --> 01:16:00,225
brother here.

2710
01:16:00,660 --> 01:16:01,127
Uh, robert here we go back and

2711
01:16:01,127 --> 01:16:03,127
forth here.

2712
01:16:04,197 --> 01:16:05,465
Uh, cousin friend we just had a

2713
01:16:05,465 --> 01:16:07,133
roundtable veterans roundtable

2714
01:16:07,133 --> 01:16:08,869
,uh, obviously delivered.

2715
01:16:08,869 --> 01:16:10,937
Um, getting ready to prepare

2716
01:16:10,937 --> 01:16:13,173
for a stand down, uh, SEPTEMBER

2717
01:16:13,173 --> 01:16:16,276
11th so we could do free, uh,

2718
01:16:16,276 --> 01:16:18,145
resources, um, uh, and research

2719
01:16:18,145 --> 01:16:19,412
on what the veterans needs are

2720
01:16:19,412 --> 01:16:20,680
what their complaints are and

2721
01:16:20,680 --> 01:16:23,800
and and their concerns.

2722
01:16:23,717 --> 01:16:26,219
Um, we just sent, uh, through

2723
01:16:26,219 --> 01:16:27,687
just the, uh, roundtable we

2724
01:16:27,687 --> 01:16:30,687
just sent, uh, gentleman named

2725
01:16:30,757 --> 01:16:32,859
uh, brian mullen, uh, to one

2726
01:16:32,859 --> 01:16:35,762
of the partners that we met at

2727
01:16:35,762 --> 01:16:37,830
the uh, uh, roundtable and he's

2728
01:16:37,830 --> 01:16:40,533
been um, assisting because he's

2729
01:16:40,533 --> 01:16:42,200
had multiple uh, situations

2730
01:16:42,200 --> 01:16:44,838
that he's he's had problems.

2731
01:16:44,838 --> 01:16:45,705
So, our goal is to help our

2732
01:16:45,705 --> 01:16:47,705
veterans out.

2733
01:16:48,942 --> 01:16:52,542
Uh, I've been a, uh, veteran.

2734
01:16:52,812 --> 01:16:57,612
Uh, it was the um also on the

2735
01:16:57,751 --> 01:17:00,453
um uh uh retired uh local four

2736
01:17:00,453 --> 01:17:03,356
uh uh local four uh operator

2737
01:17:03,356 --> 01:17:05,625
and also uh within a half was

2738
01:17:05,625 --> 01:17:05,959
uh some uh civil engineering

2739
01:17:05,959 --> 01:17:07,959
construction.

2740
01:17:08,728 --> 01:17:11,631
So the construction part of it

2741
01:17:11,631 --> 01:17:13,333
is is part the other part of um

2742
01:17:13,333 --> 01:17:15,802
a company is called damage and

2743
01:17:15,802 --> 01:17:18,105
the soldiers uh llc, which

2744
01:17:18,105 --> 01:17:20,373
helps to find employment for

2745
01:17:20,373 --> 01:17:21,675
those, uh, people who who work

2746
01:17:21,675 --> 01:17:24,750
who needs, uh, plumbing.

2747
01:17:24,111 --> 01:17:24,778
So we'll be working there to

2748
01:17:24,778 --> 01:17:26,778
try to find.

2749
01:17:27,414 --> 01:17:30,117
The resources with these uh, uh

2750
01:17:30,117 --> 01:17:31,185
,veterans, uh, who want to uh,

2751
01:17:31,185 --> 01:17:33,585
I'm aware of uh.

2752
01:17:33,587 --> 01:17:35,587
Um.

2753
01:17:38,692 --> 01:17:40,160
Cosmo flynn and san diego um,

2754
01:17:40,160 --> 01:17:42,620
just coming to get involved and

2755
01:17:42,620 --> 01:17:44,970
I think I know mr kennedy.

2756
01:17:44,970 --> 01:17:45,665
We met uh, come to us.

2757
01:17:45,665 --> 01:17:47,568
>> so I going to be contacting

2758
01:17:47,568 --> 01:17:49,469
you in the future to try to

2759
01:17:49,469 --> 01:17:50,537
figure out how we could further

2760
01:17:50,537 --> 01:17:53,600
help our veterans on out.

2761
01:17:53,600 --> 01:17:53,406
Thank you.

2762
01:17:53,406 --> 01:17:55,406
Donald.

2763
01:17:55,642 --> 01:17:57,878
Thank you for being here.

2764
01:17:57,878 --> 01:17:58,945
Thank you for your testimony

2765
01:17:58,945 --> 01:18:01,815
and thank you for your

2766
01:18:01,815 --> 01:18:04,215
commitment to, um, supporting

2767
01:18:04,718 --> 01:18:05,152
veterans across our across our

2768
01:18:05,152 --> 01:18:07,152
commonwealth.

2769
01:18:07,821 --> 01:18:08,255
Um, I'm going to go to my

2770
01:18:08,255 --> 01:18:09,690
colleagues.

2771
01:18:09,690 --> 01:18:10,691
I'm going to start with

2772
01:18:10,691 --> 01:18:11,125
councilor murphy then go to

2773
01:18:11,125 --> 01:18:12,859
council fitzgerald.

2774
01:18:12,859 --> 01:18:14,127
I'm going to give each

2775
01:18:14,127 --> 01:18:16,527
councilor uh, maybe ten

2776
01:18:16,630 --> 01:18:18,465
minutes, um, to ask questions.

2777
01:18:18,465 --> 01:18:20,367
I know there's a lot of people

2778
01:18:20,367 --> 01:18:23,370
on the panel that might want to

2779
01:18:23,370 --> 01:18:24,105
weigh in to so um, if the

2780
01:18:24,105 --> 01:18:25,172
council goes over ten minutes,

2781
01:18:25,172 --> 01:18:26,974
that's that's fine.

2782
01:18:26,974 --> 01:18:28,750
We'll, um we'll just continue

2783
01:18:28,750 --> 01:18:29,176
the conversation.

2784
01:18:29,176 --> 01:18:29,676
Councilor murphy europe.

2785
01:18:29,676 --> 01:18:31,676
Thank you.

2786
01:18:32,145 --> 01:18:33,747
>> thank you for your.

2787
01:18:33,747 --> 01:18:35,747
Testimony, everyone.

2788
01:18:36,416 --> 01:18:40,160
One of the things I kept

2789
01:18:40,320 --> 01:18:40,687
hearing from all of you is the

2790
01:18:40,687 --> 01:18:41,321
screening.

2791
01:18:41,321 --> 01:18:43,190
>> and the.

2792
01:18:43,190 --> 01:18:43,924
Statistics are trending in.

2793
01:18:43,924 --> 01:18:44,325
>> a good way.

2794
01:18:44,325 --> 01:18:46,325
We are.

2795
01:18:46,593 --> 01:18:47,661
Fortunate to live here where we

2796
01:18:47,661 --> 01:18:49,950
have such great health care.

2797
01:18:49,950 --> 01:18:49,763
But at the same time, even

2798
01:18:49,763 --> 01:18:50,497
though nationally.

2799
01:18:50,497 --> 01:18:52,497
Our numbers MAY.

2800
01:18:52,733 --> 01:18:55,235
look good when we zone in on

2801
01:18:55,235 --> 01:18:56,703
you know, boston the state you

2802
01:18:56,703 --> 01:18:58,703
know specifically.

2803
01:18:59,139 --> 01:19:00,607
That we're still seeing that

2804
01:19:00,607 --> 01:19:02,910
more black women and men are

2805
01:19:02,910 --> 01:19:03,343
just not getting the care they

2806
01:19:03,343 --> 01:19:05,343
need.

2807
01:19:06,413 --> 01:19:07,448
So how do we make sure that you

2808
01:19:07,448 --> 01:19:09,549
know, because without the

2809
01:19:09,549 --> 01:19:11,418
screening they're not going to

2810
01:19:11,418 --> 01:19:12,860
get the support the health

2811
01:19:12,860 --> 01:19:13,720
support they need.

2812
01:19:13,720 --> 01:19:15,355
So what.

2813
01:19:15,355 --> 01:19:16,590
What should we do?

2814
01:19:16,590 --> 01:19:18,580
What can.

2815
01:19:18,580 --> 01:19:18,392
>> we do not just as a

2816
01:19:18,392 --> 01:19:20,160
council just.

2817
01:19:20,160 --> 01:19:22,229
>> as a city like to make sure

2818
01:19:22,229 --> 01:19:24,665
and as a medical doctor like.

2819
01:19:24,665 --> 01:19:26,665
Do you.

2820
01:19:27,701 --> 01:19:28,902
Do enough do you think to make

2821
01:19:28,902 --> 01:19:29,336
sure that you don't have to.

2822
01:19:29,336 --> 01:19:30,971
>> ask.

2823
01:19:30,971 --> 01:19:32,773
For it right that if a.

2824
01:19:32,773 --> 01:19:34,441
Doctor knows while you were in.

2825
01:19:34,441 --> 01:19:35,876
The navy we know you were on

2826
01:19:35,876 --> 01:19:37,345
the ship, you were in the

2827
01:19:37,345 --> 01:19:39,120
military, you probably were

2828
01:19:39,120 --> 01:19:41,315
exposed because many times

2829
01:19:41,315 --> 01:19:42,182
people you know aren't aware to

2830
01:19:42,182 --> 01:19:42,616
even ask for.

2831
01:19:42,616 --> 01:19:43,851
>> the.

2832
01:19:43,851 --> 01:19:45,152
Help and obviously you've said

2833
01:19:45,152 --> 01:19:45,519
it yourself and others saying

2834
01:19:45,519 --> 01:19:47,519
that too.

2835
01:19:48,155 --> 01:19:49,857
So what can we do from you

2836
01:19:49,857 --> 01:19:52,359
know, the medical side but also

2837
01:19:52,359 --> 01:19:54,428
all of you who are advocating

2838
01:19:54,428 --> 01:19:55,295
and working alongside our

2839
01:19:55,295 --> 01:19:57,295
veterans every day.

2840
01:20:00,768 --> 01:20:02,768
I'll say from.

2841
01:20:02,836 --> 01:20:05,836
The uh the medical standpoint

2842
01:20:05,906 --> 01:20:06,373
at the va we have implemented

2843
01:20:06,373 --> 01:20:07,774
um.

2844
01:20:07,774 --> 01:20:09,774
Systems to.

2845
01:20:10,410 --> 01:20:12,713
Help doctors on the front line

2846
01:20:12,713 --> 01:20:13,781
identify when um, the veterans

2847
01:20:13,781 --> 01:20:15,150
that they're seeing or.

2848
01:20:15,150 --> 01:20:17,451
Eligible for a lung cancer.

2849
01:20:17,451 --> 01:20:18,719
Screening and flag them to

2850
01:20:18,719 --> 01:20:19,386
remind them to make sure that

2851
01:20:19,386 --> 01:20:21,386
they offer it.

2852
01:20:21,421 --> 01:20:23,490
And I know that's the case and

2853
01:20:23,490 --> 01:20:25,392
um, in many health care

2854
01:20:25,392 --> 01:20:25,826
settings outside of the va as

2855
01:20:25,826 --> 01:20:27,826
well.

2856
01:20:30,970 --> 01:20:33,970
Um, that said, uh especially

2857
01:20:33,600 --> 01:20:36,503
primary care um, clinicians who

2858
01:20:36,503 --> 01:20:37,971
are handling so many issues um,

2859
01:20:37,971 --> 01:20:39,440
in a brief visit sometimes they

2860
01:20:39,440 --> 01:20:41,840
don't get to it.

2861
01:20:43,760 --> 01:20:45,579
So um I think it is also

2862
01:20:45,579 --> 01:20:47,470
important um, to raise

2863
01:20:47,470 --> 01:20:47,281
awareness uh, among the.

2864
01:20:47,281 --> 01:20:49,281
Public.

2865
01:20:49,516 --> 01:20:50,885
>> um, about lung

2866
01:20:50,885 --> 01:20:53,285
cancer screening and and

2867
01:20:54,210 --> 01:20:55,289
empower uh, folks to ask their

2868
01:20:55,289 --> 01:20:57,289
doctors about it.

2869
01:20:57,524 --> 01:20:59,393
Most insurance not cover it if

2870
01:20:59,393 --> 01:21:00,661
you don't qualify because when

2871
01:21:00,661 --> 01:21:02,129
you say qualify would the

2872
01:21:02,129 --> 01:21:04,431
doctor have to kind of say you

2873
01:21:04,431 --> 01:21:06,300
you smoke or there's reasons to

2874
01:21:06,300 --> 01:21:07,201
believe it it wouldn't

2875
01:21:07,201 --> 01:21:08,680
automatically be covered if a

2876
01:21:08,680 --> 01:21:10,680
doctor referred it.

2877
01:21:12,506 --> 01:21:12,773
So uh, insurance companies do

2878
01:21:12,773 --> 01:21:14,773
cover.

2879
01:21:15,642 --> 01:21:15,943
>> for people who meet uspstf

2880
01:21:15,943 --> 01:21:17,711
eligibility.

2881
01:21:17,711 --> 01:21:19,580
Criteria and there's no charge

2882
01:21:19,580 --> 01:21:20,447
for that and that's inside

2883
01:21:20,447 --> 01:21:22,847
outside the va system.

2884
01:21:24,518 --> 01:21:26,987
Um, but as mr kennedy alluded

2885
01:21:26,987 --> 01:21:29,490
to, uh, those criteria don't

2886
01:21:29,490 --> 01:21:30,958
catch everybody, um, who could

2887
01:21:30,958 --> 01:21:32,393
benefit from screening.

2888
01:21:32,393 --> 01:21:33,861
That's one of the things that

2889
01:21:33,861 --> 01:21:34,950
we are studying in that trial

2890
01:21:34,950 --> 01:21:34,595
that.

2891
01:21:34,595 --> 01:21:36,595
I mentioned.

2892
01:21:37,998 --> 01:21:40,660
We are doing precision uh, um,

2893
01:21:40,660 --> 01:21:40,934
approaches to predict who would

2894
01:21:40,934 --> 01:21:41,735
benefit from.

2895
01:21:41,735 --> 01:21:41,969
Screening.

2896
01:21:41,969 --> 01:21:43,300
.

2897
01:21:43,300 --> 01:21:45,105
Including people who fall

2898
01:21:45,105 --> 01:21:46,573
outside of the us preventive

2899
01:21:46,573 --> 01:21:48,475
services task force criteria

2900
01:21:48,475 --> 01:21:48,942
and offering screening to those

2901
01:21:48,942 --> 01:21:50,942
veterans.

2902
01:21:51,779 --> 01:21:54,150
Um, that's a clinical trial.

2903
01:21:54,150 --> 01:21:55,883
So it's not, you know, for

2904
01:21:55,883 --> 01:21:57,985
everybody but uh, hopefully we

2905
01:21:57,985 --> 01:21:59,653
will be able to reach uh

2906
01:21:59,653 --> 01:22:01,755
veterans in uh va boston as

2907
01:22:01,755 --> 01:22:04,458
well as the 27 other va sites

2908
01:22:04,458 --> 01:22:04,725
that are participating in that

2909
01:22:04,725 --> 01:22:05,326
trial.

2910
01:22:05,326 --> 01:22:07,326
Thank you.

2911
01:22:07,761 --> 01:22:09,761
Um.

2912
01:22:10,197 --> 01:22:11,865
I don't have any other really

2913
01:22:11,865 --> 01:22:14,265
specific questions other than.

2914
01:22:14,735 --> 01:22:16,203
You know, it was said people

2915
01:22:16,203 --> 01:22:17,471
just don't always know that

2916
01:22:17,471 --> 01:22:18,439
there are services out there

2917
01:22:18,439 --> 01:22:20,908
and how do we connect them.

2918
01:22:20,908 --> 01:22:22,943
And it's never at a loss of.

2919
01:22:22,943 --> 01:22:24,778
Hard work and.

2920
01:22:24,778 --> 01:22:26,130
Advocacy from your commission.

2921
01:22:26,130 --> 01:22:27,481
It happens I think.

2922
01:22:27,481 --> 01:22:29,150
For every department across the

2923
01:22:29,150 --> 01:22:30,510
city we often hear like well

2924
01:22:30,510 --> 01:22:32,286
how do I get that fixed?

2925
01:22:32,286 --> 01:22:33,387
Who should I have called or so.

2926
01:22:33,387 --> 01:22:35,222
Do you.

2927
01:22:35,222 --> 01:22:37,157
>> um is.

2928
01:22:37,157 --> 01:22:37,792
>> there some sort of like ad.

2929
01:22:37,792 --> 01:22:38,792
>> or.

2930
01:22:38,792 --> 01:22:40,792
Campaign or support?

2931
01:22:41,280 --> 01:22:44,131
Uh, you know, thinking of the

2932
01:22:44,131 --> 01:22:46,835
city level how to support our

2933
01:22:46,835 --> 01:22:49,835
veterans and advocate that way?

2934
01:22:50,104 --> 01:22:51,839
Um, I think one of the.

2935
01:22:51,839 --> 01:22:54,750
Uh, quickest way that we could.

2936
01:22:54,750 --> 01:22:55,743
Uh, collectively as a as a city

2937
01:22:55,743 --> 01:22:56,811
do it is to continue

2938
01:22:56,811 --> 01:22:59,113
partnership with the boston

2939
01:22:59,113 --> 01:23:00,781
health uh commission with

2940
01:23:00,781 --> 01:23:01,549
strong uh with the office

2941
01:23:01,549 --> 01:23:03,549
of neighborhood services.

2942
01:23:03,585 --> 01:23:05,486
So basically pretty much um the

2943
01:23:05,486 --> 01:23:07,354
village here in the city

2944
01:23:07,354 --> 01:23:09,560
of boston municipality to to

2945
01:23:09,560 --> 01:23:10,325
get together when we do go out

2946
01:23:10,325 --> 01:23:11,792
into the community and talk to

2947
01:23:11,792 --> 01:23:12,860
not just our veterans but our

2948
01:23:12,860 --> 01:23:13,728
veterans families, our

2949
01:23:13,728 --> 01:23:15,596
community members, our

2950
01:23:15,596 --> 01:23:17,980
community leaders it's just the

2951
01:23:17,980 --> 01:23:20,000
biggest thing that sometimes I

2952
01:23:20,000 --> 01:23:21,669
see is that, um, they see one

2953
01:23:21,669 --> 01:23:23,771
of our events that is just for

2954
01:23:23,771 --> 01:23:24,380
veterans but it's open to

2955
01:23:24,380 --> 01:23:25,874
everybody.

2956
01:23:25,874 --> 01:23:26,600
Is open to the whole community

2957
01:23:26,600 --> 01:23:27,375
.

2958
01:23:27,375 --> 01:23:27,642
>> is open to even to somebody

2959
01:23:27,642 --> 01:23:29,143
who.

2960
01:23:29,143 --> 01:23:29,510
Who MAY not even live in

2961
01:23:29,510 --> 01:23:30,245
boston, who.

2962
01:23:30,245 --> 01:23:30,678
>> could just be in.

2963
01:23:30,678 --> 01:23:32,246
>> the.

2964
01:23:32,246 --> 01:23:33,615
Area to come by and go to to to

2965
01:23:33,615 --> 01:23:34,682
the fair and expo that we had

2966
01:23:34,682 --> 01:23:36,751
according park this past

2967
01:23:36,751 --> 01:23:37,819
weekend and see what's

2968
01:23:37,819 --> 01:23:38,686
available to our veterans, see

2969
01:23:38,686 --> 01:23:40,154
what's available to the

2970
01:23:40,154 --> 01:23:41,220
community as well and that's

2971
01:23:41,220 --> 01:23:42,490
information that they could

2972
01:23:42,490 --> 01:23:44,358
pass on to someone who they MAY

2973
01:23:44,358 --> 01:23:46,270
know who's a veteran or someone

2974
01:23:46,270 --> 01:23:48,329
who they MAY know is uh is a

2975
01:23:48,329 --> 01:23:48,763
son of a veteran or a daughter

2976
01:23:48,763 --> 01:23:50,763
of veteran.

2977
01:23:51,832 --> 01:23:53,701
So um, all these events all

2978
01:23:53,701 --> 01:23:55,770
these uh, communications that

2979
01:23:55,770 --> 01:23:56,137
we MAY have or leaflets they

2980
01:23:56,137 --> 01:23:56,471
while.

2981
01:23:56,471 --> 01:23:58,500
From my.

2982
01:23:58,500 --> 01:23:59,273
>> office they MAY be geared to

2983
01:23:59,273 --> 01:24:00,975
veterans but actually they're

2984
01:24:00,975 --> 01:24:02,843
for everybody because everyone

2985
01:24:02,843 --> 01:24:03,911
should know a veteran or knows

2986
01:24:03,911 --> 01:24:05,179
somebody who knows a veteran

2987
01:24:05,179 --> 01:24:06,280
who has a person in their

2988
01:24:06,280 --> 01:24:07,150
family who was a veteran that

2989
01:24:07,150 --> 01:24:07,481
they could pass that

2990
01:24:07,481 --> 01:24:09,481
information onto.

2991
01:24:09,517 --> 01:24:10,785
So you know what I implore

2992
01:24:10,785 --> 01:24:13,254
people who MAY be listening who

2993
01:24:13,254 --> 01:24:15,956
who MAY be watching uh, to

2994
01:24:15,956 --> 01:24:17,425
understand is that read these

2995
01:24:17,425 --> 01:24:19,493
informations, come to our

2996
01:24:19,493 --> 01:24:22,230
events, be a part of our event

2997
01:24:22,230 --> 01:24:23,297
because it is for the benefit

2998
01:24:23,297 --> 01:24:25,533
of the whole community.

2999
01:24:25,533 --> 01:24:26,801
Um and part of that community

3000
01:24:26,801 --> 01:24:28,690
is our veterans because

3001
01:24:28,690 --> 01:24:29,360
veterans do cover all

3002
01:24:29,360 --> 01:24:30,504
demographics here in the city

3003
01:24:30,504 --> 01:24:30,771
of boston and we all in our

3004
01:24:30,771 --> 01:24:32,771
community.

3005
01:24:33,700 --> 01:24:35,710
So I think that um

3006
01:24:35,710 --> 01:24:36,977
communicating this to to to

3007
01:24:36,977 --> 01:24:37,612
everyone in the city and beyond

3008
01:24:37,612 --> 01:24:39,612
is very important.

3009
01:24:41,482 --> 01:24:44,185
I take the one of the uh,

3010
01:24:44,185 --> 01:24:46,200
things that um, we must do is

3011
01:24:46,200 --> 01:24:48,923
is to safeguard the resources

3012
01:24:48,923 --> 01:24:50,791
that that uh that comes in the

3013
01:24:50,791 --> 01:24:53,191
veterans uh, um, budget.

3014
01:24:53,861 --> 01:24:56,861
Um, we're being cut because

3015
01:24:57,331 --> 01:24:59,634
of ways and and we also we

3016
01:24:59,634 --> 01:25:02,136
really help them uh, funding to

3017
01:25:02,136 --> 01:25:03,604
do their research uh, the

3018
01:25:03,604 --> 01:25:04,872
policies funding to do what

3019
01:25:04,872 --> 01:25:06,741
they have to do boston helps

3020
01:25:06,741 --> 01:25:09,644
us, which is to do what the

3021
01:25:09,644 --> 01:25:10,878
city would be if if if you see.

3022
01:25:10,878 --> 01:25:12,790
Uh.

3023
01:25:12,790 --> 01:25:13,581
>> including the federal

3024
01:25:13,581 --> 01:25:14,882
government giving all these

3025
01:25:14,882 --> 01:25:16,551
cuts and everything are they we

3026
01:25:16,551 --> 01:25:18,219
need to safeguard our funding

3027
01:25:18,219 --> 01:25:19,888
that goes into our veterans,

3028
01:25:19,888 --> 01:25:21,155
uh, pool and make sure these

3029
01:25:21,155 --> 01:25:22,623
individuals get the resources

3030
01:25:22,623 --> 01:25:23,591
that they need to do the work

3031
01:25:23,591 --> 01:25:24,325
that they need to do.

3032
01:25:24,325 --> 01:25:26,260
Thank you.

3033
01:25:26,260 --> 01:25:27,929
>> um, I was going to mention

3034
01:25:27,929 --> 01:25:29,230
that too when we were going

3035
01:25:29,230 --> 01:25:31,532
through the budget cycle, the

3036
01:25:31,532 --> 01:25:32,366
fire department who many of the

3037
01:25:32,366 --> 01:25:34,200
members are veterans.

3038
01:25:34,200 --> 01:25:36,200
Did not.

3039
01:25:36,437 --> 01:25:38,105
>> receive that $1.2 million

3040
01:25:38,105 --> 01:25:40,408
grant and many much of that

3041
01:25:40,408 --> 01:25:41,442
grant was directly related to

3042
01:25:41,442 --> 01:25:41,909
screening and health care

3043
01:25:41,909 --> 01:25:43,909
support.

3044
01:25:44,145 --> 01:25:45,212
So it is important and if we

3045
01:25:45,212 --> 01:25:47,115
see that we're losing federal

3046
01:25:47,115 --> 01:25:47,615
state grants like how do we on

3047
01:25:47,615 --> 01:25:49,117
the council shift?

3048
01:25:49,117 --> 01:25:50,185
I know that we work closely

3049
01:25:50,185 --> 01:25:52,530
with your department to make

3050
01:25:52,530 --> 01:25:53,955
sure we're not losing any money

3051
01:25:53,955 --> 01:25:54,789
and if any way we can add more

3052
01:25:54,789 --> 01:25:56,789
to your department.

3053
01:25:56,825 --> 01:25:57,258
But thank thank you just.

3054
01:25:57,258 --> 01:25:58,592
>> all.

3055
01:25:58,592 --> 01:26:01,496
For being here and advocating

3056
01:26:01,496 --> 01:26:02,964
and just know I'm a support and

3057
01:26:02,964 --> 01:26:04,320
resource any way I can help

3058
01:26:04,320 --> 01:26:05,466
more than I am.

3059
01:26:05,466 --> 01:26:07,402
I'd love to thank you.

3060
01:26:07,402 --> 01:26:09,802
Thank you councilor murphy.

3061
01:26:11,472 --> 01:26:13,675
At this time I'm going to go to

3062
01:26:13,675 --> 01:26:14,642
council fitzgerald

3063
01:26:14,642 --> 01:26:15,760
councilor fitzgerald, you have

3064
01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:16,310
ten minutes.

3065
01:26:16,310 --> 01:26:17,512
Thank you CHAIRMAN.

3066
01:26:17,512 --> 01:26:18,346
I appreciate it.

3067
01:26:18,346 --> 01:26:20,346
Um.

3068
01:26:20,982 --> 01:26:22,583
>> so thank you all.

3069
01:26:22,583 --> 01:26:24,218
Uh, for the testimony as I was.

3070
01:26:24,218 --> 01:26:26,421
Sort of listening to everybody

3071
01:26:26,421 --> 01:26:26,621
I was writing down, uh, you

3072
01:26:26,621 --> 01:26:27,121
know.

3073
01:26:27,121 --> 01:26:27,922
The data is the.

3074
01:26:27,922 --> 01:26:28,956
Data, right?

3075
01:26:28,956 --> 01:26:29,691
And when so we.

3076
01:26:29,691 --> 01:26:31,726
Know that what we're.

3077
01:26:31,726 --> 01:26:31,927
Focusing on here today is an

3078
01:26:31,927 --> 01:26:33,270
issue.

3079
01:26:33,270 --> 01:26:34,128
>> and that's not being told

3080
01:26:34,128 --> 01:26:34,295
that that is being told to us

3081
01:26:34,295 --> 01:26:35,396
by.

3082
01:26:35,396 --> 01:26:36,364
Boots on the ground but also

3083
01:26:36,364 --> 01:26:36,665
through the data that we're

3084
01:26:36,665 --> 01:26:38,466
collecting.

3085
01:26:38,466 --> 01:26:39,000
And so I was trying to.

3086
01:26:39,000 --> 01:26:40,168
Think of.

3087
01:26:40,168 --> 01:26:41,402
>> uh, you know, what is the.

3088
01:26:41,402 --> 01:26:43,402
The number one.

3089
01:26:44,439 --> 01:26:44,907
Source of why this discrepancy

3090
01:26:44,907 --> 01:26:46,307
exists?

3091
01:26:46,307 --> 01:26:46,974
I'll refer to lung cancer at

3092
01:26:46,974 --> 01:26:47,675
the moment among.

3093
01:26:47,675 --> 01:26:49,675
Among black veterans.

3094
01:26:49,845 --> 01:26:50,478
And you know, I started writing

3095
01:26:50,478 --> 01:26:52,180
down a list of what.

3096
01:26:52,180 --> 01:26:53,470
>> I think could act right just

3097
01:26:53,470 --> 01:26:54,282
and I'm no doctor.

3098
01:26:54,282 --> 01:26:55,490
So you guys this is why you

3099
01:26:55,490 --> 01:26:57,118
guys are here, right?

3100
01:26:57,118 --> 01:26:59,587
but I was like there's either

3101
01:26:59,587 --> 01:27:00,255
genetics, there's education and

3102
01:27:00,255 --> 01:27:02,255
awareness about it.

3103
01:27:02,690 --> 01:27:04,158
There is the insurance, there

3104
01:27:04,158 --> 01:27:05,159
is your personal lifestyle that

3105
01:27:05,159 --> 01:27:06,260
can affect it.

3106
01:27:06,260 --> 01:27:07,562
There's the work lifestyle such

3107
01:27:07,562 --> 01:27:08,290
as where you might be where you

3108
01:27:08,290 --> 01:27:10,290
might have served.

3109
01:27:10,698 --> 01:27:12,367
Um and I added navigating the

3110
01:27:12,367 --> 01:27:13,835
system and because from uh what

3111
01:27:13,835 --> 01:27:15,704
I heard from this panel too is

3112
01:27:15,704 --> 01:27:15,970
that just navigating the system

3113
01:27:15,970 --> 01:27:17,970
um.

3114
01:27:18,607 --> 01:27:20,675
Like of all the things what do

3115
01:27:20,675 --> 01:27:22,143
we think of that sort of list

3116
01:27:22,143 --> 01:27:24,412
might be like if we were to

3117
01:27:24,412 --> 01:27:26,247
hone in on what would have the.

3118
01:27:26,247 --> 01:27:27,348
Biggest impact and there MAY be

3119
01:27:27,348 --> 01:27:27,582
others that I could add to

3120
01:27:27,582 --> 01:27:29,582
this.

3121
01:27:30,451 --> 01:27:32,687
List, but what would be the.

3122
01:27:32,687 --> 01:27:33,855
The area that we would say is

3123
01:27:33,855 --> 01:27:35,290
is it you know, hey.

3124
01:27:35,290 --> 01:27:35,657
>> if we collected insurance a

3125
01:27:35,657 --> 01:27:36,858
lot more.

3126
01:27:36,858 --> 01:27:39,160
People would be covered and we

3127
01:27:39,160 --> 01:27:40,628
could identify more early or is

3128
01:27:40,628 --> 01:27:41,496
it hey is it the education

3129
01:27:41,496 --> 01:27:42,563
awareness and getting.

3130
01:27:42,563 --> 01:27:42,797
And I know it's a mixture

3131
01:27:42,797 --> 01:27:44,566
of all.

3132
01:27:44,566 --> 01:27:45,900
Right but what what I'm asking

3133
01:27:45,900 --> 01:27:47,802
is if we were to prioritize it

3134
01:27:47,802 --> 01:27:50,710
right um you can't do much

3135
01:27:50,710 --> 01:27:50,238
about genetics uh, you know,

3136
01:27:50,238 --> 01:27:51,639
the.

3137
01:27:51,639 --> 01:27:53,308
Work lifestyle that's already

3138
01:27:53,308 --> 01:27:53,575
occurred right in black

3139
01:27:53,575 --> 01:27:55,210
veterans.

3140
01:27:55,210 --> 01:27:56,111
And so how do we know where we

3141
01:27:56,111 --> 01:27:56,311
can place people in the future?

3142
01:27:56,311 --> 01:27:56,878
Sure.

3143
01:27:56,878 --> 01:27:58,313
>> it might.

3144
01:27:58,313 --> 01:27:58,546
>> help future generations but

3145
01:27:58,546 --> 01:28:00,546
um.

3146
01:28:00,582 --> 01:28:02,217
Uh, that just knowing.

3147
01:28:02,217 --> 01:28:03,285
Where they are and making sure

3148
01:28:03,285 --> 01:28:05,685
that certain benefits are

3149
01:28:05,988 --> 01:28:07,288
available to them um, and then

3150
01:28:07,288 --> 01:28:09,758
and then helping navigate the

3151
01:28:09,758 --> 01:28:13,261
system I think that's in in any

3152
01:28:13,261 --> 01:28:15,330
sort of large, um, you know,

3153
01:28:15,330 --> 01:28:17,198
heavy paperwork type of setting

3154
01:28:17,198 --> 01:28:18,199
I mean car insurance, health

3155
01:28:18,199 --> 01:28:18,533
insurance, whatever it MAY be.

3156
01:28:18,533 --> 01:28:19,835
Right?

3157
01:28:19,835 --> 01:28:21,336
I think we all have trouble

3158
01:28:21,336 --> 01:28:22,570
nabbing people walk into this

3159
01:28:22,570 --> 01:28:24,873
building and the first thing

3160
01:28:24,873 --> 01:28:25,307
they usually say is I'm here to

3161
01:28:25,307 --> 01:28:26,141
help me.

3162
01:28:26,141 --> 01:28:26,775
Navigate city hall.

3163
01:28:26,775 --> 01:28:27,750
Where do I go?

3164
01:28:27,750 --> 01:28:28,410
Right.

3165
01:28:28,410 --> 01:28:28,676
Who do I talk to for this

3166
01:28:28,676 --> 01:28:30,676
issue?

3167
01:28:30,712 --> 01:28:31,179
So um I think that's important

3168
01:28:31,179 --> 01:28:33,179
one but.

3169
01:28:33,648 --> 01:28:34,949
Just trying to hone in because

3170
01:28:34,949 --> 01:28:35,150
I feel like if you extrapolated

3171
01:28:35,150 --> 01:28:36,785
out.

3172
01:28:36,785 --> 01:28:38,253
Outside of veterans to that the

3173
01:28:38,253 --> 01:28:38,520
data probably correlates right

3174
01:28:38,520 --> 01:28:40,520
.

3175
01:28:40,755 --> 01:28:41,823
Uh, that that uh, lung

3176
01:28:41,823 --> 01:28:43,292
cancer among black individuals

3177
01:28:43,292 --> 01:28:44,159
is also probably higher than

3178
01:28:44,159 --> 01:28:45,894
white counterparts.

3179
01:28:45,894 --> 01:28:47,228
And so that's what got me.

3180
01:28:47,228 --> 01:28:49,497
Thinking to the other things

3181
01:28:49,497 --> 01:28:49,765
of like well if we help one we

3182
01:28:49,765 --> 01:28:50,531
can.

3183
01:28:50,531 --> 01:28:50,799
Help the veterans.

3184
01:28:50,799 --> 01:28:51,433
If we.

3185
01:28:51,433 --> 01:28:53,268
Help the larger.

3186
01:28:53,268 --> 01:28:53,535
Continuum then we can help the

3187
01:28:53,535 --> 01:28:55,360
veterans.

3188
01:28:55,360 --> 01:28:56,104
But at the same time, what can

3189
01:28:56,104 --> 01:28:57,172
we learn from helping the

3190
01:28:57,172 --> 01:28:59,240
veterans that can educate us

3191
01:28:59,240 --> 01:28:59,708
that we can bring it out to the

3192
01:28:59,708 --> 01:29:00,800
larger continuum?

3193
01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:01,609
Right.

3194
01:29:01,609 --> 01:29:03,578
Um.

3195
01:29:03,578 --> 01:29:04,746
>> that you know, a lot of you

3196
01:29:04,746 --> 01:29:05,613
guys spoke on this but I guess

3197
01:29:05,613 --> 01:29:07,480
what I sort of.

3198
01:29:07,480 --> 01:29:09,840
Uh, is wondering is if.

3199
01:29:09,840 --> 01:29:10,218
We were to hone in, right?

3200
01:29:10,218 --> 01:29:11,686
because government gets pulled

3201
01:29:11,686 --> 01:29:13,550
in a lot of different ways and

3202
01:29:13,550 --> 01:29:14,122
we'd love to hone in on every

3203
01:29:14,122 --> 01:29:15,790
single one of these and but

3204
01:29:15,790 --> 01:29:16,858
that would be all day every day

3205
01:29:16,858 --> 01:29:17,826
and there's a lot of other

3206
01:29:17,826 --> 01:29:18,460
people asking for our help.

3207
01:29:18,460 --> 01:29:19,995
.

3208
01:29:19,995 --> 01:29:21,620
>> if we could hone in, what

3209
01:29:21,620 --> 01:29:23,620
would you think.

3210
01:29:23,898 --> 01:29:26,167
Would be the the best parameter

3211
01:29:26,167 --> 01:29:26,435
to sort of say let's solve this

3212
01:29:26,435 --> 01:29:28,435
one.

3213
01:29:28,671 --> 01:29:29,938
Let's solve education awareness

3214
01:29:29,938 --> 01:29:30,672
and put the money towards that

3215
01:29:30,672 --> 01:29:30,872
and put our effort towards

3216
01:29:30,872 --> 01:29:31,573
that.

3217
01:29:31,573 --> 01:29:33,408
Let's let's.

3218
01:29:33,408 --> 01:29:34,910
Tackle insurance and make sure

3219
01:29:34,910 --> 01:29:36,110
I think insurance is a sham

3220
01:29:36,110 --> 01:29:37,279
anyway I don't know how you got

3221
01:29:37,279 --> 01:29:38,580
you guys are the doctors but

3222
01:29:38,580 --> 01:29:40,480
just from a guy on the outside

3223
01:29:40,480 --> 01:29:41,316
the layman's person I think

3224
01:29:41,316 --> 01:29:41,883
that's the biggest thing we got

3225
01:29:41,883 --> 01:29:43,618
to tackle next.

3226
01:29:43,618 --> 01:29:44,486
But um, you know.

3227
01:29:44,486 --> 01:29:45,720
>> is it making sure.

3228
01:29:45,720 --> 01:29:47,622
>> the system is more

3229
01:29:47,622 --> 01:29:49,491
streamlined or at least more um

3230
01:29:49,491 --> 01:29:50,250
,you know that you.

3231
01:29:50,250 --> 01:29:51,159
>> can.

3232
01:29:51,159 --> 01:29:53,128
Work with it easier to

3233
01:29:53,128 --> 01:29:54,429
understand um I don't know.

3234
01:29:54,429 --> 01:29:55,230
>> so I put I put that all to

3235
01:29:55,230 --> 01:29:56,265
you guys and say if.

3236
01:29:56,265 --> 01:29:56,898
>> you had to prioritize.

3237
01:29:56,898 --> 01:29:58,733
What would you.

3238
01:29:58,733 --> 01:30:00,769
Think would be the the most.

3239
01:30:00,769 --> 01:30:03,169
Impactful one to attack?

3240
01:30:05,390 --> 01:30:05,273
And we could all have different

3241
01:30:05,273 --> 01:30:06,908
answers.

3242
01:30:06,908 --> 01:30:07,175
I'm sort of just wondering from

3243
01:30:07,175 --> 01:30:07,809
personal.

3244
01:30:07,809 --> 01:30:08,443
>> point of.

3245
01:30:08,443 --> 01:30:08,910
>> view it's it's.

3246
01:30:08,910 --> 01:30:09,811
>> there.

3247
01:30:09,811 --> 01:30:11,460
Is no right answer.

3248
01:30:11,460 --> 01:30:11,280
I'll guess I'll start counselor

3249
01:30:11,280 --> 01:30:11,714
.

3250
01:30:11,714 --> 01:30:13,714
thank you.

3251
01:30:14,182 --> 01:30:15,417
Uh for for for your question

3252
01:30:15,417 --> 01:30:16,585
and bringing that up and it's

3253
01:30:16,585 --> 01:30:17,520
it's it's everything you

3254
01:30:17,520 --> 01:30:18,687
mentioned, right.

3255
01:30:18,687 --> 01:30:19,655
It's it's a little bit

3256
01:30:19,655 --> 01:30:21,523
of everything but I think part

3257
01:30:21,523 --> 01:30:23,392
of it has to do also um which

3258
01:30:23,392 --> 01:30:25,260
we alluded to and incidentally

3259
01:30:25,260 --> 01:30:26,528
myself and uh and craig here

3260
01:30:26,528 --> 01:30:27,729
before we even came to the

3261
01:30:27,729 --> 01:30:28,997
council hearing we actually

3262
01:30:28,997 --> 01:30:30,666
were having a cup of coffee and

3263
01:30:30,666 --> 01:30:32,567
talked about it talked about

3264
01:30:32,567 --> 01:30:34,636
you know, what is the

3265
01:30:34,636 --> 01:30:36,105
underlying reason why uh, the

3266
01:30:36,105 --> 01:30:38,373
cancer rates are so much higher

3267
01:30:38,373 --> 01:30:39,441
in the black veterans community

3268
01:30:39,441 --> 01:30:40,909
and also in the minority

3269
01:30:40,909 --> 01:30:42,544
community as a whole.

3270
01:30:42,544 --> 01:30:43,378
And we could speak on that uh,

3271
01:30:43,378 --> 01:30:45,790
from our experience of the

3272
01:30:45,790 --> 01:30:46,948
veterans, it a lot of it has to

3273
01:30:46,948 --> 01:30:49,217
do with whatever their job

3274
01:30:49,217 --> 01:30:51,860
duties or collateral duties

3275
01:30:51,860 --> 01:30:53,888
were given to the black

3276
01:30:53,888 --> 01:30:54,222
veterans um in service um I

3277
01:30:54,222 --> 01:30:54,590
could speak.

3278
01:30:54,590 --> 01:30:54,923
>> on.

3279
01:30:54,923 --> 01:30:56,191
On on.

3280
01:30:56,191 --> 01:30:58,860
>> my experiences as a navy

3281
01:30:58,860 --> 01:31:01,763
veteran where you know, um a

3282
01:31:01,763 --> 01:31:02,631
lot of uh, minority veterans

3283
01:31:02,631 --> 01:31:05,100
of on average sailors like

3284
01:31:05,100 --> 01:31:07,803
myself we were told to go

3285
01:31:07,803 --> 01:31:10,272
sandblast a void on a ship, you

3286
01:31:10,272 --> 01:31:11,340
know, or we were working in an

3287
01:31:11,340 --> 01:31:12,808
engine room pretty much what

3288
01:31:12,808 --> 01:31:13,442
craig had mentioned earlier in

3289
01:31:13,442 --> 01:31:15,442
his testimony.

3290
01:31:15,677 --> 01:31:15,945
So, uh, you know, so a lot

3291
01:31:15,945 --> 01:31:17,945
of the.

3292
01:31:18,213 --> 01:31:18,613
And I'm not saying that that's.

3293
01:31:18,613 --> 01:31:19,381
>> the.

3294
01:31:19,381 --> 01:31:19,648
Reason why the rates are so

3295
01:31:19,648 --> 01:31:20,849
high.

3296
01:31:20,849 --> 01:31:22,551
I'm just you know, speaking

3297
01:31:22,551 --> 01:31:23,618
again on my experiences and

3298
01:31:23,618 --> 01:31:25,487
from what I've seen and talking

3299
01:31:25,487 --> 01:31:26,555
to other veterans as well, um,

3300
01:31:26,555 --> 01:31:27,689
that that could also be.

3301
01:31:27,689 --> 01:31:29,125
An underlying reason why.

3302
01:31:29,125 --> 01:31:31,393
Those numbers MAY be high is

3303
01:31:31,393 --> 01:31:33,295
because of of also the the

3304
01:31:33,295 --> 01:31:34,563
duties that we were given while

3305
01:31:34,563 --> 01:31:36,699
we were uh in service.

3306
01:31:36,699 --> 01:31:38,167
Now um, add that to the fact

3307
01:31:38,167 --> 01:31:39,635
that when you know, we're no

3308
01:31:39,635 --> 01:31:41,737
longer um in service and now

3309
01:31:41,737 --> 01:31:43,205
we're veterans navigating the

3310
01:31:43,205 --> 01:31:44,874
system, knowing the system,

3311
01:31:44,874 --> 01:31:46,742
knowing what um is out there

3312
01:31:46,742 --> 01:31:47,410
for us and like, uh, doctor

3313
01:31:47,410 --> 01:31:47,943
wagner had mentioned.

3314
01:31:47,943 --> 01:31:49,611
>> in.

3315
01:31:49,611 --> 01:31:50,812
Her testimony at the va, um,

3316
01:31:50,812 --> 01:31:51,613
they're doing a great job in

3317
01:31:51,613 --> 01:31:53,282
trying to get the word out

3318
01:31:53,282 --> 01:31:55,785
there but when it's not enough

3319
01:31:55,785 --> 01:31:58,487
to um it there's always work to

3320
01:31:58,487 --> 01:32:00,355
be done and that and so I guess

3321
01:32:00,355 --> 01:32:00,722
the the educational piece and

3322
01:32:00,722 --> 01:32:02,722
again trying.

3323
01:32:02,758 --> 01:32:05,661
To let everybody know that

3324
01:32:05,661 --> 01:32:06,628
these um that you know the lung

3325
01:32:06,628 --> 01:32:08,331
cancer screenings are there for

3326
01:32:08,331 --> 01:32:09,398
for veterans for for pretty

3327
01:32:09,398 --> 01:32:11,266
much anybody the city of boston

3328
01:32:11,266 --> 01:32:11,834
also has a policy for lung

3329
01:32:11,834 --> 01:32:13,669
cancer screening.

3330
01:32:13,669 --> 01:32:14,937
Um, you know amongst us uh

3331
01:32:14,937 --> 01:32:16,705
municipal workers, you know,

3332
01:32:16,705 --> 01:32:18,206
you know, go to contact your

3333
01:32:18,206 --> 01:32:19,400
cpa and see what those are,

3334
01:32:19,400 --> 01:32:20,342
what those MAY be.

3335
01:32:20,342 --> 01:32:22,177
But I think as far as veterans

3336
01:32:22,177 --> 01:32:23,445
are concerned, um, um the

3337
01:32:23,445 --> 01:32:25,845
education piece is huge.

3338
01:32:27,316 --> 01:32:29,184
Um, getting to those veterans

3339
01:32:29,184 --> 01:32:30,510
and and and malika had

3340
01:32:30,510 --> 01:32:32,451
mentioned that doctor wheatley

3341
01:32:32,721 --> 01:32:34,790
I mentioned uh in her testimony

3342
01:32:34,790 --> 01:32:37,190
when these service members

3343
01:32:37,292 --> 01:32:38,393
become veterans, you know, what

3344
01:32:38,393 --> 01:32:40,863
is the department of defense

3345
01:32:40,863 --> 01:32:42,365
doing when service members are

3346
01:32:42,365 --> 01:32:43,332
transitioning into becoming

3347
01:32:43,332 --> 01:32:43,832
veteran that coming back into

3348
01:32:43,832 --> 01:32:45,832
our communities?

3349
01:32:46,350 --> 01:32:46,468
Are we reaching them um, in a

3350
01:32:46,468 --> 01:32:47,703
timely fashion?

3351
01:32:47,703 --> 01:32:48,503
Um.

3352
01:32:48,503 --> 01:32:50,439
Once they.

3353
01:32:50,439 --> 01:32:52,141
>> come out I know uh, that the

3354
01:32:52,141 --> 01:32:54,343
state does what they can to

3355
01:32:54,343 --> 01:32:54,977
notify us municipalities us uh,

3356
01:32:54,977 --> 01:32:56,612
veteran services.

3357
01:32:56,612 --> 01:32:58,280
Offices throughout the state to

3358
01:32:58,280 --> 01:32:59,982
let us know who in our

3359
01:32:59,982 --> 01:33:02,250
community is returning from

3360
01:33:02,250 --> 01:33:03,919
service and reaching then and

3361
01:33:03,919 --> 01:33:06,220
letting them know and also

3362
01:33:06,220 --> 01:33:07,489
being able to be, uh, an asset

3363
01:33:07,489 --> 01:33:08,757
to them when they transition

3364
01:33:08,757 --> 01:33:10,226
and integrate back into the

3365
01:33:10,226 --> 01:33:10,893
system, um back into their

3366
01:33:10,893 --> 01:33:12,728
communities as well.

3367
01:33:12,728 --> 01:33:16,198
So it's it's it's it's really

3368
01:33:16,198 --> 01:33:18,901
not something that um that that

3369
01:33:18,901 --> 01:33:20,102
uh it's going to be um taken

3370
01:33:20,102 --> 01:33:21,690
care of immediately but it's

3371
01:33:21,690 --> 01:33:22,204
something that we're going to

3372
01:33:22,204 --> 01:33:23,505
be able that we have to

3373
01:33:23,505 --> 01:33:23,739
continue the conversation on

3374
01:33:23,739 --> 01:33:24,106
amongst.

3375
01:33:24,106 --> 01:33:25,941
>> our.

3376
01:33:25,941 --> 01:33:27,810
Groups and uh, advocacy groups

3377
01:33:27,810 --> 01:33:30,279
amongst the vfw that the dvs,

3378
01:33:30,279 --> 01:33:32,381
the american legion's um you

3379
01:33:32,381 --> 01:33:33,849
know, don and his and his

3380
01:33:33,849 --> 01:33:35,717
organization uh haywood and his

3381
01:33:35,717 --> 01:33:36,618
organization um and pretty much

3382
01:33:36,618 --> 01:33:38,253
all the veteran organizations

3383
01:33:38,253 --> 01:33:40,489
in the community as well.

3384
01:33:40,489 --> 01:33:41,557
And it also takes uh, the

3385
01:33:41,557 --> 01:33:43,250
council as well that, you know,

3386
01:33:43,250 --> 01:33:44,493
if and when you also go out

3387
01:33:44,493 --> 01:33:44,860
into the community, you bring

3388
01:33:44,860 --> 01:33:45,794
it up.

3389
01:33:45,794 --> 01:33:46,261
You know what,

3390
01:33:46,261 --> 01:33:47,296
councilor fitzgerald?

3391
01:33:47,296 --> 01:33:48,970
You know, if you're running

3392
01:33:48,970 --> 01:33:49,766
your community to be like you

3393
01:33:49,766 --> 01:33:51,434
know, I was at a hearing about

3394
01:33:51,434 --> 01:33:51,934
veterans and we talked about

3395
01:33:51,934 --> 01:33:52,835
lung cancer here.

3396
01:33:52,835 --> 01:33:54,503
You know, you know, lung

3397
01:33:54,503 --> 01:33:55,170
cancer amongst veterans this is

3398
01:33:55,170 --> 01:33:56,772
what's available.

3399
01:33:56,772 --> 01:33:57,873
So you know, just spreading the

3400
01:33:57,873 --> 01:33:59,141
word out there whenever we go

3401
01:33:59,141 --> 01:33:59,475
on to the community just bring

3402
01:33:59,475 --> 01:34:00,909
it up.

3403
01:34:00,909 --> 01:34:02,811
Even if the subject matter MAY

3404
01:34:02,811 --> 01:34:03,345
not be about veterans I always

3405
01:34:03,345 --> 01:34:03,513
bring up veterans.

3406
01:34:03,513 --> 01:34:04,460
Why?

3407
01:34:04,460 --> 01:34:05,481
Because I am a.

3408
01:34:05,481 --> 01:34:07,916
Veteran you know why not?

3409
01:34:07,916 --> 01:34:08,985
But uh but you know but you

3410
01:34:08,985 --> 01:34:10,452
know, make it part of the

3411
01:34:10,452 --> 01:34:12,555
conversation make it part

3412
01:34:12,555 --> 01:34:13,990
of the community conversation

3413
01:34:13,990 --> 01:34:15,190
about veterans, you know, about

3414
01:34:15,190 --> 01:34:15,858
lung cancer screening, about

3415
01:34:15,858 --> 01:34:17,693
women veterans.

3416
01:34:17,693 --> 01:34:20,693
You know, right now there's

3417
01:34:20,996 --> 01:34:22,640
close to I believe is 940,000

3418
01:34:22,640 --> 01:34:23,320
women that are there are

3419
01:34:23,320 --> 01:34:25,301
enrolled in the va.

3420
01:34:25,301 --> 01:34:26,769
But there's a there's 2.1

3421
01:34:26,769 --> 01:34:27,350
million women veterans that we

3422
01:34:27,350 --> 01:34:28,700
know.

3423
01:34:28,700 --> 01:34:29,471
So you know those numbers need

3424
01:34:29,471 --> 01:34:30,439
to go up as well so women

3425
01:34:30,439 --> 01:34:31,907
veterans could also get the

3426
01:34:31,907 --> 01:34:33,976
care that they need in the va

3427
01:34:33,976 --> 01:34:34,410
system um because it's there

3428
01:34:34,410 --> 01:34:36,450
for them.

3429
01:34:36,450 --> 01:34:37,613
Um, how many of them actually

3430
01:34:37,613 --> 01:34:39,215
went to the va to get that care

3431
01:34:39,215 --> 01:34:39,448
or is it the trust thing as

3432
01:34:39,448 --> 01:34:40,883
well?

3433
01:34:40,883 --> 01:34:42,118
Are we talking about trust?

3434
01:34:42,118 --> 01:34:43,850
They just don't trust the

3435
01:34:43,850 --> 01:34:44,920
system to help them out.

3436
01:34:44,920 --> 01:34:45,988
Just the same thing with black

3437
01:34:45,988 --> 01:34:46,456
veterans, the same thing with

3438
01:34:46,456 --> 01:34:47,890
minority veterans.

3439
01:34:47,890 --> 01:34:48,957
You know that there's been that

3440
01:34:48,957 --> 01:34:50,250
stigma for many, many years

3441
01:34:50,250 --> 01:34:50,392
that the va is not there to

3442
01:34:50,392 --> 01:34:51,827
help them.

3443
01:34:51,827 --> 01:34:53,950
You know, it could be the

3444
01:34:53,950 --> 01:34:53,563
trusting that we need a

3445
01:34:53,563 --> 01:34:54,129
breakthrough as well.

3446
01:34:54,129 --> 01:34:54,930
So there's a lot.

3447
01:34:54,930 --> 01:34:56,930
>> of there's.

3448
01:34:57,766 --> 01:34:59,668
It's it's it's it's it's a it's

3449
01:34:59,668 --> 01:35:01,136
a big web that we're weaving

3450
01:35:01,136 --> 01:35:01,670
here that we need to go through

3451
01:35:01,670 --> 01:35:03,639
and break through.

3452
01:35:03,639 --> 01:35:05,908
But I think the uh what it all

3453
01:35:05,908 --> 01:35:06,676
comes down to is the word

3454
01:35:06,676 --> 01:35:07,943
communication and you know,

3455
01:35:07,943 --> 01:35:09,110
talking to the veterans,

3456
01:35:09,110 --> 01:35:10,479
getting them out there, letting

3457
01:35:10,479 --> 01:35:11,981
them know that the va has gone,

3458
01:35:11,981 --> 01:35:13,515
you know, has come a long way.

3459
01:35:13,515 --> 01:35:14,583
And you know, I'm proud to say

3460
01:35:14,583 --> 01:35:16,852
that the boston va is

3461
01:35:16,852 --> 01:35:17,920
definitely the best va we have

3462
01:35:17,920 --> 01:35:18,988
in this country and it's

3463
01:35:18,988 --> 01:35:20,256
because of the partnerships

3464
01:35:20,256 --> 01:35:21,290
that we have with the state,

3465
01:35:21,290 --> 01:35:22,570
the partnerships that we have

3466
01:35:22,570 --> 01:35:22,358
with all these medical

3467
01:35:22,358 --> 01:35:23,926
facilities.

3468
01:35:23,926 --> 01:35:25,427
We have one of the best

3469
01:35:25,427 --> 01:35:27,530
nonprofits like home base is

3470
01:35:27,530 --> 01:35:27,963
located here through the mdh as

3471
01:35:27,963 --> 01:35:29,963
well.

3472
01:35:30,320 --> 01:35:31,660
So uh, you know all those

3473
01:35:31,660 --> 01:35:32,768
partnerships uh getting

3474
01:35:32,768 --> 01:35:34,637
together and communicating that

3475
01:35:34,637 --> 01:35:35,337
hey, we're here for you and

3476
01:35:35,337 --> 01:35:36,405
we're going to make sure that

3477
01:35:36,405 --> 01:35:37,440
you get what you deserve.

3478
01:35:37,440 --> 01:35:38,440
That's excellent.

3479
01:35:38,440 --> 01:35:39,750
Thank you very much.

3480
01:35:39,750 --> 01:35:39,875
Appreciate it.

3481
01:35:39,875 --> 01:35:41,710
But so.

3482
01:35:41,710 --> 01:35:42,578
Education from our point

3483
01:35:42,578 --> 01:35:42,745
of view of what a council could

3484
01:35:42,745 --> 01:35:44,346
do.

3485
01:35:44,346 --> 01:35:44,613
Education awareness is where we

3486
01:35:44,613 --> 01:35:45,415
should.

3487
01:35:45,415 --> 01:35:47,283
Yes tackle.

3488
01:35:47,283 --> 01:35:48,584
I just want to make sure I had

3489
01:35:48,584 --> 01:35:50,486
I don't know if anyone else you

3490
01:35:50,486 --> 01:35:51,287
don't have to but if anyone

3491
01:35:51,287 --> 01:35:51,987
else would like to chime in I

3492
01:35:51,987 --> 01:35:54,987
have other questions as well.

3493
01:35:55,425 --> 01:35:56,826
Uh I don't.

3494
01:35:56,826 --> 01:35:58,826
Okay.

3495
01:35:59,695 --> 01:36:00,463
>> but um um

3496
01:36:00,463 --> 01:36:01,330
councilor fitzgerald, thank you

3497
01:36:01,330 --> 01:36:03,330
for the question.

3498
01:36:05,567 --> 01:36:07,269
Um, I'm going to say from my

3499
01:36:07,269 --> 01:36:08,737
particular lane because

3500
01:36:08,737 --> 01:36:10,806
everybody here is bringing

3501
01:36:10,806 --> 01:36:12,740
whether it's an experiential or

3502
01:36:12,740 --> 01:36:12,341
a professional perspective into

3503
01:36:12,341 --> 01:36:14,341
this.

3504
01:36:14,777 --> 01:36:18,800
Again, as I said in my

3505
01:36:18,800 --> 01:36:20,583
introduction, my focus is on

3506
01:36:20,583 --> 01:36:21,650
early detection of in this

3507
01:36:21,650 --> 01:36:23,919
particular case of course like

3508
01:36:23,919 --> 01:36:25,955
it I've never had lung cancer.

3509
01:36:25,955 --> 01:36:27,990
I'm not a veteran.

3510
01:36:27,990 --> 01:36:29,990
I've never smoked.

3511
01:36:31,227 --> 01:36:32,528
I listen to your your list

3512
01:36:32,528 --> 01:36:34,597
of the things that could be

3513
01:36:34,597 --> 01:36:35,465
causing this genetics was the

3514
01:36:35,465 --> 01:36:36,632
first thing you said.

3515
01:36:36,632 --> 01:36:37,500
I don't know if it was any

3516
01:36:37,500 --> 01:36:39,900
particular order no particular.

3517
01:36:40,136 --> 01:36:41,604
But I would say that family

3518
01:36:41,604 --> 01:36:42,872
history or other genetics or

3519
01:36:42,872 --> 01:36:44,707
issues of a lot of cancers.

3520
01:36:44,707 --> 01:36:48,211
I think the biggest issue for

3521
01:36:48,211 --> 01:36:49,278
lung cancer is exposure to both

3522
01:36:49,278 --> 01:36:50,546
factors because we all have

3523
01:36:50,546 --> 01:36:52,414
said in various ways and shapes

3524
01:36:52,414 --> 01:36:54,316
and forms people didn't start

3525
01:36:54,316 --> 01:36:56,185
smoking until they entered

3526
01:36:56,185 --> 01:36:57,253
military service or some other

3527
01:36:57,253 --> 01:36:59,555
type of position that put them

3528
01:36:59,555 --> 01:37:01,240
in an exposure situation to

3529
01:37:01,240 --> 01:37:02,692
something other than tobacco.

3530
01:37:02,692 --> 01:37:04,560
A lot of that is what's driving

3531
01:37:04,560 --> 01:37:05,628
lung cancer rates up in a

3532
01:37:05,628 --> 01:37:06,620
particular for for black

3533
01:37:06,620 --> 01:37:08,620
veterans.

3534
01:37:08,698 --> 01:37:10,800
To answer your question, my

3535
01:37:10,800 --> 01:37:12,469
single word again from my lab

3536
01:37:12,469 --> 01:37:13,936
basically goes right back to

3537
01:37:13,936 --> 01:37:15,605
the guidelines and let me just

3538
01:37:15,605 --> 01:37:18,400
put some context around it.

3539
01:37:18,400 --> 01:37:19,108
What we do at the boston public

3540
01:37:19,108 --> 01:37:20,776
health commission at least in

3541
01:37:20,776 --> 01:37:22,645
terms of my job because I don't

3542
01:37:22,645 --> 01:37:24,246
provide any direct service so I

3543
01:37:24,246 --> 01:37:26,482
don't actually do the scope.

3544
01:37:26,482 --> 01:37:29,552
What I basically do in my role

3545
01:37:29,552 --> 01:37:30,200
is to communicate about school

3546
01:37:30,200 --> 01:37:32,200
okay.

3547
01:37:33,656 --> 01:37:34,757
But I always tell myself I am

3548
01:37:34,757 --> 01:37:37,757
doing a disservice to the

3549
01:37:38,661 --> 01:37:40,730
public if I don't go into that

3550
01:37:40,730 --> 01:37:41,197
job acknowledging that there is

3551
01:37:41,197 --> 01:37:43,197
a balance.

3552
01:37:43,232 --> 01:37:44,900
There's two dimensional chess

3553
01:37:44,900 --> 01:37:46,802
being played here because I

3554
01:37:46,802 --> 01:37:48,671
have to communicate something

3555
01:37:48,671 --> 01:37:49,506
that provides a call to action

3556
01:37:49,506 --> 01:37:51,340
to the public.

3557
01:37:51,340 --> 01:37:53,643
But when they get into the

3558
01:37:53,643 --> 01:37:56,643
medical system the doctor has

3559
01:37:56,712 --> 01:37:57,780
to do what I want them to do

3560
01:37:57,780 --> 01:37:58,581
when the patient shows up.

3561
01:37:58,581 --> 01:38:00,416
Right.

3562
01:38:00,416 --> 01:38:02,519
If the doctor's not going to do

3563
01:38:02,519 --> 01:38:04,787
that, why should I tell people

3564
01:38:04,787 --> 01:38:05,755
to go have it done if they

3565
01:38:05,755 --> 01:38:07,823
can't actually get it done?

3566
01:38:07,823 --> 01:38:10,693
The guideline piece I'm trying

3567
01:38:10,693 --> 01:38:13,950
to talk about here goes to the

3568
01:38:13,950 --> 01:38:15,598
fact that lung cancer screening

3569
01:38:15,598 --> 01:38:18,598
is basically tied to tobacco

3570
01:38:18,902 --> 01:38:20,770
use and a lot of the lung

3571
01:38:20,770 --> 01:38:22,872
cancer that veterans suffer are

3572
01:38:22,872 --> 01:38:23,105
from things other than tobacco

3573
01:38:23,105 --> 01:38:24,106
.

3574
01:38:24,106 --> 01:38:24,941
Okay.

3575
01:38:24,941 --> 01:38:26,941
Gotcha.

3576
01:38:27,177 --> 01:38:29,450
You also talk about veterans

3577
01:38:29,450 --> 01:38:31,445
that weren't smoking before

3578
01:38:31,747 --> 01:38:33,216
they came into military service

3579
01:38:33,216 --> 01:38:33,449
and they began to smoke as a

3580
01:38:33,449 --> 01:38:35,449
result.

3581
01:38:36,319 --> 01:38:38,187
So if you think about this this

3582
01:38:38,187 --> 01:38:40,257
this particular group and again

3583
01:38:40,257 --> 01:38:41,725
the other context of that is

3584
01:38:41,725 --> 01:38:42,391
I'm with the boston public

3585
01:38:42,391 --> 01:38:44,260
health commission.

3586
01:38:44,260 --> 01:38:45,495
But what we're talking about

3587
01:38:45,495 --> 01:38:47,895
here is population health.

3588
01:38:48,731 --> 01:38:50,800
It's a segment of our

3589
01:38:50,800 --> 01:38:52,680
population I.E. Veterans are

3590
01:38:52,680 --> 01:38:52,836
experiencing lung

3591
01:38:52,836 --> 01:38:53,503
cancer differently than the

3592
01:38:53,503 --> 01:38:55,503
general public.

3593
01:38:56,172 --> 01:38:57,440
What can we hone in on and

3594
01:38:57,440 --> 01:38:59,840
focus on with that?

3595
01:39:00,309 --> 01:39:01,378
You talk about we've heard the

3596
01:39:01,378 --> 01:39:03,246
tremendous work that the va

3597
01:39:03,246 --> 01:39:04,113
hospital is doing here which is

3598
01:39:04,113 --> 01:39:05,381
different, unique and better

3599
01:39:05,381 --> 01:39:05,815
than what's happening across

3600
01:39:05,815 --> 01:39:06,449
the country.

3601
01:39:06,449 --> 01:39:08,449
Yeah.

3602
01:39:08,685 --> 01:39:10,353
>> my hope is that there's an

3603
01:39:10,353 --> 01:39:12,353
opportunity with local

3604
01:39:12,622 --> 01:39:14,622
legislation engaging local

3605
01:39:15,125 --> 01:39:16,592
payers and a strong medical and

3606
01:39:16,592 --> 01:39:18,661
clinical institution like the

3607
01:39:18,661 --> 01:39:20,764
V.A. Hospital to say let's

3608
01:39:20,764 --> 01:39:22,432
let's set the tone for the rest

3609
01:39:22,432 --> 01:39:25,135
of the country for how to get

3610
01:39:25,135 --> 01:39:28,238
this right because we now can

3611
01:39:28,238 --> 01:39:31,140
basically create a local closed

3612
01:39:31,140 --> 01:39:32,809
loop that says what we do is we

3613
01:39:32,809 --> 01:39:35,312
screen people not just for

3614
01:39:35,312 --> 01:39:37,213
tobacco use but for exposure to

3615
01:39:37,213 --> 01:39:38,881
the things that we ask them to

3616
01:39:38,881 --> 01:39:41,385
do in the context of the

3617
01:39:41,385 --> 01:39:41,618
military service get payers on

3618
01:39:41,618 --> 01:39:43,618
board.

3619
01:39:44,988 --> 01:39:46,689
Open up lung cancer screening

3620
01:39:46,689 --> 01:39:48,157
to people that actually need

3621
01:39:48,157 --> 01:39:50,557
it, not just smokers.

3622
01:39:51,595 --> 01:39:54,970
Look at the financial benefits

3623
01:39:54,970 --> 01:39:55,932
of that over a period of time.

3624
01:39:55,932 --> 01:39:57,800
Look at the outcomes benefits

3625
01:39:57,800 --> 01:39:58,668
which is reduce mortality over

3626
01:39:58,668 --> 01:40:00,503
a period of time.

3627
01:40:00,503 --> 01:40:01,804
Present this to the country and

3628
01:40:01,804 --> 01:40:04,730
say look we are getting it

3629
01:40:04,730 --> 01:40:06,142
right in massachusetts you

3630
01:40:06,142 --> 01:40:06,409
could be doing more in wherever

3631
01:40:06,409 --> 01:40:07,844
you are.

3632
01:40:07,844 --> 01:40:09,712
That's not massachusetts

3633
01:40:09,712 --> 01:40:12,150
because we've got as you said,

3634
01:40:12,150 --> 01:40:13,283
we've got a community of local

3635
01:40:13,283 --> 01:40:14,551
resources clinically that are

3636
01:40:14,551 --> 01:40:16,819
probably the best in the

3637
01:40:16,819 --> 01:40:19,322
country if not the world and if

3638
01:40:19,322 --> 01:40:21,591
we get it right here for

3639
01:40:21,591 --> 01:40:22,859
veterans, not only will it

3640
01:40:22,859 --> 01:40:24,327
inform the way we treat

3641
01:40:24,327 --> 01:40:26,429
veterans across the country,

3642
01:40:26,429 --> 01:40:27,897
but that navigation system and

3643
01:40:27,897 --> 01:40:30,297
everything else that's involved

3644
01:40:30,367 --> 01:40:32,468
literally opens up cancer early

3645
01:40:32,468 --> 01:40:33,937
detection for other cancers in

3646
01:40:33,937 --> 01:40:35,205
other areas in a way that

3647
01:40:35,205 --> 01:40:36,639
informs the whole system.

3648
01:40:36,639 --> 01:40:37,874
Okay, I think we've got a

3649
01:40:37,874 --> 01:40:39,976
unique opportunity here and i

3650
01:40:39,976 --> 01:40:42,450
think the city council uh,

3651
01:40:42,450 --> 01:40:43,913
local clinicians, uh advocates

3652
01:40:43,913 --> 01:40:45,381
like myself communicators like

3653
01:40:45,381 --> 01:40:46,349
myself can really get on board

3654
01:40:46,349 --> 01:40:47,784
and put a plan together.

3655
01:40:47,784 --> 01:40:48,151
But it's what boston does lead

3656
01:40:48,151 --> 01:40:49,752
the way.

3657
01:40:49,752 --> 01:40:51,255
So I believe that we can do

3658
01:40:51,255 --> 01:40:52,922
that uh on that I know some

3659
01:40:52,922 --> 01:40:54,390
other folks wanted uh, to

3660
01:40:54,390 --> 01:40:54,891
potentially chime in.

3661
01:40:54,891 --> 01:40:55,892
So not.

3662
01:40:55,892 --> 01:40:56,860
>> just quickly.

3663
01:40:56,860 --> 01:40:57,193
>> as one might go.

3664
01:40:57,193 --> 01:40:58,610
Yes.

3665
01:40:58,610 --> 01:40:58,428
>> yeah, we can have a.

3666
01:40:58,428 --> 01:40:59,195
Big mouth.

3667
01:40:59,195 --> 01:40:59,929
>> um.

3668
01:40:59,929 --> 01:41:01,365
One of.

3669
01:41:01,365 --> 01:41:01,831
>> the things about veterans as

3670
01:41:01,831 --> 01:41:03,233
we.

3671
01:41:03,233 --> 01:41:04,667
Look for community.

3672
01:41:04,667 --> 01:41:05,935
Organizations because

3673
01:41:05,935 --> 01:41:08,205
of brotherhood sisterhood, um,

3674
01:41:08,205 --> 01:41:09,672
and we also lean on our faith

3675
01:41:09,672 --> 01:41:10,707
based churches.

3676
01:41:10,707 --> 01:41:12,707
So if.

3677
01:41:12,942 --> 01:41:14,645
We're talking about education

3678
01:41:14,645 --> 01:41:15,912
and you know, how would we

3679
01:41:15,912 --> 01:41:17,180
employ that education, how will

3680
01:41:17,180 --> 01:41:17,880
we get veterans in the door?

3681
01:41:17,880 --> 01:41:19,349
And you.

3682
01:41:19,349 --> 01:41:20,617
>> know, the va is a great

3683
01:41:20,617 --> 01:41:22,285
system and we have great

3684
01:41:22,285 --> 01:41:24,285
screening, but at.

3685
01:41:24,921 --> 01:41:25,388
A point we need to get um our

3686
01:41:25,388 --> 01:41:26,422
back.

3687
01:41:26,422 --> 01:41:27,657
To the door into.

3688
01:41:27,657 --> 01:41:28,225
Those screenings and then how

3689
01:41:28,225 --> 01:41:28,658
do we do.

3690
01:41:28,658 --> 01:41:30,493
>> that.

3691
01:41:30,493 --> 01:41:32,162
Any time that we are opening up

3692
01:41:32,162 --> 01:41:32,795
something in boston, I think

3693
01:41:32,795 --> 01:41:34,795
that any.

3694
01:41:35,265 --> 01:41:36,933
Community organization that

3695
01:41:36,933 --> 01:41:37,801
vets are attached to whether

3696
01:41:37,801 --> 01:41:39,336
it's the ymca.

3697
01:41:39,336 --> 01:41:41,771
Or whether they go to their.

3698
01:41:41,771 --> 01:41:43,406
Local communities um system.

3699
01:41:43,406 --> 01:41:44,207
Uh local community.

3700
01:41:44,207 --> 01:41:46,207
like um.

3701
01:41:46,844 --> 01:41:48,278
Hall or the polls all of that.

3702
01:41:48,278 --> 01:41:49,713
>> needs to be filtered down.

3703
01:41:49,713 --> 01:41:52,713
So if I'm walking into.

3704
01:41:54,585 --> 01:41:56,586
Any community um place that I

3705
01:41:56,586 --> 01:41:56,953
love to visit, I should be able

3706
01:41:56,953 --> 01:41:58,953
to know.

3707
01:41:58,955 --> 01:41:59,222
That this is free screening

3708
01:41:59,222 --> 01:41:59,789
because.

3709
01:41:59,789 --> 01:42:00,290
>> we can.

3710
01:42:00,290 --> 01:42:01,725
Offer it.

3711
01:42:01,725 --> 01:42:02,359
But the education.

3712
01:42:02,359 --> 01:42:02,859
Part of it.

3713
01:42:02,859 --> 01:42:03,593
How do.

3714
01:42:03,593 --> 01:42:04,695
>> we get them.

3715
01:42:04,695 --> 01:42:06,162
>> to the door and I keep how.

3716
01:42:06,162 --> 01:42:07,230
Do you how do you get us to the

3717
01:42:07,230 --> 01:42:07,897
door because you couldn't get

3718
01:42:07,897 --> 01:42:09,532
me through the door.

3719
01:42:09,532 --> 01:42:10,333
Ten years ago.

3720
01:42:10,333 --> 01:42:12,680
Um so.

3721
01:42:12,680 --> 01:42:13,903
So how do we do that?

3722
01:42:13,903 --> 01:42:14,938
So we really need to.

3723
01:42:14,938 --> 01:42:16,938
Start thinking about.

3724
01:42:18,800 --> 01:42:19,843
Where is our underserved.

3725
01:42:19,843 --> 01:42:21,244
Communities for that?

3726
01:42:21,244 --> 01:42:23,644
Where do they often.

3727
01:42:23,680 --> 01:42:24,147
Visit maybe the local

3728
01:42:24,147 --> 01:42:26,147
coffee shop.

3729
01:42:26,983 --> 01:42:27,851
Maybe um, the va in west was

3730
01:42:27,851 --> 01:42:29,520
always having a screening.

3731
01:42:29,520 --> 01:42:29,986
>> why do we need to hit the

3732
01:42:29,986 --> 01:42:30,620
local coffee shop.

3733
01:42:30,620 --> 01:42:31,821
Down the street.

3734
01:42:31,821 --> 01:42:33,256
At the ymca?

3735
01:42:33,256 --> 01:42:35,692
Because I know if I can.

3736
01:42:35,692 --> 01:42:35,959
See it and I say hey, this is a

3737
01:42:35,959 --> 01:42:37,959
screening.

3738
01:42:38,595 --> 01:42:39,620
You know, I MAY go and say oh

3739
01:42:39,620 --> 01:42:40,297
maybe call this.

3740
01:42:40,297 --> 01:42:42,532
Number for some information.

3741
01:42:42,532 --> 01:42:44,000
So I really think about the

3742
01:42:44,000 --> 01:42:45,235
educational piece and how we

3743
01:42:45,235 --> 01:42:45,902
build and bring them into the

3744
01:42:45,902 --> 01:42:46,936
door to.

3745
01:42:46,936 --> 01:42:47,938
Get the screenings.

3746
01:42:47,938 --> 01:42:49,938
Got to.

3747
01:42:49,973 --> 01:42:51,175
Doctor and uh I.

3748
01:42:51,175 --> 01:42:52,976
Completely agree with

3749
01:42:52,976 --> 01:42:53,209
everything people have said so

3750
01:42:53,209 --> 01:42:54,845
far.

3751
01:42:54,845 --> 01:42:56,279
I'll add one other thing.

3752
01:42:56,279 --> 01:42:57,147
Um I think I.

3753
01:42:57,147 --> 01:42:59,147
>> do think that.

3754
01:42:59,783 --> 01:43:01,451
It's uh access to health care

3755
01:43:01,451 --> 01:43:03,687
and then the costs as well.

3756
01:43:03,687 --> 01:43:04,955
I mentioned that the initial

3757
01:43:04,955 --> 01:43:05,422
screening if you meet the

3758
01:43:05,422 --> 01:43:07,422
criteria.

3759
01:43:07,457 --> 01:43:09,326
Is free of cost no matter where

3760
01:43:09,326 --> 01:43:11,326
you get it.

3761
01:43:11,595 --> 01:43:13,263
But what is often a barrier is

3762
01:43:13,263 --> 01:43:13,897
like if you need something more

3763
01:43:13,897 --> 01:43:15,332
than just.

3764
01:43:15,332 --> 01:43:17,400
That screening test if there's

3765
01:43:17,400 --> 01:43:18,869
a screening detected finding

3766
01:43:18,869 --> 01:43:21,269
that needs further workup.

3767
01:43:21,305 --> 01:43:23,206
There is cost associated with

3768
01:43:23,206 --> 01:43:24,875
getting the subsequent tests

3769
01:43:24,875 --> 01:43:25,909
and that's a real barrier for a

3770
01:43:25,909 --> 01:43:27,909
lot of people.

3771
01:43:29,179 --> 01:43:31,470
Um, so that's something uh, you

3772
01:43:31,470 --> 01:43:32,715
know, within the va those costs

3773
01:43:32,715 --> 01:43:32,949
are often lower outside the va

3774
01:43:32,949 --> 01:43:33,783
.

3775
01:43:33,783 --> 01:43:34,180
Yeah.

3776
01:43:34,180 --> 01:43:34,918
.

3777
01:43:34,918 --> 01:43:37,187
That can add up.

3778
01:43:37,187 --> 01:43:38,856
Um so I think that's something

3779
01:43:38,856 --> 01:43:41,491
that that could be addressed.

3780
01:43:41,491 --> 01:43:42,559
That goes a imagine that goes

3781
01:43:42,559 --> 01:43:43,293
to the insurance right.

3782
01:43:43,293 --> 01:43:45,693
That's yeah that's right.

3783
01:43:45,962 --> 01:43:47,531
Uh I know I'm well over my time

3784
01:43:47,531 --> 01:43:47,965
but just a two more if you

3785
01:43:47,965 --> 01:43:48,498
don't mind chair.

3786
01:43:48,498 --> 01:43:50,498
Thank you.

3787
01:43:52,169 --> 01:43:52,936
Um what I thought about is the

3788
01:43:52,936 --> 01:43:54,405
military doing anything.

3789
01:43:54,405 --> 01:43:55,172
>> now when we talk about the

3790
01:43:55,172 --> 01:43:55,405
workplace that has caused.

3791
01:43:55,405 --> 01:43:56,406
It.

3792
01:43:56,406 --> 01:43:57,174
>> uh.

3793
01:43:57,174 --> 01:43:58,809
>> is the military.

3794
01:43:58,809 --> 01:44:00,878
Doing anything now to identify

3795
01:44:00,878 --> 01:44:01,444
those positions that say, okay,

3796
01:44:01,444 --> 01:44:02,480
what are we.

3797
01:44:02,480 --> 01:44:03,313
Doing to prevent if.

3798
01:44:03,313 --> 01:44:03,914
>> I'm working.

3799
01:44:03,914 --> 01:44:05,480
Below deck.

3800
01:44:05,480 --> 01:44:07,751
>> in the engine room, you

3801
01:44:07,751 --> 01:44:09,186
know, 24 seven uh, are there

3802
01:44:09,186 --> 01:44:09,820
steps being take I don't.

3803
01:44:09,820 --> 01:44:10,253
>> need to know.

3804
01:44:10,253 --> 01:44:11,389
>> the.

3805
01:44:11,389 --> 01:44:12,422
Specific steps now but other

3806
01:44:12,422 --> 01:44:13,156
steps being taken to say.

3807
01:44:13,156 --> 01:44:14,691
How are we.

3808
01:44:14,691 --> 01:44:16,393
>> making that area a healthier

3809
01:44:16,393 --> 01:44:18,228
workplace for our military?

3810
01:44:18,228 --> 01:44:20,731
Uh, so that when they come out

3811
01:44:20,731 --> 01:44:21,364
they do not have these issues

3812
01:44:21,364 --> 01:44:23,364
uh post service.

3813
01:44:25,635 --> 01:44:26,103
Thanks for that question,

3814
01:44:26,103 --> 01:44:27,537
counselor.

3815
01:44:27,537 --> 01:44:28,572
Uh, across the military.

3816
01:44:28,572 --> 01:44:29,373
You know.

3817
01:44:29,373 --> 01:44:31,700
We we did.

3818
01:44:31,700 --> 01:44:32,109
Mention a lot of different.

3819
01:44:32,109 --> 01:44:33,176
Environments where you know,

3820
01:44:33,176 --> 01:44:33,477
you are in hazardous

3821
01:44:33,477 --> 01:44:34,440
conditions.

3822
01:44:34,440 --> 01:44:35,245
Uh.

3823
01:44:35,245 --> 01:44:37,245
You know.

3824
01:44:38,715 --> 01:44:39,583
Part of being commander is

3825
01:44:39,583 --> 01:44:41,818
looking after your troops.

3826
01:44:41,818 --> 01:44:43,720
So it behooves every commander

3827
01:44:43,720 --> 01:44:45,989
no matter what level from your

3828
01:44:45,989 --> 01:44:47,691
lowest level up through, um,

3829
01:44:47,691 --> 01:44:49,760
you know, the PRESIDENT Or any

3830
01:44:49,760 --> 01:44:51,228
of your service secretaries

3831
01:44:51,228 --> 01:44:51,461
that you want to have your

3832
01:44:51,461 --> 01:44:52,496
group.

3833
01:44:52,496 --> 01:44:53,497
I guess.

3834
01:44:53,497 --> 01:44:55,165
At the.

3835
01:44:55,165 --> 01:44:58,669
>> end of the day your your

3836
01:44:58,669 --> 01:45:00,737
employees you know, in the most

3837
01:45:00,737 --> 01:45:01,710
uh, healthiest, safest

3838
01:45:01,710 --> 01:45:01,371
environments.

3839
01:45:01,371 --> 01:45:03,371
Yep.

3840
01:45:04,241 --> 01:45:06,109
Um, a lot of times it's not

3841
01:45:06,109 --> 01:45:08,712
possible due to the conditions

3842
01:45:08,712 --> 01:45:09,179
where, uh where they send us to

3843
01:45:09,179 --> 01:45:11,150
do our work.

3844
01:45:11,150 --> 01:45:13,316
Uh, we're not always sent to

3845
01:45:13,316 --> 01:45:13,984
the most, uh, lush garden spots

3846
01:45:13,984 --> 01:45:15,984
across the world.

3847
01:45:18,455 --> 01:45:21,558
Um, but a lot of times you want

3848
01:45:21,558 --> 01:45:23,427
to take those necessary steps

3849
01:45:23,427 --> 01:45:24,695
to make sure that your soldiers

3850
01:45:24,695 --> 01:45:27,950
,your sailors, your marines,

3851
01:45:27,397 --> 01:45:28,265
your airmen, uh, are in the

3852
01:45:28,265 --> 01:45:30,133
safest environments if that

3853
01:45:30,133 --> 01:45:31,201
includes, you know, additional,

3854
01:45:31,201 --> 01:45:31,668
uh, personal protective

3855
01:45:31,668 --> 01:45:33,668
equipment.

3856
01:45:33,704 --> 01:45:34,771
Uh, a lot a lot of times the

3857
01:45:34,771 --> 01:45:36,640
you know, the guidelines within

3858
01:45:36,640 --> 01:45:37,107
the military don't always

3859
01:45:37,107 --> 01:45:38,942
follow osha.

3860
01:45:38,942 --> 01:45:40,845
Uh, but they you know, they're

3861
01:45:40,845 --> 01:45:41,678
very, very similar and

3862
01:45:41,678 --> 01:45:43,380
sometimes they're even more

3863
01:45:43,380 --> 01:45:46,490
more stringent, uh, to make

3864
01:45:46,490 --> 01:45:47,718
sure that, you know, again, if

3865
01:45:47,718 --> 01:45:49,419
you're if you're uh, service

3866
01:45:49,419 --> 01:45:50,888
members getting sick and unable

3867
01:45:50,888 --> 01:45:52,756
to perform their duties, then

3868
01:45:52,756 --> 01:45:54,825
you're no longer going to be

3869
01:45:54,825 --> 01:45:56,927
mission capable as a unit as a

3870
01:45:56,927 --> 01:45:57,261
as a vessel, as a piece

3871
01:45:57,261 --> 01:45:59,261
of equipment.

3872
01:45:59,429 --> 01:46:00,697
Uh, so at the end of the day

3873
01:46:00,697 --> 01:46:03,970
you're your biggest your

3874
01:46:03,400 --> 01:46:04,468
greatest asset is your

3875
01:46:04,468 --> 01:46:06,360
individual service member.

3876
01:46:06,360 --> 01:46:08,305
So you want to make them we

3877
01:46:08,305 --> 01:46:11,208
want to make sure that whatever

3878
01:46:11,208 --> 01:46:14,770
means are are appropriate and

3879
01:46:14,770 --> 01:46:15,345
uh uh for every situation you

3880
01:46:15,345 --> 01:46:17,648
are going to take care of that

3881
01:46:17,648 --> 01:46:20,350
service member uh, so that is,

3882
01:46:20,350 --> 01:46:22,190
you know, top of mind for for a

3883
01:46:22,190 --> 01:46:23,887
commander at any level is to

3884
01:46:23,887 --> 01:46:25,222
make sure uh, your your service

3885
01:46:25,222 --> 01:46:26,456
members are getting taken care

3886
01:46:26,456 --> 01:46:27,570
of as best as I can.

3887
01:46:27,570 --> 01:46:28,250
Okay.

3888
01:46:28,250 --> 01:46:29,459
>> but as long as.

3889
01:46:29,459 --> 01:46:29,693
We talk the military continues

3890
01:46:29,693 --> 01:46:31,128
.

3891
01:46:31,128 --> 01:46:33,528
To constantly review where.

3892
01:46:33,564 --> 01:46:34,631
They're sending, uh, their most

3893
01:46:34,631 --> 01:46:35,650
important assets and making.

3894
01:46:35,650 --> 01:46:36,199
>> sure.

3895
01:46:36,199 --> 01:46:37,468
That the the healthiest they

3896
01:46:37,468 --> 01:46:38,100
hope that, um, that.

3897
01:46:38,100 --> 01:46:38,602
>> would be.

3898
01:46:38,602 --> 01:46:39,837
More of the.

3899
01:46:39,837 --> 01:46:40,704
>> preventative work right is

3900
01:46:40,704 --> 01:46:42,139
all in making sure.

3901
01:46:42,139 --> 01:46:44,139
Absolutely and coming.

3902
01:46:45,776 --> 01:46:47,245
Home um, you know, back in 1998

3903
01:46:47,245 --> 01:46:49,313
99 I served a tour over in

3904
01:46:49,313 --> 01:46:52,216
bosnia at that point in time,

3905
01:46:52,216 --> 01:46:54,518
uh, the air quality was not the

3906
01:46:54,518 --> 01:46:55,953
greatest uh a lot of uh the

3907
01:46:55,953 --> 01:46:58,550
local you know, the bosnians

3908
01:46:58,550 --> 01:46:59,890
were burning their trash.

3909
01:46:59,890 --> 01:47:00,124
Their trash would go into the

3910
01:47:00,124 --> 01:47:02,124
rivers.

3911
01:47:03,394 --> 01:47:03,827
It was a uh an environmental

3912
01:47:03,827 --> 01:47:05,462
nightmare.

3913
01:47:05,462 --> 01:47:07,131
Uh, one of the things that as

3914
01:47:07,131 --> 01:47:08,399
we were redeploying, you know,

3915
01:47:08,399 --> 01:47:10,670
back home after our tour was

3916
01:47:10,670 --> 01:47:12,369
over was that we had chest x

3917
01:47:12,369 --> 01:47:14,838
rays, you know, to to get a

3918
01:47:14,838 --> 01:47:15,706
baseline of, uh, where our

3919
01:47:15,706 --> 01:47:16,106
respiratory system was at.

3920
01:47:16,106 --> 01:47:18,106
Um.

3921
01:47:18,375 --> 01:47:20,845
>> you know, it was a just a

3922
01:47:20,845 --> 01:47:22,313
few years ago but then

3923
01:47:22,313 --> 01:47:23,781
redeploying to places like the

3924
01:47:23,781 --> 01:47:25,449
middle east again, you're

3925
01:47:25,449 --> 01:47:27,317
you're not in the the most

3926
01:47:27,317 --> 01:47:29,317
healthiest environments and

3927
01:47:29,386 --> 01:47:31,880
again as a soldier again a lot

3928
01:47:31,880 --> 01:47:32,456
of times you're out outside

3929
01:47:32,456 --> 01:47:34,425
you're doing things but again

3930
01:47:34,425 --> 01:47:36,326
you can be in confined spaces

3931
01:47:36,326 --> 01:47:38,796
such as an armored vehicle or

3932
01:47:38,796 --> 01:47:40,970
any types of vehicles or or you

3933
01:47:40,970 --> 01:47:41,965
can be on a ship you could be

3934
01:47:41,965 --> 01:47:43,433
on an aircraft that again

3935
01:47:43,433 --> 01:47:44,702
you're not always in that most

3936
01:47:44,702 --> 01:47:46,702
healthiest environments.

3937
01:47:46,937 --> 01:47:48,639
And again it comes down to the

3938
01:47:48,639 --> 01:47:49,473
commanders uh to make sure that

3939
01:47:49,473 --> 01:47:50,141
they're taking care of their

3940
01:47:50,141 --> 01:47:52,141
service members.

3941
01:47:52,609 --> 01:47:54,479
So we're not ending up having

3942
01:47:54,479 --> 01:47:55,312
to visit the va afterwards

3943
01:47:55,312 --> 01:47:56,747
after we're done.

3944
01:47:56,747 --> 01:47:58,282
And to say thank you.

3945
01:47:58,282 --> 01:47:59,350
Um thank you.

3946
01:47:59,350 --> 01:48:00,517
I know well at the time.

3947
01:48:00,517 --> 01:48:01,850
>> thank you very much for the

3948
01:48:01,850 --> 01:48:02,720
added time to.

3949
01:48:02,720 --> 01:48:03,254
Thank you.

3950
01:48:03,254 --> 01:48:03,755
>> thank you.

3951
01:48:03,755 --> 01:48:03,921
Councilor fitzgerald.

3952
01:48:03,921 --> 01:48:05,921
Um.

3953
01:48:07,491 --> 01:48:08,926
Just one quick thing that I.

3954
01:48:08,926 --> 01:48:09,393
>> wanted to add also and I

3955
01:48:09,393 --> 01:48:10,928
know mark.

3956
01:48:10,928 --> 01:48:12,996
Has mentioned a lot about um,

3957
01:48:12,996 --> 01:48:14,665
uh, tobacco use of being

3958
01:48:14,665 --> 01:48:15,990
prevalent in the military and.

3959
01:48:15,990 --> 01:48:16,366
Part of the.

3960
01:48:16,366 --> 01:48:17,235
>> main reasons why that is is

3961
01:48:17,235 --> 01:48:19,304
because of the stressors that

3962
01:48:19,304 --> 01:48:22,600
military folks go through, uh,

3963
01:48:22,600 --> 01:48:23,740
in the job um, and to to

3964
01:48:23,740 --> 01:48:24,541
piggyback off what uh, the

3965
01:48:24,541 --> 01:48:25,809
commander here, you know, said

3966
01:48:25,809 --> 01:48:27,712
is uh, you know, the military

3967
01:48:27,712 --> 01:48:29,980
they do do what they can to try

3968
01:48:29,980 --> 01:48:31,649
to mitigate um, any dangers

3969
01:48:31,649 --> 01:48:33,116
from their assets, which is the

3970
01:48:33,116 --> 01:48:33,585
main asset which is which is a

3971
01:48:33,585 --> 01:48:35,419
service member.

3972
01:48:35,419 --> 01:48:36,887
Um, and I know that they do

3973
01:48:36,887 --> 01:48:39,590
have uh, you know, one of the

3974
01:48:39,590 --> 01:48:40,291
highest uh, uh, funded

3975
01:48:40,291 --> 01:48:42,691
cancer researchers in, you

3976
01:48:43,294 --> 01:48:44,962
know, in the world um, but uh,

3977
01:48:44,962 --> 01:48:45,796
they they do what they can but

3978
01:48:45,796 --> 01:48:46,865
of course there's there's

3979
01:48:46,865 --> 01:48:47,531
always more that could.

3980
01:48:47,531 --> 01:48:49,531
>> be done.

3981
01:48:49,566 --> 01:48:50,801
Could I make one other comment?

3982
01:48:50,801 --> 01:48:51,435
Um, I.

3983
01:48:51,435 --> 01:48:53,304
>> just want to.

3984
01:48:53,304 --> 01:48:54,772
Make sure that, uh, people who

3985
01:48:54,772 --> 01:48:57,410
have served veterans are aware

3986
01:48:57,410 --> 01:48:58,509
that, um, if they have had

3987
01:48:58,509 --> 01:49:00,178
military toxic exposures at

3988
01:49:00,178 --> 01:49:02,790
something the va is now

3989
01:49:02,790 --> 01:49:04,790
routinely screening everyone

3990
01:49:04,749 --> 01:49:06,160
enrolled for and uh, adding

3991
01:49:06,160 --> 01:49:06,885
them to registries to

3992
01:49:06,885 --> 01:49:08,753
understand what the health

3993
01:49:08,753 --> 01:49:10,821
effects are and that uh,

3994
01:49:10,821 --> 01:49:12,890
veterans who develop lung

3995
01:49:12,890 --> 01:49:13,557
cancer a number of other

3996
01:49:13,557 --> 01:49:15,557
cancers, other respiratory

3997
01:49:15,627 --> 01:49:17,728
conditions as a result of um,

3998
01:49:17,728 --> 01:49:19,197
uh well, they don't need to

3999
01:49:19,197 --> 01:49:20,866
approve it's considered a

4000
01:49:20,866 --> 01:49:22,866
presumptive condition.

4001
01:49:23,134 --> 01:49:25,803
Um, that entitles them to

4002
01:49:25,803 --> 01:49:27,710
benefits uh, from the va, um,

4003
01:49:27,710 --> 01:49:29,471
health care and benefits.

4004
01:49:29,540 --> 01:49:30,808
So yeah, that's all part of the

4005
01:49:30,808 --> 01:49:31,442
pact act that was signed by

4006
01:49:31,442 --> 01:49:33,442
PRESIDENT Biden.

4007
01:49:33,477 --> 01:49:34,311
Great.

4008
01:49:34,311 --> 01:49:35,413
>> excellent.

4009
01:49:35,413 --> 01:49:36,981
>> um thank you.

4010
01:49:36,981 --> 01:49:37,214
Thank you, councilor fitzgerald

4011
01:49:37,214 --> 01:49:39,214
.

4012
01:49:40,510 --> 01:49:42,486
Also give myself ten minutes.

4013
01:49:42,486 --> 01:49:46,860
But before I do that, um.

4014
01:49:47,458 --> 01:49:48,559
I have another absence that I

4015
01:49:48,559 --> 01:49:48,793
just want to read it into the

4016
01:49:48,793 --> 01:49:50,793
record.

4017
01:49:52,463 --> 01:49:53,864
Uh, dear chair santana, I

4018
01:49:53,864 --> 01:49:55,733
regret to inform you that I MAY

4019
01:49:55,733 --> 01:49:55,967
be unable to attend today's

4020
01:49:55,967 --> 01:49:57,967
meeting.

4021
01:49:58,402 --> 01:50:00,802
Uh, committee on veterans

4022
01:50:01,138 --> 01:50:03,207
military families, um, to

4023
01:50:03,207 --> 01:50:04,476
discuss lung cancer rates among

4024
01:50:04,476 --> 01:50:04,942
black veterans services for

4025
01:50:04,942 --> 01:50:06,577
women veterans.

4026
01:50:06,577 --> 01:50:08,246
I will follow up with

4027
01:50:08,246 --> 01:50:10,115
additional questions upon

4028
01:50:10,115 --> 01:50:10,981
reviewing my staff's notes in

4029
01:50:10,981 --> 01:50:12,216
watching the recording.

4030
01:50:12,216 --> 01:50:13,284
Please do not hesitate to

4031
01:50:13,284 --> 01:50:13,551
contact my staff with any

4032
01:50:13,551 --> 01:50:15,551
questions.

4033
01:50:15,553 --> 01:50:17,655
Sincerely and vk pep and

4034
01:50:17,655 --> 01:50:19,655
counselor boston city

4035
01:50:20,570 --> 01:50:20,258
council district five um I'm

4036
01:50:20,258 --> 01:50:21,325
going.

4037
01:50:21,325 --> 01:50:22,293
>> to give.

4038
01:50:22,293 --> 01:50:23,940
>> myself five minutes all I

4039
01:50:23,940 --> 01:50:25,494
made ten minutes so.

4040
01:50:31,936 --> 01:50:34,205
Um okay so I want to say thank

4041
01:50:34,205 --> 01:50:35,706
you to the panel for the

4042
01:50:35,706 --> 01:50:37,706
important testimony you

4043
01:50:38,776 --> 01:50:41,450
provided in the exceptional

4044
01:50:41,450 --> 01:50:43,147
answers and thoughts you you

4045
01:50:43,147 --> 01:50:43,447
responded to from from my

4046
01:50:43,447 --> 01:50:45,447
colleagues.

4047
01:50:47,485 --> 01:50:49,287
Um and I do want to ask um.

4048
01:50:49,287 --> 01:50:51,287
Two maybe.

4049
01:50:51,956 --> 01:50:54,956
>> two specific questions if i

4050
01:50:55,860 --> 01:50:56,930
may and I want to ask um both

4051
01:50:56,930 --> 01:50:58,930
both.

4052
01:50:58,329 --> 01:50:58,596
Doctors a question if that's

4053
01:50:58,596 --> 01:51:00,596
okay.

4054
01:51:03,668 --> 01:51:06,170
Um so and I listen closely to

4055
01:51:06,170 --> 01:51:07,205
to your testimony um maybe I'll

4056
01:51:07,205 --> 01:51:08,720
start with doctor whitley if

4057
01:51:08,720 --> 01:51:10,720
that's okay.

4058
01:51:11,342 --> 01:51:12,900
Um so so doctor whitley, as as

4059
01:51:12,900 --> 01:51:14,900
it relates.

4060
01:51:15,646 --> 01:51:18,149
To women veterans or black

4061
01:51:18,149 --> 01:51:20,510
veterans or both and I, I

4062
01:51:20,510 --> 01:51:21,520
listened about claims.

4063
01:51:21,520 --> 01:51:23,520
Related issues.

4064
01:51:24,722 --> 01:51:25,790
And and some of you points

4065
01:51:25,790 --> 01:51:26,424
about that which which I

4066
01:51:26,424 --> 01:51:28,424
certainly agree with.

4067
01:51:31,950 --> 01:51:34,695
So a woman veteran for example

4068
01:51:35,633 --> 01:51:37,101
that has a claim maybe it's for

4069
01:51:37,101 --> 01:51:38,569
military sexual trauma, maybe

4070
01:51:38,569 --> 01:51:40,838
it's for other military women

4071
01:51:40,838 --> 01:51:42,838
related health issues.

4072
01:51:44,275 --> 01:51:44,809
Um how challenging is.

4073
01:51:44,809 --> 01:51:46,809
>> it.

4074
01:51:48,279 --> 01:51:48,546
To to speak to someone at a vso

4075
01:51:48,546 --> 01:51:49,547
.

4076
01:51:49,547 --> 01:51:51,547
Or the va.

4077
01:51:51,783 --> 01:51:53,251
That when they're submitting

4078
01:51:53,251 --> 01:51:56,851
their claim that they can talk

4079
01:51:57,155 --> 01:51:58,823
to a woman that can understand

4080
01:51:58,823 --> 01:52:00,925
some of the challenges that

4081
01:52:00,925 --> 01:52:05,125
they are going to but also when

4082
01:52:05,830 --> 01:52:07,498
they go to the c and p exam um

4083
01:52:07,498 --> 01:52:08,533
,before the va that.

4084
01:52:08,533 --> 01:52:10,802
They're able to speak.

4085
01:52:10,802 --> 01:52:13,710
To a woman health care provider

4086
01:52:13,710 --> 01:52:15,140
because I think having a woman

4087
01:52:15,140 --> 01:52:18,242
health care provider or a woman

4088
01:52:18,242 --> 01:52:19,945
at the vso or at the va can

4089
01:52:19,945 --> 01:52:20,745
better understand some.

4090
01:52:20,745 --> 01:52:22,180
>> of the issues.

4091
01:52:22,180 --> 01:52:24,480
A a woman veteran is going

4092
01:52:24,480 --> 01:52:26,448
through and that MAY.

4093
01:52:28,519 --> 01:52:29,287
Because of because of that you.

4094
01:52:29,287 --> 01:52:31,287
>> might see the.

4095
01:52:31,756 --> 01:52:32,230
Percentage is lower than male

4096
01:52:32,230 --> 01:52:34,230
veterans.

4097
01:52:34,826 --> 01:52:35,930
Which which is totally totally

4098
01:52:35,930 --> 01:52:37,930
unfair.

4099
01:52:38,763 --> 01:52:40,431
Um in terms of success of a

4100
01:52:40,431 --> 01:52:42,300
claim but just wanted to get

4101
01:52:42,300 --> 01:52:43,201
what you get your thoughts

4102
01:52:43,201 --> 01:52:45,136
might be on that doctor.

4103
01:52:45,136 --> 01:52:46,372
So um, thank.

4104
01:52:46,372 --> 01:52:47,839
>> you for that question

4105
01:52:47,839 --> 01:52:48,673
because actually that question

4106
01:52:48,673 --> 01:52:50,107
um came up.

4107
01:52:50,107 --> 01:52:51,542
One of the things um.

4108
01:52:51,542 --> 01:52:52,576
,with the vso.

4109
01:52:52,576 --> 01:52:54,576
Um.

4110
01:52:54,579 --> 01:52:55,713
>> we don't have.

4111
01:52:55,713 --> 01:52:57,713
>> as many vs.

4112
01:52:58,983 --> 01:52:59,217
O's as you know, 1st MAY think

4113
01:52:59,217 --> 01:53:00,510
and.

4114
01:53:00,510 --> 01:53:01,653
Obviously it's about hard.

4115
01:53:01,653 --> 01:53:02,486
Around the clock.

4116
01:53:02,486 --> 01:53:04,486
You know.

4117
01:53:06,525 --> 01:53:07,759
So when if a woman walks in.

4118
01:53:07,759 --> 01:53:10,195
And a lot of times mst.

4119
01:53:10,195 --> 01:53:11,629
Is is an old.

4120
01:53:11,629 --> 01:53:12,664
Claim that you know.

4121
01:53:12,664 --> 01:53:14,299
They never.

4122
01:53:14,299 --> 01:53:15,733
Got any counseling maybe

4123
01:53:15,733 --> 01:53:18,236
they're ready to file that

4124
01:53:18,236 --> 01:53:19,103
claim and um they're sitting in

4125
01:53:19,103 --> 01:53:19,737
front of uh.

4126
01:53:19,737 --> 01:53:21,737
>> you know.

4127
01:53:22,373 --> 01:53:23,641
A male vso sometimes it's hard

4128
01:53:23,641 --> 01:53:24,709
to get out exactly.

4129
01:53:24,709 --> 01:53:25,710
>> what happened and it goes.

4130
01:53:25,710 --> 01:53:26,945
Back to shame.

4131
01:53:26,945 --> 01:53:28,613
Like I'm I'm ashamed it's

4132
01:53:28,613 --> 01:53:29,113
happened to me and I was.

4133
01:53:29,113 --> 01:53:29,380
>> supposed.

4134
01:53:29,380 --> 01:53:29,815
To be.

4135
01:53:29,815 --> 01:53:30,448
>> a.

4136
01:53:30,448 --> 01:53:32,848
You know, strong soldier.

4137
01:53:34,319 --> 01:53:35,586
So a lot of times when, you

4138
01:53:35,586 --> 01:53:37,220
know, I talk to women.

4139
01:53:37,220 --> 01:53:38,489
That's that's the first thing

4140
01:53:38,489 --> 01:53:39,224
that they say is that when.

4141
01:53:39,224 --> 01:53:39,857
>> I did my.

4142
01:53:39,857 --> 01:53:41,392
Comp and pin.

4143
01:53:41,392 --> 01:53:41,726
Um, a male.

4144
01:53:41,726 --> 01:53:42,226
Showed up.

4145
01:53:42,226 --> 01:53:42,760
>> yeah.

4146
01:53:42,760 --> 01:53:44,730
And I wasn't.

4147
01:53:44,730 --> 01:53:44,963
Given you know, I wasn't given

4148
01:53:44,963 --> 01:53:45,897
an.

4149
01:53:45,897 --> 01:53:47,699
Opportunity to talk to.

4150
01:53:47,699 --> 01:53:50,990
talk to a female.

4151
01:53:50,768 --> 01:53:52,437
And a lot of times, you know, I

4152
01:53:52,437 --> 01:53:52,670
felt that you know, his face

4153
01:53:52,670 --> 01:53:54,505
was.

4154
01:53:54,505 --> 01:53:56,140
Looking at me like that.

4155
01:53:56,140 --> 01:53:56,575
I can't believe that.

4156
01:53:56,575 --> 01:53:57,542
>> that.

4157
01:53:57,542 --> 01:53:57,876
Happened to you or maybe it

4158
01:53:57,876 --> 01:53:58,443
didn't happen.

4159
01:53:58,443 --> 01:54:00,443
>> to you.

4160
01:54:01,212 --> 01:54:01,479
So it can be quite difficult to

4161
01:54:01,479 --> 01:54:02,680
get a.

4162
01:54:02,680 --> 01:54:03,115
Female vso.

4163
01:54:03,115 --> 01:54:05,490
It's not.

4164
01:54:05,490 --> 01:54:06,117
Impossible and maybe the wait

4165
01:54:06,117 --> 01:54:07,752
might be a little longer.

4166
01:54:07,752 --> 01:54:08,586
Or maybe the, um wait might.

4167
01:54:08,586 --> 01:54:09,587
Be longer.

4168
01:54:09,587 --> 01:54:11,423
For, you know, comp.

4169
01:54:11,423 --> 01:54:11,689
And pin you know, with the

4170
01:54:11,689 --> 01:54:13,910
male.

4171
01:54:13,910 --> 01:54:13,925
So how do we reduce that?

4172
01:54:13,925 --> 01:54:15,925
I think.

4173
01:54:15,960 --> 01:54:16,195
That females that should have

4174
01:54:16,195 --> 01:54:17,629
an.

4175
01:54:17,629 --> 01:54:19,629
Opportunity and.

4176
01:54:19,865 --> 01:54:20,980
Not a long wait to talk to a

4177
01:54:20,980 --> 01:54:21,332
vso.

4178
01:54:21,332 --> 01:54:23,332
Who's a female.

4179
01:54:23,568 --> 01:54:25,804
But again I go I go back to um.

4180
01:54:25,804 --> 01:54:28,204
Commissioner santiago if you

4181
01:54:28,273 --> 01:54:28,706
call his office he could put.

4182
01:54:28,706 --> 01:54:30,642
You in.

4183
01:54:30,642 --> 01:54:31,743
>> touch with um someone who on

4184
01:54:31,743 --> 01:54:32,377
how to work a claim and.

4185
01:54:32,377 --> 01:54:33,770
>> a female.

4186
01:54:33,770 --> 01:54:33,778
>> to know how to.

4187
01:54:33,778 --> 01:54:34,345
>> work a claim.

4188
01:54:34,345 --> 01:54:35,780
But sometimes.

4189
01:54:35,780 --> 01:54:37,215
Often when you call for a vso.

4190
01:54:37,215 --> 01:54:38,450
You MAY have a male vso.

4191
01:54:38,450 --> 01:54:40,385
I had a male vso.

4192
01:54:40,385 --> 01:54:41,219
When it was time to work.

4193
01:54:41,219 --> 01:54:43,219
My client.

4194
01:54:43,255 --> 01:54:43,722
I didn't get a choice and for a

4195
01:54:43,722 --> 01:54:45,722
comp and.

4196
01:54:46,357 --> 01:54:48,193
Pin I had a female, you know.

4197
01:54:48,193 --> 01:54:48,660
Physician but that.

4198
01:54:48,660 --> 01:54:49,861
>> could.

4199
01:54:49,861 --> 01:54:50,295
Be difficult and that's one

4200
01:54:50,295 --> 01:54:50,628
of the reasons.

4201
01:54:50,628 --> 01:54:52,230
Why.

4202
01:54:52,230 --> 01:54:53,598
>> um, someone MAY.

4203
01:54:53,598 --> 01:54:54,666
Give up and they MAY get a

4204
01:54:54,666 --> 01:54:56,135
denial because they MAY not

4205
01:54:56,135 --> 01:54:57,368
give enough information.

4206
01:54:57,368 --> 01:54:58,570
On, you know, the.

4207
01:54:58,570 --> 01:54:58,803
Claim or exactly what happened

4208
01:54:58,803 --> 01:55:00,638
to.

4209
01:55:00,638 --> 01:55:02,474
So I think that.

4210
01:55:02,474 --> 01:55:03,141
Sometimes that's a 5050 what do

4211
01:55:03,141 --> 01:55:04,142
you think?

4212
01:55:04,142 --> 01:55:06,142
Um um.

4213
01:55:09,647 --> 01:55:10,482
So um so um and thank you and

4214
01:55:10,482 --> 01:55:11,449
thank you council for bringing

4215
01:55:11,449 --> 01:55:13,351
up that question which does

4216
01:55:13,351 --> 01:55:15,453
come up uh, quite a bit and I

4217
01:55:15,453 --> 01:55:16,287
had known some cases where a

4218
01:55:16,287 --> 01:55:16,721
woman veteran when.

4219
01:55:16,721 --> 01:55:18,156
>> she.

4220
01:55:18,156 --> 01:55:20,625
Was going through her camp that

4221
01:55:20,625 --> 01:55:22,327
ended up with a male physician

4222
01:55:22,327 --> 01:55:24,996
and she felt uncomfortable and

4223
01:55:24,996 --> 01:55:25,965
in some cases, um it was at a

4224
01:55:25,965 --> 01:55:27,832
private practice in his own

4225
01:55:27,832 --> 01:55:28,300
home, uh, which is totally

4226
01:55:28,300 --> 01:55:30,300
unacceptable.

4227
01:55:32,570 --> 01:55:32,837
Um, but your point um, while it

4228
01:55:32,837 --> 01:55:34,239
.

4229
01:55:34,239 --> 01:55:36,639
MAY be difficult, it's.

4230
01:55:36,875 --> 01:55:39,177
It's not impossible to get a

4231
01:55:39,177 --> 01:55:40,445
woman vso um, in our office

4232
01:55:40,445 --> 01:55:42,514
here in the city of boston we

4233
01:55:42,514 --> 01:55:43,581
have a diverse group

4234
01:55:43,581 --> 01:55:45,981
of veterans benefit specialist

4235
01:55:46,840 --> 01:55:47,953
to include, uh, women veterans

4236
01:55:47,953 --> 01:55:48,820
benefit specialists to help out

4237
01:55:48,820 --> 01:55:50,422
uh, through these claims.

4238
01:55:50,422 --> 01:55:51,923
But also we also have a network

4239
01:55:51,923 --> 01:55:52,991
of vsos throughout the state

4240
01:55:52,991 --> 01:55:54,459
through the massachusetts

4241
01:55:54,459 --> 01:55:54,893
veterans services officers

4242
01:55:54,893 --> 01:55:56,228
association.

4243
01:55:56,228 --> 01:55:58,530
There are a lot of vsos out

4244
01:55:58,530 --> 01:56:00,599
there in the commonwealth that

4245
01:56:00,599 --> 01:56:03,902
um that that are women and that

4246
01:56:03,902 --> 01:56:05,503
do specialize in women.

4247
01:56:05,503 --> 01:56:07,539
Uh the veteran claims as well.

4248
01:56:07,539 --> 01:56:08,606
We also have uh, you know,

4249
01:56:08,606 --> 01:56:11,600
organizations like the american

4250
01:56:11,510 --> 01:56:13,578
legion that the av the the vfw

4251
01:56:13,578 --> 01:56:15,247
um who also has vsos uh within

4252
01:56:15,247 --> 01:56:17,647
their organizations that are

4253
01:56:18,149 --> 01:56:19,317
both uh um uh uh women and men

4254
01:56:19,317 --> 01:56:19,551
as well to help on those

4255
01:56:19,551 --> 01:56:21,219
claims.

4256
01:56:21,219 --> 01:56:22,855
So if there is a woman veteran.

4257
01:56:22,855 --> 01:56:24,689
Who feels uncomfortable.

4258
01:56:24,689 --> 01:56:27,158
Working their claim with with

4259
01:56:27,158 --> 01:56:29,261
with with a male vso, uh, we

4260
01:56:29,261 --> 01:56:31,129
could definitely ensure that we

4261
01:56:31,129 --> 01:56:33,632
get her to that comfort level

4262
01:56:33,632 --> 01:56:34,866
that that she needs to get her

4263
01:56:34,866 --> 01:56:36,368
claim through uh, with with

4264
01:56:36,368 --> 01:56:38,768
with a woman vso.

4265
01:56:39,805 --> 01:56:42,707
So so rob just on just as a

4266
01:56:42,707 --> 01:56:44,576
follow up if if if a woman

4267
01:56:44,576 --> 01:56:46,440
veteran is watching this now

4268
01:56:46,440 --> 01:56:49,147
and a woman veteran does want

4269
01:56:49,147 --> 01:56:51,160
to file a claim and I would

4270
01:56:51,160 --> 01:56:52,685
hope they would go to a vso

4271
01:56:52,685 --> 01:56:53,552
because they they do

4272
01:56:53,552 --> 01:56:55,552
exceptional work.

4273
01:56:56,188 --> 01:56:59,900
Dave and I went through the dmv

4274
01:56:59,900 --> 01:57:01,193
um I know the vfw there's other

4275
01:57:01,193 --> 01:57:04,620
other ways to do it other vsos

4276
01:57:04,620 --> 01:57:05,965
american legion but how would

4277
01:57:05,965 --> 01:57:09,565
you how would you help that

4278
01:57:09,668 --> 01:57:12,137
woman veteran get in touch with

4279
01:57:12,137 --> 01:57:13,405
um, someone that could help her

4280
01:57:13,405 --> 01:57:15,400
with her claim?

4281
01:57:15,400 --> 01:57:15,907
That's that's a woman that

4282
01:57:15,907 --> 01:57:17,743
that's a woman.

4283
01:57:17,743 --> 01:57:19,100
I would recommend first, uh,

4284
01:57:19,100 --> 01:57:20,110
going through your local.

4285
01:57:20,110 --> 01:57:21,646
Veteran services office.

4286
01:57:21,646 --> 01:57:23,115
So if you're in boston,

4287
01:57:23,115 --> 01:57:23,982
obviously that's through the

4288
01:57:23,982 --> 01:57:25,484
the mayor's office of veterans

4289
01:57:25,484 --> 01:57:27,719
services, which is my office.

4290
01:57:27,719 --> 01:57:29,621
Um, and then, uh, you know,

4291
01:57:29,621 --> 01:57:30,255
talk to uh, cudahy who's the

4292
01:57:30,255 --> 01:57:31,957
senior veterans benefit

4293
01:57:31,957 --> 01:57:33,580
specialist there myself.

4294
01:57:33,580 --> 01:57:34,292
Uh, we're not open.

4295
01:57:34,292 --> 01:57:34,960
So who's a veterans benefit

4296
01:57:34,960 --> 01:57:36,960
specialist there?

4297
01:57:37,596 --> 01:57:39,640
Um, and and get their

4298
01:57:39,640 --> 01:57:40,532
comfort level to see another

4299
01:57:40,532 --> 01:57:42,670
way is like I mentioned was to

4300
01:57:42,670 --> 01:57:43,101
the msoa the uh the message.

4301
01:57:43,101 --> 01:57:43,335
>> to the veterans services

4302
01:57:43,335 --> 01:57:44,836
officer.

4303
01:57:44,836 --> 01:57:46,138
Association another way is

4304
01:57:46,138 --> 01:57:47,205
through the executive office

4305
01:57:47,205 --> 01:57:47,439
of veterans services for the

4306
01:57:47,439 --> 01:57:49,439
state.

4307
01:57:50,760 --> 01:57:51,777
Um, contact them and they will

4308
01:57:51,777 --> 01:57:54,846
uh, connect you to the women's

4309
01:57:54,846 --> 01:57:57,349
veterans network who also um is

4310
01:57:57,349 --> 01:57:58,817
uh has uh women vsos that that

4311
01:57:58,817 --> 01:57:59,885
are part of that uh

4312
01:57:59,885 --> 01:58:00,452
organization and that in that

4313
01:58:00,452 --> 01:58:01,853
network as well.

4314
01:58:01,853 --> 01:58:03,550
So there are many different

4315
01:58:03,550 --> 01:58:05,123
avenues that a woman a veteran

4316
01:58:05,123 --> 01:58:05,991
could take to reach a vso that

4317
01:58:05,991 --> 01:58:07,593
they feel comfortable with.

4318
01:58:07,593 --> 01:58:09,593
Okay, excellent.

4319
01:58:10,996 --> 01:58:12,197
Um maybe oh yes doctor.

4320
01:58:12,197 --> 01:58:13,532
>> so it's two different.

4321
01:58:13,532 --> 01:58:13,798
Things that I you know, I just

4322
01:58:13,798 --> 01:58:15,798
noticed.

4323
01:58:16,340 --> 01:58:16,735
If if a woman veteran is.

4324
01:58:16,735 --> 01:58:18,103
Watching right now.

4325
01:58:18,103 --> 01:58:19,205
Some people.

4326
01:58:19,205 --> 01:58:20,238
>> start at the va.

4327
01:58:20,238 --> 01:58:21,440
They pick up the.

4328
01:58:21,440 --> 01:58:22,107
Phone and there's an intake

4329
01:58:22,107 --> 01:58:23,542
person that calls.

4330
01:58:23,542 --> 01:58:25,377
The in person.

4331
01:58:25,377 --> 01:58:25,645
So now they don't recognize the

4332
01:58:25,645 --> 01:58:26,445
poea.

4333
01:58:26,445 --> 01:58:26,978
Which could be.

4334
01:58:26,978 --> 01:58:28,213
>> the.

4335
01:58:28,213 --> 01:58:30,213
Dab a bsl.

4336
01:58:30,415 --> 01:58:31,883
So they're talking directly.

4337
01:58:31,883 --> 01:58:33,952
>> to an intake person and then

4338
01:58:33,952 --> 01:58:34,219
they signed up a competent and

4339
01:58:34,219 --> 01:58:35,821
then.

4340
01:58:35,821 --> 01:58:36,550
They MAY not have a choice

4341
01:58:36,550 --> 01:58:37,522
whether.

4342
01:58:37,522 --> 01:58:39,758
>> it's male or female.

4343
01:58:39,758 --> 01:58:40,225
So if a woman veteran is

4344
01:58:40,225 --> 01:58:41,260
watching.

4345
01:58:41,260 --> 01:58:42,661
Right now I.

4346
01:58:42,661 --> 01:58:44,330
Would say you know call

4347
01:58:44,330 --> 01:58:44,964
commissioner santiago, call

4348
01:58:44,964 --> 01:58:46,231
your local.

4349
01:58:46,231 --> 01:58:48,231
American legion.

4350
01:58:49,670 --> 01:58:51,703
call your vfw, call a vso.

4351
01:58:51,703 --> 01:58:54,172
Then once you get in touch with

4352
01:58:54,172 --> 01:58:55,675
one of these organizations, we

4353
01:58:55,675 --> 01:58:57,743
will help you navigate the the

4354
01:58:57,743 --> 01:58:58,177
system of putting your claim to

4355
01:58:58,177 --> 01:58:59,512
will.

4356
01:58:59,512 --> 01:59:01,546
So I think that's the best.

4357
01:59:01,546 --> 01:59:03,150
If I was a woman vet watching

4358
01:59:03,150 --> 01:59:04,182
right now that's what I want to

4359
01:59:04,182 --> 01:59:04,784
know because the first thing I

4360
01:59:04,784 --> 01:59:07,184
would say is claims.

4361
01:59:07,218 --> 01:59:08,687
Let me dog the va and get it

4362
01:59:08,687 --> 01:59:09,288
and get it started.

4363
01:59:09,288 --> 01:59:10,923
You know.

4364
01:59:10,923 --> 01:59:11,156
Yeah that's a very very good

4365
01:59:11,156 --> 01:59:12,257
point.

4366
01:59:12,257 --> 01:59:13,292
Thank you willing to for saying

4367
01:59:13,292 --> 01:59:14,993
that that's a very good point

4368
01:59:14,993 --> 01:59:16,461
because that's what we do run

4369
01:59:16,461 --> 01:59:17,929
into that people do go to the

4370
01:59:17,929 --> 01:59:19,998
va first instead of going to

4371
01:59:19,998 --> 01:59:20,866
the local vso and um they

4372
01:59:20,866 --> 01:59:22,935
should always contact their

4373
01:59:22,935 --> 01:59:24,803
local vso first and then

4374
01:59:24,803 --> 01:59:27,306
eventually get that po po done

4375
01:59:27,306 --> 01:59:28,173
and then uh help that uh that

4376
01:59:28,173 --> 01:59:29,441
that veteran navigate the

4377
01:59:29,441 --> 01:59:30,709
system through that way as

4378
01:59:30,709 --> 01:59:31,677
opposed to going directly to

4379
01:59:31,677 --> 01:59:32,110
the V.A. Because that's exactly

4380
01:59:32,110 --> 01:59:33,745
what happens.

4381
01:59:33,745 --> 01:59:35,745
Thank thank you.

4382
01:59:35,815 --> 01:59:36,810
Um, let me get the vfw there,

4383
01:59:36,810 --> 01:59:36,715
counselor.

4384
01:59:36,715 --> 01:59:37,150
>> I'm sorry.

4385
01:59:37,150 --> 01:59:38,617
Okay.

4386
01:59:38,617 --> 01:59:41,286
Uh, we do have a.

4387
01:59:41,286 --> 01:59:42,955
Female, uh, veteran, uh,

4388
01:59:42,955 --> 01:59:44,223
services consultant that is

4389
01:59:44,223 --> 01:59:46,125
based at the jfk federal

4390
01:59:46,125 --> 01:59:46,525
building right here in boston.

4391
01:59:46,525 --> 01:59:47,960
Okay.

4392
01:59:47,960 --> 01:59:50,395
That is a great resource.

4393
01:59:50,395 --> 01:59:52,297
And again, the vfw will walk

4394
01:59:52,297 --> 01:59:55,297
the veteran through the entire

4395
01:59:55,367 --> 01:59:56,635
process from intake through any

4396
01:59:56,635 --> 01:59:58,635
potential appeals.

4397
01:59:59,304 --> 02:00:00,806
Um, so we don't just take your

4398
02:00:00,806 --> 02:00:02,674
poea and, you know, send you

4399
02:00:02,674 --> 02:00:03,942
off to the to the va and you

4400
02:00:03,942 --> 02:00:05,110
know, good luck to you and

4401
02:00:05,110 --> 02:00:06,178
we'll be able to walk you

4402
02:00:06,178 --> 02:00:08,280
through the process to make

4403
02:00:08,280 --> 02:00:10,349
sure that you are taking care

4404
02:00:10,349 --> 02:00:11,417
of your looked after and you

4405
02:00:11,417 --> 02:00:12,485
get your appointments scheduled

4406
02:00:12,485 --> 02:00:14,319
in a timely manner.

4407
02:00:14,319 --> 02:00:15,788
So you know, again within the

4408
02:00:15,788 --> 02:00:19,291
city of for the city of boston

4409
02:00:19,291 --> 02:00:19,558
per se, um the vfw at our state

4410
02:00:19,558 --> 02:00:21,558
level.

4411
02:00:21,794 --> 02:00:22,861
Uh, we do have a benefits

4412
02:00:22,861 --> 02:00:24,329
consultant that's based

4413
02:00:24,329 --> 02:00:26,231
straight at the jfk building

4414
02:00:26,231 --> 02:00:28,300
and we're happy to be able to

4415
02:00:28,300 --> 02:00:30,769
assist any veteran especially a

4416
02:00:30,769 --> 02:00:31,637
woman uh, veterans that uh um

4417
02:00:31,637 --> 02:00:33,772
that need any help.

4418
02:00:33,772 --> 02:00:36,175
Another thing I would like to

4419
02:00:36,175 --> 02:00:39,775
add, counselor, if I MAY, sir,

4420
02:00:40,279 --> 02:00:43,182
is that no veteran, no veteran

4421
02:00:43,182 --> 02:00:46,782
and I repeat no veteran should

4422
02:00:46,885 --> 02:00:47,152
have to pay to get their claims

4423
02:00:47,152 --> 02:00:49,880
processed.

4424
02:00:49,880 --> 02:00:50,550
So do you have a lawyer out

4425
02:00:50,550 --> 02:00:51,924
there or someone who thinks

4426
02:00:51,924 --> 02:00:54,226
they know and say, well, if you

4427
02:00:54,226 --> 02:00:56,495
give me 10%, 20% of whatever

4428
02:00:56,495 --> 02:00:58,597
you get from the va, I'll make

4429
02:00:58,597 --> 02:00:59,598
sure you get your procedure.

4430
02:00:59,598 --> 02:01:01,598
You clean processed.

4431
02:01:02,668 --> 02:01:04,269
Um that's a red flag.

4432
02:01:04,269 --> 02:01:07,339
You not go to that person.

4433
02:01:07,339 --> 02:01:09,208
There are many, many qualified

4434
02:01:09,208 --> 02:01:11,277
uh vsos out there you've heard

4435
02:01:11,277 --> 02:01:11,944
of up here through all these

4436
02:01:11,944 --> 02:01:13,746
organizations through your

4437
02:01:13,746 --> 02:01:14,580
local, uh, municipal offices as

4438
02:01:14,580 --> 02:01:16,215
well here in boston.

4439
02:01:16,215 --> 02:01:19,318
It's through my office to get

4440
02:01:19,318 --> 02:01:22,318
those claims done and processed

4441
02:01:22,821 --> 02:01:23,890
accurately and and and and for

4442
02:01:23,890 --> 02:01:24,523
free.

4443
02:01:24,523 --> 02:01:25,825
No veteran.

4444
02:01:25,825 --> 02:01:27,326
And I repeat again no veterans

4445
02:01:27,326 --> 02:01:29,395
should have to pay or should

4446
02:01:29,395 --> 02:01:29,662
pay to get their claims

4447
02:01:29,662 --> 02:01:31,662
processed.

4448
02:01:32,650 --> 02:01:33,766
And one more thing that I know

4449
02:01:33,766 --> 02:01:35,635
if someone's watching who has

4450
02:01:35,635 --> 02:01:38,350
denials of um service

4451
02:01:38,304 --> 02:01:39,772
connections we still we still

4452
02:01:39,772 --> 02:01:40,500
take care of you do the denial

4453
02:01:40,500 --> 02:01:42,500
yes.

4454
02:01:43,760 --> 02:01:44,343
All pows we go back in and see

4455
02:01:44,343 --> 02:01:45,511
why the denial happens because

4456
02:01:45,511 --> 02:01:46,912
I know people are saying well I

4457
02:01:46,912 --> 02:01:48,180
got denied so I'm not going

4458
02:01:48,180 --> 02:01:50,416
back in for anything.

4459
02:01:50,416 --> 02:01:51,885
All denials will look at that

4460
02:01:51,885 --> 02:01:53,385
why the service connection was

4461
02:01:53,385 --> 02:01:55,455
denied and it MAY be something

4462
02:01:55,455 --> 02:01:56,322
you know, just you know, easy

4463
02:01:56,322 --> 02:01:58,157
enough for you to correct.

4464
02:01:58,157 --> 02:01:59,792
So I want to put that out.

4465
02:01:59,792 --> 02:02:00,225
Yeah that's a that's a good

4466
02:02:00,225 --> 02:02:01,961
point.

4467
02:02:01,961 --> 02:02:04,263
Um with those you know you got

4468
02:02:04,263 --> 02:02:07,299
us going now the green there.

4469
02:02:07,299 --> 02:02:08,968
I know rob you and I worked on

4470
02:02:08,968 --> 02:02:10,870
I think they called them at one

4471
02:02:10,870 --> 02:02:11,303
time claimed shot to claim

4472
02:02:11,303 --> 02:02:13,303
shots.

4473
02:02:13,739 --> 02:02:15,207
Um the other point of of that

4474
02:02:15,207 --> 02:02:16,976
rob bright is.

4475
02:02:16,976 --> 02:02:18,210
Not only do they get.

4476
02:02:18,210 --> 02:02:20,210
10% of.

4477
02:02:21,647 --> 02:02:24,149
What you earn, they get 10%

4478
02:02:24,149 --> 02:02:25,618
of what you receive for the

4479
02:02:25,618 --> 02:02:25,851
rest of your life in perpetuity

4480
02:02:25,851 --> 02:02:26,652
.

4481
02:02:26,652 --> 02:02:28,652
Yeah, perpetuity.

4482
02:02:29,521 --> 02:02:31,991
Um so as long as you get va

4483
02:02:31,991 --> 02:02:34,391
disability they'll continue to

4484
02:02:34,693 --> 02:02:35,127
get 10% 15% of what you get

4485
02:02:35,127 --> 02:02:36,762
every month.

4486
02:02:36,762 --> 02:02:37,363
That's that's outrageous.

4487
02:02:37,363 --> 02:02:37,763
That's outrageous.

4488
02:02:37,763 --> 02:02:38,497
Yeah.

4489
02:02:38,497 --> 02:02:40,497
Totally is outrageous.

4490
02:02:41,660 --> 02:02:42,235
Um well let me go and rob thank

4491
02:02:42,235 --> 02:02:42,635
you for bringing that up.

4492
02:02:42,635 --> 02:02:43,602
That's a.

4493
02:02:43,602 --> 02:02:45,205
Great that's a great point.

4494
02:02:45,205 --> 02:02:45,805
Let me go to doctor.

4495
02:02:45,805 --> 02:02:47,805
Doctor alina.

4496
02:02:48,240 --> 02:02:50,910
Um, I was with you.

4497
02:02:50,910 --> 02:02:52,111
I don't know, maybe a year ago

4498
02:02:52,111 --> 02:02:53,779
I think we were at the kroc

4499
02:02:53,779 --> 02:02:56,779
center and with a group

4500
02:02:56,882 --> 02:02:59,952
of people and, um, you you were

4501
02:02:59,952 --> 02:03:02,855
talking to black veterans and

4502
02:03:02,855 --> 02:03:06,158
talking to them about, um, lung

4503
02:03:06,158 --> 02:03:08,270
cancer related issues and you

4504
02:03:08,270 --> 02:03:09,929
know, there was a steady group

4505
02:03:09,929 --> 02:03:11,197
of veterans that did come in

4506
02:03:11,197 --> 02:03:13,597
that did engage you.

4507
02:03:17,903 --> 02:03:20,806
So my question is what what

4508
02:03:20,806 --> 02:03:23,806
steps should a black veteran

4509
02:03:23,910 --> 02:03:25,278
take if they want to talk to

4510
02:03:25,278 --> 02:03:26,450
you they want to talk to

4511
02:03:26,450 --> 02:03:28,280
someone from your team.

4512
02:03:28,280 --> 02:03:29,348
Um, to learn more more about

4513
02:03:29,348 --> 02:03:30,950
your services.

4514
02:03:30,950 --> 02:03:32,180
Just give us an idea of what

4515
02:03:32,180 --> 02:03:34,454
what the steps would be.

4516
02:03:34,454 --> 02:03:36,454
Um, well.

4517
02:03:36,922 --> 02:03:38,190
Anybody is welcome to reach out

4518
02:03:38,190 --> 02:03:40,190
to me directly.

4519
02:03:40,826 --> 02:03:43,696
Um, my email address I can

4520
02:03:43,696 --> 02:03:46,696
provide it's renda dot wiener

4521
02:03:48,340 --> 02:03:51,537
at va gov r e and d a w I e n e

4522
02:03:51,537 --> 02:03:53,606
r uh vega and I'm happy to help

4523
02:03:53,606 --> 02:03:55,675
direct anybody um who has

4524
02:03:55,675 --> 02:03:57,576
questions or needs help about

4525
02:03:57,576 --> 02:03:58,545
uh, you know lung

4526
02:03:58,545 --> 02:03:59,912
cancer screening or or any

4527
02:03:59,912 --> 02:04:02,415
other issues I can try to

4528
02:04:02,415 --> 02:04:03,490
direct them, you know, um, to

4529
02:04:03,490 --> 02:04:05,490
what they need.

4530
02:04:06,519 --> 02:04:08,421
Know when when a black when a

4531
02:04:08,421 --> 02:04:12,210
black veteran is at the va.

4532
02:04:13,492 --> 02:04:16,996
Um, are they screened are they

4533
02:04:16,996 --> 02:04:19,665
screened for um any type

4534
02:04:19,665 --> 02:04:19,932
of respiratory issues or lung

4535
02:04:19,932 --> 02:04:21,932
related.

4536
02:04:22,168 --> 02:04:23,870
Issues automatically or do they

4537
02:04:23,870 --> 02:04:24,670
do they have to request that.

4538
02:04:24,670 --> 02:04:26,670
?

4539
02:04:29,342 --> 02:04:31,144
Um well so the process for lung

4540
02:04:31,144 --> 02:04:33,130
cancer screening specifically

4541
02:04:33,130 --> 02:04:35,515
is when somebody goes to their

4542
02:04:35,515 --> 02:04:37,583
primary care uh, clinician at

4543
02:04:37,583 --> 02:04:40,486
the va there's a process where

4544
02:04:40,486 --> 02:04:41,955
there is um an automatic

4545
02:04:41,955 --> 02:04:43,423
recording of their smoking

4546
02:04:43,423 --> 02:04:45,291
history for people who fall in

4547
02:04:45,291 --> 02:04:47,994
the age range for screening and

4548
02:04:47,994 --> 02:04:48,395
if they meet criteria for lung

4549
02:04:48,395 --> 02:04:50,395
cancer screening.

4550
02:04:50,997 --> 02:04:52,465
again, this is using the uspstf

4551
02:04:52,465 --> 02:04:52,932
criteria which doesn't capture

4552
02:04:52,932 --> 02:04:54,932
everyone.

4553
02:04:56,369 --> 02:04:57,637
Um, but uh, that will flag

4554
02:04:57,637 --> 02:04:58,305
their primary care provider to

4555
02:04:58,305 --> 02:04:59,739
discuss screening.

4556
02:04:59,739 --> 02:05:01,607
So hopefully the veteran

4557
02:05:01,607 --> 02:05:01,907
doesn't have to bring it up

4558
02:05:01,907 --> 02:05:03,907
themselves.

4559
02:05:06,112 --> 02:05:07,380
But um, and then the as I

4560
02:05:07,380 --> 02:05:08,648
mentioned, the va also

4561
02:05:08,648 --> 02:05:10,516
routinely screens that through

4562
02:05:10,516 --> 02:05:12,180
primary care or other

4563
02:05:12,180 --> 02:05:14,870
appointments for uh military

4564
02:05:14,870 --> 02:05:15,955
toxic exposures and whether the

4565
02:05:15,955 --> 02:05:16,823
veteran has any concerns about

4566
02:05:16,823 --> 02:05:18,458
that.

4567
02:05:18,458 --> 02:05:19,925
And oftentimes those are

4568
02:05:19,925 --> 02:05:21,795
respiratory concerns that

4569
02:05:21,795 --> 02:05:24,795
people have related to exposure

4570
02:05:25,980 --> 02:05:26,365
to burn pits or other um, other

4571
02:05:26,365 --> 02:05:28,365
uh toxic exposures.

4572
02:05:29,635 --> 02:05:31,103
Um, and so that also flags uh

4573
02:05:31,103 --> 02:05:32,605
puts a flag in the record to

4574
02:05:32,605 --> 02:05:34,730
discuss those concerns and

4575
02:05:34,730 --> 02:05:35,275
address them with the veteran.

4576
02:05:35,275 --> 02:05:36,642
Yeah.

4577
02:05:36,642 --> 02:05:39,780
>> thank and thank you, doctor.

4578
02:05:39,780 --> 02:05:41,981
Just um just as a fyi for for

4579
02:05:41,981 --> 02:05:43,349
the public I I've been I've

4580
02:05:43,349 --> 02:05:45,852
been in I was in the military

4581
02:05:45,852 --> 02:05:47,720
24 years um most of the

4582
02:05:47,720 --> 02:05:51,320
reserves but some active when I

4583
02:05:51,657 --> 02:05:53,126
was stationed overseas I was in

4584
02:05:53,126 --> 02:05:55,995
bahrain a small country got

4585
02:05:55,995 --> 02:05:57,697
bahrain and we went up to the

4586
02:05:57,697 --> 02:06:00,166
iraqi oil platforms all the

4587
02:06:00,166 --> 02:06:03,269
time and then when I came back

4588
02:06:03,269 --> 02:06:06,269
I also noticed um respiratory

4589
02:06:06,539 --> 02:06:08,641
related issues and I was

4590
02:06:08,641 --> 02:06:12,241
recommended to join or to enter

4591
02:06:12,345 --> 02:06:12,812
into the um what am I calling

4592
02:06:12,812 --> 02:06:14,812
it now?

4593
02:06:17,830 --> 02:06:17,951
Uh, it's the it used to be the

4594
02:06:17,951 --> 02:06:18,351
oh the registry.

4595
02:06:18,351 --> 02:06:19,986
Yes.

4596
02:06:19,986 --> 02:06:21,986
The gulf registry.

4597
02:06:23,856 --> 02:06:25,291
Um that is still open um and

4598
02:06:25,291 --> 02:06:27,193
accepting you don't necessarily

4599
02:06:27,193 --> 02:06:29,262
make a claim there but you

4600
02:06:29,262 --> 02:06:31,331
document that you were in a

4601
02:06:31,331 --> 02:06:33,433
particular area of the country

4602
02:06:33,433 --> 02:06:36,433
in what health related issues.

4603
02:06:37,203 --> 02:06:39,272
But I do want to recommend to

4604
02:06:39,272 --> 02:06:40,773
veterans that if you're in a

4605
02:06:40,773 --> 02:06:42,800
particular area and you do have

4606
02:06:42,800 --> 02:06:45,800
some health related issues that

4607
02:06:45,111 --> 02:06:45,578
you should um, enter into this

4608
02:06:45,578 --> 02:06:47,578
registry.

4609
02:06:53,860 --> 02:06:54,755
Um, so my final my final point

4610
02:06:54,755 --> 02:06:56,422
before we kind of conclude I

4611
02:06:56,422 --> 02:06:59,325
gave every I give it all my

4612
02:06:59,325 --> 02:07:02,325
colleagues um well over ten

4613
02:07:03,663 --> 02:07:05,532
minutes and well let me ask um

4614
02:07:05,532 --> 02:07:06,599
is there any public testimony

4615
02:07:06,599 --> 02:07:08,100
from anyone else that's here?

4616
02:07:08,100 --> 02:07:09,836
Okay.

4617
02:07:09,836 --> 02:07:11,338
So there's no more public

4618
02:07:11,338 --> 02:07:13,338
testimony here.

4619
02:07:13,573 --> 02:07:16,676
If any person at the panel

4620
02:07:16,676 --> 02:07:19,779
would like to give a closing

4621
02:07:19,779 --> 02:07:21,648
statement that would be helpful

4622
02:07:21,648 --> 02:07:25,151
and maybe as part of the

4623
02:07:25,151 --> 02:07:26,820
closing statement if you can

4624
02:07:26,820 --> 02:07:29,820
highlight what our next steps

4625
02:07:30,723 --> 02:07:32,592
could could be as a committee

4626
02:07:32,592 --> 02:07:34,694
on where we go from here

4627
02:07:34,694 --> 02:07:38,398
because I would like to do a

4628
02:07:38,398 --> 02:07:40,667
hearing maybe in outside

4629
02:07:40,667 --> 02:07:42,535
of city hall but maybe in

4630
02:07:42,535 --> 02:07:45,535
roxbury maybe in dorchester and

4631
02:07:46,673 --> 02:07:48,375
I'll listen to veterans all

4632
02:07:48,375 --> 02:07:50,610
veterans but um, specifically

4633
02:07:50,610 --> 02:07:52,278
listen to veterans of color,

4634
02:07:52,278 --> 02:07:54,678
listen to women veterans,

4635
02:07:55,782 --> 02:07:57,500
listen to them and um, in their

4636
02:07:57,500 --> 02:07:59,500
challenges, their concerns.

4637
02:07:59,886 --> 02:08:00,587
But I do want to ask and give

4638
02:08:00,587 --> 02:08:02,188
everyone the opportunity.

4639
02:08:02,188 --> 02:08:04,257
If you would like to have a

4640
02:08:04,257 --> 02:08:05,725
closing statement for 2 or 3

4641
02:08:05,725 --> 02:08:06,827
minutes, uh, to take the

4642
02:08:06,827 --> 02:08:08,295
opportunity then then I'll give

4643
02:08:08,295 --> 02:08:10,695
my colleagues an opportunity

4644
02:08:10,964 --> 02:08:11,665
for a closing statement for 2

4645
02:08:11,665 --> 02:08:13,700
or 3 minutes as well.

4646
02:08:13,700 --> 02:08:14,567
So let me start with um

4647
02:08:14,567 --> 02:08:16,567
commissioner santiago.

4648
02:08:18,405 --> 02:08:19,906
Uh, first and foremost, uh,

4649
02:08:19,906 --> 02:08:20,673
thank you very much again for

4650
02:08:20,673 --> 02:08:22,800
for holding this thank you.

4651
02:08:22,800 --> 02:08:24,310
And also to councilor santana

4652
02:08:24,310 --> 02:08:24,978
for setting up this uh this

4653
02:08:24,978 --> 02:08:26,146
conversation here today.

4654
02:08:26,146 --> 02:08:28,546
Thank you, councilor fitzgerald

4655
02:08:29,215 --> 02:08:30,830
,for also, um, being here and

4656
02:08:30,830 --> 02:08:31,117
for your thoughtful questions.

4657
02:08:31,117 --> 02:08:32,385
I'm sorry I took more most

4658
02:08:32,385 --> 02:08:34,254
of your time, uh, earlier

4659
02:08:34,254 --> 02:08:36,557
today, but, um, it's it's uh

4660
02:08:36,557 --> 02:08:37,624
it's it's it really makes me,

4661
02:08:37,624 --> 02:08:39,624
uh, optimistic.

4662
02:08:40,590 --> 02:08:41,227
Uh, on our next steps, um, we

4663
02:08:41,227 --> 02:08:42,950
we've talked a lot about

4664
02:08:42,950 --> 02:08:44,264
navigating the system here.

4665
02:08:44,264 --> 02:08:45,732
Um, and how do we get vets, uh,

4666
02:08:45,732 --> 02:08:47,800
into the system and I think,

4667
02:08:47,800 --> 02:08:48,869
um, you know, mark some of his

4668
02:08:48,869 --> 02:08:50,770
comments when he was talking

4669
02:08:50,770 --> 02:08:53,239
earlier about, you know, making

4670
02:08:53,239 --> 02:08:54,307
boston uh, set the example

4671
02:08:54,307 --> 02:08:54,541
locally for the rest of the

4672
02:08:54,541 --> 02:08:56,541
country.

4673
02:08:56,776 --> 02:08:57,978
I think that's, you know, a

4674
02:08:57,978 --> 02:08:59,120
great idea and I think it's

4675
02:08:59,120 --> 02:09:00,914
something that is worth looking

4676
02:09:00,914 --> 02:09:01,881
forward to going into what

4677
02:09:01,881 --> 02:09:02,749
councilor flynn said about

4678
02:09:02,749 --> 02:09:04,317
going into the community,

4679
02:09:04,317 --> 02:09:05,819
talking to the veterans and

4680
02:09:05,819 --> 02:09:07,200
seeing where the need is and

4681
02:09:07,200 --> 02:09:07,655
how we could get these veterans

4682
02:09:07,655 --> 02:09:08,855
into the system.

4683
02:09:08,855 --> 02:09:10,490
You know, like I mentioned

4684
02:09:10,490 --> 02:09:11,458
earlier, there's uh less than a

4685
02:09:11,458 --> 02:09:11,925
million women veterans that are

4686
02:09:11,925 --> 02:09:13,360
in the system.

4687
02:09:13,360 --> 02:09:15,610
But yeah, we have 2.1 million

4688
02:09:15,610 --> 02:09:16,730
women veterans um, in the

4689
02:09:16,730 --> 02:09:18,398
country, you know, and this is

4690
02:09:18,398 --> 02:09:19,900
also a way that we could also

4691
02:09:19,900 --> 02:09:20,967
work on getting them, uh, into

4692
02:09:20,967 --> 02:09:22,836
the system and having these

4693
02:09:22,836 --> 02:09:24,505
conversation now the continued

4694
02:09:24,505 --> 02:09:26,172
partnerships uh, both locally

4695
02:09:26,172 --> 02:09:28,475
statewide, federally and also

4696
02:09:28,475 --> 02:09:29,742
with the with with with with

4697
02:09:29,742 --> 02:09:31,311
other partner organizations is

4698
02:09:31,311 --> 02:09:33,613
going to be key to ensuring uh

4699
02:09:33,613 --> 02:09:34,800
the success of what we do to.

4700
02:09:34,800 --> 02:09:35,181
>> ensure.

4701
02:09:35,181 --> 02:09:37,851
That our veterans, um, have

4702
02:09:37,851 --> 02:09:38,919
access um, you know, uh, for

4703
02:09:38,919 --> 02:09:40,200
for all the benefits and

4704
02:09:40,200 --> 02:09:40,253
services that that they have

4705
02:09:40,253 --> 02:09:41,721
earned.

4706
02:09:41,721 --> 02:09:42,156
So I'm looking forward to the

4707
02:09:42,156 --> 02:09:42,789
future steps.

4708
02:09:42,789 --> 02:09:44,425
Okay.

4709
02:09:44,425 --> 02:09:46,425
Hey, craig.

4710
02:09:46,459 --> 02:09:48,459
Uh, thanks again,

4711
02:09:48,461 --> 02:09:49,329
councilor flynn, uh, for, uh,

4712
02:09:49,329 --> 02:09:50,430
convening this today.

4713
02:09:50,430 --> 02:09:52,332
Councilor fitzgerald, your

4714
02:09:52,332 --> 02:09:54,000
great questions and, uh, we

4715
02:09:54,000 --> 02:09:55,268
appreciate your, uh, the

4716
02:09:55,268 --> 02:09:55,702
attention that these issues are

4717
02:09:55,702 --> 02:09:57,702
being given.

4718
02:09:57,737 --> 02:09:58,705
Uh, first off, uh,

4719
02:09:58,705 --> 02:10:00,173
councilor flynn, I'd like to

4720
02:10:00,173 --> 02:10:02,442
offer up the boston police post

4721
02:10:02,442 --> 02:10:04,945
as some place to to host that,

4722
02:10:04,945 --> 02:10:06,120
uh, offsite, uh, meeting

4723
02:10:06,120 --> 02:10:07,480
hearing, you know, veterans

4724
02:10:07,480 --> 02:10:07,747
town hall, whatever you want to

4725
02:10:07,747 --> 02:10:09,115
call it.

4726
02:10:09,115 --> 02:10:10,985
We would be more than happy to,

4727
02:10:10,985 --> 02:10:11,651
uh, to host that and I work

4728
02:10:11,651 --> 02:10:14,510
with you on that.

4729
02:10:15,880 --> 02:10:17,590
Um, the overarching question is

4730
02:10:17,590 --> 02:10:17,825
how do we take care of this

4731
02:10:17,825 --> 02:10:19,825
problem?

4732
02:10:19,960 --> 02:10:21,161
Uh, it you know, I'll ask the

4733
02:10:21,161 --> 02:10:23,864
question of how do you eat an

4734
02:10:23,864 --> 02:10:25,532
elephant one bite at a time and

4735
02:10:25,532 --> 02:10:27,000
that's the way that we're going

4736
02:10:27,000 --> 02:10:28,869
to be able to to make the

4737
02:10:28,869 --> 02:10:30,570
conditions for not just the

4738
02:10:30,570 --> 02:10:32,439
black veterans that are dealing

4739
02:10:32,439 --> 02:10:34,908
with with lung cancer the women

4740
02:10:34,908 --> 02:10:37,308
veterans in their their

4741
02:10:37,611 --> 02:10:38,245
particular uh, health issues as

4742
02:10:38,245 --> 02:10:39,279
as women.

4743
02:10:39,279 --> 02:10:41,279
Uh but.

4744
02:10:42,315 --> 02:10:43,683
>> all veterans uh, across the

4745
02:10:43,683 --> 02:10:46,587
board, you know, no matter what

4746
02:10:46,587 --> 02:10:49,489
their other demographics are uh

4747
02:10:49,489 --> 02:10:51,758
it does take a village to to

4748
02:10:51,758 --> 02:10:53,226
solve this problem and right

4749
02:10:53,226 --> 02:10:55,950
up, you know, at this table

4750
02:10:55,950 --> 02:10:56,363
right here where a bunch

4751
02:10:56,363 --> 02:10:56,596
of folks that you know, we got

4752
02:10:56,596 --> 02:10:57,431
a.

4753
02:10:57,431 --> 02:10:59,431
Guy yeah.

4754
02:11:00,266 --> 02:11:02,569
We might not have the answer to

4755
02:11:02,569 --> 02:11:05,720
the question but yeah, I know

4756
02:11:05,720 --> 02:11:06,940
somebody else that does uh and

4757
02:11:06,940 --> 02:11:08,408
what we will do is make sure

4758
02:11:08,408 --> 02:11:10,510
that we do share that

4759
02:11:10,510 --> 02:11:10,745
information uh, with each other

4760
02:11:10,745 --> 02:11:12,745
that.

4761
02:11:13,313 --> 02:11:14,514
Okay, uh, you know, the.

4762
02:11:14,514 --> 02:11:16,316
Commissioner might have a

4763
02:11:16,316 --> 02:11:17,885
question if he asks me, I might

4764
02:11:17,885 --> 02:11:18,952
not know the answer but I can

4765
02:11:18,952 --> 02:11:20,620
reach out to my network

4766
02:11:20,620 --> 02:11:21,688
of other of my fellow state

4767
02:11:21,688 --> 02:11:24,880
commanders across the country

4768
02:11:24,591 --> 02:11:25,425
and say, hey guys, how are you

4769
02:11:25,425 --> 02:11:27,425
handling this issue?

4770
02:11:27,695 --> 02:11:29,563
And I'll have somebody from

4771
02:11:29,563 --> 02:11:31,310
idaho or from arizona or from

4772
02:11:31,310 --> 02:11:31,498
texas say, hey, this is what

4773
02:11:31,498 --> 02:11:32,466
we're doing here.

4774
02:11:32,466 --> 02:11:32,799
Like wow, that sounds like a

4775
02:11:32,799 --> 02:11:34,799
great idea.

4776
02:11:35,680 --> 02:11:35,502
Maybe we can replicate that in

4777
02:11:35,502 --> 02:11:35,802
boston.

4778
02:11:35,802 --> 02:11:37,802
Um.

4779
02:11:37,838 --> 02:11:39,940
>> it's those types of networks

4780
02:11:39,940 --> 02:11:42,209
and those types of ideas uh,

4781
02:11:42,209 --> 02:11:44,478
that will make this issue these

4782
02:11:44,478 --> 02:11:46,480
issues, uh, attainable where

4783
02:11:46,480 --> 02:11:46,981
we'll be able to help solve

4784
02:11:46,981 --> 02:11:47,347
some of these problems.

4785
02:11:47,347 --> 02:11:49,347
Um.

4786
02:11:52,219 --> 02:11:54,221
>> again, uh, part of what we

4787
02:11:54,221 --> 02:11:56,123
want what we do with the vfw as

4788
02:11:56,123 --> 02:11:56,990
well as the other service

4789
02:11:56,990 --> 02:11:57,625
organizations like the legion

4790
02:11:57,625 --> 02:11:58,425
and the dav.

4791
02:11:58,425 --> 02:11:59,893
Um.

4792
02:11:59,893 --> 02:12:01,161
>> when we're out in our

4793
02:12:01,161 --> 02:12:02,596
communities all the time that

4794
02:12:02,596 --> 02:12:03,630
we are community based

4795
02:12:03,630 --> 02:12:04,970
organizations.

4796
02:12:04,970 --> 02:12:06,970
That.

4797
02:12:06,233 --> 02:12:08,902
>> uh, we will be able to get

4798
02:12:08,902 --> 02:12:11,605
uh, uh, our folks together and

4799
02:12:11,605 --> 02:12:13,273
we come together monthly or a

4800
02:12:13,273 --> 02:12:14,541
daily basis depending on the

4801
02:12:14,541 --> 02:12:14,942
types of posts that we have.

4802
02:12:14,942 --> 02:12:16,942
Uh.

4803
02:12:17,978 --> 02:12:20,280
>> come out visit uh, we want

4804
02:12:20,280 --> 02:12:21,548
to be able to uh, be productive

4805
02:12:21,548 --> 02:12:22,349
members of the process here.

4806
02:12:22,349 --> 02:12:24,349
Um.

4807
02:12:24,685 --> 02:12:26,286
>> again like the last time I

4808
02:12:26,286 --> 02:12:26,553
was here and uh, provide a

4809
02:12:26,553 --> 02:12:28,553
testimony.

4810
02:12:28,956 --> 02:12:29,223
Uh uh, one word of caution

4811
02:12:29,223 --> 02:12:31,223
that.

4812
02:12:32,259 --> 02:12:34,328
The the rest of the

4813
02:12:34,328 --> 02:12:35,629
commonwealth pays attention to

4814
02:12:35,629 --> 02:12:37,498
what goes on in the city

4815
02:12:37,498 --> 02:12:39,600
of boston as far as as veterans

4816
02:12:39,600 --> 02:12:39,833
are concerned, they see that

4817
02:12:39,833 --> 02:12:41,833
oh.

4818
02:12:43,504 --> 02:12:44,972
If we just cut $750,000 from

4819
02:12:44,972 --> 02:12:46,473
the veterans budget, thank

4820
02:12:46,473 --> 02:12:48,141
goodness we had a group like

4821
02:12:48,141 --> 02:12:49,209
brighton one step up to help

4822
02:12:49,209 --> 02:12:51,450
fill that gap.

4823
02:12:51,450 --> 02:12:52,513
But that doesn't mean that next

4824
02:12:52,513 --> 02:12:54,381
year or even tomorrow they

4825
02:12:54,381 --> 02:12:56,781
their priorities change from

4826
02:12:56,884 --> 02:12:57,718
what the city of boston's uh,

4827
02:12:57,718 --> 02:12:59,553
veterans priorities are.

4828
02:12:59,553 --> 02:13:01,553
Um and then.

4829
02:13:02,389 --> 02:13:03,690
We'll never see that $750,000

4830
02:13:03,690 --> 02:13:06,900
again into the budget.

4831
02:13:06,127 --> 02:13:07,561
That's $750,000.

4832
02:13:07,561 --> 02:13:09,561
Goes back into.

4833
02:13:11,298 --> 02:13:13,400
The commissioner's ability to

4834
02:13:13,400 --> 02:13:14,468
provide that outreach, to

4835
02:13:14,468 --> 02:13:15,335
provide that education to the

4836
02:13:15,335 --> 02:13:16,136
veterans community of the city.

4837
02:13:16,136 --> 02:13:18,136
Uh.

4838
02:13:18,205 --> 02:13:20,740
>> so I just want to be able

4839
02:13:20,740 --> 02:13:20,340
to, you know, to implore upon,

4840
02:13:20,340 --> 02:13:20,641
you.

4841
02:13:20,641 --> 02:13:22,641
Know.

4842
02:13:22,876 --> 02:13:24,945
>> what happens here in boston

4843
02:13:24,945 --> 02:13:25,613
just doesn't necessarily happen

4844
02:13:25,613 --> 02:13:26,213
here in boston.

4845
02:13:26,213 --> 02:13:27,681
Uh.

4846
02:13:27,681 --> 02:13:28,715
>> the rest of the commonwealth

4847
02:13:28,715 --> 02:13:29,717
pays attention.

4848
02:13:29,717 --> 02:13:31,151
Uh, and.

4849
02:13:31,151 --> 02:13:33,151
I, I really.

4850
02:13:34,188 --> 02:13:35,222
yeah yes, I do demand.

4851
02:13:35,222 --> 02:13:37,222
That, you know.

4852
02:13:37,458 --> 02:13:38,725
Our council shows the

4853
02:13:38,725 --> 02:13:39,593
leadership across the

4854
02:13:39,593 --> 02:13:41,228
council across the.

4855
02:13:41,228 --> 02:13:43,228
Commonwealth that.

4856
02:13:43,464 --> 02:13:45,132
You know, boston is going to

4857
02:13:45,132 --> 02:13:47,350
take the best care of veterans

4858
02:13:47,350 --> 02:13:48,702
that we can and we are going to

4859
02:13:48,702 --> 02:13:50,170
stand up and provide that

4860
02:13:50,170 --> 02:13:51,805
leadership to make that happen.

4861
02:13:51,805 --> 02:13:52,239
So again, thank you for all

4862
02:13:52,239 --> 02:13:53,675
your efforts.

4863
02:13:53,675 --> 02:13:55,976
Thank you for your attention

4864
02:13:55,976 --> 02:13:58,450
and we look forward to being uh

4865
02:13:58,450 --> 02:13:59,513
again part of that village that

4866
02:13:59,513 --> 02:14:00,981
comes together to take care

4867
02:14:00,981 --> 02:14:02,490
of veterans again across the

4868
02:14:02,490 --> 02:14:02,383
city and across the

4869
02:14:02,383 --> 02:14:04,318
commonwealth.

4870
02:14:04,318 --> 02:14:05,753
Thank you commander mr kennedy.

4871
02:14:05,753 --> 02:14:07,753
Yes.

4872
02:14:08,522 --> 02:14:10,591
>> uh, again we just start by

4873
02:14:10,591 --> 02:14:12,590
expressing my sincere,

4874
02:14:12,590 --> 02:14:12,893
heartfelt thank you for the

4875
02:14:12,893 --> 02:14:14,962
opportunity to be here.

4876
02:14:14,962 --> 02:14:16,630
And let me rephrase to

4877
02:14:16,630 --> 02:14:19,499
privilege and honor to be here

4878
02:14:19,499 --> 02:14:20,567
uh, amongst um, city

4879
02:14:20,567 --> 02:14:22,350
council and esteemed members

4880
02:14:22,350 --> 02:14:23,504
of this panel, I'm really

4881
02:14:23,504 --> 02:14:24,972
thrilled to have been able to

4882
02:14:24,972 --> 02:14:25,439
continue to participate in this

4883
02:14:25,439 --> 02:14:27,439
discussion.

4884
02:14:27,875 --> 02:14:29,143
I made a lot of comments about

4885
02:14:29,143 --> 02:14:31,145
um the guidelines piece.

4886
02:14:31,145 --> 02:14:34,480
So again I stand by that and

4887
02:14:34,480 --> 02:14:35,916
um, what you said and what you

4888
02:14:35,916 --> 02:14:37,585
said and also sort of what my

4889
02:14:37,585 --> 02:14:40,585
comment it was basically a

4890
02:14:40,721 --> 02:14:42,189
build and it's this I don't I

4891
02:14:42,189 --> 02:14:43,257
think everybody in this on this

4892
02:14:43,257 --> 02:14:44,925
panel at some point mentioned

4893
02:14:44,925 --> 02:14:46,527
the word navigation.

4894
02:14:46,527 --> 02:14:46,994
We know the word navigation is

4895
02:14:46,994 --> 02:14:48,994
great.

4896
02:14:49,229 --> 02:14:50,297
I have a very high level

4897
02:14:50,297 --> 02:14:52,297
of resident residents.

4898
02:14:52,533 --> 02:14:54,350
I'm sorry to that because I

4899
02:14:54,350 --> 02:14:56,303
started my career in public

4900
02:14:56,303 --> 02:14:58,572
health as a patient navigator

4901
02:14:58,572 --> 02:14:58,973
at the at uh the dana-farber

4902
02:14:58,973 --> 02:15:00,575
cancer institute.

4903
02:15:00,575 --> 02:15:00,875
Um, I believe in that

4904
02:15:00,875 --> 02:15:02,242
application.

4905
02:15:02,242 --> 02:15:03,711
I believe in the power

4906
02:15:03,711 --> 02:15:05,512
of navigation to support

4907
02:15:05,512 --> 02:15:06,680
patients and get them to the

4908
02:15:06,680 --> 02:15:06,947
best outcomes that they could

4909
02:15:06,947 --> 02:15:08,947
have.

4910
02:15:09,617 --> 02:15:11,685
The point I want to make as we

4911
02:15:11,685 --> 02:15:14,154
talk about piece of the

4912
02:15:14,154 --> 02:15:15,622
application and the implication

4913
02:15:15,622 --> 02:15:18,325
is that there's a patient with

4914
02:15:18,325 --> 02:15:19,327
a diagnosis that is going now

4915
02:15:19,327 --> 02:15:20,294
through the system to make sure

4916
02:15:20,294 --> 02:15:20,761
that they get the treatment

4917
02:15:20,761 --> 02:15:22,761
that they need.

4918
02:15:23,197 --> 02:15:26,100
And our cancer plan for the

4919
02:15:26,100 --> 02:15:27,335
city I'm looking to move

4920
02:15:27,335 --> 02:15:29,735
navigation for the upstream.

4921
02:15:30,205 --> 02:15:31,472
I talk about the concept of a

4922
02:15:31,472 --> 02:15:33,472
screening navigator.

4923
02:15:35,142 --> 02:15:37,211
So pre patient how do you take

4924
02:15:37,211 --> 02:15:39,790
that that that that that

4925
02:15:39,790 --> 02:15:41,148
mentality that that um that

4926
02:15:41,148 --> 02:15:42,416
focus on on supporting a

4927
02:15:42,416 --> 02:15:44,718
patient while they go into

4928
02:15:44,718 --> 02:15:46,387
treatment and move it up so

4929
02:15:46,387 --> 02:15:48,689
that before the person becomes

4930
02:15:48,689 --> 02:15:50,658
a patient they get help with

4931
02:15:50,658 --> 02:15:52,159
navigating administratively and

4932
02:15:52,159 --> 02:15:53,828
otherwise how you move through

4933
02:15:53,828 --> 02:15:54,895
a system, how you get screened

4934
02:15:54,895 --> 02:15:56,697
for a particular location.

4935
02:15:56,697 --> 02:15:58,165
What are the follow up

4936
02:15:58,165 --> 02:16:01,165
procedures that allow you to

4937
02:16:01,268 --> 02:16:03,337
adhere to make sure that if uh

4938
02:16:03,337 --> 02:16:05,639
,as you mentioned earlier, you

4939
02:16:05,639 --> 02:16:06,707
might get a screening mammogram

4940
02:16:06,707 --> 02:16:08,375
but if there's something that's

4941
02:16:08,375 --> 02:16:09,844
wrong with that which causes

4942
02:16:09,844 --> 02:16:11,312
you to then have to come back

4943
02:16:11,312 --> 02:16:12,580
and get a diagnostic mammogram

4944
02:16:12,580 --> 02:16:14,150
,do you show up?

4945
02:16:14,150 --> 02:16:15,483
People understand the

4946
02:16:15,483 --> 02:16:17,151
difference between the two and

4947
02:16:17,151 --> 02:16:19,220
do you understand what it means

4948
02:16:19,220 --> 02:16:19,520
to to do that from a cost

4949
02:16:19,520 --> 02:16:21,520
perspective?

4950
02:16:23,124 --> 02:16:25,124
because massachusetts passed

4951
02:16:25,226 --> 02:16:28,226
legislation I think in 2024 we

4952
02:16:28,329 --> 02:16:28,863
call it the um the

4953
02:16:28,863 --> 02:16:29,997
cancer diagnostic bill.

4954
02:16:29,997 --> 02:16:31,299
The official name of the bill

4955
02:16:31,299 --> 02:16:34,201
is a little different, but it

4956
02:16:34,201 --> 02:16:35,670
took that diagnostic mammogram

4957
02:16:35,670 --> 02:16:37,339
cost sharing burden off

4958
02:16:37,339 --> 02:16:39,206
of women so that they could

4959
02:16:39,206 --> 02:16:40,475
continue to adhere to what that

4960
02:16:40,475 --> 02:16:40,908
screening member williams said.

4961
02:16:40,908 --> 02:16:42,908
Right.

4962
02:16:46,180 --> 02:16:47,648
My point was this navigation

4963
02:16:47,648 --> 02:16:48,516
sounds like all of us agree is

4964
02:16:48,516 --> 02:16:51,352
a critical part of this.

4965
02:16:51,352 --> 02:16:54,655
We know that cms put in

4966
02:16:54,655 --> 02:16:57,550
physician billing codes in 2024

4967
02:16:57,125 --> 02:16:58,592
that allow clinical practice to

4968
02:16:58,592 --> 02:17:00,270
reimburse for navigation.

4969
02:17:00,270 --> 02:17:02,960
Let's take advantage of that

4970
02:17:02,960 --> 02:17:05,960
and make sure that navigation

4971
02:17:06,233 --> 02:17:08,136
is a standard part, a standard

4972
02:17:08,136 --> 02:17:09,770
sustainable part of the way

4973
02:17:09,770 --> 02:17:11,239
people that waterfowl claims or

4974
02:17:11,239 --> 02:17:13,239
whatever behaviors are

4975
02:17:13,741 --> 02:17:15,843
introduced to and supported as

4976
02:17:15,843 --> 02:17:17,512
they move through the clinical

4977
02:17:17,512 --> 02:17:20,214
system in the va and again let

4978
02:17:20,214 --> 02:17:21,282
the massachusetts va be the

4979
02:17:21,282 --> 02:17:23,351
model for the rest of the

4980
02:17:23,351 --> 02:17:25,620
country not only when we're

4981
02:17:25,620 --> 02:17:26,687
talking about access to

4982
02:17:26,687 --> 02:17:27,955
screening for lung

4983
02:17:27,955 --> 02:17:30,658
cancer beyond just tobacco use

4984
02:17:30,658 --> 02:17:32,326
,but navigation for veterans

4985
02:17:32,326 --> 02:17:32,994
through the system so that

4986
02:17:32,994 --> 02:17:33,227
nobody falls through the

4987
02:17:33,227 --> 02:17:34,862
cracks.

4988
02:17:34,862 --> 02:17:36,331
Everybody has answers to

4989
02:17:36,331 --> 02:17:37,832
questions that they want and

4990
02:17:37,832 --> 02:17:39,660
they get through the system

4991
02:17:39,660 --> 02:17:40,902
with the best outcomes.

4992
02:17:40,902 --> 02:17:42,169
Navigation and guidelines I

4993
02:17:42,169 --> 02:17:42,637
think are two main points

4994
02:17:42,637 --> 02:17:44,637
of this.

4995
02:17:45,273 --> 02:17:46,541
I think the va uh veterans have

4996
02:17:46,541 --> 02:17:47,309
an opportunity to set the tone

4997
02:17:47,309 --> 02:17:48,275
for the rest of the country.

4998
02:17:48,275 --> 02:17:50,111
I hope you do.

4999
02:17:50,111 --> 02:17:51,112
Thank you, mr kennedy.

5000
02:17:51,112 --> 02:17:52,146
um, doctor.

5001
02:17:52,146 --> 02:17:52,881
Thank you.

5002
02:17:52,881 --> 02:17:53,281
>> council time.

5003
02:17:53,281 --> 02:17:54,382
Thank you.

5004
02:17:54,382 --> 02:17:55,850
Councilor fitzgerald.

5005
02:17:55,850 --> 02:17:59,353
One of the things that I, you

5006
02:17:59,353 --> 02:18:01,222
know, thought about is um, as

5007
02:18:01,222 --> 02:18:03,291
veterans we connect by

5008
02:18:03,291 --> 02:18:03,591
storytelling like we that's our

5009
02:18:03,591 --> 02:18:05,591
connection.

5010
02:18:05,794 --> 02:18:07,261
We we tell a story about, you

5011
02:18:07,261 --> 02:18:08,563
know, how we served and and

5012
02:18:08,563 --> 02:18:08,796
what we did and that's how we

5013
02:18:08,796 --> 02:18:10,796
connect.

5014
02:18:12,166 --> 02:18:14,235
But I think is, um, if we

5015
02:18:14,235 --> 02:18:16,337
continue to advocate for

5016
02:18:16,337 --> 02:18:17,805
equitable, equitable access to

5017
02:18:17,805 --> 02:18:20,740
resources and ways and

5018
02:18:20,740 --> 02:18:21,776
awareness about trauma, mental

5019
02:18:21,776 --> 02:18:24,645
health needs and health needs,

5020
02:18:24,645 --> 02:18:26,347
um, I think we can create a

5021
02:18:26,347 --> 02:18:28,347
program that culturally

5022
02:18:29,817 --> 02:18:31,719
identifies um, you know, black

5023
02:18:31,719 --> 02:18:34,119
on black female soldiers.

5024
02:18:35,156 --> 02:18:37,658
So why I said that is normally

5025
02:18:37,658 --> 02:18:39,327
when we think about um when we

5026
02:18:39,327 --> 02:18:40,595
are introduced to all these

5027
02:18:40,595 --> 02:18:41,662
these programs and we're

5028
02:18:41,662 --> 02:18:44,620
hearing these different things

5029
02:18:44,165 --> 02:18:46,667
on tv or in the media we don't

5030
02:18:46,667 --> 02:18:48,770
actually see see a person who,

5031
02:18:48,770 --> 02:18:50,671
you know, actually work in that

5032
02:18:50,671 --> 02:18:52,540
department or like you know,

5033
02:18:52,540 --> 02:18:54,800
the boston public health

5034
02:18:54,800 --> 02:18:56,278
scanner and the va.

5035
02:18:56,278 --> 02:18:58,946
So as long as we continue these

5036
02:18:58,946 --> 02:19:01,249
town halls and continue to have

5037
02:19:01,249 --> 02:19:02,116
this discussion, we'll bring

5038
02:19:02,116 --> 02:19:04,116
more veterans.

5039
02:19:04,352 --> 02:19:06,421
And if I'm looking right now at

5040
02:19:06,421 --> 02:19:08,322
this if I was I was if I was

5041
02:19:08,322 --> 02:19:11,192
home and I'm watching this and

5042
02:19:11,192 --> 02:19:12,894
I say hey you know I you know I

5043
02:19:12,894 --> 02:19:14,762
had trouble following the claim

5044
02:19:14,762 --> 02:19:15,630
right here on we have someone

5045
02:19:15,630 --> 02:19:17,310
from the vfw.

5046
02:19:17,310 --> 02:19:18,833
We have someone from the post

5047
02:19:18,833 --> 02:19:20,935
now I know who was on the list

5048
02:19:20,935 --> 02:19:23,405
so I just feel the same issue

5049
02:19:23,405 --> 02:19:25,506
as long as we continue that

5050
02:19:25,506 --> 02:19:27,775
navigating and making a system

5051
02:19:27,775 --> 02:19:29,844
as easy as possible for someone

5052
02:19:29,844 --> 02:19:32,347
to navigate through the system

5053
02:19:32,347 --> 02:19:34,215
for health care needs um for

5054
02:19:34,215 --> 02:19:37,318
mental health um needs and for

5055
02:19:37,318 --> 02:19:39,718
education that's that's all

5056
02:19:40,421 --> 02:19:42,900
golden ticket to get to you

5057
02:19:42,900 --> 02:19:42,857
know on that's in the city

5058
02:19:42,857 --> 02:19:43,892
of boston massachusetts.

5059
02:19:43,892 --> 02:19:46,292
We have a direct.

5060
02:19:46,928 --> 02:19:48,229
Excellent um thank you doctor

5061
02:19:48,229 --> 02:19:50,629
and and doctor juana.

5062
02:19:52,267 --> 02:19:53,968
Um, thank you so much for the

5063
02:19:53,968 --> 02:19:55,436
opportunity to be here today

5064
02:19:55,436 --> 02:19:57,505
for this important hearing, for

5065
02:19:57,505 --> 02:19:58,172
the thoughtful questions for

5066
02:19:58,172 --> 02:20:00,700
all of.

5067
02:20:00,700 --> 02:20:00,275
>> the, uh, wisdom that's been

5068
02:20:00,275 --> 02:20:02,275
shared.

5069
02:20:02,310 --> 02:20:03,845
By the other members of.

5070
02:20:03,845 --> 02:20:04,312
>> the panel and ah, also from

5071
02:20:04,312 --> 02:20:06,312
the public.

5072
02:20:08,783 --> 02:20:09,851
Um, I, uh, want to touch on one

5073
02:20:09,851 --> 02:20:11,319
other point that we haven't

5074
02:20:11,319 --> 02:20:13,588
talked about so much today.

5075
02:20:13,588 --> 02:20:16,457
Um, and that's that lung

5076
02:20:16,457 --> 02:20:17,725
cancer is, uh, highly uh,

5077
02:20:17,725 --> 02:20:19,127
stigmatized condition.

5078
02:20:19,127 --> 02:20:21,127
Because of the.

5079
02:20:22,397 --> 02:20:23,465
Uh the strong link with um,

5080
02:20:23,465 --> 02:20:24,532
smoking even though we know

5081
02:20:24,532 --> 02:20:25,800
that there are other factors

5082
02:20:25,800 --> 02:20:26,835
that contribute to.

5083
02:20:26,835 --> 02:20:28,835
Lung cancer risk.

5084
02:20:29,470 --> 02:20:31,139
But I want to say that nobody

5085
02:20:31,139 --> 02:20:33,539
no veteran no person.

5086
02:20:34,209 --> 02:20:36,245
Deserves lung cancer and we.

5087
02:20:36,245 --> 02:20:38,645
>> are here to help.

5088
02:20:38,880 --> 02:20:40,148
We are here to uh the va and

5089
02:20:40,148 --> 02:20:42,383
other health care systems.

5090
02:20:42,383 --> 02:20:45,487
And this amazing city uh, are

5091
02:20:45,487 --> 02:20:47,756
here with screening to try to,

5092
02:20:47,756 --> 02:20:48,823
um, identify cancers early and

5093
02:20:48,823 --> 02:20:51,223
get people into treatment.

5094
02:20:51,893 --> 02:20:53,361
I love the ideas about

5095
02:20:53,361 --> 02:20:55,361
navigation including veteran

5096
02:20:55,830 --> 02:20:58,533
peer to peer genetic navigation

5097
02:20:58,533 --> 02:21:02,837
um, which we have in the va and

5098
02:21:02,837 --> 02:21:03,305
uh and using the power of the

5099
02:21:03,305 --> 02:21:04,305
uh community.

5100
02:21:04,305 --> 02:21:06,305
based organizations.

5101
02:21:06,941 --> 02:21:09,941
That that veterans have access

5102
02:21:10,440 --> 02:21:12,147
to uh, to spread the word about

5103
02:21:12,147 --> 02:21:14,215
uh, screening and help people

5104
02:21:14,215 --> 02:21:16,615
get connected to um.

5105
02:21:16,651 --> 02:21:17,850
To services.

5106
02:21:17,850 --> 02:21:18,887
Um.

5107
02:21:18,887 --> 02:21:19,955
>> I also just want to say

5108
02:21:19,955 --> 02:21:20,422
because this is a stigmatized

5109
02:21:20,422 --> 02:21:22,422
condition.

5110
02:21:22,457 --> 02:21:22,925
Sometimes doing the community

5111
02:21:22,925 --> 02:21:24,559
events like we.

5112
02:21:24,559 --> 02:21:26,828
Did or like you know, like

5113
02:21:26,828 --> 02:21:28,960
you're talking about doing um

5114
02:21:28,960 --> 02:21:30,131
sometimes it doesn't reach.

5115
02:21:30,131 --> 02:21:32,531
>> the people who most.

5116
02:21:33,368 --> 02:21:35,270
Need to be reached, um, because

5117
02:21:35,270 --> 02:21:36,538
they MAY be reluctant to go to

5118
02:21:36,538 --> 02:21:37,605
something that's about lung

5119
02:21:37,605 --> 02:21:39,875
cancer or whatever because

5120
02:21:39,875 --> 02:21:41,376
of the stigma and and the shame

5121
02:21:41,376 --> 02:21:44,120
and blame that people feel.

5122
02:21:44,120 --> 02:21:45,280
So uh, one thing we learned

5123
02:21:45,280 --> 02:21:46,115
from our work and that peer

5124
02:21:46,115 --> 02:21:46,748
connects was that.

5125
02:21:46,748 --> 02:21:48,350
One of the.

5126
02:21:48,350 --> 02:21:50,451
Most powerful things was

5127
02:21:50,451 --> 02:21:51,720
actually reaching people who

5128
02:21:51,720 --> 02:21:52,287
maybe weren't eligible for a

5129
02:21:52,287 --> 02:21:54,287
lung cancer screening.

5130
02:21:54,322 --> 02:21:56,425
But then they went and talked

5131
02:21:56,425 --> 02:21:58,293
to other members of their

5132
02:21:58,293 --> 02:21:59,895
community, um, who.

5133
02:21:59,895 --> 02:22:01,162
Didn't come to the events but

5134
02:22:01,162 --> 02:22:02,865
like spreading the word that

5135
02:22:02,865 --> 02:22:04,499
way and helping convince.

5136
02:22:04,499 --> 02:22:05,834
People to come in and get the.

5137
02:22:05,834 --> 02:22:06,968
The health care that.

5138
02:22:06,968 --> 02:22:08,803
>> they need and deserve.

5139
02:22:08,803 --> 02:22:10,803
Thank you doctor.

5140
02:22:11,439 --> 02:22:14,542
Um, before I go to counselor

5141
02:22:14,542 --> 02:22:16,211
fitzgerald, um, for a closing

5142
02:22:16,211 --> 02:22:17,679
statement, doctor, I just want

5143
02:22:17,679 --> 02:22:20,983
to make one quick point or ask

5144
02:22:20,983 --> 02:22:22,685
a brief quick question many

5145
02:22:22,685 --> 02:22:24,953
veterans and or to rob santiago

5146
02:22:24,953 --> 02:22:27,422
,both of you, uh, many

5147
02:22:27,422 --> 02:22:29,525
veterans don't even know the

5148
02:22:29,525 --> 02:22:31,993
veterans and they don't even

5149
02:22:31,993 --> 02:22:34,393
realize that they can

5150
02:22:34,896 --> 02:22:35,330
participate in um services for

5151
02:22:35,330 --> 02:22:37,330
veterans.

5152
02:22:38,800 --> 02:22:39,668
They might be older at this

5153
02:22:39,668 --> 02:22:40,268
time, but.

5154
02:22:40,268 --> 02:22:42,268
>> they're.

5155
02:22:42,470 --> 02:22:45,470
Still eligible for services and

5156
02:22:45,541 --> 02:22:46,608
programs at the va and it's not

5157
02:22:46,608 --> 02:22:47,142
too late to sign up.

5158
02:22:47,142 --> 02:22:47,776
Is that correct?

5159
02:22:47,776 --> 02:22:48,610
Correct.

5160
02:22:48,610 --> 02:22:49,211
>> that's correct.

5161
02:22:49,211 --> 02:22:51,211
Absolutely.

5162
02:22:53,810 --> 02:22:55,150
Rob what should someone do if

5163
02:22:55,150 --> 02:22:55,417
they if they're an older person

5164
02:22:55,417 --> 02:22:57,417
.

5165
02:22:58,530 --> 02:23:00,121
They for years they weren't

5166
02:23:00,121 --> 02:23:00,388
treated well coming back from

5167
02:23:00,388 --> 02:23:02,388
service.

5168
02:23:02,825 --> 02:23:05,225
They they are veterans.

5169
02:23:05,660 --> 02:23:06,528
They don't they haven't engaged

5170
02:23:06,528 --> 02:23:08,928
in the system yet.

5171
02:23:08,964 --> 02:23:10,398
What's their first step?

5172
02:23:10,398 --> 02:23:11,433
Contact us.

5173
02:23:11,433 --> 02:23:13,235
Okay contest to.

5174
02:23:13,235 --> 02:23:15,470
Contact us get ahold of us.

5175
02:23:15,470 --> 02:23:16,538
We could navigate and

5176
02:23:16,538 --> 02:23:17,405
communicate with you what's

5177
02:23:17,405 --> 02:23:18,840
available to you?

5178
02:23:18,840 --> 02:23:20,375
Um.

5179
02:23:20,375 --> 02:23:20,809
Give this give the system a

5180
02:23:20,809 --> 02:23:21,843
second chance.

5181
02:23:21,843 --> 02:23:22,444
It's not.

5182
02:23:22,444 --> 02:23:24,444
Um.

5183
02:23:25,113 --> 02:23:25,847
Now I know that speaking

5184
02:23:25,847 --> 02:23:27,249
of stigma that, you know,

5185
02:23:27,249 --> 02:23:29,117
there's been a lot of um a lot

5186
02:23:29,117 --> 02:23:29,985
of veterans have been stigma

5187
02:23:29,985 --> 02:23:31,153
stigmatized because of the

5188
02:23:31,153 --> 02:23:34,220
services they got in the va

5189
02:23:34,220 --> 02:23:35,523
back in the 70s and 80s where

5190
02:23:35,523 --> 02:23:37,592
um where they didn't have the

5191
02:23:37,592 --> 02:23:38,460
kind of services that are being

5192
02:23:38,460 --> 02:23:40,460
provided today.

5193
02:23:41,960 --> 02:23:42,565
Um and the fact that, you know,

5194
02:23:42,565 --> 02:23:43,632
covers a lot of that,

5195
02:23:43,632 --> 02:23:44,933
especially when it comes to the

5196
02:23:44,933 --> 02:23:46,201
presumptive uh, conditions that

5197
02:23:46,201 --> 02:23:47,269
we're talking about here today,

5198
02:23:47,269 --> 02:23:47,936
uh, that that include many

5199
02:23:47,936 --> 02:23:49,936
different cancers.

5200
02:23:51,573 --> 02:23:52,675
so um, contact us, ask us

5201
02:23:52,675 --> 02:23:55,143
of questions, give the system a

5202
02:23:55,143 --> 02:23:56,812
you know, a chance and let us,

5203
02:23:56,812 --> 02:23:58,680
uh let us help you navigate the

5204
02:23:58,680 --> 02:23:59,948
system so that you can get the

5205
02:23:59,948 --> 02:24:02,851
services and benefits that you

5206
02:24:02,851 --> 02:24:03,118
had deserved and continue to to

5207
02:24:03,118 --> 02:24:04,753
earn.

5208
02:24:04,753 --> 02:24:06,421
So, um, contact us, contact

5209
02:24:06,421 --> 02:24:08,323
your local vso, contact your

5210
02:24:08,323 --> 02:24:08,557
local uh, veteran organization

5211
02:24:08,557 --> 02:24:10,557
.

5212
02:24:11,593 --> 02:24:12,600
Um, and uh, let us do our job

5213
02:24:12,600 --> 02:24:12,861
for you.

5214
02:24:12,861 --> 02:24:14,629
.

5215
02:24:14,629 --> 02:24:15,897
>> rob, give us your contact

5216
02:24:15,897 --> 02:24:17,165
information once again I know

5217
02:24:17,165 --> 02:24:18,334
you provided it already, but

5218
02:24:18,334 --> 02:24:18,600
give it to us one more time,

5219
02:24:18,600 --> 02:24:20,202
please.

5220
02:24:20,202 --> 02:24:21,303
So for the for the boston

5221
02:24:21,303 --> 02:24:24,206
office of veterans services you

5222
02:24:24,206 --> 02:24:25,574
could contact us uh

5223
02:24:25,574 --> 02:24:27,642
boston.Gov/veterans or you

5224
02:24:27,642 --> 02:24:29,545
could give us a call at uh

5225
02:24:29,545 --> 02:24:31,545
617635 3030.

5226
02:24:32,781 --> 02:24:33,215
Thank you rob um

5227
02:24:33,215 --> 02:24:34,983
council fitzgerald.

5228
02:24:34,983 --> 02:24:36,818
Thank you chair.

5229
02:24:36,818 --> 02:24:36,985
Uh, you know, I just want to

5230
02:24:36,985 --> 02:24:37,285
say.

5231
02:24:37,285 --> 02:24:37,919
Thank you.

5232
02:24:37,919 --> 02:24:38,653
>> all.

5233
02:24:38,653 --> 02:24:40,880
>> uh, for the.

5234
02:24:40,880 --> 02:24:41,923
Important work that you do.

5235
02:24:41,923 --> 02:24:43,191
Uh, because not only are we we

5236
02:24:43,191 --> 02:24:45,260
have the subset of veterans

5237
02:24:45,260 --> 02:24:45,527
that we can, uh that we can

5238
02:24:45,527 --> 02:24:47,362
help.

5239
02:24:47,362 --> 02:24:48,630
Um, but it will have an impact

5240
02:24:48,630 --> 02:24:50,980
on everybody, uh, veterans and

5241
02:24:50,980 --> 02:24:51,767
not veterans when we when we

5242
02:24:51,767 --> 02:24:52,968
talk about health, uh, we're

5243
02:24:52,968 --> 02:24:54,403
all the same human individuals.

5244
02:24:54,403 --> 02:24:55,671
And so if we can figure out

5245
02:24:55,671 --> 02:24:57,139
what's wrong with one subset,

5246
02:24:57,139 --> 02:24:58,307
hopefully we can apply it to

5247
02:24:58,307 --> 02:24:59,410
another and so on and so on.

5248
02:24:59,410 --> 02:24:59,575
And so just.

5249
02:24:59,575 --> 02:25:01,410
>> thank.

5250
02:25:01,410 --> 02:25:02,677
you all for uh, your leadership

5251
02:25:02,677 --> 02:25:04,346
and and the important work that

5252
02:25:04,346 --> 02:25:06,448
you do and please always feel

5253
02:25:06,448 --> 02:25:09,117
free to reach out to uh to to

5254
02:25:09,117 --> 02:25:10,986
add to myself uh, when when you

5255
02:25:10,986 --> 02:25:11,853
have to teach us what we need

5256
02:25:11,853 --> 02:25:12,254
to do for you.

5257
02:25:12,254 --> 02:25:13,789
Right?

5258
02:25:13,789 --> 02:25:14,656
You guys have you guys are the

5259
02:25:14,656 --> 02:25:16,358
ones going through it and

5260
02:25:16,358 --> 02:25:18,260
experiencing it and so uh and

5261
02:25:18,260 --> 02:25:19,595
that goes I know we didn't uh

5262
02:25:19,595 --> 02:25:20,662
we touched on it a lot but even

5263
02:25:20,662 --> 02:25:22,932
for the women veterans services

5264
02:25:22,932 --> 02:25:23,131
,uh, not a veteran and not a

5265
02:25:23,131 --> 02:25:25,330
woman.

5266
02:25:25,330 --> 02:25:26,902
And so I do tread lightly and I

5267
02:25:26,902 --> 02:25:28,971
take my cues from you all.

5268
02:25:28,971 --> 02:25:30,380
Uh, and so please educate

5269
02:25:30,380 --> 02:25:30,205
me and tell us what we need to

5270
02:25:30,205 --> 02:25:31,340
do.

5271
02:25:31,340 --> 02:25:33,976
Uh, but thank you again.

5272
02:25:33,976 --> 02:25:35,243
Well, thank you, thank you

5273
02:25:35,243 --> 02:25:36,780
john, thank you for being here.

5274
02:25:36,780 --> 02:25:38,780
Um.

5275
02:25:40,349 --> 02:25:43,349
It was an important discussion

5276
02:25:43,819 --> 02:25:45,921
on support services for women

5277
02:25:45,921 --> 02:25:47,990
veterans for how we support

5278
02:25:47,990 --> 02:25:49,458
veterans of color, um, on

5279
02:25:49,458 --> 02:25:52,261
medical care and coding, um,

5280
02:25:52,261 --> 02:25:53,762
and lung cancer screening and I

5281
02:25:53,762 --> 02:25:55,331
think my colleague

5282
02:25:55,331 --> 02:25:56,598
council fitzgerald uh,

5283
02:25:56,598 --> 02:25:58,500
highlighted an important point

5284
02:25:58,500 --> 02:25:58,733
that I kind of wanted to close

5285
02:25:58,733 --> 02:26:00,733
with.

5286
02:26:02,605 --> 02:26:05,605
Is the importance of of

5287
02:26:05,875 --> 02:26:07,576
listening, um, you know,

5288
02:26:07,576 --> 02:26:09,976
listening to women veterans

5289
02:26:10,846 --> 02:26:13,749
listening to veterans of color

5290
02:26:13,749 --> 02:26:16,149
listening to lgbtq veterans.

5291
02:26:17,419 --> 02:26:20,880
I don't have that experience

5292
02:26:20,880 --> 02:26:22,391
but I want to and continue to

5293
02:26:22,391 --> 02:26:24,893
be a strong supporter of all

5294
02:26:24,893 --> 02:26:26,328
veterans especially including

5295
02:26:26,328 --> 02:26:28,328
women veterans, veterans

5296
02:26:28,630 --> 02:26:31,300
of color, lgbtq veterans.

5297
02:26:31,300 --> 02:26:33,135
But it is about listening.

5298
02:26:33,135 --> 02:26:35,135
It's about learning.

5299
02:26:36,171 --> 02:26:38,874
And that's why I called this

5300
02:26:38,874 --> 02:26:41,143
hearing today so we can give an

5301
02:26:41,143 --> 02:26:42,811
opportunity for you to speak

5302
02:26:42,811 --> 02:26:44,811
about your experiences.

5303
02:26:45,470 --> 02:26:46,949
But more importantly, there

5304
02:26:46,949 --> 02:26:49,418
might be someone sitting home

5305
02:26:49,418 --> 02:26:51,286
that this information might

5306
02:26:51,286 --> 02:26:53,389
connect with them and maybe

5307
02:26:53,389 --> 02:26:56,910
they'll pick up the phone um or

5308
02:26:56,910 --> 02:26:58,995
send an email next week to rob

5309
02:26:58,995 --> 02:27:00,662
santiago or to or to the other

5310
02:27:00,662 --> 02:27:03,662
veteran leaders here as well.

5311
02:27:04,100 --> 02:27:07,603
Um, but we have to acknowledge

5312
02:27:07,603 --> 02:27:09,603
the incredible service

5313
02:27:10,105 --> 02:27:11,573
sacrifice of women veterans

5314
02:27:11,573 --> 02:27:11,840
of veterans and veterans

5315
02:27:11,840 --> 02:27:13,840
of color.

5316
02:27:15,770 --> 02:27:15,344
We're not giving them any

5317
02:27:15,344 --> 02:27:17,344
services.

5318
02:27:17,546 --> 02:27:18,614
We're not giving them any

5319
02:27:18,614 --> 02:27:18,881
programs that are in these

5320
02:27:18,881 --> 02:27:19,181
programs.

5321
02:27:19,181 --> 02:27:21,181
Right.

5322
02:27:22,685 --> 02:27:24,520
>> and as a nation historically

5323
02:27:24,520 --> 02:27:25,988
we haven't been welcome

5324
02:27:25,988 --> 02:27:27,856
welcoming to many women

5325
02:27:27,856 --> 02:27:30,856
veterans or veterans of color.

5326
02:27:32,328 --> 02:27:35,928
In fact, I'm going to provost's

5327
02:27:36,266 --> 02:27:38,935
I'm going to send a to the city

5328
02:27:38,935 --> 02:27:41,236
council a resolution to support

5329
02:27:41,236 --> 02:27:42,705
a piece of federal legislation

5330
02:27:42,705 --> 02:27:44,705
to support it.

5331
02:27:45,341 --> 02:27:48,341
And it's basically to ensure

5332
02:27:48,644 --> 02:27:50,913
that when black veterans

5333
02:27:50,913 --> 02:27:53,816
returned from world war two

5334
02:27:53,816 --> 02:27:55,284
they really didn't participate

5335
02:27:55,284 --> 02:27:57,386
or receive the veterans the

5336
02:27:57,386 --> 02:27:59,786
services that they earned

5337
02:28:00,456 --> 02:28:02,958
specifically on housing va, va

5338
02:28:02,958 --> 02:28:04,958
housing programs because

5339
02:28:06,462 --> 02:28:08,964
of that they didn't generate

5340
02:28:08,964 --> 02:28:09,632
generational wealth like like

5341
02:28:09,632 --> 02:28:11,632
other veterans have.

5342
02:28:13,469 --> 02:28:15,371
Um, but this piece of federal

5343
02:28:15,371 --> 02:28:17,371
legislation would provide.

5344
02:28:20,420 --> 02:28:21,810
Grandchildren or children maybe

5345
02:28:21,810 --> 02:28:23,479
I have to do a little bit more

5346
02:28:23,479 --> 02:28:26,479
research, um, giving them an

5347
02:28:26,982 --> 02:28:30,860
opportunity to get a little bit

5348
02:28:30,860 --> 02:28:32,388
of services such as um real

5349
02:28:32,388 --> 02:28:34,857
estate such as first time home

5350
02:28:34,857 --> 02:28:37,560
by by a programs through the va

5351
02:28:37,560 --> 02:28:40,560
because they were denied that

5352
02:28:41,865 --> 02:28:43,933
benefit due to racism they were

5353
02:28:43,933 --> 02:28:46,333
denied that specific program

5354
02:28:46,435 --> 02:28:47,804
due to the color of their skin

5355
02:28:47,804 --> 02:28:49,804
due to discrimination.

5356
02:28:50,439 --> 02:28:51,507
Um but that's a piece

5357
02:28:51,507 --> 02:28:51,774
of legislation I'm going to

5358
02:28:51,774 --> 02:28:53,209
look at.

5359
02:28:53,209 --> 02:28:55,311
I know you and I talked about

5360
02:28:55,311 --> 02:28:58,981
that rub for a while and want

5361
02:28:58,981 --> 02:29:00,683
to also acknowledge, um,

5362
02:29:00,683 --> 02:29:03,830
commissioner santiago we worked

5363
02:29:04,387 --> 02:29:06,787
on especially under PRESIDENT

5364
02:29:07,490 --> 02:29:09,959
Biden when gay and lesbians

5365
02:29:09,959 --> 02:29:10,226
were discharged from the

5366
02:29:10,226 --> 02:29:12,226
service.

5367
02:29:12,261 --> 02:29:14,261
They were discharged.

5368
02:29:16,980 --> 02:29:16,365
With a discharge that wasn't

5369
02:29:16,365 --> 02:29:18,365
honorable.

5370
02:29:19,602 --> 02:29:21,270
So when you have that discharge

5371
02:29:21,270 --> 02:29:23,670
that is not honorable.

5372
02:29:24,940 --> 02:29:27,100
Um, it it limits what benefits

5373
02:29:27,100 --> 02:29:27,276
and services you can get as a

5374
02:29:27,276 --> 02:29:29,276
veteran.

5375
02:29:29,512 --> 02:29:31,280
But through the work

5376
02:29:31,280 --> 02:29:32,948
of commissioner santiago, we we

5377
02:29:32,948 --> 02:29:33,415
did a lot of work at the

5378
02:29:33,415 --> 02:29:35,415
federal level.

5379
02:29:36,485 --> 02:29:38,955
Um, and I say gay gay and

5380
02:29:38,955 --> 02:29:41,955
lesbians now it's lgbtq plus

5381
02:29:43,693 --> 02:29:45,127
but we have to ensure that they

5382
02:29:45,127 --> 02:29:47,960
are also treated with respect.

5383
02:29:47,960 --> 02:29:50,960
And dignity that they've earned

5384
02:29:50,400 --> 02:29:53,936
in if they were discharged for

5385
02:29:53,936 --> 02:29:55,605
reasons um due to their sexual

5386
02:29:55,605 --> 02:29:58,500
orientation, I believe that

5387
02:29:58,107 --> 02:30:00,507
that discharge should be

5388
02:30:00,576 --> 02:30:01,944
upgraded and maybe maybe that's

5389
02:30:01,944 --> 02:30:04,470
an issue we're going to have to

5390
02:30:04,470 --> 02:30:05,281
continue to work on as we go

5391
02:30:05,281 --> 02:30:06,549
forward because I know I'm

5392
02:30:06,549 --> 02:30:08,451
committed to it and we're

5393
02:30:08,451 --> 02:30:11,870
committed to to that as well.

5394
02:30:11,870 --> 02:30:11,954
But having said that, this is

5395
02:30:11,954 --> 02:30:13,954
about justice.

5396
02:30:13,990 --> 02:30:16,692
This is about respect for all

5397
02:30:16,692 --> 02:30:17,560
veterans especially

5398
02:30:17,560 --> 02:30:19,280
historically especially

5399
02:30:19,280 --> 02:30:21,428
veterans that historically have

5400
02:30:21,531 --> 02:30:24,600
been denied access to the va

5401
02:30:24,600 --> 02:30:27,503
and to um services and programs

5402
02:30:27,503 --> 02:30:29,903
that they've earned this

5403
02:30:30,406 --> 02:30:32,806
hearing on docket number.

5404
02:30:39,348 --> 02:30:41,617
Zero seven um excuse me 0273027

5405
02:30:41,617 --> 02:30:43,486
for a hearing to discuss lung

5406
02:30:43,486 --> 02:30:45,588
cancer rates among black

5407
02:30:45,588 --> 02:30:46,455
veterans and services for women

5408
02:30:46,455 --> 02:30:48,455
veterans is adjourned.

5409
02:30:49,892 --> 02:30:51,892
Thank you.