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Good morning.

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My name is Ed Fland, Boston City Council. I am the Vice Chair of the Boston City Council committee and veterans, military families, military fears. Today's August 28, 2026, the exact time is 10 o'clock.

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This hearing is being recorded. It is also being live-streamed at Boston.gov slash city council

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dash TV in broadcast on Exfinity, Channel 8, RCN, Channel 82, Fios, Channel 964.

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Written comments may be sent to the committee, email at ccc.gov, that's at Boston.gov,

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in will be made part of the record in available to all city councilors.

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Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing,

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or if anyone wouldn't like to testify virtually,

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we'll try to get you in during the hearing.

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If you have any scheduling related issues,

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and you need to testify immediately,

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please let me know when I'll try to get you in to testify.

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as we speak. Individuals will be called on in the order in which they sign up and they'll

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have two minutes to testify. I will not cut anyone off if you need to speak for more

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than two minutes. Please take the time that you need.

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If you are interested in testifying

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in person, please add your name to the sign up sheet near the entrance of the City Council

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Chamber. If you are looking to testify virtually, please email our City Council central

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staff liaison, Shane Pack, and Shane, a Sage A&E. Pack at Boston.gov for the link. In your

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name, we'll be out at the list. Today's hearing is on actually two dockets, dockets 0, 2, 7, 3.

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It's in order for a hearing to discuss lung cancer rates among black veterans. In the second

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And I would like to thank Dr. Markett, his Dr. Zero 274, which is an order for a hearing

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to discuss services for women veterans.

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Dr. Zero 273 was sponsored by, by myself, counselor, counselor Murphy, and counselor

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Santana, in it was referred to the committee on February 4th, 2026.

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I am joined by my Council colleagues in order of a rival, of a rival, Council Murphy.

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I do want to acknowledge, well, I do want to acknowledge as the Vice Chair, I will be

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cheering this hearing today in Councillor Henry Santana does express his respect for the

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veterans that are here in the veterans throughout the city of Boston.

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He's just unable to be here, but he wanted me to know that he is paying a close attention to this.

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And one of the acknowledges his chief of staff, Anna Calderon, who really helps set up this meeting as well.

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So I want to say thank you to Anna for her support and commitment to veterans, military families across the city of Boston as well.

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I do have a letter of absence that I do want to read into the record and then I'm going

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to give an opportunity for my council call, council Murphy, to give an opening statement.

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Then I want to ask each panelist to give an opening statement as well.

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But before we do that, could I just ask the panel maybe to go starting from Commission

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to Santiago?

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Could you just state your name for the record in what organization you owe with?

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So let me start with that Commission to Santiago, please.

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Good morning, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Murphy, thank you very much for having me.

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I am Commissioner Robertson, Santiago, City of Austin, Veteran Services.

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Thank you, Commissioner.

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Good morning, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Murphy.

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My name is Craig De old, a resident of the city of Boston, and I am the state commander

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of the Veterans of Farm Wars.

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Good morning council to fully encounter the Murphy.

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My name is Mark Kennedy, I'm at the Boston Public Health Commission.

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Good morning, I am a name is Malika Whitley, I'm with the American Legion full 78 and I also

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work with VA Benefit.

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And good, is this on? Yes, it is. Good morning, Councillor Flynn and Councillor Murphy. My name is Rendo Weiner. I am a pulmonary physician and researcher at the VA Boston health care system and the Center for Health Optimization and Implementation Research there.

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Thank you to this distinguished panel for being here. Thank you for testifying more importantly, thank you for your commitment to veterans in military families.

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across the city really across the country as well. I'm going to read a letter into the record

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that I'm going to go to a straight to Council Murphy, Dear Chair of Santa Ana. This is from

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City Council President Braden. I regret that I am unable to attend tomorrow's hearing

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on Dawkins 0273-0274 hearing to discuss long cancer rates among black veterans services

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for women veterans. Well, I am unable to attend the hearing. Members of my team will be

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listening in to this critically important discussion and I plan to review the recording.

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I kindly ask that you read this letter into the record. Thank you. Elizabeth Brayden City Council

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President. We are also joined by City Councilor at Lodge, Lucy Louis-Gent. Let me go to

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Thank you to the panelists, thank you Commissioner San Diego for all you do here at the city and obviously across the state and country always showing up for veterans as a veteran yourself.

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I mean, I don't want to take all my time just thanking people for being here, but Craig also in coming from like the VA and the different posts across the city.

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we know that many veterans when they come to those places is not just for socialization, even

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though that's a wonderful thing. It's also to connect and help connect to the benefits

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that we know the veterans earned and in many times aren't always aware of what's out there

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for them. And when we have subgroups like this I think it's very important that we're talking

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about and thank you for uplifting these concerns about the lung cancer rates among our

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lack veterans and making sure our women veterans are getting everything they need while

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they're enlisted but also when they come home making sure that they're supported.

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So as a veteran mom, I know it's important that we always support our veterans but as a

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counselor I think it's also important that we're making sure there's no groups around the

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city who are failing as though they're not getting what they need.

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So just happy to be here and also public health commission in the VA.

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My public, public jack, my stepdad, 92 now, and is getting a lot of support from the VA and the

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Senior Home Healthcare, and it's just wonderful to see full circle, you know, spending your

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life giving, and then when you're at near the end, people showing up for you and it's just great.

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So thank you for all you do.

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Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

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I do want to give Council a whole weekend, an opportunity for an opening statement.

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Thank you.

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Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here.

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I want to thank you, Councillor Flynn, for your leadership and service to our country.

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I also want to thank all of our panelists for your leadership and your service to our

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country.

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I want to thank you starting with the commissioner for all the incredible work that you do

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in the Office of Veterans Services to make sure that our veterans in the city have the

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resources that they need once they come home to thrive and to really be thanked for the

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work that you've done.

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I know Malika, you're celebrating a lifetime of service this year, and it is a well deserved one.

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And to everyone who is here, Dr. Weiner, to all of the panelists, I'm really appreciative of the work that you do at the post.

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George, I'm sorry. Craig, Craig, Craig, I'm sorry, Craig, and Mark, Craig and Mark, thank you for being with us today.

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There are a lot of race-based health gaps in this country, and that is also true for our veterans when it comes to lung cancer and other types of cancer.

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So just know that in me and in the city council, you have allies and people who are committed to making sure that we're doing everything we can to close those gaps.

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So thank you and we look forward to continuing working with you in part with you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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I'll give an opening statement then I'll go right to our panel.

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Hopefully I only take two minutes.

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Women veterans are one of the fastest growing populations within the United States military

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in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Yet many continue to face barriers after leaving the service.

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Women veterans make up nearly 20% of those serving military personnel in about 10%

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of the veteran population, but many struggle to access gender-specific health care,

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Mental Health Services, Child Care Housing, Employment, Approximately 25.

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1% of women experience military sexual trauma, which can increase the risk of PTSD, depression, substance use, suicide.

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Some women also avoid VA services because returning to a military environment can cause anxiety.

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The VA has taken steps to improve care through efforts such as the Deborah Samson Act, which expands primary care in counseling services for women veterans.

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other legislation,

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including the brave act in other pieces of legislation focused on

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maternity and mental health needs.

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Massachusetts also supports women veterans' full, the Women Veterans Network, which provide

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information resources support.

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However, more gender-specific healthcare, counseling, childcare, career transition programs

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I need. The VA should also work to fill counseling positions and increase the number of women

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providing care. Veterans also face serious health risk, including lung cancer, military

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exposure, such as espestos can increase veterans risk of developing the disease. African American

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Veterans, face additional disparities in lung cancer, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.

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Improving access to early screening and quality treatment is, especially, important for

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those communities.

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In Boston, organizations such as the VA healthcare system and the Veterans Outreach Center

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at Harvard Street, neighborhood health center provide veterans with healthcare in other

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help address the racial gap, gender disparities, ensure veterans receive the support they need

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after the military service. We must continue to work together to provide all veterans

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with access to the critical care in services they earned. Before I go to Council Fitzgeralds

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for an opening statement, I do want to acknowledge the incredible work commission of Santiago

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of your team, of you, of your dedication and support of women veterans, of support of veterans

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of color, and also working closely to ensure LGBTQ plus veterans are treated with the

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dignity and respect that they have earned.

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So having said that I wanted to give Council Fitzgerald an opportunity for an opening

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state.

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Thank you, Chair. I appreciate it and thank you all for being here today and regards to this matter.

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Really here to learn more about what sort of some of the deficiencies may be, where we can be better,

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how we can help strengthen those, going further, and really look to you guys have the answers.

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So I just here for you to educate us on how we can be more supportive of you all.

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And as always, thank you for everything that you guys do, not just for our city, but for our country as well.

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So, thank you, Councilor Flynn. I appreciate it.

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Thank you, Councilor Fitzgerald. At this time, I do want to ask the panel if they would like to provide an opening statement on women veterans on how we're able to support veterans of cover.

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I know there's two specific dockets, but we can combine them into one if that's okay with everybody.

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And I don't necessarily have any time that I'm putting the panelists on.

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So take the time that you need to make sure your message gets out to the public.

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I'd like to do these hearings because the public does watch these.

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And I'd like to educate the public about what we're doing here in City Hall and to ensure

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that if veterans are watching, they know who to contact if they are in need of services.

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So, let me start with Commissioner San Diego and we'll go right down the right down the line and take the time you need to discuss whatever is important to you.

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Thank you, Chair Fulano. Good morning, Chair Fulano.

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Councilor Murphy, Councilor Lusion, Councilor Fitzgerald. Thank you for having us here.

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I do just want to touch on something. I wanted to thank the City Council.

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I know, you know, it says a lot about your actions and your passion for our veterans here in the city of Boston by always showing up, not just on Memorial Day or Veterans Day, but also year-round for our veterans and that is definitely something that I see on a daily basis and as a veteran and as a commissioner, I do thank you.

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I also just want to thank my fellow panelists who are here today, my fellow veterans who are watching advocates and neighbors.

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This is an important hearing.

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And one thing that I love about having this hearing is that it's more of just a hearing is also a conversation about what we could do best for our veterans.

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When it comes to the topics that we are talking about attitude.

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Day, and sometimes it reers into other topics as well, which is also welcomed. But today, we're

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talking about lung cancer rates amongst African American veterans and our support of our women

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veterans. lung cancer is not simply a medical issue. We're going to hear a whole lot more about

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that a little bit later on from Dr. Weiner, who's here from the VA. It's an issue that, as far

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as I'm concerned, in many of us are concerned, is a racial equity. An issue of access, trust,

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early detection and whether veterans receive the care that they earned through their service.

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Many veterans face elevated risks because of smoking, second-hand smoking, asbestos, especially

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those like myself who have served on older Navy ships. Those who have served in burn pits,

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around burn pits, airborne hazards, chemicals and other toxic exposures that are encountered

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through military service. Yet exposure alone does not determine an outcome.

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time screening, early diagnosis, access to specialists, reliable transportation, and trust in a health

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care system can determine whether cancer is found when it is treatable, or after it has

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also progressed. VA research in the case that fewer than 10% of the approximately 1 million

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eligible veterans studied have received lung cancer screening, screening rates even lower

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amongst black veterans. The research also indicates and identifies barriers

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including limited awareness, mistrust, stigma, unequal relationships with their providers and

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adverse social determinants of health.

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These are not failures of our veterans.

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These are warnings that our systems must do a better job of reaching the people that they

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were created to serve.

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There is also encouraging evidence.

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Studies that found that when black veterans receive care within an integrated VA system,

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their lung cancer treatment and outcomes can be comparable and sometimes better than those of their white veteran counterparts.

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That tells us something that's very important.

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Disparities are not inevitable.

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When care is accessible and it's coordinated culturally responsive and equitable, we can save lives.

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And our women veterans, as the Council has mentioned, are our fastest growing segment

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of the veterans population with more than 2.1 million women veterans in the United States

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today.

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Approximately 20% of veterans, women veterans are black, and 43% of women using VA health

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care system belong to a racial or ethnic minority group.

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Yet women veterans are still too often overlooked, mistaken for military spouses or made

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field that veteran programs and facilities were designed primarily for their male veteran

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counterparts. Women veterans need comprehensive and respectful care that includes primary

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care, cancer screening, reproductive and maternal health care, mental health treatment,

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support following military sexual trauma, menopause care, toxic exposure evaluations

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as well, homelessness prevention and assistance navigating disability claims and benefits.

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They also need providers who understand how systems, risk factors and treatment experiences

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are different for them as women.

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I want to recognize the outstanding work of the Women Veterans Care Center within the VA

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Boston Health Care System and its program manager, Carolyn Mason Holy, whom I spoke with

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yesterday.

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This program here in Boston provides women veterans with comprehensive coordinated care in

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environment where their service, their experiences, and individual health care needs are

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understood and also respected.

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It's especially trained providers, offer primary care, gynecology, maternal and post-mortem

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support, mammograms and other preventive screenings, menopause care, mental health counseling,

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support for survivors of military sexual trauma, and also family planning services.

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Just as importantly, the program's help women veterans navigate the VA healthcare system and it connects them with the specialists and resources that they have earned because of their service.

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The Senate reflects an important promise that women veterans should never feel invisible or like and at the thought within the system that they serve to defend.

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They deserve timely compassionate gender-specific care and a place where they are recognized

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first and foremost as veterans.

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Also, available to our women veterans is the Veterans Call Center, which provides women

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veterans with information about VA services and resources, benefits, and eligibility.

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It's a toll-free hotline which is available Monday through Friday from 8am to 10pm Eastern

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standard time, and on Saturdays from 8 am to 6.30 pm,

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he's their standard time.

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The phone number is 855 VA women or 855-829.

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Six, six, three, six, and I'll repeat it again. Eight, five, five, eight, two, nine, six, six, three, six. And if you wanted to contact the Boston office, you can call six, one, seven, nine, eight, one, nine, two, seven, seven.

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Also, here in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, the primary program for women veterans, as was mentioned by Council of Flynn, within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veteran Services or EOS, is a Massachusetts Women's Veterans Network,

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which acts as a essential resource peer group and advocacy body dedicated to empowering women who have served in the military.

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Since 2019, the mayor's Office of Veterans Services here in the city of Austin has hosted an annual women's Veterans Roundtable,

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which has provided women veterans with a welcoming and trusted space to share their experiences,

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learn about available benefits and healthcare resources, and speak directly with the leaders and organizations that serve them.

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But most importantly, the wrong table ensures that women veterans help shape the programs

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and policies intended to meet their needs.

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It reinforces a simple, but essential message that women veterans are not invisible.

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They serve the sacrifice and the voices must be heard.

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Also here in the city of Austin, we host an annual black veterans appreciation of recognizing

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the extraordinary service, sacrifice, and continuing contributions of our black veterans

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throughout Boston's history. It is also an opportunity to connect veterans and their families

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with benefits, health care, and community resources while creating honest conversations

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about the disparities that they have and may encounter. By celebrating their achievements

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and listening to their experiences, we affirm that honoring black veterans requires more

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than recognition. It requires sustained advocacy, equitable access, and meaningful action.

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Here in Boston, we are fortunate to have the VA healthcare system which is one of the best

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in the country and the world, which includes campuses in West Rocksbury and in Jamaica

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Plain.

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We also have world-class hospitals and cancer centers.

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We have the Boston Public Health Commission, which we've been here from here very shortly.

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We have community health centers.

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The Massachusetts Executive Office of Veteran Services with Secretary Eric Bernoulli and

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Deputy Secretary Andrea Gail Bennett at the helm.

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We also have the Massachusetts Women's Veterans Network led by Director Jessica Frost, veterans organizations like the VFW, like the American Legion and the DAV, and trusted neighborhood leaders.

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And of course, our partnership with our fellow city departments like the Boston Public Health Commission, H. Drong, the Office of Food Justice, the Mayor's Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services, just to name a few.

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We all work together to help connect veterans in their families with health care and wellness

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resources, nutritious food, food access programs, housing assistance, transportation,

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benefits advocacy, mental health support and services for our older veterans.

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By working across agencies, we can and continue to address the social and practical barriers

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that two often prevent veterans, especially women veterans, black veterans and older veterans,

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and those facing financial hardships from receiving the care and support that they have earned.

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My hope is that this hearing here today will lead to greater awareness, measurable,

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and measurable action, where more veterans are screened, more cancers are detected early,

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more women veterans receiving the care design around their needs and life state.

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Lastly, as part of our continuing commitment to honor services sacrifice,

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And as our nation not only marks the 250th anniversary of our country, but also here in a couple

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of weeks, the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

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We must never forget the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that day.

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The first responders who ran toward danger and all those who continue to live with this

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lasting effects.

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September 11th, forever changed our country and redefined service point and entire generation.

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And in the days and years that followed Americans stepped forward to serve in our armed forces,

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in our fire and police departments, in our emergency service and in our communities, united

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by a shared commitment to defend our nation, one more importantly to care for one another.

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We especially honor the post-911 veterans who answered that call, including those who never

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return home and those who still carry the visible and invisible wounds of war.

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Twenty-five years later, our responsibility remains clear.

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Remember, every life lost.

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Honor, every person who served our country, and ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

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The city of Boston will never forget.

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This year, we are also going to host our annual POWMIA Recognition Ceremony on September 18th

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in City Hall, Plaza.

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We will gather with veterans families, community.

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Members, and the state leaderships of the VFW, DAV, and the American Legion to reaffirm that our prisons of war,

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and our missing personnel will never be forgotten. We also invite everyone to join us for Boston's

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Veterans Day Parade on November 9th, where we will recognize veterans of every generation, including

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the post-911 veterans who answered our nation's call during these past 25 years. Together,

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of these services remind our veterans that Boston remembers their service, Boston honors

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their sacrifices, and Boston remains committed to supporting them in their families.

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Thank you to the Council for bringing the attention to these critical issues.

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And for your continued commitment to our Boston veterans and their families.

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And I'm looking forward to the conversation you today.

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Commissioner Santiago, thank you very much for the testimony of leadership.

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I do want to make one change to what I mentioned earlier.

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I know we are going to go straight down the line.

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Commander, Meredith, to it is a member of the American Legion in the Cata post.

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And I know she's going to the American Legion post convention now.

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I do want to take her out of water, give her the opportunity to speak, provide an opening

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statement, because I have great respect for her as a veteran, as a woman veteran, a veteran

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of color, but also I'm a member of the codapose, so I have to take care of my commander as

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well, right? So could we ask Commander to it to, if we could bring her to it?

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Yes, Commander. Good morning, Commander. It's good to be with you. Good morning,

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warm chairman and one and everyone. I do appreciate you cheer and the committee pulling

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me out of turn. As you know, I run in errands getting ready to head to Louisville, Kentucky

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for National American Legion Convention. So I appreciate you pulling me out of turn. Also,

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I want to thank Commissioner Santiago for all the work that he does for the veterans here

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City of Boston and all the other panelists that are going to be speaking.

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Thank you.

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We all have to continue.

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I will service for veterans veterans of color and also for female veterans.

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I am District 7, Suffolk County Council Commander for the American Legion.

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So I have about 20 posts under me.

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And then also Commander of the Carter Post in Manapan.

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So I'm always speaking with my veterans veterans of color, female veterans.

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some part of the WVN and many other organizations.

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First, I want to say I applaud and I appreciate the doctors and the advocates from the VA

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who have been working around the screen in a lung cancer, especially for African-American veterans

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and our indigenous veterans here in the city of Boston.

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And they have been doing screening and going to different locations different posts over the

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past two years or more to be able to screen as many of our comrades as they possibly

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can to get them assistance and get them help for those that are detected or also to make

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sure that those that don't have a no they don't have.

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But the problem that I want to touch on this face is here is that even though they're

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visiting our communities and coming into our post in our room, we're still losing

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with some missing some of our comrades who might have lung cancer.

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I will all the generation who sometimes can't get out to be screened or at these locations.

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So how do we improve upon that?

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And I'm going to throw that on your desk, Commissioner Santiago, I'm going to throw it on

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desk of our VA, doctor, because we need to be able to work with our system and how we are

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doing the screenings to be able to accommodate our elders who don't come out when they're

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screening because one day don't follow social media, two day might not see a flyer, and

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we've done bobbishops, we've done all sorts of different locations when we were doing it at the

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So I just wanted to put that out.

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It was still missing a lot of our comrades.

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That should be in the get screened, right?

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But I do apply them for what they had been doing.

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Let's talk about service for female veterans.

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A lot of times I have veterans that say,

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we shouldn't say female veterans.

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A veteran is a veteran.

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Yes, but female veterans health care is different.

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We, we, um, you know, we convert, we, we carry children so we need that, um, GYN, we need that.

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That OB doctor to deal with, and it took a while for when the OB doctor left to make a plan. It took them almost two years before they found another one, and I applied Carolyn for all of the hard work she does to make sure that we do have doctors within the women's clinic, and the new clinic that they opened up focused on menopause, I think it's in the veteran location.

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But men don't think about those things. Women do. So we have very menopause. We have menopause.

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We have carrying children. We have our fibroids. We have all these things that men don't have.

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That are crucial to our livelihood and our health.

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And our mental health is also something else that is different.

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We struggle with depression in a different way, because not only depression about our service, especially women who have the NST and military sexual trauma and those that have the post trauma and so on, but at many times we are all focused on our children and taking care of our household and keeping our jobs and being looked as if we are being too aggressive.

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to this and to that. So the mental health for female veterans is different. So that's something

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that we could do better. You know, I have a lot of my sister veterans who say to me sometimes

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when they go to a therapist, that they don't think the therapist is really listening to them,

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because some therapists say, oh, you know, you can you can handle it. You've got your strong.

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You know, sometimes we don't want to hear that, you know, and those are things that we need to be able to have that cultural competency, that mental competency, that environment that we're in, so those are things that we need to focus in, I don't know if it's more training or how do we do it, but those are things that I hear a lot about from my sister on comrades.

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And I want to say, for myself, I went through a traumatic loss of, like, my second mother about a year and a half ago.

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And I want to tell people, I went to therapy because that loss put me in a depression that I didn't even realize I could experience it.

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And I'm always out here telling my sisters go and get out, go and talk, go in this.

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And I finally had to say to myself, go and get out, go and talk to someone because it

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was very hard.

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And when I walked out my go, I still had to put on that face that strong face, because I

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was working with veterans, working with women, and trying to get things done.

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But internally, I was screaming.

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But I was able to talk to a therapist that was able to get me through that.

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So a lot of times we have to think about women's depression, women's mental health, is impacted in different ways.

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You know, also, again, I want to thank Commissioner Santiago for bringing it up a lot of times.

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Female veterans are looked at as just a spouse of a veteran.

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And I've been, you know, talking about, you know, ways that we can acknowledge that.

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Women served, you know, if it's a license plate or whatever, I'm going to have to go back and rally this year to see if we can get some legislation around that.

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Because my veterans plate on my car, people think it's my husband's plate. I don't have a husband yet.

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But those are things we work, we talk about within the female veterans community, at being acknowledged, we used to be invisible.

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We are now in still a little bit in the shadow, but we're coming out, you know, and but it's not it's not done.

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We have more work to do, right?

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And a lot of times, too, now, what I'm having a lot of my

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sister veterans talk about is how they get looked at,

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say they go through a divorce and there's child custody issues

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and so on. A lot of times, because their female veterans,

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they're being treated a certain way in the court system

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because of the female veteran, or they might have MST,

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They might have PTSD, they might have this,

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and the judges are using that

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because the spouse that they are badman with is using that against them.

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So those are things that I want to put out there.

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So we can figure out how are we going to work with our systems

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to help our sisters, to help my sisters, help my sister comrades.

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Never, you know, I'm not going to leave my veterans of color. I serve as a commander at a long

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stand at a hundred and seven-year-old post that it was strongly veterans of color.

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We, we are treated

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differently. And that's another thing when you think about how different ways that veterans

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treated, you know, and then you have to think about when you're a veteran of color and

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that indigenous veteran, or so on how people look at you if it's not your medical claim,

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if it's not your housing, if it's not your mental health, and so on. People think that

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all we're making this up, but no, we are treated differently in all of these avenues, because

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of the pigmentation of our skin, you know, and is that fear? No, because we all serve.

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When we're on the field together, we don't see skin color anymore like things used to

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do back in the days, because when I went in, they still saw it. But here we are now, we're

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still going through things because we are veterans and military attached of color. And so

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I want to say that Commissioner Santiago's office does as much as they can.

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Comrade Flynn as a fellow sailor, we know that there are still struggles out there.

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And that's why I appreciate when you have these here and so we can talk about what has been done.

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Good and what still needs to be worked on.

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And I know I'll get beaten up by he with Fonella and some of my other comrades if I don't talk about the veterans that are still on the streets.

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Still homeless, still looking for a single room somewhere.

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Or I will veterans that are on the street because they don't take their meds and they're off their meds.

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I have one of my comrades right now, who we haven't found him on the streets.

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He stopped his men, he lost his apartment, we know he's on the streets, we know he's checking

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into pine street, but we haven't seen him in months, and we're still trying to find him.

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So these are things we need to do.

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Maybe we need to put together a group where we can go out and look for those that we know on

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the streets and their families are worried about them and so on.

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those are things that I'd like to get onto the table, onto the paper somewhere so we can

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do more work and maybe pull some types of meetings together to talk about how do we do this?

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How do we walk the corridor and find out what Mr. and homeless veterans that are out there?

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And I want to thank you for the time that you gave me Councillor. I want to thank the committee

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for allowing me to join you today and speak and also again thank you everyone else who is going

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Please speak in behind me on the panels and thank you, Commissioner Santiago, for the work

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that you do.

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And I'm going to enjoy Louisville Kentucky for you guys.

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Thank you so much.

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Well, thank you, thank you, committed to it.

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And I know I speak on behalf of my Council colleagues and for the panel.

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But we have a tremendous amount of respect for you for the work you do.

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So, safe travel and enjoy the conference and we'll talk when you get back.

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Thank you, committed to it.

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Let us continue, commando.

404
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Good morning, Councillor Flynn.

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Councilor Murphy.

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Councilor Fitzgerald.

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There's not many people that I would let

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hop the line in front of them myself.

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But my comrade commander and good friend,

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commander to it.

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She's definitely won that I would yield way for.

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Enjoy the weeville commander.

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I had my name is Craig De Old, I am a resident of the city of Boston, with in South

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Boston.

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I am a member of the Boston Police Post VFW-1018, and I currently serve the VFW as the

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State Commander.

417
00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:24,500
In that role, I'm overall responsible for 146 posts across the Commonwealth between our combat

418
00:39:24,500 --> 00:39:28,200
veterans and our auxiliary members, brothers and sisters.

419
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:41,120
There's over 20,000 of us across the commonwealth and just here within the city of Boston we have four vibrant posts that are out advocating for our veterans advocating for our neighborhoods every single day.

420
00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:58,000
So there is always a presence of our veterans and I'm not here only on behalf of the state organization of the VFW but also again as a resident of the city of Boston and to speak on on behalf of our four

421
00:39:58,000 --> 00:39:59,380
of Iron Post here in the city.

422
00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:07,260
Overall, the lung cancer rates with our black veterans is alarming.

423
00:40:08,260 --> 00:40:16,300
And a lot of it goes back to a darker time within the Defense Department of War, whatever you want to call it,

424
00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:24,980
where there was significant segregation of different types of people and different types of units and doing different work.

425
00:40:24,980 --> 00:40:34,820
Commissioner Santiago mentioned before, there's folks that would be serving in the Navy that would always be below decks that never see the light a day.

426
00:40:35,420 --> 00:40:41,560
And they're in environments where there's going to be a specialist in that environment.

427
00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:44,660
They're breathing in fumes from the engine rooms.

428
00:40:44,980 --> 00:40:46,400
They're around hazardous materials.

429
00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:52,640
It's just the part and parcel of being on a Navy ship.

430
00:40:53,500 --> 00:41:02,680
The land forces, they're always going to be, again, toxic exposures between burn pits, again,

431
00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:10,080
being in hazardous locations of even being in a tank, an enormous vehicle, an infantry

432
00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:10,900
fighting vehicle.

433
00:41:11,060 --> 00:41:18,580
You're around those fumes, you're around the fluids, and those environments are inherently

434
00:41:18,580 --> 00:41:19,200
hazardous.

435
00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,340
We all understand what we raised our right hand

436
00:41:23,340 --> 00:41:26,280
in joining the service as a volunteer

437
00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:29,920
that we're going to be putting ourselves into situations

438
00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,300
for the benefit of our communities, of our country,

439
00:41:33,820 --> 00:41:36,520
and for the world in general, overall.

440
00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:41,660
We don't go into the service broken.

441
00:41:42,940 --> 00:41:46,820
But a lot of times we'll come out of the service in that state.

442
00:41:46,820 --> 00:41:53,800
Again, it might not be due to a combat injury, it could be just regular occupational hazards

443
00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,880
within our nature of our service.

444
00:41:57,380 --> 00:42:05,980
But the cancer rates within our African-American black could comrades is something that needs

445
00:42:05,980 --> 00:42:13,300
to be continued to look at, looked at by not only the VA, but as part of the overall health

446
00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:20,800
system that were involved. I've had the, you know, the honor and pleasure of working at both

447
00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:27,480
brave and women's and Dana Farber for six from many years. And I know first hand, and you

448
00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:34,800
should see, you know, the outstanding effects that our healthcare system has for not only our

449
00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:39,680
black veterans, but, you know, everybody within the city of Boston and the world at large,

450
00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:42,300
But Boston is a medical mecca of the world.

451
00:42:42,580 --> 00:42:45,180
There's no better place to get sick or be hurt.

452
00:42:45,580 --> 00:42:49,320
Then within the city of Boston, between the pre-hospital care

453
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:54,660
that Boston EMS provides right through the VA hospitals

454
00:42:54,660 --> 00:42:59,240
and our great health care system here in the city.

455
00:43:00,020 --> 00:43:02,200
What we're looking at, though, is making sure

456
00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,080
that all veterans, and especially our black veterans

457
00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:10,820
within this subset, do have that access of care.

458
00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:17,260
We need to make sure that we, between our partnerships with, you know, through the VFW, you know,

459
00:43:17,420 --> 00:43:23,400
the Commissioner's Office, and through the VA, that we need to make sure that when, you know,

460
00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:27,200
I have a veteran come to me saying, hey, you know, I've got this stuff going on.

461
00:43:27,540 --> 00:43:28,760
Where can I go?

462
00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:35,460
You know, the VFW is there to be able to help steer the veterans in the right direction

463
00:43:35,460 --> 00:43:40,760
to get that care, be it a city service, going back through through the VA.

464
00:43:41,960 --> 00:43:49,700
We have an incredible network of veteran service officers who assist any veteran, not just

465
00:43:49,700 --> 00:43:57,960
VFW members, any veterans with filing their VA disability claims, and we'll take them right

466
00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:03,740
through the initial intake and if they need, if they get denied initially, will help them

467
00:44:03,740 --> 00:44:08,460
through the appeals process even though going as far as to a hearing in front of an administrative

468
00:44:08,460 --> 00:44:09,120
judge.

469
00:44:09,460 --> 00:44:13,720
We will take them through that whole process, free of charge to that veteran.

470
00:44:14,720 --> 00:44:18,900
We don't look for anything in return, we don't put any membership requirements on anything,

471
00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:21,200
we will help any veteran.

472
00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:27,940
So that's an important distinction that we want to need to make sure through that

473
00:44:27,940 --> 00:44:37,520
process, the VFW and their power of attorneys through the veterans that receive VA benefits.

474
00:44:38,460 --> 00:44:44,520
Since the start of the federal fiscal year, this past October 1st, I've brought $87 million

475
00:44:45,460 --> 00:44:57,920
back directly back into the economy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that doesn't

476
00:44:57,920 --> 00:44:59,960
that are within Earth.

477
00:45:01,050 --> 00:45:07,590
The numbers are a little skewed because some of the south coast does get pulled into the Providence Numbers.

478
00:45:08,450 --> 00:45:12,930
But that's fine as long as those veterans are being taken care of.

479
00:45:13,570 --> 00:45:19,770
If we extrapolate the numbers, we're looking at 105 million dollars directly into the pockets of veterans.

480
00:45:20,750 --> 00:45:27,390
Across the Commonwealth. I wish I was able to break out what comes back directly into the city of Boston.

481
00:45:27,390 --> 00:45:34,190
I'm sure it's a very impressive number, but, again, through the VFW and our service officers,

482
00:45:36,330 --> 00:45:43,530
that economic impact that we're making is huge, and that does go towards the access of care.

483
00:45:44,090 --> 00:45:48,310
If they're secure and financially, they're going to be a little bit more secure, and then

484
00:45:48,950 --> 00:45:54,790
seeking the medical help, they feel like they're going to be able to go and seek that help

485
00:45:54,790 --> 00:46:01,130
So we get to get better to get that care through, you know, from start to finish.

486
00:46:03,010 --> 00:46:10,390
Transitioning to our women's veterans, I've had the, I can't enter the service and I got

487
00:46:10,390 --> 00:46:11,890
commissioned in 1991.

488
00:46:13,050 --> 00:46:18,570
Over the years, the nature of our military has changed quite drastically.

489
00:46:18,570 --> 00:46:25,910
We have women serving in the Air Force and combat equipped with jets and strike fighters.

490
00:46:26,750 --> 00:46:34,310
We have women's sailors serving on armed combatantships in the submarines.

491
00:46:35,210 --> 00:46:39,150
We have women in the army and the Marine Corps serving in infantry bullets.

492
00:46:40,010 --> 00:46:43,270
They're doing the same thing that men are doing.

493
00:46:44,090 --> 00:46:49,710
We need to look at, again, embracing overall our women veterans.

494
00:46:50,290 --> 00:46:56,430
And we try to do that by, through the VFW, we're encouraging our women veterans that are

495
00:46:56,430 --> 00:47:00,470
members to take on leadership positions within our post.

496
00:47:01,050 --> 00:47:10,770
So we can uplift their voices to get another different point of view that just the old

497
00:47:10,770 --> 00:47:14,570
We have W or American Legion Post of the days of York.

498
00:47:14,910 --> 00:47:16,870
And those are thankfully don't exist anymore.

499
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:20,440
As Commander II had mentioned,

500
00:47:21,520 --> 00:47:25,140
how she's had experiences where

501
00:47:25,140 --> 00:47:30,740
some of these come up to her and didn't recognize her as the veteran.

502
00:47:32,890 --> 00:47:35,830
You know, we're trying to make my own personal point

503
00:47:36,190 --> 00:47:38,770
if I have a couple come in front of me.

504
00:47:38,770 --> 00:47:44,910
I'll start with the woman in front of me and ask her, where did you serve?

505
00:47:45,630 --> 00:47:51,750
Oh, great. I serve here. I serve there. Oh, I'm not the veteran. My husband, as well.

506
00:47:52,130 --> 00:47:57,170
Still, she's part of the veteran family. And that's important as well.

507
00:47:57,750 --> 00:48:04,030
That we embrace, not just the veteran, the service member, but the entire veteran and service members family.

508
00:48:04,030 --> 00:48:05,610
because they're serving as well.

509
00:48:05,730 --> 00:48:08,570
They're going through hardship just as much as the service

510
00:48:08,570 --> 00:48:12,490
a member does as well when they go deployed and do their jobs.

511
00:48:13,310 --> 00:48:17,830
So it's very important that, again, we're uplifting our women veterans,

512
00:48:18,390 --> 00:48:23,730
making sure their voices are heard, we're expanding the leadership

513
00:48:25,350 --> 00:48:29,650
of our service organizations to reflect the true nature

514
00:48:29,650 --> 00:48:32,050
and the demographics of our military service.

515
00:48:33,710 --> 00:48:41,550
Finally, at the police post, we currently have our first female or woman command post commander

516
00:48:41,550 --> 00:48:42,410
at Lisa Viennis.

517
00:48:42,570 --> 00:48:44,830
She's a retired or soon to be retired.

518
00:48:45,510 --> 00:48:52,230
Boston police sergeant, Army veteran, and she's our post first female commander, and we're

519
00:48:52,230 --> 00:48:52,590
excited.

520
00:48:53,350 --> 00:48:57,930
She's been a hard charter coming up through the ranks, and we're looking forward to some

521
00:48:57,930 --> 00:49:02,070
great opportunities with her through this year and going forward.

522
00:49:02,070 --> 00:49:09,410
So there is a changing of the scenery throughout the veteran service organizations.

523
00:49:09,810 --> 00:49:16,290
I applaud, I'm commander to it, and our commanders here, that, again, they're taking

524
00:49:16,290 --> 00:49:21,450
that leadership role and their voices matter, without their voices, nothing will change

525
00:49:21,450 --> 00:49:28,370
when across our service organizations to reflect the true nature of our environment right now.

526
00:49:29,810 --> 00:49:34,630
Lastly, I'd like to mention, as a commander to mention,

527
00:49:36,710 --> 00:49:39,090
our homeless veterans, they count.

528
00:49:39,410 --> 00:49:40,290
They're out there.

529
00:49:41,250 --> 00:49:45,790
It doesn't matter that there are part of any of our organizations.

530
00:49:46,350 --> 00:49:46,830
They served.

531
00:49:47,010 --> 00:49:48,450
They deserve our respect.

532
00:49:48,930 --> 00:49:49,990
They deserve our support.

533
00:49:50,810 --> 00:49:55,870
The VFW will do everything that we can to make sure that across the board and through

534
00:49:55,870 --> 00:49:59,710
partnerships with the Commissioners Sanciago.

535
00:50:00,050 --> 00:50:10,710
And his department, that we do look out and look after these veterans. The veterans of farm wars has a national home.

536
00:50:11,090 --> 00:50:24,210
I'll meet and wrap its mission here in that. There's been around for over a hundred years, and they help support service members, their families, that are looking for a little, not a handout, but a handout.

537
00:50:24,210 --> 00:50:30,450
They can go, they move their family there, they stay rent free, utilities free for a number

538
00:50:30,450 --> 00:50:32,390
of years to get back on their feet.

539
00:50:32,810 --> 00:50:40,110
So they're able to move on back to their communities that they're looking to join or rejoin.

540
00:50:41,290 --> 00:50:45,470
And that might be something that we can look at within the city.

541
00:50:46,050 --> 00:50:48,070
There's a lot of opportunities out there.

542
00:50:48,270 --> 00:50:54,190
There's a lot of great organizations that are doing incredible things in their own little

543
00:50:54,190 --> 00:51:02,170
little their own lands, but again, you look across the table and across the room here, it does

544
00:51:02,170 --> 00:51:09,890
take a village to support the veterans community and all of our communities. This is not

545
00:51:09,890 --> 00:51:15,310
an individual sport. We can't do it by ourselves. It does take a team and we've got a great

546
00:51:15,310 --> 00:51:22,210
team here and I do a pod, the city councilor, I get a council of Flint, council of Murphy,

547
00:51:22,210 --> 00:51:28,190
Councillor Fitzgerald, I do appreciate you taking the time on a Friday morning at the end of August

548
00:51:28,190 --> 00:51:31,770
as the waning days of summer are closing in on us.

549
00:51:32,330 --> 00:51:36,190
I do appreciate that you're all taking the time to listen to us.

550
00:51:36,750 --> 00:51:42,810
I would implore that you take the time in your busy days to go visit our posts.

551
00:51:43,310 --> 00:51:52,190
Not just when they're having a chicken bag or any type of fundraiser or anything like that.

552
00:51:52,190 --> 00:51:55,190
Now, reach out to the posts, go to one of their meetings.

553
00:51:56,810 --> 00:52:01,350
That's when you're going to have the one-on-one conversations with our veterans, and you're

554
00:52:01,350 --> 00:52:03,670
going to find out really what's on their mind.

555
00:52:04,250 --> 00:52:07,310
So, you've got to take that with a grant of thought, you might not want to hear everything

556
00:52:07,310 --> 00:52:14,950
that's on their mind, but the veteran is going to be able to give you a true perspective

557
00:52:14,950 --> 00:52:20,050
on the ground, what they're dealing with, and it's going to be that one-on-one interaction

558
00:52:20,050 --> 00:52:26,150
that is going to really bring it home to you when you're making your deliberations, you're

559
00:52:26,150 --> 00:52:31,870
having your discussions and that is not only dealing with veterans but across the city

560
00:52:31,870 --> 00:52:41,170
that veterans are a small subset of our society but it's a very diverse and distinctive

561
00:52:41,170 --> 00:52:45,430
group that has already dedicated their lives to public service.

562
00:52:45,430 --> 00:52:52,810
They raise their right hand, they've served, they've given their blood sweat tears, body parts,

563
00:52:53,390 --> 00:52:58,630
and some of them, part of their minds to the defense of our country and the betterment

564
00:52:58,630 --> 00:52:59,570
of our society.

565
00:53:00,650 --> 00:53:04,050
So, again, thank you for your support, and I look forward to any questions that you might

566
00:53:04,050 --> 00:53:04,390
have.

567
00:53:04,730 --> 00:53:05,050
Thank you.

568
00:53:05,170 --> 00:53:06,150
Thank you, Commander.

569
00:53:07,530 --> 00:53:12,890
We have Mr. Kennedy from the Boston Public Health Commission, sir, thank you for being

570
00:53:12,890 --> 00:53:19,750
with us and want to give you an opportunity to give an opening statement, again, want to make

571
00:53:19,750 --> 00:53:26,550
sure we take the amount of time that you need to make sure that your message gets out because

572
00:53:26,550 --> 00:53:31,130
I do know that a lot of veterans watch this program on television and want to give you an

573
00:53:31,130 --> 00:53:32,530
opportunity for your opening statement.

574
00:53:32,750 --> 00:53:35,410
Mr. Kennedy, thank you for being here.

575
00:53:35,410 --> 00:53:41,050
And, excuse me, thank you, Council of Flynn, and, of course, our Council of Murphy and

576
00:53:41,050 --> 00:53:42,130
Fitzgerald as well.

577
00:53:42,950 --> 00:53:48,110
If I may for just one second, it was a real pleasure to hear from a matter of to it.

578
00:53:48,130 --> 00:53:52,290
I worked with her quite a bit in the past while she was at the State Preploria Fox.

579
00:53:52,350 --> 00:53:53,050
Okay, yep.

580
00:53:53,070 --> 00:53:55,590
So it was just a real pleasure to hear from her.

581
00:53:56,490 --> 00:53:57,690
Again, my name is Mark Kennedy.

582
00:53:57,870 --> 00:53:59,150
Thank you so much for having me.

583
00:53:59,250 --> 00:54:01,030
It's my pleasure and honor to be here.

584
00:54:01,470 --> 00:54:05,130
I'm a Senior Program Manager in the Product Disease Prevention and Control Division.

585
00:54:05,130 --> 00:54:07,170
at the Boston Public Health Commission.

586
00:54:08,370 --> 00:54:12,010
And I'm leading the creation and implementation of the Commission's first

587
00:54:12,010 --> 00:54:14,450
current disease and cancer-related detected initiative.

588
00:54:15,470 --> 00:54:19,490
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission is to work in partnership with communities

589
00:54:19,490 --> 00:54:24,750
to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those

590
00:54:24,750 --> 00:54:27,830
that have been impacted by racism or systemic inequities.

591
00:54:28,570 --> 00:54:33,610
To put my comments about lung cancer among African-American veterans in that context, let me

592
00:54:33,610 --> 00:54:38,010
start by highlighting the city of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission's first

593
00:54:38,010 --> 00:54:43,450
population health equity agenda, which we refer to as lived long and well.

594
00:54:44,630 --> 00:54:48,750
The live long and well agenda is about convening partners across sectors to address

595
00:54:48,750 --> 00:54:53,790
the three leading costs of premature mortality in Boston, and intended drug overdoses,

596
00:54:54,770 --> 00:54:59,810
cardiometabolic disease, and yes preventable cancers, major cancers including

597
00:54:59,810 --> 00:54:59,970
Thank you.

598
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:11,360
Long cancer are referred to as preventable because of the screening guidelines associated with them that can help to detect these cancers early when they can be treated with the best chance of survival.

599
00:55:12,440 --> 00:55:26,540
Nationally, statewide and in Boston, long cancer is the top cause of cancer related mortality. In Boston, long cancer is the deadliest and most frequently diagnosed fatal cancer for both men and women.

600
00:55:26,540 --> 00:55:36,160
For black men, I'm sorry, lung cancer causes more death than breast, colorectal and prostate cancers combined.

601
00:55:37,220 --> 00:55:43,540
Overall, when you look at trend data, mortality from lung cancer has trended downward, but of course not for everyone.

602
00:55:44,660 --> 00:55:51,640
Massachusetts is near the top nationally for early diagnosis, surgical treatment, and overall survivorship.

603
00:55:51,640 --> 00:55:56,680
But total incidents, which includes new cases, is higher than a natural average.

604
00:55:57,340 --> 00:56:01,840
There's could be due to increased cleaning, but new cases are not necessarily cases

605
00:56:01,840 --> 00:56:03,660
where the cancer was diagnosed with.

606
00:56:05,750 --> 00:56:12,770
Wilkinson to track local data on agent-stated diagnosis to quantify that finally more new cases early

607
00:56:12,770 --> 00:56:14,350
leads to less mortality.

608
00:56:15,330 --> 00:56:21,610
Meanwhile, Boston's Black population has a low incidence of lung cancer than a natural average,

609
00:56:21,610 --> 00:56:28,150
nationally, black individuals with lung cancer with 13% less likely to be diagnosed early.

610
00:56:28,530 --> 00:56:35,430
There were 19% less likely to receive surgical treatment, 11% more likely to not receive any treatment,

611
00:56:35,810 --> 00:56:41,310
and 13% less likely to survive 5 years when you compare up to white individuals.

612
00:56:42,370 --> 00:56:48,050
All that said, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among U.S. veterans.

613
00:56:48,050 --> 00:56:53,870
Veterans have a higher rate of lung cancer in a lower rate of survival than the general population.

614
00:56:54,970 --> 00:56:59,730
African American veterans face higher risk to the military related exposures like

615
00:56:59,730 --> 00:57:07,430
his best dose. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans have a 25-76% higher risk

616
00:57:07,430 --> 00:57:13,610
of lung cancer, and his best dose of exposure remains a significant tribute to this elevated risk,

617
00:57:13,610 --> 00:57:16,910
which exacerbates risk for black men.

618
00:57:18,130 --> 00:57:23,730
African American veterans experience disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and survivor race

619
00:57:23,730 --> 00:57:25,310
compared to other groups.

620
00:57:26,050 --> 00:57:27,970
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

621
00:57:28,050 --> 00:57:33,010
diagnosis, and treats approximately 8,000 veterans for lung cancer each year.

622
00:57:34,270 --> 00:57:37,170
Veterans have a higher risk for lung cancer due to the overage,

623
00:57:37,850 --> 00:57:41,630
smoking, and environmental exposures during an African military service.

624
00:57:41,630 --> 00:57:49,970
smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, with many veterans supporting that they started using tobacco after entering military service.

625
00:57:50,770 --> 00:57:53,410
Explosive to rate on gas is the second leading cause.

626
00:57:54,310 --> 00:57:59,410
I want you to note here, if you would, that in addition to these risk factors that contribute to incidents,

627
00:58:00,290 --> 00:58:05,470
not getting scream is also a significant risk factor, and that contributes to mortality,

628
00:58:05,470 --> 00:58:12,090
because for lung cancer, in any other cancer, catching and treated it early, exponentially

629
00:58:12,090 --> 00:58:14,210
increase the survivorship.

630
00:58:15,070 --> 00:58:19,310
Systemically, black veterans have lower odds of completing a lung cancer screen than white

631
00:58:19,310 --> 00:58:24,210
veterans, particularly due to loss between referral and the connection with screening programs.

632
00:58:25,090 --> 00:58:26,850
Let me conclude by saying this.

633
00:58:27,630 --> 00:58:33,410
For lung cancer, veterans and the general population would benefit tremendously from changes

634
00:58:33,410 --> 00:58:37,090
to the screening guidelines that would further expand access to screening.

635
00:58:37,890 --> 00:58:41,590
In 2021, the U.S. Development Service does task force,

636
00:58:41,770 --> 00:58:47,190
expanded access to lung cancer screening to catch lung cancer earlier in higher risk groups,

637
00:58:47,450 --> 00:58:52,890
particularly women, as well as black adults who often develop lung cancer with lower smoking

638
00:58:52,890 --> 00:59:02,550
exposure. The task force, the task force I'm sorry, expanded access by lowering the starting

639
00:59:02,550 --> 00:59:07,490
The history requirement from 30 pack use the year to 20 pack use a year, I'm sorry.

640
00:59:08,370 --> 00:59:12,930
You do still have to be a current smoker or have quit within the past 15 years to be eligible.

641
00:59:13,710 --> 00:59:20,230
In 2023, the American Cancer Society went further and eliminated 15 years since quit criteria.

642
00:59:21,290 --> 00:59:25,490
But long cancer screening is still tied strictly to tobacco use.

643
00:59:26,170 --> 00:59:31,810
For veterans who are exposed to rate on and or asbestos, for individuals who work in

644
00:59:31,810 --> 00:59:39,010
like a patient, such as firefighter, construction, hair salons, et cetera, for general public

645
00:59:39,010 --> 00:59:43,830
city dwellers that are exposed to elevated levels of automobile exhaust and other environmental

646
00:59:43,830 --> 00:59:49,830
carcinogens on a daily basis, long cancer screening, eligibility needs to be expanded beyond

647
00:59:49,830 --> 00:59:51,870
just tobacco use.

648
00:59:52,690 --> 00:59:57,850
Also, systemic changes need be made so the veterans who are preferred to, or for the screening

649
00:59:57,850 --> 00:59:59,310
don't fall through the cracks.

650
00:59:59,310 --> 00:59:59,970
And that could be...

651
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,140
And again, thank you for allowing me an opportunity to speak, and I look forward to any questions that you might have.

652
01:00:06,460 --> 01:00:14,900
Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. We have what the smell Dr. Whitley, who's also a veteran in a member of the American Legion Post.

653
01:00:15,460 --> 01:00:19,200
Thank you, thank you, Councillor Flynn, Murphy, and it's general.

654
01:00:19,200 --> 01:00:32,510
I didn't write anything because one of the things that happened to me yesterday was I attended a debate.

655
01:00:32,690 --> 01:00:44,310
And my question was, what laws or what funding would you implement behind the Nile cases, the Nile amongst black women?

656
01:00:46,590 --> 01:00:49,190
And that question wasn't quite answered.

657
01:00:50,270 --> 01:01:00,230
So then I thought about when, then I thought about when Councilor Murphy was, she was campaigned

658
01:01:00,230 --> 01:01:07,710
for her, you know, to come be, to come a city council at large, and I stopped her, she was in

659
01:01:07,710 --> 01:01:13,090
high park, and I was having this trouble with my claims, and I said to her, what would

660
01:01:13,090 --> 01:01:18,330
I need a five to six, oh, nine, nine, five, and it's just like, give me your number, and

661
01:01:18,330 --> 01:01:23,490
then I have someone call me a VSO to walk me through those claims.

662
01:01:24,090 --> 01:01:31,910
But I started to think about when I wrote my dissertation, and why I became a doctor of education.

663
01:01:33,090 --> 01:01:37,670
So one of the things that I noticed and I started to study black women, so that made

664
01:01:37,670 --> 01:01:40,550
it, you know, kind of limited to black women veterans.

665
01:01:40,550 --> 01:01:51,470
I wanted things I thought about years ago because I just retired June 1st, I spent many years

666
01:01:51,470 --> 01:01:51,990
of the military.

667
01:01:53,330 --> 01:02:04,110
I had trouble navigating the system and so I am happy with the statistics, the long

668
01:02:04,110 --> 01:02:09,350
cancer, the NST, but when I

669
01:02:09,350 --> 01:02:15,810
would press the participants for my study at over 70

670
01:02:16,410 --> 01:02:21,850
black women that, and at 10 participants, the data was saturated.

671
01:02:23,510 --> 01:02:27,710
And one of the things they said to me, and, you know, we talked about the B.A.

672
01:02:28,210 --> 01:02:33,810
And how great the health care was, and women, the women trauma center, they said,

673
01:02:33,810 --> 01:02:38,090
How do I get there?

674
01:02:38,390 --> 01:02:39,050
How do I navigate?

675
01:02:42,190 --> 01:02:47,390
So, with the programs and all the great things that we have,

676
01:02:47,770 --> 01:02:51,830
how do we get our women black women back to go for screening?

677
01:02:52,530 --> 01:02:57,250
If it's a high number of denial for claims.

678
01:02:57,990 --> 01:02:59,730
Maybe not the fault of themselves.

679
01:03:00,510 --> 01:03:02,390
Maybe they just don't know how to write the claims

680
01:03:02,390 --> 01:03:05,730
So maybe help with the claims that maybe they missed a part

681
01:03:05,730 --> 01:03:07,450
after a year the claim closes.

682
01:03:09,270 --> 01:03:12,750
So I think about, in the community,

683
01:03:14,950 --> 01:03:17,010
we need to implement

684
01:03:17,010 --> 01:03:21,110
of if we're at the post that someone can walk in and say,

685
01:03:21,190 --> 01:03:24,450
how do I do, how do I complete a claim?

686
01:03:24,910 --> 01:03:27,150
If I'm able to walk into the minutes of building

687
01:03:27,150 --> 01:03:30,730
in high park, how do I complete a claim as a vet?

688
01:03:30,730 --> 01:03:37,090
So one of the things that I want to say is that if I was watching it, and I was just started a military,

689
01:03:39,190 --> 01:03:42,850
or MST a trauma happened to me because I served 30 years ago.

690
01:03:45,590 --> 01:03:47,910
How would I navigate through this?

691
01:03:48,270 --> 01:03:53,070
So I oftentimes think about that word to navigate through the system.

692
01:03:53,070 --> 01:04:01,570
And that was my dissertation on black women veteran navigating the mental health system after trauma.

693
01:04:03,010 --> 01:04:06,870
So, you know, I think, I think you guys are all for the statistics.

694
01:04:08,370 --> 01:04:15,530
But I think that we need to focus on how do we get them into the VA?

695
01:04:15,970 --> 01:04:18,030
What do we do on a city level?

696
01:04:18,570 --> 01:04:20,250
What do we do on a community level?

697
01:04:21,760 --> 01:04:27,640
to bring them in. What if we want to talk, you know, what if we want to say, hey, I want

698
01:04:27,640 --> 01:04:33,580
to do a claim, would it go? If they'd never been to the VA, or maybe deny for the VA?

699
01:04:36,400 --> 01:04:43,720
Thank you, Dr. important recommendations. I know we'll be discussing them in a couple of

700
01:04:43,720 --> 01:04:48,560
minutes. Thank you for bringing that information forward. Thank you for your service.

701
01:04:53,020 --> 01:04:53,460
Dr.

702
01:04:53,460 --> 01:04:59,960
VA, a Center for Health, Optimization, and Implementation Research.

703
01:05:00,270 --> 01:05:10,770
Dr. Yarrup. Thank you so much. Good morning, everyone, and thank you to the council for the opportunity to participate today and such an important hearing.

704
01:05:11,410 --> 01:05:16,670
I want to also thank the veterans who are present for your service to the country.

705
01:05:18,410 --> 01:05:25,710
My name is Renda Weiner, and as I've already mentioned, I'm a pulmonary physician and a researcher at the VA Boston Health Care System.

706
01:05:25,710 --> 01:05:33,710
And it's been my great honor and privilege to take care of veterans with long conditions for more than 20 years, including lung cancer.

707
01:05:34,310 --> 01:05:39,010
And to engage in research, to try to address some of the issues that we're talking about today.

708
01:05:39,510 --> 01:05:46,950
How do we improve veteran health? How do we improve access to care and improve equity?

709
01:05:48,270 --> 01:05:54,570
In addition to my roles as a physician and researcher, I also am the Deputy Chief Consultant

710
01:05:54,570 --> 01:05:59,070
for the National Center for lung cancer screening for the Veteran's Health Administration.

711
01:05:59,730 --> 01:06:04,830
And I'm a professor of medicine at the Boston University, Chobanean, and at Appadizian School

712
01:06:04,830 --> 01:06:08,670
of Medicine have also been a physician at Boston Medical Center.

713
01:06:09,750 --> 01:06:16,710
So I'm speaking from those various perspectives, but I do need to also disclose that the

714
01:06:16,710 --> 01:06:21,010
perspectives I'll share in this hearing are my own views and don't necessarily represent

715
01:06:21,010 --> 01:06:25,010
the positions or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or US government.

716
01:06:26,870 --> 01:06:32,050
So I'm here today because Veterans in our city, especially Black Veterans, are dying from

717
01:06:32,050 --> 01:06:35,170
lung cancer and many of these are needless deaths.

718
01:06:35,810 --> 01:06:41,110
We are so fortunate that the Greater Boston area is home to some of the most active lung

719
01:06:41,110 --> 01:06:46,670
cancer screening programs in the country, including at the Boston VA, and if we were

720
01:06:46,670 --> 01:06:49,830
reaching more veterans for screening, we could be saving more lives.

721
01:06:51,450 --> 01:06:57,390
We've heard that lung cancer is a critical issue facing veterans, and that 8,000 veterans

722
01:06:57,390 --> 01:07:03,210
are diagnosed with lung cancer every year, and just take a moment to think about that and

723
01:07:03,210 --> 01:07:06,170
how many families are affected by this disease.

724
01:07:07,030 --> 01:07:12,070
You've also heard that veterans have higher rates of lung cancer than others in the U.S.

725
01:07:12,110 --> 01:07:16,730
population due to military exposures among other issues.

726
01:07:18,530 --> 01:07:24,670
But perhaps more dire still is this, so I testified before this Council about a year and a half ago.

727
01:07:25,310 --> 01:07:31,950
And during that time, approximately 7,500 veterans in this country have died from lung cancer.

728
01:07:31,950 --> 01:07:36,370
It's an average of 15 veterans every single day.

729
01:07:36,750 --> 01:07:38,890
In fact, lung cancer is far in a way,

730
01:07:39,050 --> 01:07:41,910
the leading cause of cancer deaths among veterans.

731
01:07:42,770 --> 01:07:45,010
But again, many of those deaths could have been prevented.

732
01:07:46,210 --> 01:07:48,730
Catching cancer early, when it's still treatable,

733
01:07:49,770 --> 01:07:52,570
is critical to improving lung cancer outcomes.

734
01:07:53,550 --> 01:07:55,530
Early detection through lung cancer screening,

735
01:07:55,730 --> 01:07:57,010
followed by timely treatment,

736
01:07:57,550 --> 01:08:00,430
represents our best hope to improve outcomes

737
01:08:00,430 --> 01:08:02,750
for veterans and others at risk of lung cancer.

738
01:08:04,290 --> 01:08:08,670
Lung cancer screening means getting a simple cat scan of the chest takes just a few minutes,

739
01:08:08,990 --> 01:08:13,990
it's painless, and having a screening cat scan every year can reduce lung cancer deaths

740
01:08:13,990 --> 01:08:15,030
by 20%.

741
01:08:17,200 --> 01:08:21,520
One of the hard truths we've already begun to hear about is that black veterans and black

742
01:08:21,520 --> 01:08:27,060
men, nationwide, die of lung cancer more often than any other group in the U.S. population.

743
01:08:28,460 --> 01:08:33,580
Many developed lung cancer at a younger age and with a lower smoking history than white Americans.

744
01:08:34,860 --> 01:08:35,920
And why is that?

745
01:08:36,160 --> 01:08:42,180
It's because they don't often know that screening is an option or how to access it, as you alluded to.

746
01:08:43,260 --> 01:08:49,360
And then they experience delays and gaps in every step of the pathway from diagnosis through treatment,

747
01:08:49,760 --> 01:08:54,020
and are less likely to get the best, most effective treatments for lung cancer.

748
01:08:55,140 --> 01:08:58,720
The good news is that the VA system breaks this pattern.

749
01:08:59,200 --> 01:09:04,200
When black veterans get care through the VA, their lung cancer survival is the same as

750
01:09:04,200 --> 01:09:04,940
white veterans.

751
01:09:06,700 --> 01:09:11,260
VA lung cancer screening rates early cancer detection rates and survival rates are equal

752
01:09:11,260 --> 01:09:14,820
or better across the board than those outside of the VA system.

753
01:09:15,400 --> 01:09:20,660
And the difference here isn't biology, it's access to timely equitable health care.

754
01:09:20,660 --> 01:09:28,060
And we're fortunate that within the VI system, the I Boston's lung cancer screening program is one of the leaders in the nation.

755
01:09:29,580 --> 01:09:39,320
But many people who are eligible for lung cancer screening, veterans and other Bostonians, have never heard of screening and they don't realize that they qualify for this life-saving test.

756
01:09:40,120 --> 01:09:48,360
In tax, fewer than 25% of eligible Americans have been screened for lung cancer and black people are even less likely to have been screened than others in the population.

757
01:09:49,260 --> 01:09:53,400
So let me just take a minute to raise awareness on some key facts.

758
01:09:53,860 --> 01:09:58,280
Guidelines recommend lung cancer screening for people ages 50 to 80 years old with a

759
01:09:58,280 --> 01:09:59,600
significant smoking history.

760
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:09,400
And regardless of whether you get it through the VA or outside of the VA, screening is covered by insurance and completely free with no copays for people who qualify.

761
01:10:10,920 --> 01:10:13,700
But sharing information at meetings like this isn't enough.

762
01:10:14,100 --> 01:10:24,380
Our teams at VA Boston and at our research center, choir, are actively working to improve lung cancer screening awareness and expand access to screening.

763
01:10:24,380 --> 01:10:27,220
And we're doing this work right now here in Boston.

764
01:10:28,160 --> 01:10:30,540
So first, the vet peer connects study.

765
01:10:31,500 --> 01:10:33,420
Last year we partnered with Black Veterans

766
01:10:33,420 --> 01:10:35,320
and community groups like NavVeds,

767
01:10:35,420 --> 01:10:37,420
the National Association for Black Veterans,

768
01:10:37,840 --> 01:10:39,240
and the Triad Veterans League,

769
01:10:39,480 --> 01:10:41,180
led by Boston's own Haywood Finale,

770
01:10:41,760 --> 01:10:43,980
to co-design a community outreach program

771
01:10:43,980 --> 01:10:46,220
by Black Veterans for Black Veterans.

772
01:10:46,900 --> 01:10:51,200
We partnered, actually, with many people here today,

773
01:10:51,200 --> 01:11:09,840
We partnered with the office of veteran services from the city and the Commonwealth and veteran organizations, including the VFW and American Legion, including specifically the VFW Post 1018 and the Carter Post.

774
01:11:10,260 --> 01:11:12,680
So thank you again for your support and partnership.

775
01:11:15,780 --> 01:11:21,840
So we partnered with those groups to hold community events around Greater Boston trying to reach veterans

776
01:11:21,840 --> 01:11:25,560
where they are and help get them connected to lung cancer screening.

777
01:11:28,100 --> 01:11:33,400
So we're now building on what we learned and vet here connects to create a sustainable program with Greater Reach.

778
01:11:34,140 --> 01:11:40,660
We launched a new website and social media campaign developed together with veterans to share their stories about screening.

779
01:11:40,660 --> 01:11:46,500
And we're creating a toolkit for veteran organizations to use with their own members.

780
01:11:47,700 --> 01:11:54,060
We're also leading a precision screening trial across 28 VA medical centers, including VA Boston.

781
01:11:55,580 --> 01:12:00,600
That's designed to engage veterans who have the highest benefit from screening that haven't yet been reached,

782
01:12:00,780 --> 01:12:02,460
and many of these are Black veterans.

783
01:12:04,160 --> 01:12:09,940
And finally, we're kicking off a project to connect veterans who have a history of toxic military exposures

784
01:12:11,380 --> 01:12:18,980
to the whole health wellbeing services at the VA and also connecting them to clinical trials

785
01:12:18,980 --> 01:12:24,420
that will help better understand the relationship between military exposures and lung cancer

786
01:12:24,420 --> 01:12:27,620
and what the role of screening might be for those veterans.

787
01:12:29,700 --> 01:12:30,880
And these things are working.

788
01:12:31,340 --> 01:12:35,940
One veteran at a time, people are talking to their doctors, getting screened,

789
01:12:35,940 --> 01:12:42,120
Regaining trust in the VA and accessing the healthcare that they earned and deserve, I want

790
01:12:42,120 --> 01:12:46,280
to acknowledge and thank the many veterans community partners and VA staff who've helped

791
01:12:46,280 --> 01:12:51,200
make this series of studies a success, as well as the support of the city and the Commonwealth.

792
01:12:52,140 --> 01:12:56,720
Most importantly, I want to thank the men and women veterans who inspire our team every day,

793
01:12:57,200 --> 01:13:04,000
but there is still more work to do, and we need the council and all of your help in these efforts.

794
01:13:04,620 --> 01:13:08,620
First, we hope you'll help us to continue to build on this momentum.

795
01:13:09,400 --> 01:13:13,840
The approaches that we've developed are resonating with Boston veterans, and let's continue

796
01:13:13,840 --> 01:13:17,500
to sustain these partnerships and the trust that we've built with veterans and community

797
01:13:17,500 --> 01:13:18,300
organizations.

798
01:13:19,580 --> 01:13:24,780
Second, please help us to continue to get the word out, partner with us to amplify screening

799
01:13:24,780 --> 01:13:29,800
awareness through the city's mini-channels and resources, and then also as individuals

800
01:13:29,800 --> 01:13:32,800
tell other veterans about lung cancer screening.

801
01:13:33,440 --> 01:13:36,640
These one-on-one interactions are incredibly powerful

802
01:13:36,640 --> 01:13:39,120
and could help save a veteran's life.

803
01:13:39,940 --> 01:13:41,560
I can't think of a more important goal

804
01:13:41,560 --> 01:13:43,080
than getting veterans the screening

805
01:13:43,080 --> 01:13:45,720
and the healthcare that they earned and deserve,

806
01:13:46,200 --> 01:13:48,600
especially black veterans and women veterans,

807
01:13:49,060 --> 01:13:50,340
who have been left behind.

808
01:13:51,300 --> 01:13:53,120
That's not just my mission as a doctor.

809
01:13:53,220 --> 01:13:55,100
I really believe that for all of us,

810
01:13:55,380 --> 01:13:57,980
improving equity is a value we all share.

811
01:13:57,980 --> 01:14:03,340
And I'm honored to fight for that and hope you'll continue to work with us to achieve that goal.

812
01:14:04,460 --> 01:14:08,880
Thank you, Dr. Thank you for being here. Thank you for the important work you were doing.

813
01:14:09,680 --> 01:14:16,560
Before I go to my colleagues to ask questions, I do want to go to public testimony.

814
01:14:17,820 --> 01:14:24,020
And if there is anyone here, I know my friend Donald Mitchell is here.

815
01:14:24,020 --> 01:14:25,580
I believe he's in here for his veteran.

816
01:14:26,560 --> 01:14:32,160
I want to give him the opportunity to speak and to testify.

817
01:14:32,820 --> 01:14:35,240
Usually, Donald, you've got two or three minutes,

818
01:14:36,040 --> 01:14:38,380
but I don't cut off any veteran of that.

819
01:14:38,380 --> 01:14:38,760
I don't care.

820
01:14:39,380 --> 01:14:42,240
The veteran can speak as long as they want you've earned it.

821
01:14:42,240 --> 01:14:46,380
I also want to acknowledge our friend that is not here.

822
01:14:46,380 --> 01:14:48,880
I know he then mentioned Hayward Finale,

823
01:14:49,100 --> 01:14:53,020
a wonderful advocate in the city for veterans,

824
01:14:53,020 --> 01:14:57,500
military family's veterans of cover, but Donald's will love to hear your testimony.

825
01:14:58,340 --> 01:14:59,980
My name is Donald Mitchell, I'm the lead.

826
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:09,640
Presidency or Dawn Foundation, which is a non-profit, and it helps veterans to, with the resources

827
01:15:09,640 --> 01:15:13,040
that they need to get housing,

828
01:15:15,640 --> 01:15:15,640
furniture,

829
01:15:17,840 --> 01:15:20,200
servications that help them get jobs in the industry.

830
01:15:21,540 --> 01:15:28,740
Key problem with veterans of people who are homeless is the fact that when they come out of

831
01:15:28,740 --> 01:15:39,180
or the outside of the field, they don't have the housing in the public, which is key for this operation.

832
01:15:39,840 --> 01:15:49,020
We help them, our organization will help them out find these resources to pay for some of these things that they need.

833
01:15:49,020 --> 01:15:54,760
I'm friends with my brother here, Robert here.

834
01:15:55,160 --> 01:15:56,940
We go back and forth here.

835
01:15:57,740 --> 01:16:00,220
Custom friend, we just had a round table,

836
01:16:00,220 --> 01:16:02,560
a written round table, an office of 11.

837
01:16:03,340 --> 01:16:06,280
Getting ready for a stand-down settlement 11.

838
01:16:07,020 --> 01:16:12,520
So we could do food, more resource and research on what

839
01:16:12,520 --> 01:16:16,040
the breakfast needs, and what they can place in their

840
01:16:16,040 --> 01:16:26,420
decisions, we just sent to the narrative, we just sent a gentleman named Brian Mullen to one

841
01:16:26,420 --> 01:16:34,040
of the partners that we met at the round table, and he's been assisted because he's had

842
01:16:34,040 --> 01:16:37,100
multiple situations and he's had problems.

843
01:16:37,100 --> 01:16:40,860
So, our goal is to help our veterans out.

844
01:16:43,000 --> 01:16:51,560
I've been a veteran of Air Force here, also I'm not retired,

845
01:16:52,420 --> 01:16:58,980
a local for operator, and also worked in Air Force

846
01:16:58,980 --> 01:17:01,360
to civil engineering construction.

847
01:17:02,760 --> 01:17:06,920
So, the construction part of me is the other part

848
01:17:06,920 --> 01:17:10,980
of our companies called Donald Mitch and the soldiers LLC,

849
01:17:11,260 --> 01:17:14,720
which helps define employment for those people

850
01:17:14,720 --> 01:17:17,620
who work in a who needs employment.

851
01:17:17,940 --> 01:17:20,600
So we'll be working, dealing with trying to find

852
01:17:20,600 --> 01:17:24,620
these resources that are things for our veterans who are near.

853
01:17:25,540 --> 01:17:33,800
I'm aware of the government's land in San Diego.

854
01:17:34,100 --> 01:17:35,380
I'm just going to get involved.

855
01:17:35,640 --> 01:17:40,100
I think I know Mr. Kennedy was a little bit

856
01:17:40,720 --> 01:17:47,040
contact you and a future to try to figure out how we can further help our victims on out.

857
01:17:48,240 --> 01:17:54,300
Thank you, Donald. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your testimony and thank you for your

858
01:17:54,300 --> 01:18:03,640
commitment to supporting veterans across across all of Commonwealth. I'm going to go to my colleagues

859
01:18:03,640 --> 01:18:07,320
I'm going to start with Council Murphy, then go to Council of Australia. I'm going to give each

860
01:18:08,120 --> 01:18:12,100
Councilor, maybe 10 minutes to ask questions.

861
01:18:12,260 --> 01:18:16,560
I know there's a lot of people on the panel that might want to weigh in too.

862
01:18:17,820 --> 01:18:20,460
So if the Council goes over 10 minutes, that's fine.

863
01:18:21,840 --> 01:18:23,280
We'll just continue the conversation.

864
01:18:23,640 --> 01:18:24,600
Council Murphy, you're up.

865
01:18:25,300 --> 01:18:26,480
Thank you.

866
01:18:26,560 --> 01:18:29,080
Thank you for your testimony, everyone.

867
01:18:30,140 --> 01:18:35,880
One of the things I kept hearing from all of you is the screening.

868
01:18:35,880 --> 01:18:39,300
And the statistics are trending in a good way.

869
01:18:39,560 --> 01:18:43,340
We are fortunate to live here where we have such great health care,

870
01:18:43,440 --> 01:18:46,600
but at the same time, even though nationally, our numbers may look good

871
01:18:46,600 --> 01:18:54,420
when we zone in on Boston, the state, specifically that we're still seeing

872
01:18:54,420 --> 01:18:59,020
that more black women and men are just not getting the care they need.

873
01:18:59,880 --> 01:19:02,860
So how do we make sure that, because without the screening,

874
01:19:03,600 --> 01:19:07,420
they're not going to get the support, the health support they need.

875
01:19:08,880 --> 01:19:15,820
So what should we do, what can we do, not just as a council, just as a city to make sure

876
01:19:15,820 --> 01:19:22,260
and as a medical doctor, like do you do enough?

877
01:19:22,620 --> 01:19:25,560
Do you think to make sure that you don't have to ask for it, right?

878
01:19:26,060 --> 01:19:30,360
If a doctor knows, well, you were in the Navy, we know you were on the ship.

879
01:19:30,360 --> 01:19:33,420
you were in the military, you probably were exposed,

880
01:19:33,860 --> 01:19:36,460
because many times people aren't aware

881
01:19:36,460 --> 01:19:37,960
to even ask for the help.

882
01:19:38,300 --> 01:19:39,780
And obviously you've said it yourself

883
01:19:39,780 --> 01:19:41,040
and others saying that too.

884
01:19:41,660 --> 01:19:44,740
So what can we do from the medical side,

885
01:19:44,860 --> 01:19:47,620
but also all of you who are advocating

886
01:19:47,620 --> 01:19:51,080
and working alongside our veterans every day?

887
01:19:55,580 --> 01:19:58,060
I'll say from the medical standpoint,

888
01:19:58,060 --> 01:19:59,980
at the VA, we have

889
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:15,140
Of implemented systems to help doctors on the front line identify when the veterans that they're seeing are eligible for long cancer screening and flag them to remind them to make sure that they offer it.

890
01:20:15,220 --> 01:20:21,980
And I know that's the case in many healthcare settings outside of the VA as well.

891
01:20:21,980 --> 01:20:32,560
That said, especially primary care clinicians who are handling so many issues in a brief

892
01:20:32,560 --> 01:20:35,340
visit, sometimes they don't get to it.

893
01:20:35,800 --> 01:20:44,620
So I think it is also important to raise awareness among the public about lung cancer

894
01:20:44,620 --> 01:20:50,500
screening and empower folks to ask their doctors about it.

895
01:20:50,500 --> 01:20:55,040
most insurance not covered if you don't qualify because when you say

896
01:20:55,040 --> 01:20:59,900
qualified with the doctor have to kind of say you you smoke or there's reasons to

897
01:20:59,900 --> 01:21:04,860
believe it it wouldn't automatically be covered if a doctor refer to.

898
01:21:05,460 --> 01:21:12,160
So insurance companies do cover for people who meet USPS TF eligibility criteria

899
01:21:12,160 --> 01:21:18,740
and there's no charge for that that's inside outside the VA system. But as

900
01:21:18,740 --> 01:21:26,020
Mr. Kennedy alluded to those criteria don't catch everybody who could benefit from screening.

901
01:21:26,380 --> 01:21:29,980
That's one of the things that we are studying and that trial that I mentioned.

902
01:21:30,240 --> 01:21:37,320
We are doing precision approaches to predict who would benefit from screening, including

903
01:21:37,320 --> 01:21:42,640
people who fall outside of the U.S. preventive services task force criteria and offering

904
01:21:42,640 --> 01:21:49,660
screening to those veterans. That's a clinical trial, so it's not, you know, for everybody

905
01:21:49,660 --> 01:21:57,700
but hopefully we will be able to reach veterans in VA Boston as well as the 27 other VA sites

906
01:21:57,700 --> 01:21:59,260
that are participating in that trial.

907
01:22:04,290 --> 01:22:10,170
I don't have any other really specific questions other than, you know, what was said,

908
01:22:10,250 --> 01:22:14,350
people just don't always know that there are services out there and how do we connect them.

909
01:22:14,350 --> 01:22:20,190
And it's never at a loss of hard work and advocacy from York Commission.

910
01:22:20,230 --> 01:22:24,110
It happens, I think, for every department across the city, we often hear like,

911
01:22:24,250 --> 01:22:25,470
well, how do I get that fit?

912
01:22:25,470 --> 01:22:26,850
Who should I have called or?

913
01:22:28,110 --> 01:22:37,290
So, is there some sort of like ad or campaign or support thinking of the city level?

914
01:22:37,570 --> 01:22:42,270
How to support our veterans and advocate that way?

915
01:22:44,160 --> 01:22:50,860
I think one of the greatest way that we could collectively, as a city, do it, is through

916
01:22:50,860 --> 01:22:56,360
a continued partnership with the Boston Health Commission with H. Drong, with the Office

917
01:22:56,360 --> 01:22:57,160
of Neighborhood Services.

918
01:22:57,240 --> 01:23:03,660
So basically, pretty much the village here in the city of Boston municipality to get together

919
01:23:03,660 --> 01:23:07,280
when we do go out into a community and talk to not just our veterans, but our veterans,

920
01:23:07,300 --> 01:23:12,640
families, our community members, our community leaders, is just the biggest thing that sometimes

921
01:23:12,640 --> 01:23:19,240
I see is that they see one of our events that is just for veterans, but it's open to everybody.

922
01:23:19,800 --> 01:23:20,920
It's open to the whole community.

923
01:23:21,080 --> 01:23:25,320
It's open to even to somebody who may not even live in Boston, who could just be in the

924
01:23:25,320 --> 01:23:30,560
area to come by and go to the fair and explore that we had at court in part this past weekend

925
01:23:30,560 --> 01:23:32,920
and see what's available to our veterans.

926
01:23:32,940 --> 01:23:36,700
See what's available to the community as well and that's information that they could pass

927
01:23:36,700 --> 01:23:41,820
on to someone who they may know, who's a veteran or someone who they may know is a son

928
01:23:41,820 --> 01:23:48,900
of a veteran or a daughter of a veteran, so all these events, all these communications that

929
01:23:48,900 --> 01:23:53,440
we may have or leaflets, they, while from my office, they may be geared to a veterans,

930
01:23:53,660 --> 01:23:58,560
but actually, therefore everybody, because everyone should know a veteran or know somebody

931
01:23:58,560 --> 01:24:02,500
who knows a veteran as a person in the family who is a veteran, they could pass that information

932
01:24:02,500 --> 01:24:03,380
onto you.

933
01:24:03,980 --> 01:24:08,900
So, you know, what I implore people who may be listening or who may be watching to understand

934
01:24:08,900 --> 01:24:16,840
is that reading these informations come to our events via part of our event because it is

935
01:24:16,840 --> 01:24:22,320
for the benefit of the whole community. And part of that community is our veterans because

936
01:24:22,320 --> 01:24:26,660
veterans do cover all demographics here in the city of Boston and we are all in all communities.

937
01:24:26,920 --> 01:24:33,200
So I think that communicating this to everyone in the city and beyond is very important.

938
01:24:33,860 --> 01:24:43,240
I think the one of the things that we must do is the sake God, the misclasses that comes

939
01:24:43,240 --> 01:24:52,840
into the veterans' budget will be cut all sorts of ways and way of all sorts of ways.

940
01:24:53,040 --> 01:24:56,380
We need to help them find them to do their research.

941
01:24:57,440 --> 01:24:59,460
The posties wanted to do what they had to do.

942
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:05,120
Mental Health System, which we need from the front and the dual decision for the big, if different agencies.

943
01:25:06,700 --> 01:25:13,800
It's included in our federal government doing all these cuts and everything all the way, we need to say God, our funding that goes into our metrics.

944
01:25:13,800 --> 01:25:19,240
to make sure these issues get the resources that they need to do with the work that they need to do.

945
01:25:19,680 --> 01:25:20,140
Thank you.

946
01:25:20,780 --> 01:25:24,820
I was going to mention that too when we were going through the budget cycle, the fight

947
01:25:24,820 --> 01:25:31,820
department, who many of the members are veterans, did not receive that $1.2 million grant

948
01:25:31,820 --> 01:25:37,280
and many much of that grant was directly related to screening and healthcare support.

949
01:25:37,840 --> 01:25:38,680
So it is important.

950
01:25:38,840 --> 01:25:43,020
And if we see that we're losing federal state grants, like how do we on the council shift?

951
01:25:43,020 --> 01:25:45,180
I know that we were closely with your department

952
01:25:45,180 --> 01:25:47,380
to make sure we're not losing any money.

953
01:25:47,600 --> 01:25:50,120
And if anyway, we can add more to your department,

954
01:25:50,900 --> 01:25:54,080
but thank you just all for being here and advocating

955
01:25:54,080 --> 01:25:57,840
and just know I'm the support and resource anyway.

956
01:25:58,060 --> 01:26:00,160
I can help more than I am.

957
01:26:00,200 --> 01:26:01,560
I love to do thank you.

958
01:26:01,720 --> 01:26:02,760
Thank you council Murphy.

959
01:26:04,680 --> 01:26:08,060
At this time, I'm gonna go to council of Fitzgerald.

960
01:26:08,360 --> 01:26:10,720
Council of Fitzgerald, you have 10 minutes.

961
01:26:11,220 --> 01:26:15,060
Thank you, Jeff. I appreciate it.

962
01:26:15,520 --> 01:26:17,820
So, thank you all for the testimony.

963
01:26:18,060 --> 01:26:19,700
I was sort of listening to everybody.

964
01:26:19,860 --> 01:26:23,240
I was writing down, you know, the data is the data, right?

965
01:26:23,480 --> 01:26:27,180
And so, we know that what we're focusing on here today is an issue

966
01:26:27,180 --> 01:26:30,040
and that's not being told that that is being told by boots on the ground

967
01:26:30,040 --> 01:26:31,840
but also through the data that we're collecting.

968
01:26:32,320 --> 01:26:34,860
And so, I was trying to think of, you know,

969
01:26:34,940 --> 01:26:40,040
what is the number one source of why this discrepancy exists?

970
01:26:40,040 --> 01:26:43,240
I'll refer to lung cancer at the moment among black veterans.

971
01:26:44,340 --> 01:26:46,960
And, you know, I said it right now, a list of what I think could have, right?

972
01:26:47,360 --> 01:26:50,440
And I'm no doctor, so you guys, please, this is why you guys are here, right?

973
01:26:50,960 --> 01:26:52,760
But I was like, there's either genetics.

974
01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:55,900
There's education and awareness about it.

975
01:26:56,120 --> 01:26:57,300
There is the insurance.

976
01:26:58,260 --> 01:27:00,440
There is your personal lifestyle that can affect it.

977
01:27:00,440 --> 01:27:03,540
There's the work life style, such as where you might have served.

978
01:27:04,720 --> 01:27:08,900
And I added navigating the system in, because from what I heard from this panel,

979
01:27:08,900 --> 01:27:11,060
to is that just navigating the system.

980
01:27:12,700 --> 01:27:17,920
Like, of all the things, what do we think of that sort of list might be, like, if we were to

981
01:27:17,920 --> 01:27:22,680
hone in on what would have the biggest impact, and there may be others that I could add to this

982
01:27:22,680 --> 01:27:23,040
list.

983
01:27:23,540 --> 01:27:30,340
But what would be the area that we would say is it, you know, hey, if we corrected insurance,

984
01:27:30,640 --> 01:27:35,060
a lot more people would be covered and we could identify more early, or is it, hey, is

985
01:27:35,060 --> 01:27:38,880
it the education awareness and getting, and I know it's a mixture of all, right?

986
01:27:38,880 --> 01:27:44,000
But what I'm asking is if we would have prioritized it, right, you can't do much about genetics.

987
01:27:45,740 --> 01:27:48,980
You know, the work lives that's already occurred right in black veterans.

988
01:27:49,300 --> 01:27:53,180
And so how do we know where we can place people in the future, sure it might help future generations.

989
01:27:55,220 --> 01:28:00,520
But that just knowing where they are and making sure certain benefits are available to them.

990
01:28:01,440 --> 01:28:06,400
And then helping navigate the system, I think that's in any sort of large,

991
01:28:07,820 --> 01:28:11,260
You know, heavy paperwork, type of setting, I mean,

992
01:28:11,580 --> 01:28:13,860
e-caronshare and health insurance, whatever it may be, right?

993
01:28:13,860 --> 01:28:15,640
I think we all have trouble nodding,

994
01:28:15,720 --> 01:28:17,900
people walk into this building and the first thing

995
01:28:17,900 --> 01:28:20,220
they usually say is, I'm, you know,

996
01:28:20,260 --> 01:28:22,180
to help me navigate City Hall, where do I go?

997
01:28:22,320 --> 01:28:23,900
Right, who do I talk to for this issue?

998
01:28:24,800 --> 01:28:26,540
So, I think that's important one.

999
01:28:27,520 --> 01:28:29,460
But just trying to hold it because I feel like

1000
01:28:29,460 --> 01:28:31,820
if you extrapolated outside of veterans

1001
01:28:31,820 --> 01:28:34,220
to that the data probably correlates, right?

1002
01:28:34,220 --> 01:28:39,500
that lung cancer among black individuals is also probably higher than white counterparts.

1003
01:28:40,420 --> 01:28:46,080
And so that's what got me thinking to the other things of like, well, if we help one, we can help the veterans.

1004
01:28:46,140 --> 01:28:48,920
If we help the larger continuum, then we can help the veterans.

1005
01:28:49,380 --> 01:28:53,240
But at the same time, what can we learn from helping the veterans that can educate us,

1006
01:28:53,240 --> 01:28:55,680
that we can bring it out to the larger continuum, right?

1007
01:28:57,720 --> 01:29:02,020
A lot of you guys spoke on this, but I guess what I'm sort of is wondering,

1008
01:29:02,020 --> 01:29:06,760
is if we were to hone in, right, because government gets pulled in a lot of different ways

1009
01:29:06,760 --> 01:29:11,040
and we'd love to hone in on every single one of these, but that would be all day every

1010
01:29:11,040 --> 01:29:15,980
day and there's a lot of other people asking for our help. If we could hone in, what would

1011
01:29:15,980 --> 01:29:23,180
you think would be the best parameter to sort of say, let's solve this one. Let's solve education

1012
01:29:23,180 --> 01:29:28,080
awareness and put the money towards that and put our effort towards that. Let's tackle insurance

1013
01:29:28,080 --> 01:29:31,480
and make sure, I think, in turn, it's as a sham anyway, I don't know how you get, you

1014
01:29:31,480 --> 01:29:36,120
guys are the doctors, but just from a guy on the outside, the ladies person, I think that's

1015
01:29:36,120 --> 01:29:40,860
the biggest thing we got to tackle next. But, you know, is it making sure the system is more

1016
01:29:40,860 --> 01:29:48,700
streamlined or at least more, you know, that you can work with it easier to understand? I don't know.

1017
01:29:48,820 --> 01:29:53,940
So, I put that all to you guys and say, if you had to prioritize, what would you think would be

1018
01:29:53,940 --> 01:29:56,520
the most impactful one to attack.

1019
01:29:59,610 --> 01:29:59,970
And we can all this.

1020
01:30:00,740 --> 01:30:04,740
I'm sort of just wondering from personal point of view. There is no right answer.

1021
01:30:05,380 --> 01:30:12,120
I'll guess I'll start concert. Thank you for your question and bringing that up. It's everything you mentioned.

1022
01:30:13,180 --> 01:30:19,260
It's a little bit of everything, but I think part of it has to do also, which we alluded to and incidentally myself.

1023
01:30:20,320 --> 01:30:25,560
And Craig here before we even came to the council hearing, we're having a cup of coffee and talked about it.

1024
01:30:25,560 --> 01:30:31,300
talk about, you know, what is the underlying reason why the cancer rates are so much higher

1025
01:30:31,920 --> 01:30:36,560
in the Black Veterans community and also in the minority community as a whole.

1026
01:30:37,040 --> 01:30:42,120
And we can speak on that from our experience as a veterans, a lot of it has to do with whatever

1027
01:30:42,120 --> 01:30:48,720
their job duties or collateral duties were given to the Black Veterans in service.

1028
01:30:48,720 --> 01:30:57,100
I could speak on on my experiences as a Navy veteran where, you know, a lot of minority veterans of

1029
01:30:57,100 --> 01:31:03,500
America sailors like myself, we were told to go sandblast a void on a ship, you know,

1030
01:31:03,740 --> 01:31:08,580
or we were working in an engine room pretty much what Craig had mentioned earlier in his testimony.

1031
01:31:10,000 --> 01:31:15,060
So, you know, so a lot of the, and I'm not saying that that's the reason why the racers are so high,

1032
01:31:15,060 --> 01:31:20,180
I'm just speaking again on my experiences and from what I've seen and talking to other veterans as well.

1033
01:31:21,140 --> 01:31:29,920
That could also be an underlying reason why those numbers may be high is because of also the duties that we were given while we were in service.

1034
01:31:30,840 --> 01:31:40,720
Now, add that to the fact that we're no longer in service and now we're veterans navigating the system, knowing the system, knowing what is not to for us.

1035
01:31:40,720 --> 01:31:46,400
And, like, Dr. Wyner had mentioned in her testimony, the VA, they're doing a great job in trying

1036
01:31:46,400 --> 01:31:51,700
to get the word out there, but one is not enough to, there's always work to be done.

1037
01:31:53,240 --> 01:32:00,940
And so, I guess the educational piece, and again, trying to let everybody know that the lung cancer

1038
01:32:00,940 --> 01:32:03,980
screenings are there for veterans, for pretty much anybody.

1039
01:32:04,000 --> 01:32:09,780
The city of Boston also has a policy for lung cancer screening amongst municipal workers,

1040
01:32:09,780 --> 01:32:14,260
you know, go to contact your CBA and see what those may be.

1041
01:32:14,600 --> 01:32:16,320
But I think, as far as veterans are concerned,

1042
01:32:17,520 --> 01:32:22,520
the education piece is huge, getting to those veterans

1043
01:32:23,460 --> 01:32:26,060
and Malika had mentioned that Dr. William mentioned

1044
01:32:26,060 --> 01:32:30,900
in her testimony when these service members become veterans.

1045
01:32:31,900 --> 01:32:34,460
You know, what is the Department of Defense doing

1046
01:32:35,080 --> 01:32:36,780
when service members are transitioning

1047
01:32:36,780 --> 01:32:39,240
into becoming veterans that come back into our communities

1048
01:32:39,240 --> 01:32:42,500
are re-reaching them in a timely fashion.

1049
01:32:43,660 --> 01:32:48,220
Once they come out, I know that the state does what they can to notify us,

1050
01:32:48,680 --> 01:32:52,740
municipalities, us, veteran services offices, throughout the state to let us know

1051
01:32:52,740 --> 01:32:58,520
who in our community is returning from service and in reaching them and letting them know

1052
01:32:58,520 --> 01:33:02,960
and also being able to be and ask that to them when they transition and

1053
01:33:02,960 --> 01:33:06,280
integrate back into the system, back into their communities as well.

1054
01:33:06,280 --> 01:33:15,680
So it's really not something that it's going to be taken care of immediately, but it's something

1055
01:33:15,680 --> 01:33:19,540
that we're going to be able, that we have to continue the conversation on amongst our

1056
01:33:19,540 --> 01:33:24,980
groups, amongst advocacy groups, amongst the VFWs, the DAVs, the American legions,

1057
01:33:25,580 --> 01:33:31,680
you know, Dan and his organization, Haywood and his organization, and pretty much all the

1058
01:33:31,680 --> 01:33:37,300
organization and the communities as well. And it also takes the council as well that, you know,

1059
01:33:37,380 --> 01:33:41,860
if and when you also go out into the community, bring it up, you know, what councilor Fitzgerald,

1060
01:33:41,920 --> 01:33:45,380
you know, if you're running your community like, you know, I was at a hearing about veterans,

1061
01:33:45,900 --> 01:33:50,120
and we talked about lung cancer here, you know, lung cancer amongst veterans. This is lots of

1062
01:33:50,120 --> 01:33:54,160
available. So, you know, just spreading the word out there, whenever we go on to the community, just

1063
01:33:54,160 --> 01:33:58,900
bring it up, even if the subject matter may not be about veterans, I always bring a veteran. Why

1064
01:33:58,900 --> 01:34:04,760
because I am a veteran, you know, why not, but you know, but you know, make it part of the conversation,

1065
01:34:05,120 --> 01:34:10,240
make it part of the community conversation about veterans, you know, about lung cancer screening,

1066
01:34:10,420 --> 01:34:17,500
about women veterans, you know, right now there's close to, I believe, 940,000 women that are

1067
01:34:17,500 --> 01:34:23,420
enrolled in the VA, but there's 2.1 million women veterans that we know, so, you know, those numbers

1068
01:34:23,420 --> 01:34:28,000
need to go up as well, so women veterans could also get the care that they need in the VA system.

1069
01:34:28,760 --> 01:34:30,120
because it's there for them.

1070
01:34:31,000 --> 01:34:33,240
How many of them actually went to the VA to get that care?

1071
01:34:33,400 --> 01:34:35,120
Or is it the trust thing as well?

1072
01:34:35,380 --> 01:34:36,200
Are we talking about trust?

1073
01:34:36,300 --> 01:34:38,700
They just don't trust the system to help them out.

1074
01:34:38,920 --> 01:34:40,300
Just the same thing with black veterans,

1075
01:34:40,500 --> 01:34:41,580
just same thing with minority veterans.

1076
01:34:42,540 --> 01:34:44,120
There's been that stigma for many, many years

1077
01:34:44,120 --> 01:34:46,060
that the VA is not there to help them.

1078
01:34:46,160 --> 01:34:48,860
It could be the trust thing that we need to break through as well.

1079
01:34:48,960 --> 01:34:55,380
There's a lot of, it's a big web that we're weaving here

1080
01:34:55,380 --> 01:34:57,040
that we need to go through and break through.

1081
01:34:57,040 --> 01:34:59,980
But I think that what it all comes down to.

1082
01:35:00,460 --> 01:35:12,860
The word communication, you know, talking to the veterans, getting them out there, letting them know that the VA has gone, you know, has come a long way, and, you know, I'm proud to say that the Boston VA is definitely the best damn VA we have in this country.

1083
01:35:13,280 --> 01:35:23,220
And it's because of the partnerships that we have with the state, the partnerships that we have with all these medical facilities, we have one of the best non-profits like home base that's located here through the MGH as well.

1084
01:35:23,220 --> 01:35:31,480
So, you know, all those partnerships getting together and communicating that, hey, we're here for you and we're going to make sure that you get what you deserve.

1085
01:35:32,440 --> 01:35:32,880
That's excellent.

1086
01:35:33,020 --> 01:35:34,020
Thank you very much.

1087
01:35:34,100 --> 01:35:34,620
I appreciate it.

1088
01:35:34,920 --> 01:35:35,520
But it's right.

1089
01:35:35,900 --> 01:35:40,920
Education from our point of view of what accounts of the new educational awareness is where we should tackle.

1090
01:35:42,420 --> 01:35:44,440
I don't know if anyone else, don't have to.

1091
01:35:44,580 --> 01:35:47,800
If anyone else would like to chime in, I have other questions as well.

1092
01:35:54,760 --> 01:35:57,120
Thank you for the question.

1093
01:35:59,280 --> 01:36:02,220
I'm going to say, from my particular lane,

1094
01:36:02,740 --> 01:36:04,460
because everybody here is bringing

1095
01:36:04,460 --> 01:36:07,420
whether it's an experiential or a professional perspective

1096
01:36:07,420 --> 01:36:08,960
into this.

1097
01:36:08,960 --> 01:36:10,660
Again, as I said in my introduction,

1098
01:36:11,620 --> 01:36:14,880
my focus is on early detection

1099
01:36:14,880 --> 01:36:17,380
of, in this particular case, of course, lucky.

1100
01:36:18,260 --> 01:36:28,520
I've never had long cancer, I'm not a veteran, I've never smoked, I listened to your list of the things that could be causing this.

1101
01:36:29,120 --> 01:36:32,360
Genetics was the first thing you said I don't know if it was any particular order.

1102
01:36:32,380 --> 01:36:32,820
No, particularly.

1103
01:36:33,100 --> 01:36:42,220
I would say that family history or other Genetics or issues in a lot of cancers, I think the biggest issue for long cancer is exposure.

1104
01:36:42,220 --> 01:36:46,540
particularly with backgrounds, because we all have said in various ways in shapes and forms.

1105
01:36:47,060 --> 01:36:51,960
People didn't draw a smoking until they entered military service, or some other type of

1106
01:36:51,960 --> 01:36:56,300
position that put them in an exposure situation to something other than tobacco.

1107
01:36:56,900 --> 01:37:01,520
A lot of that is towards driving one cancer rates up in a particular photo for a black veterans.

1108
01:37:02,200 --> 01:37:08,380
To answer your question, my single word again from my laying basically goes right back to the guidance.

1109
01:37:09,020 --> 01:37:10,940
And let me just put some context around that.

1110
01:37:10,940 --> 01:37:17,520
What we do at the Boston Public Health Commission, at least in terms of my job, because I don't provide any direct service.

1111
01:37:18,040 --> 01:37:19,560
I don't actually do the swimming.

1112
01:37:20,240 --> 01:37:24,900
What I basically do in my role is to communicate about the swimming.

1113
01:37:25,880 --> 01:37:30,660
But I always tell myself, I am doing a disservice to the public.

1114
01:37:31,380 --> 01:37:36,960
If I don't go into that job, acknowledging that there is a balance.

1115
01:37:36,960 --> 01:37:42,620
there's two-dimensional chest being plucked here because I have to communicate something that

1116
01:37:42,620 --> 01:37:48,920
provides a call to action to the public, but when they get into the medical system, the doctor

1117
01:37:48,920 --> 01:37:55,820
has to do what I want them to do when the patient shows up, right? If the doctor is not going to

1118
01:37:55,820 --> 01:38:02,620
do that, why should I tell people to go have it done if they can't actually get it done? The guideline

1119
01:38:02,620 --> 01:38:18,580
I'm trying to talk about here, it goes to the fact that lung cancer screening is basically tied to tobacco use and a lot of the lung cancer that veterans suffer are from things other than tobacco.

1120
01:38:31,920 --> 01:38:32,560
Okay?

1121
01:38:32,560 --> 01:38:38,000
particularly group. Again, the other context I'll add is, I'm with the Boston Public Health Commission.

1122
01:38:38,620 --> 01:38:44,300
But what we're talking about here is population health. It's a segment of our population,

1123
01:38:44,700 --> 01:38:49,320
I.E. veterans, that are experiencing lung cancer differently than a general public.

1124
01:38:49,820 --> 01:38:52,920
What can we hone in on and focus on with that?

1125
01:38:53,400 --> 01:38:57,700
You talk about, we've heard the tremendous work that the VA hospital is doing here,

1126
01:38:58,040 --> 01:39:01,300
which is different, unique and better than what's happening across the country.

1127
01:39:01,300 --> 01:39:01,700
Yeah.

1128
01:39:02,180 --> 01:39:09,000
My hope is that there's an opportunity with local legislation engaging local payers and

1129
01:39:09,000 --> 01:39:15,320
a strong medical and clinical institution like the VA hospital to say, let's set the

1130
01:39:15,320 --> 01:39:18,580
tone for the rest of the country for how to get this right.

1131
01:39:19,200 --> 01:39:27,000
Because we now can basically create a local closed loop that says what we do is we screen

1132
01:39:27,000 --> 01:39:33,440
people not just for tobacco use, but for exposure to the things that we asked them to do

1133
01:39:33,440 --> 01:39:35,680
in the context of the military service.

1134
01:39:36,240 --> 01:39:43,180
Get payers on board, open up lung cancer screening to people that actually need it, not

1135
01:39:43,180 --> 01:39:44,200
just smokers.

1136
01:39:45,200 --> 01:39:51,320
Look at the financial benefits of that over a period of time, look at the outcomes benefits

1137
01:39:51,320 --> 01:39:56,060
which is reduced mortality, over a period of time, presents the circumference they look.

1138
01:39:56,060 --> 01:39:59,960
We are getting it right in Massachusetts, you could be doing

1139
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:10,960
More in every war that's not Massachusetts, because we've got, as you said, we've got a community of local resources, clinically, that are probably the best in the country, if not the world.

1140
01:40:11,920 --> 01:40:29,600
And if we get it right here for veterans, not only will it inform the way we treat veterans across the country, but that navigation system and everything else that's involved, literally opens up cancer-related detection for other canters and other areas in a way that it informs,

1141
01:40:29,600 --> 01:40:41,900
the whole system. I think we've got a unique opportunity here and I think the city council, local clinicians, advocates like myself, communicators like myself, can really get on board and put a plan together.

1142
01:40:42,380 --> 01:40:46,420
Well, this one Boston does lead the way, so I hope we can do that on that.

1143
01:40:46,560 --> 01:40:49,900
I know some other folks wanted to potentially chime in.

1144
01:40:49,900 --> 01:40:52,120
So, no, just quickly, it's not my fault.

1145
01:40:52,560 --> 01:40:52,620
Yes.

1146
01:40:54,380 --> 01:40:56,840
One of the things about veterans that's

1147
01:40:56,840 --> 01:40:59,880
we look for community organizations because of

1148
01:40:59,880 --> 01:41:00,900
brother and sisterhood.

1149
01:41:01,680 --> 01:41:05,060
And we also lean on our faith-based churches.

1150
01:41:05,880 --> 01:41:07,540
So, if we're talking about education,

1151
01:41:09,120 --> 01:41:10,820
and, you know, how would we employ that education?

1152
01:41:10,900 --> 01:41:12,960
How will we get veterans and the door?

1153
01:41:13,240 --> 01:41:15,000
And, you know, the VA is a great system.

1154
01:41:15,300 --> 01:41:16,660
And we have great screening.

1155
01:41:16,660 --> 01:41:22,700
But at a point, we need to get that student door into those screenings.

1156
01:41:22,900 --> 01:41:23,980
And then how do we do that?

1157
01:41:24,180 --> 01:41:30,060
Any time that we are opening up something in Boston, I think that any community organization

1158
01:41:30,060 --> 01:41:36,660
that that are attached to whether it's the YMCA over the regular day local communities system,

1159
01:41:37,780 --> 01:41:43,760
local community like Hall or the Post, all of that needs to be filtered down.

1160
01:41:43,760 --> 01:41:53,880
So, if I'm walking into any community place that I'd love to visit, I should be able to know that this is free screening.

1161
01:41:54,380 --> 01:41:55,940
Because we can offer it.

1162
01:41:56,160 --> 01:41:59,460
But the education part of it, how do we get them to do it?

1163
01:41:59,620 --> 01:42:01,780
How do you get us to the door?

1164
01:42:01,980 --> 01:42:05,000
Because you couldn't get me through the door 10 years ago.

1165
01:42:06,200 --> 01:42:07,500
So, how do we do that?

1166
01:42:07,780 --> 01:42:12,980
So we really need to start thinking about where is our underserved.

1167
01:42:12,980 --> 01:42:15,680
serve communities for that.

1168
01:42:16,140 --> 01:42:17,740
Where do they often visit?

1169
01:42:18,420 --> 01:42:20,220
Maybe the local coffee shop.

1170
01:42:21,240 --> 01:42:23,480
Maybe the VA and Westwater is having a screener.

1171
01:42:23,580 --> 01:42:26,100
What do we need to hit the local coffee shop down the street

1172
01:42:26,100 --> 01:42:27,120
at the YMCA?

1173
01:42:27,720 --> 01:42:29,280
Because I know if I can see it.

1174
01:42:29,420 --> 01:42:31,700
And I say, hey, this is a screener.

1175
01:42:32,020 --> 01:42:34,840
I may go and say, oh, maybe call this number

1176
01:42:34,840 --> 01:42:35,580
for some information.

1177
01:42:36,380 --> 01:42:38,700
So I really think about the educational piece

1178
01:42:38,700 --> 01:42:42,460
and how we will bring them into the door to get the screeners.

1179
01:42:44,420 --> 01:42:48,780
And I completely agree with everything people have said so far.

1180
01:42:49,020 --> 01:42:50,420
I'll add one other thing.

1181
01:42:51,360 --> 01:42:57,440
I do think that it's access to healthcare and then the costs as well.

1182
01:42:57,700 --> 01:43:04,620
I mentioned that the initial screening, if you meet the criteria, is free of cost no matter where you get it.

1183
01:43:04,900 --> 01:43:10,160
But what is often a barrier is like, if you need something more than just that screening test,

1184
01:43:10,160 --> 01:43:16,040
If there's a screening detected finding that needs further work up, there is cost associated

1185
01:43:16,040 --> 01:43:21,720
with getting the subsequent tests, and that's a real barrier for a lot of people.

1186
01:43:23,040 --> 01:43:29,480
So that's something within the VA, those costs are often lower outside the VA, that

1187
01:43:29,480 --> 01:43:31,000
can add up.

1188
01:43:31,280 --> 01:43:34,420
So I think that's something that could be addressed.

1189
01:43:34,420 --> 01:43:42,480
that goes to the insurance, right, that's right, I know I'm well over my time but just a two more

1190
01:43:42,480 --> 01:43:48,280
crook I should, you know, mind you, thank you. One, I thought about is the military doing anything

1191
01:43:48,280 --> 01:43:53,240
now when we talk about the workplace that is caused it, is the military doing anything now

1192
01:43:53,240 --> 01:43:58,760
to identify those positions that say, okay, what are we doing to prevent, if I'm working below

1193
01:43:58,760 --> 01:44:04,860
deck in the engine room, you know, 24-7. Are there steps being take, I don't need to know

1194
01:44:04,860 --> 01:44:09,300
these specific steps now, but are there steps being taken to say, how are we making that

1195
01:44:09,300 --> 01:44:14,400
area a healthier workplace for our military so that when they come out, they do not have

1196
01:44:14,400 --> 01:44:16,860
these issues post-service?

1197
01:44:19,880 --> 01:44:28,740
Thanks for that question, Councillor. Across the military, we did mention a lot of different

1198
01:44:28,740 --> 01:44:34,780
conditions, a part of being a commander is looking after your troops.

1199
01:44:35,140 --> 01:44:41,480
So if he whoves every commander no matter what level from your lowest level up through, you

1200
01:44:41,480 --> 01:44:47,280
know, the president or any of your service secretaries, that you want to have your, you're,

1201
01:44:47,280 --> 01:44:56,660
I guess, at the end of the day, your employees in the most healthiest, safest environment.

1202
01:44:56,660 --> 01:44:57,460
That's good.

1203
01:44:58,160 --> 01:44:59,960
A lot of times it's not pop.

1204
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:10,180
We'll also do do the conditions where they send us to do our work. We're not always sent to the most lush garden spots across the world.

1205
01:45:12,100 --> 01:45:23,020
But a lot of times, you want to take those necessary steps to make sure that your soul, who's your sale, who's your Marines, your airmen, are in the safest environment.

1206
01:45:23,020 --> 01:45:30,420
If that includes additional personal protective equipment, a lot of times the guidelines within

1207
01:45:30,420 --> 01:45:36,100
the military don't always follow OSHA, but they're very, very similar and sometimes

1208
01:45:36,100 --> 01:45:43,860
they're even more stringent to make sure that, again, if your service member is getting

1209
01:45:43,860 --> 01:45:49,200
sick and unable to perform their duties, then you're no longer going to be mission-capable

1210
01:45:49,200 --> 01:45:52,780
as a unit, as a vessel, as a piece of equipment.

1211
01:45:53,880 --> 01:45:57,220
So at the end of the day, your biggest, your greatest asset

1212
01:45:57,760 --> 01:46:00,000
is your individual service member.

1213
01:46:00,380 --> 01:46:04,460
So you want to make sure that whatever means

1214
01:46:04,460 --> 01:46:09,480
are appropriate for every situation, you

1215
01:46:09,480 --> 01:46:11,620
are going to take care of that service member.

1216
01:46:12,100 --> 01:46:16,940
So that is a top of mind for a commander at any level,

1217
01:46:16,940 --> 01:46:22,200
to make sure your service members are getting taken care of as best as they can.

1218
01:46:22,680 --> 01:46:27,760
As long as we, I told the military continues to constantly review where they're sending

1219
01:46:27,760 --> 01:46:33,300
the most important assets and making sure that the healthiest I hope that that would

1220
01:46:33,300 --> 01:46:36,120
more the preventative work, right, is all I'm making sure.

1221
01:46:36,340 --> 01:46:36,640
Absolutely.

1222
01:46:37,140 --> 01:46:45,000
And coming home, back in 1998, 1999, I served the tour over in Bosnia at that point in time.

1223
01:46:45,000 --> 01:46:53,840
The air quality was not the greatest, a lot of the local, you know, the Bosniians were burning their trash.

1224
01:46:54,240 --> 01:46:55,700
Their trash would go into the rivers.

1225
01:46:55,960 --> 01:46:59,140
It was an environmental nightmare.

1226
01:46:59,800 --> 01:47:03,920
One of those things that, as we were redeploying back home after our tour was over,

1227
01:47:03,920 --> 01:47:05,760
was, you know, we had chest X-rays.

1228
01:47:06,640 --> 01:47:11,540
To get a baseline of where our respiratory system was at.

1229
01:47:12,580 --> 01:47:18,460
There's just a few years ago, but then redeploying to places like the Middle East.

1230
01:47:18,720 --> 01:47:21,740
Again, you're not in the most healthiest environments.

1231
01:47:22,960 --> 01:47:27,540
Again, as a soldier, a lot of times you're outside, you're doing things.

1232
01:47:27,760 --> 01:47:33,020
But again, you can be in confined spaces such as an armament vehicle or any types of vehicles.

1233
01:47:34,360 --> 01:47:36,360
Or you can be on the ship, you can be on an aircraft.

1234
01:47:36,360 --> 01:47:41,860
that, again, you're not always in that most healthiest environments, and again, it comes down

1235
01:47:41,860 --> 01:47:46,840
with the commanders to make sure that they're taking care of their service members, so we're

1236
01:47:46,840 --> 01:47:50,740
not ending up having to visit the VA afterward after all that.

1237
01:47:50,840 --> 01:47:51,240
That's it.

1238
01:47:51,620 --> 01:47:52,520
Thank you.

1239
01:47:53,260 --> 01:47:53,600
Thank you.

1240
01:47:53,700 --> 01:47:54,480
I know well of the time.

1241
01:47:54,580 --> 01:47:56,300
Thank you very much for the added time, Jim.

1242
01:47:56,680 --> 01:47:57,640
Thank you.

1243
01:47:57,640 --> 01:47:58,060
Thank you.

1244
01:47:58,240 --> 01:47:58,780
Council, Fitzgerald.

1245
01:48:01,970 --> 01:48:07,530
Just real quick, I wanted to add also, and I know Mark has mentioned a lot about tobacco use

1246
01:48:07,530 --> 01:48:12,130
of being prevalent in the military and part of the main reason why that is is because of

1247
01:48:12,130 --> 01:48:18,690
the stressors that military folks go through in the job and to piggyback off what the

1248
01:48:18,690 --> 01:48:25,230
commander here said is the military they do do what they can to try to mitigate any dangers

1249
01:48:25,230 --> 01:48:30,910
from their assets which is the main asset which is a service member and I know that they do

1250
01:48:30,910 --> 01:48:36,530
have, you know, one of the highest funded cancer researchers in, you know, in the world.

1251
01:48:37,990 --> 01:48:42,430
But they do what they can, but of course, there's, there's always more that could be done.

1252
01:48:43,510 --> 01:48:44,710
Could I make one other comment?

1253
01:48:45,530 --> 01:48:53,990
I just want to make sure that people who have served veterans are aware that if they have had military toxic exposures,

1254
01:48:53,990 --> 01:49:01,190
something the VA is now routinely screening everyone enrolled for and adding them to registries

1255
01:49:01,190 --> 01:49:06,810
to understand what the health effects are and that veterans who developed lung cancer, a number

1256
01:49:06,810 --> 01:49:13,150
of other cancers, other respiratory conditions as a result of, well, they don't need to

1257
01:49:13,150 --> 01:49:22,190
approve. It's considered a presumptive condition that it titles them to benefits from the VA health care

1258
01:49:24,170 --> 01:49:27,570
That's all part of the packed act that was signed by President Biden.

1259
01:49:30,500 --> 01:49:31,800
Thank you.

1260
01:49:31,820 --> 01:49:32,080
Thank you.

1261
01:49:32,560 --> 01:49:32,820
Fitzgerald.

1262
01:49:33,200 --> 01:49:35,060
Also give myself 10 minutes.

1263
01:49:35,340 --> 01:49:38,840
But before I do that, I

1264
01:49:41,400 --> 01:49:43,840
have another absence that I just want to read it into the

1265
01:49:43,840 --> 01:49:44,560
record.

1266
01:49:45,440 --> 01:49:52,320
Dear Chair Santana, I hope that you inform me that I may unable to attend today's meeting

1267
01:49:52,320 --> 01:49:58,880
committee and veterans military families to discuss lung cancer rates among live

1268
01:49:58,880 --> 01:49:59,800
veterans services.

1269
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:12,000
The woman veterans, I will follow up with additional questions upon reviewing my staff's notes. In watching the recording, please do not hesitate to contact my staff with any questions sincerely and VKPAP and Councilor.

1270
01:50:12,620 --> 01:50:18,660
Watch and City Council of District 5. I'm going to give myself five minutes. I mean, ten minutes also.

1271
01:50:25,250 --> 01:50:31,090
So, I want to say thank you to the panel for the important testimony you've provided

1272
01:50:31,090 --> 01:50:38,990
in the exceptional answers and thoughts you responded to from my colleagues.

1273
01:50:40,750 --> 01:50:51,690
And do you want to ask maybe two specific questions if I may, and want to ask both

1274
01:50:51,690 --> 01:50:54,770
both doctors a question if that's okay.

1275
01:50:58,070 --> 01:51:00,710
So, and I listen closely to the test morning.

1276
01:51:01,610 --> 01:51:03,610
Maybe I'll start with Dr. Woodley if that's okay.

1277
01:51:05,270 --> 01:51:12,450
So, Dr. Woodley, as it relates to women veterans or black veterans or both,

1278
01:51:12,630 --> 01:51:20,330
and I've listened about claims related issues in some of your points about that,

1279
01:51:20,330 --> 01:51:22,810
of which I certainly agree with.

1280
01:51:23,550 --> 01:51:32,050
So a woman veteran, for example, that has a claim, maybe it's the military sexual trauma,

1281
01:51:32,270 --> 01:51:36,250
maybe it's for other woman-regated health issues.

1282
01:51:38,150 --> 01:51:47,710
How challenging is it to speak to someone at a VSO or the VA that when they're submitting the

1283
01:51:47,710 --> 01:51:54,510
claim that they can talk to a woman that can understand some of the challenges that they

1284
01:51:54,510 --> 01:51:58,410
are going to, but also when they go to the CNP exam,

1285
01:52:01,230 --> 01:52:03,530
before the VA, that they're able

1286
01:52:03,530 --> 01:52:09,430
to speak to a woman health care provider. Because I think having a woman health care provider

1287
01:52:09,430 --> 01:52:17,090
or a woman at the VSO or at the VA can better understand some of the issues a woman veteran

1288
01:52:17,090 --> 01:52:26,590
is going through. And that may, because of that, you might see the percentages lower than

1289
01:52:26,590 --> 01:52:35,450
nail veterans, which is totally unfair in terms of success of a claim. But just wanted

1290
01:52:35,450 --> 01:52:38,690
to get what you thought might be on that doctor.

1291
01:52:39,570 --> 01:52:46,530
So thank you for that question because actually that question came up. One of the things with

1292
01:52:46,530 --> 01:52:47,330
the VSO.

1293
01:52:49,690 --> 01:52:56,810
We don't have as many VSOs as one may think, and IVSOs work hard around the clock.

1294
01:52:58,990 --> 01:53:07,850
So with a woman that walks in, and a lot of times MST is an old claim that they've never

1295
01:53:07,850 --> 01:53:13,850
got any counseling, maybe they're ready to file that claim. And they're sitting in front

1296
01:53:13,850 --> 01:53:16,850
of a male VSL.

1297
01:53:17,150 --> 01:53:19,730
Sometimes it's hard to get out exactly what happened

1298
01:53:19,730 --> 01:53:21,110
and it goes back to shame.

1299
01:53:21,670 --> 01:53:23,670
Like, I'm ashamed this happens to me.

1300
01:53:23,890 --> 01:53:25,690
It's supposed to be a strong soldier.

1301
01:53:27,690 --> 01:53:31,150
So a lot of times when I talk to women,

1302
01:53:31,590 --> 01:53:33,830
that's the first thing that it says that,

1303
01:53:33,830 --> 01:53:37,850
when I did my content, a male showed up.

1304
01:53:38,050 --> 01:53:42,790
And I was in a given opportunity to talk to a female.

1305
01:53:42,790 --> 01:53:53,710
And a lot of times, you know, I felt that, you know, his face was looking at me like if that I can't believe that that happened to you or maybe it didn't happen to you.

1306
01:53:54,330 --> 01:53:57,690
So it could be quite difficult to get a female VSO.

1307
01:53:57,830 --> 01:53:58,770
It's not impossible.

1308
01:53:59,890 --> 01:54:07,050
And maybe the weight might be a little longer or maybe the weight might be longer for, you know, competent, you know, with the male.

1309
01:54:07,190 --> 01:54:08,910
So how do we reduce that?

1310
01:54:08,910 --> 01:54:16,790
I think that female vet should have an opportunity and not a long way to talk to a VSL who's a female.

1311
01:54:17,630 --> 01:54:20,550
But again, I go back to Commissioner Santiago.

1312
01:54:21,050 --> 01:54:27,290
If you call his office, he could put you in touch with someone who doesn't know how to work the claim.

1313
01:54:27,470 --> 01:54:28,970
And a female, not a worker claim.

1314
01:54:29,330 --> 01:54:33,010
But sometimes often when you call for a VSL, you may have a male VSL.

1315
01:54:33,050 --> 01:54:36,710
I had a male VSL when it was time to work my claim.

1316
01:54:36,710 --> 01:54:42,070
I didn't get a choice. If a competent pen, I had a female, you know, a physician.

1317
01:54:42,890 --> 01:54:48,090
But that could be difficult. And that's one of the reasons why someone may give up.

1318
01:54:48,130 --> 01:54:53,010
And they may get a denial because they may not give enough information on, you know, the claim

1319
01:54:53,010 --> 01:54:58,670
or exactly what happened. So I think that sometimes that's a 50-50, what do you think?

1320
01:55:03,780 --> 01:55:17,540
So thank you again and thank you for bringing up that question which does come up quite a bit and I have known some cases where a woman veteran, when she was going through her CMP, did end up with a male physician and she felt uncomfortable.

1321
01:55:18,080 --> 01:55:23,820
And in some cases, it was at a private practice in his own home, which is totally unacceptable.

1322
01:55:24,480 --> 01:55:33,000
But to Malika's point, well, it may be difficult, it's not impossible to get a woman VSO.

1323
01:55:33,740 --> 01:55:37,880
In our office, the University of Boston, we have a diverse group of veterans,

1324
01:55:37,900 --> 01:55:43,840
benefits specialists to include women, veterans, benefits specialists to help out through these

1325
01:55:43,840 --> 01:55:47,920
claims. But also, we also have a network of VSOs throughout the state through the

1326
01:55:47,920 --> 01:55:50,060
to the Veterans Service as Office of Association.

1327
01:55:50,400 --> 01:55:57,060
There are a lot of VSOs out there in the Commonwealth that are a woman and that do specialize

1328
01:55:58,120 --> 01:56:00,980
in women veteran claims as well.

1329
01:56:01,600 --> 01:56:09,000
We also have organizations like the American Legion, the DAV, the VFW, who also has VSOs within

1330
01:56:09,000 --> 01:56:15,000
their organizations that are both women and men as well to help out in those claims.

1331
01:56:15,000 --> 01:56:19,540
So there is a woman veteran who feels uncomfortable working their

1332
01:56:19,540 --> 01:56:21,840
claim with a male VSO.

1333
01:56:22,740 --> 01:56:29,040
We could definitely ensure that we get her to that comfort level that she needs to get her

1334
01:56:29,040 --> 01:56:31,800
claim through with a woman VSO.

1335
01:56:32,760 --> 01:56:40,900
So Rob, just as a follow-up, if a woman veteran is watching this now in a woman veteran

1336
01:56:40,900 --> 01:56:47,580
does want to file a claim, and I would hope they would go through a VSL because they do

1337
01:56:47,580 --> 01:56:53,120
exceptional work, DAV, I went through the DAV, I know the VFW.

1338
01:56:53,860 --> 01:57:04,040
There's other ways to do it other VSLs, but how would you help that woman veteran get in touch

1339
01:57:04,040 --> 01:57:11,420
with someone that could help her with her claim, that's a woman.

1340
01:57:11,900 --> 01:57:16,280
I would recommend first going through your local veteran services office.

1341
01:57:16,680 --> 01:57:18,980
So if you're in Boston, obviously, that's through the mayor's office of

1342
01:57:18,980 --> 01:57:20,400
Veteran Services, which is my office.

1343
01:57:21,640 --> 01:57:25,320
And then, you know, talk to McCutty, who's the Senior Veterans

1344
01:57:25,320 --> 01:57:27,280
Beneficit Specialist there, myself.

1345
01:57:27,860 --> 01:57:30,360
We're not a painter who's a Veteran's Beneficit Specialist there.

1346
01:57:31,680 --> 01:57:34,100
and get their comfort level to see.

1347
01:57:34,360 --> 01:57:35,420
Another way is, like I mentioned,

1348
01:57:35,640 --> 01:57:38,260
was through the MBSOA, the Master of the Veterans Services

1349
01:57:38,260 --> 01:57:39,100
Office Association.

1350
01:57:39,600 --> 01:57:41,480
Another way is through the Executive Office

1351
01:57:41,480 --> 01:57:43,100
of Veteran Services for the State,

1352
01:57:43,920 --> 01:57:46,660
contact them, and they will connect you

1353
01:57:46,660 --> 01:57:47,820
to the Women's Veterans Network,

1354
01:57:48,420 --> 01:57:52,580
who also has women and VSOs

1355
01:57:52,580 --> 01:57:54,540
that are part of that organization

1356
01:57:54,540 --> 01:57:55,960
and that in that network as well.

1357
01:57:56,420 --> 01:57:57,960
So there are many different avenues that a woman

1358
01:57:57,960 --> 01:58:02,440
veteran could take to reach ABSO that they feel comfortable with.

1359
01:58:02,780 --> 01:58:03,340
OK, excellent.

1360
01:58:05,200 --> 01:58:06,680
Maybe, oh, you're stuck.

1361
01:58:06,940 --> 01:58:09,540
So there's two different things that I just noticed.

1362
01:58:09,960 --> 01:58:12,420
If a woman veteran is watching right now,

1363
01:58:13,000 --> 01:58:15,660
some people start at the VA, they pick up the phone,

1364
01:58:15,720 --> 01:58:18,760
and there's an intake person that call, the intake take person.

1365
01:58:19,120 --> 01:58:21,260
So now, they don't recognize the POA, which

1366
01:58:21,260 --> 01:58:23,760
could be the DAV of ABSO.

1367
01:58:24,280 --> 01:58:26,740
So they're talking directly to an intake person,

1368
01:58:26,740 --> 01:58:31,160
and in a sign of a competent, and they may not have a choice

1369
01:58:31,160 --> 01:58:32,800
whether it's male or female.

1370
01:58:33,620 --> 01:58:36,320
So if a woman veteran is watching right now,

1371
01:58:36,640 --> 01:58:39,180
I would say, you know, call commissioner Santiago,

1372
01:58:39,420 --> 01:58:44,400
call your local American Legion, call your BFW, call a BSO.

1373
01:58:44,860 --> 01:58:48,660
Then once you get in touch with one of these organizations,

1374
01:58:49,280 --> 01:58:51,740
we will help you navigate the system

1375
01:58:51,740 --> 01:58:53,460
of putting your claim to it.

1376
01:58:53,600 --> 01:58:55,980
So I think that's the best, if I was a woman

1377
01:58:55,980 --> 01:58:58,740
that watch and write now, that's what I want to know.

1378
01:58:58,980 --> 01:59:04,180
Because the first thing I will say is claims, let me dial the VA and get it started.

1379
01:59:04,960 --> 01:59:06,740
Yeah, that's a very, very good point.

1380
01:59:06,860 --> 01:59:08,720
Thank you, Monica, for saying that that's a very good point.

1381
01:59:09,160 --> 01:59:10,940
Because that's what we do run into the people.

1382
01:59:11,180 --> 01:59:16,120
Do go to the VA first, instead of going to the local VSO, and they should always contact

1383
01:59:16,120 --> 01:59:23,280
their local VSO first, and then eventually get that POA done, and then help that veteran navigate

1384
01:59:23,280 --> 01:59:24,520
the system through that way.

1385
01:59:24,520 --> 01:59:27,660
as opposed to going directly to the VA because that's exactly what happens.

1386
01:59:28,860 --> 01:59:29,740
Thank you.

1387
01:59:29,860 --> 01:59:32,260
What we have to do with the VFW counselor, I'm sorry to cut.

1388
01:59:32,260 --> 01:59:32,480
Okay.

1389
01:59:32,480 --> 01:59:41,760
We do have a female veteran services consultant that is based at the JFT federal building right here in Austin.

1390
01:59:42,260 --> 01:59:51,740
It is a great resource and again, the VFW will walk the veteran through the entire process from intake through any potential appeals.

1391
01:59:53,040 --> 01:59:59,080
So we don't just take your PLA and send you off to the VA and good luck to you.

1392
01:59:59,220 --> 01:59:59,980
We'll be able to walk you.

1393
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:07,980
Through the process to make sure that you are taking care of your looked after and you're appointment scheduled in the timely manner.

1394
02:00:08,640 --> 02:00:27,480
So, again, within the city of Boston per se, the VFW, at our state level, we do have a benefits consultant that's based right at the JFK building and we're happy to be able to assist any veteran, especially women veterans that need any help.

1395
02:00:28,180 --> 02:00:35,580
Another thing I would like to add concerted, if I may sir, is that no veteran, no veteran,

1396
02:00:36,340 --> 02:00:42,100
and I repeat, no veteran should have to pay to get their claims processed.

1397
02:00:43,060 --> 02:00:47,300
So, if you have a lawyer out there or someone who thinks they know and say, well, if you

1398
02:00:47,300 --> 02:00:55,120
give me 10%, 20% of whatever you get from the VA, I'll make sure you get your claim processed.

1399
02:00:57,160 --> 02:00:59,820
That's a red flag, I'm not good at that person.

1400
02:01:00,240 --> 02:01:04,180
There are many, many qualified VSOs out there.

1401
02:01:04,540 --> 02:01:06,860
You've heard about peer through all these organizations,

1402
02:01:07,320 --> 02:01:09,680
through your local municipal offices as well,

1403
02:01:09,880 --> 02:01:12,700
here in Boston, into my office, to get those claims done

1404
02:01:12,700 --> 02:01:18,440
in process accurately and for free.

1405
02:01:18,840 --> 02:01:22,320
No veteran, and I repeat again, no veterans should have to pay

1406
02:01:22,320 --> 02:01:24,540
or should pay to get their claims processed.

1407
02:01:24,540 --> 02:01:31,400
And it's one more thing that I know if someone's watching who has denials of on service connections.

1408
02:01:32,640 --> 02:01:35,360
We still take care of you through the denials.

1409
02:01:35,860 --> 02:01:40,480
All POAs, we go back in and see why the denial happens because I know people saying,

1410
02:01:40,640 --> 02:01:43,340
Well, I got denials, so I'm not going back in for anything.

1411
02:01:44,020 --> 02:01:47,360
All denials will look at that why the service connection was denied.

1412
02:01:47,860 --> 02:01:51,920
And it may be something, you know, just easy enough for you to correct.

1413
02:01:52,240 --> 02:01:53,640
So I want to put that out.

1414
02:01:53,640 --> 02:01:55,640
Yeah, that's a good point.

1415
02:01:56,160 --> 02:01:58,660
With those, now you got us going now.

1416
02:01:59,480 --> 02:02:02,220
I know Rob, you and I worked on.

1417
02:02:02,760 --> 02:02:05,760
I think they called them at one time claim sharks.

1418
02:02:07,540 --> 02:02:11,320
The other point of that, Rob, right, is,

1419
02:02:11,460 --> 02:02:15,540
not only do they get 10% of what you earn,

1420
02:02:15,920 --> 02:02:20,800
they get 10% of what you receive for the rest of the life of the person.

1421
02:02:22,280 --> 02:02:30,580
So as long as you get VA disability, they'll continue to get 10% 15% of what you get every month.

1422
02:02:30,980 --> 02:02:31,860
That's outrageous.

1423
02:02:31,980 --> 02:02:32,740
That's outrageous.

1424
02:02:33,200 --> 02:02:33,860
The total is outrageous.

1425
02:02:34,780 --> 02:02:36,540
Well, let me go and we're up.

1426
02:02:36,540 --> 02:02:37,620
Thank you for bringing that up.

1427
02:02:37,740 --> 02:02:39,080
That's a great point.

1428
02:02:39,220 --> 02:02:41,560
Let me go to Dr. Weiner.

1429
02:02:43,180 --> 02:02:44,800
I was with you.

1430
02:02:45,400 --> 02:02:45,640
I don't know.

1431
02:02:45,860 --> 02:02:49,580
Maybe a year ago, I think we're at the Crox Center with a group of people.

1432
02:02:49,580 --> 02:02:59,320
And you were talking to black veterans and talking to them about lung cancer-related issues.

1433
02:03:01,920 --> 02:03:08,180
And there was a steady group of veterans that did come in that did engage you.

1434
02:03:08,800 --> 02:03:19,560
So my question is, what steps should a black veteran take if they want to talk to you?

1435
02:03:19,560 --> 02:03:26,220
want to talk to someone from your team to learn more about your services. Just give us an idea

1436
02:03:26,220 --> 02:03:35,640
what the steps would be. Well, anybody is welcome to reach out to me directly. My email address

1437
02:03:35,640 --> 02:03:45,820
I can provide. It's Renda.wainer at VA.gov. R-E-N-D-A-I-E-N-E-R at VA.gov and I'm happy to

1438
02:03:45,820 --> 02:03:53,240
to help direct anybody who has questions or needs help about, you know, lung cancer screening

1439
02:03:53,240 --> 02:03:59,040
or any other issues that can try to direct them, you know, to what they need.

1440
02:03:59,760 --> 02:04:04,240
Now when a black veteran is out the VA,

1441
02:04:06,840 --> 02:04:11,840
are they screened, are they screened for any type

1442
02:04:11,840 --> 02:04:19,360
of respiratory issues or long-regulated issues automatically, or do they have to request that?

1443
02:04:21,800 --> 02:04:29,200
Well, so the process for lung cancer screening specifically is when somebody goes to their primary care

1444
02:04:30,060 --> 02:04:37,260
clinician at the VA. There's a process where there is an automatic recording of their smoking

1445
02:04:37,260 --> 02:04:43,880
history for people who fall in the age range for screening. And if they meet criteria for lung cancer screening.

1446
02:04:44,420 --> 02:04:53,660
Again, this is using the USPSTF criteria, which doesn't capture everyone. But that will flag their primary care provider to discuss screening.

1447
02:04:53,960 --> 02:04:56,860
So hopefully the veteran doesn't have to bring it up themselves.

1448
02:04:56,860 --> 02:04:59,980
But, um, and

1449
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:08,580
And then, as I mentioned, the VA also routinely screens it through primary care or other appointments for military toxic exposures.

1450
02:05:08,980 --> 02:05:22,300
And whether the veteran has any concerns about that, and oftentimes those are respiratory concerns that people have related to exposure to burn heads or other other toxic exposures.

1451
02:05:22,300 --> 02:05:29,520
And so that also flies, puts a flag in the record to discuss those concerns and address them with the veteran.

1452
02:05:30,700 --> 02:05:40,460
Yeah, thank you, Dr. Just as an FYI for the public, I've been in the I was in the military 24 years.

1453
02:05:40,500 --> 02:05:49,120
Most of the reserves, but somehow, when I was stationed overseas, I was in Bahrain, a small country girl Bahrain.

1454
02:05:49,120 --> 02:05:53,760
And we went up to the Iraqi oil platforms all the time.

1455
02:05:54,520 --> 02:06:02,240
And then when I came back, I also noticed that respiratory related issues and I was recommended

1456
02:06:02,240 --> 02:06:08,380
to join or to enter into the, what am I calling it now?

1457
02:06:10,810 --> 02:06:18,950
It's the, it used to be the, oh, the registry, the golf registry that is still open in

1458
02:06:18,950 --> 02:06:19,550
accepting.

1459
02:06:20,030 --> 02:06:25,810
You don't necessarily make a claim, but you document that you were in a particular area

1460
02:06:25,810 --> 02:06:28,950
of the country and what helped it with any issues.

1461
02:06:29,450 --> 02:06:36,250
But I do want to recommend to veterans that, if you're in a particular area and you do have

1462
02:06:36,250 --> 02:06:41,170
some health-related issues that you should enter into this registry.

1463
02:06:45,830 --> 02:06:55,050
So, my final point, before we kind of conclude, I gave it all my colleagues, well over ten minutes.

1464
02:06:58,110 --> 02:07:02,430
And, well, let me ask, is there any public testimony from anyone else that's here?

1465
02:07:02,430 --> 02:07:06,190
Okay, so there's no more public testimony here.

1466
02:07:06,910 --> 02:07:14,930
If any person at the panel would like to give a closing statement, that would be helpful.

1467
02:07:15,550 --> 02:07:23,250
And maybe as part of the closing statement, if you can highlight what our next steps could

1468
02:07:23,250 --> 02:07:31,670
be as a committee on where we go from here, because I would like to do a hearing maybe

1469
02:07:31,670 --> 02:07:37,470
in outside of City Hall, but maybe in Rocksbury, maybe in Dodgeista.

1470
02:07:38,510 --> 02:07:45,590
In listen to veterans, all veterans, but specifically listen to veterans of

1471
02:07:45,590 --> 02:07:51,750
color, listen to women veterans, listen to them in their challenge, their

1472
02:07:51,750 --> 02:07:56,750
concerns, but I do want to ask and give everyone the opportunity if you would

1473
02:07:56,750 --> 02:08:00,950
like to have a closing statement for two or three minutes to take the

1474
02:08:00,950 --> 02:08:06,050
opportunity, then I'll give my colleagues an opportunity for a closing statement for two

1475
02:08:06,050 --> 02:08:07,370
with three minutes as well.

1476
02:08:08,030 --> 02:08:10,530
So let me start with Commissioner San Diego.

1477
02:08:11,550 --> 02:08:16,730
First and foremost, Chairwoman, thank you very much again for holding this thank you and

1478
02:08:16,730 --> 02:08:20,970
also to Councillor Santana for setting up this conversation here today.

1479
02:08:21,070 --> 02:08:25,050
Thank you, Councillor Fitzgerald, for also being here and for your thoughtful question.

1480
02:08:25,190 --> 02:08:30,930
I'm sorry, it took more, most of your time, are early today, but it's, it's, it's really

1481
02:08:30,930 --> 02:08:34,550
It makes me optimistic on our next steps.

1482
02:08:35,170 --> 02:08:40,210
We talked a lot about navigating the system here, and how do we get into the system?

1483
02:08:40,430 --> 02:08:46,670
And I think Mark, some of his comments when he's just talking earlier about making Boston

1484
02:08:47,210 --> 02:08:50,010
step the example locally for the rest of the country.

1485
02:08:50,470 --> 02:08:52,770
I think that's a great idea.

1486
02:08:52,870 --> 02:08:56,930
And I think it's something that we're looking forward to going into what Constitut Flynn said

1487
02:08:56,930 --> 02:09:00,910
about going into the community, talking to the veterans, and seeing where the need is.

1488
02:09:00,910 --> 02:09:03,430
and how we could get these veterans into the system.

1489
02:09:03,730 --> 02:09:06,070
You know, like I mentioned earlier, there's less than a million

1490
02:09:06,070 --> 02:09:09,010
women veterans around the system, but yeah, we have 2.1 million

1491
02:09:09,010 --> 02:09:12,830
women veterans in the country, you know, and this is also a way

1492
02:09:12,830 --> 02:09:15,950
that we could also work on getting them into the system

1493
02:09:15,950 --> 02:09:16,950
and having these conversations.

1494
02:09:17,570 --> 02:09:21,270
Now, the continued partnerships both locally, statewide, federally,

1495
02:09:21,710 --> 02:09:24,490
and also with all the partner organizations,

1496
02:09:24,490 --> 02:09:28,650
is going to be key to ensuring the success of what we do,

1497
02:09:28,650 --> 02:09:34,930
to ensure that our veterans have access, you know, for all the benefits and services that

1498
02:09:34,930 --> 02:09:35,930
they have earned.

1499
02:09:35,950 --> 02:09:37,870
So I'm looking forward to the future steps.

1500
02:09:39,350 --> 02:09:39,510
Okay.

1501
02:09:40,790 --> 02:09:46,330
Thanks again, Councillor Flynn, for convening us today, Councillor Fitzgerald, your great

1502
02:09:46,330 --> 02:09:51,410
questions, and we appreciate the attention that these issues are being given.

1503
02:09:52,030 --> 02:09:56,850
First off, Councillor Flynn, I'd like to offer up the Boston Police Post as someplace to

1504
02:09:56,850 --> 02:09:59,830
host that our site meeting.

1505
02:10:01,020 --> 02:10:07,220
Veterans town hall, whatever you want to call it, we would be more than happy to host that, and I work with you on that.

1506
02:10:08,980 --> 02:10:17,020
The overarching question is, have we take care of this problem? I'll ask the question of, how do you eat an elephant?

1507
02:10:18,140 --> 02:10:27,240
One bite at a time. That's the way that we're going to be able to make the conditions for not just the black veterans that are dealing with lung cancer,

1508
02:10:27,240 --> 02:10:37,480
the women veterans and their particular health issues as women, but all veterans across

1509
02:10:37,480 --> 02:10:45,180
the board, no matter what their other demographics are, it does take a village to solve

1510
02:10:45,180 --> 02:10:52,580
this problem and right up at this table right here, we're a bunch of folks that we got a guy.

1511
02:10:52,580 --> 02:10:59,460
We might not have the answer to the question, but I know somebody else that does.

1512
02:11:00,300 --> 02:11:07,220
And what we will do is make sure that we do share that information with each other, that, okay.

1513
02:11:08,740 --> 02:11:15,140
The commissioner might have a question and he asked me, I might not know the answer, but I can reach out to my network of other

1514
02:11:15,140 --> 02:11:20,980
of my fellow state commanders across the country and say, hey, guys, how are you handling this issue?

1515
02:11:20,980 --> 02:11:27,020
And I'll have somebody from Idaho or from Arizona or from Texas, say, hey, this is what we're doing here.

1516
02:11:27,240 --> 02:11:30,540
Wow, that sounds like a great idea. Maybe we can replicate that in Boston.

1517
02:11:31,960 --> 02:11:38,980
It's those types of networks and those types of ideas that will make this issue, these issues attainable.

1518
02:11:39,680 --> 02:11:42,040
We'll be able to help solve some of these problems.

1519
02:11:45,250 --> 02:11:51,990
Again, part of what we do with the VFW, as well as the other service organizations, like

1520
02:11:51,990 --> 02:11:57,730
the Legion and the DAV, we're out in our communities all the time, that we are community-based

1521
02:11:57,730 --> 02:12:06,070
organizations that we will be able to get our folks together and we come together monthly

1522
02:12:06,070 --> 02:12:10,610
or our daily basis, depending on the types of folks that we have.

1523
02:12:10,610 --> 02:12:17,490
come out and visit. We want to be able to be productive members in the process here.

1524
02:12:18,530 --> 02:12:24,650
Again, like the last time I was here and provided testimony, a one word of caution that

1525
02:12:26,410 --> 02:12:32,350
the rest of the Commonwealth pays attention to what goes on in the city of Boston as far as

1526
02:12:32,350 --> 02:12:39,930
as veterans are concerned. They see that, oh, if we just cut $750,000 from the veterans budget.

1527
02:12:39,930 --> 02:12:44,510
Thank goodness we had a group like Brighton one step up to help fill that gap.

1528
02:12:45,210 --> 02:12:50,110
But that doesn't mean that next year or even tomorrow they're priorities changed from

1529
02:12:50,110 --> 02:12:54,050
what the city of Boston's veterans priorities are.

1530
02:12:54,970 --> 02:12:59,350
And then we'll never see that $750,000 again into the budget.

1531
02:13:00,150 --> 02:13:07,410
That $750,000 goes back into the commissioners' ability to provide that outreach,

1532
02:13:07,410 --> 02:13:10,710
to provide that education to the veterans community of the city.

1533
02:13:12,350 --> 02:13:19,390
So I just want to be able to implore upon you what happens here in Boston just doesn't

1534
02:13:19,390 --> 02:13:21,270
necessarily happen here in Boston.

1535
02:13:22,210 --> 02:13:24,550
The rest of the Commonwealth pays attention.

1536
02:13:26,170 --> 02:13:35,150
I really do demand that our council shows the leadership across the council across the

1537
02:13:35,150 --> 02:13:42,150
commonwealth, that Boston is going to take the best care of veterans that he can and we

1538
02:13:42,150 --> 02:13:45,850
are going to stand up and provide that leadership to make that happen.

1539
02:13:46,210 --> 02:13:50,090
So again, thank you for all your efforts, thank you for your attention and we look forward

1540
02:13:50,090 --> 02:13:55,830
to being, again, part of that village that comes together to take care of veterans, again,

1541
02:13:56,230 --> 02:13:57,870
across the city and across the Commonwealth.

1542
02:13:58,870 --> 02:13:59,390
Thank you, Commander.

1543
02:13:59,650 --> 02:14:00,190
Mr. Kennedy?

1544
02:14:01,630 --> 02:14:07,850
And again, we just start by expressing my sincere heartfelt thank you for the opportunity

1545
02:14:07,850 --> 02:14:08,970
to be here.

1546
02:14:09,430 --> 02:14:15,630
And when we refer to privilege and honor to be here, a MOOC's City Council and the

1547
02:14:15,630 --> 02:14:20,730
State members of this panel, I really thrilled to participate in this discussion.

1548
02:14:21,590 --> 02:14:26,730
I made a lot of comments about the guidelines, people, so again, I stand by that.

1549
02:14:26,730 --> 02:14:31,430
what you said and what you said and what you said and also what my

1550
02:14:31,430 --> 02:14:36,730
commoner is basically a bill and it's this. I don't I think everybody

1551
02:14:36,730 --> 02:14:41,210
in this on this panel at some point mentioned with Navigation. We know the

1552
02:14:41,210 --> 02:14:45,730
word Navigation School. I have a very high level of resident residents

1553
02:14:45,730 --> 02:14:51,350
I'm sorry to that because I started my career in public health as a patient

1554
02:14:51,350 --> 02:14:55,830
navigator at the board at the Dane of Fort Gierser Institute. I believe in

1555
02:14:55,830 --> 02:14:59,970
and I believe in the power of navigation to support patients in the future.

1556
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:16,300
We have them to the best outcomes that they could have. The point I want to make is we talk about peace and navigation and the implication is that there's a patient with a diagnosis that is going now through the system to make sure that they get the treatment that they need.

1557
02:15:17,100 --> 02:15:22,680
And our cancer plan for the city, I'm looking to move navigation for the upstream.

1558
02:15:22,680 --> 02:15:27,280
I talk about the concept of a screening that we get.

1559
02:15:27,920 --> 02:15:33,020
So, pre-patient, how do you take that mentality

1560
02:15:34,020 --> 02:15:38,580
that focus on supporting a patient while they're going through treatment?

1561
02:15:39,280 --> 02:15:42,880
And movement of so that before the person becomes a patient,

1562
02:15:43,240 --> 02:15:46,560
they can't help but navigating administratively and otherwise,

1563
02:15:46,920 --> 02:15:48,200
how do you move to a sister?

1564
02:15:48,660 --> 02:15:50,600
How do you get screened for a particular location?

1565
02:15:50,600 --> 02:15:59,820
What about the follow-up procedures that allow you to adhere to make sure that if as you mentioned earlier you might give a screening

1566
02:15:59,820 --> 02:16:00,300
mammogram.

1567
02:16:00,920 --> 02:16:06,480
But if there's something that's wrong with that, which causes you to then have to come back and get a diagnostic mammogram.

1568
02:16:06,880 --> 02:16:15,040
Do you show up if you understand the difference between the two and do you understand what it means to do that from a cost perspective?

1569
02:16:15,040 --> 02:16:22,960
because Massachusetts passed legislation, I think, in 2012 or more, we call it the

1570
02:16:22,960 --> 02:16:26,280
breast cancer diagnostic bill, the official name of the bill is a little different.

1571
02:16:26,660 --> 02:16:32,660
But it took that diagnostic memory of a cost-sharing burden off of women, so that they

1572
02:16:32,660 --> 02:16:36,180
could continue to adhere to what that's meaning, remember, where I've said.

1573
02:16:37,120 --> 02:16:44,320
My point is this, navigation sounds like all of us agree as a pretty part of this.

1574
02:16:44,320 --> 02:16:53,680
We know that CMS put in position building codes in 2024 that allow clinical practice to reimburse for the application.

1575
02:16:54,440 --> 02:16:59,840
Let's take advantage of that and make sure that the application is a standard part.

1576
02:17:00,600 --> 02:17:06,520
A standard, a sustainable part of the way people that want to file claims that whatever it has is

1577
02:17:06,520 --> 02:17:12,020
are introduced to and supported as they move through the clinical system in the VA.

1578
02:17:12,020 --> 02:17:18,440
And again, let the Massachusetts VA be the model for the rest of the country, not only

1579
02:17:18,440 --> 02:17:23,980
when we're talking about access to screening for lung cancer beyond just tobacco news,

1580
02:17:24,280 --> 02:17:28,980
but navigation for a veteran through the system, so that nobody falls into cracks.

1581
02:17:29,580 --> 02:17:33,440
Everybody has answers to questions that they want, and they get through the system with

1582
02:17:33,440 --> 02:17:34,200
the vast outcomes.

1583
02:17:34,880 --> 02:17:38,180
Navigation and guidelines, I think, are two main points of this.

1584
02:17:38,180 --> 02:17:42,540
I think the VA veterans have an opportunity to set the toll for the rest of the country.

1585
02:17:42,860 --> 02:17:43,760
I hope you do.

1586
02:17:44,420 --> 02:17:45,240
Thank you, Mr. Kennedy.

1587
02:17:46,400 --> 02:17:46,500
Doctor?

1588
02:17:47,260 --> 02:17:48,000
Thank you, Councilor.

1589
02:17:48,200 --> 02:17:49,120
Thank you.

1590
02:17:49,120 --> 02:17:57,080
I want to do things that I, you know, thought about is as veterans we connect by story telling.

1591
02:17:57,960 --> 02:17:59,140
Like we, that's our connection.

1592
02:17:59,460 --> 02:18:04,320
We tell a story about, you know, how we served and what we did and that's how we connect.

1593
02:18:04,320 --> 02:18:13,700
But I think if we continue to advocate for equitable access to resources and ways of awareness

1594
02:18:13,700 --> 02:18:21,160
about trauma, mental health needs and health needs, I think we can create a program that

1595
02:18:21,160 --> 02:18:27,080
culturally identifies black female soldiers.

1596
02:18:27,080 --> 02:18:38,820
So why I was said that is normally when we think about when we're introduced to all these programs and we're hearing these different things on a TV or in a media,

1597
02:18:39,440 --> 02:18:49,620
we don't actually see a person who, you know, actually work in that department or like, you know, the Boston public health scheme and the VA.

1598
02:18:50,220 --> 02:18:55,420
So as long as we continue these town halls and continue to have this discussion,

1599
02:18:55,920 --> 02:19:03,460
We'll bring more veterans, and if I'm looking right now at this, if I was home and I'm

1600
02:19:03,460 --> 02:19:08,840
watching this and I say, hey, you know, you know, I had trouble following the claim, right

1601
02:19:08,840 --> 02:19:12,460
here we have someone from the BFW, we have someone from the polls.

1602
02:19:12,580 --> 02:19:17,840
Now I know who else I'm dealing with, so I just feel the same as you, as long as we continue

1603
02:19:17,840 --> 02:19:24,900
that navigate and make it a system as easy as possible for someone to navigate, do the

1604
02:19:24,900 --> 02:19:30,160
for health kidneys, for mental health needs, and for education.

1605
02:19:32,260 --> 02:19:40,180
That's all going to take it to get to, you know, that's in the city of Austin, Massachusetts, we have it there at.

1606
02:19:40,620 --> 02:19:43,860
Excellent. Thank you, Dr. Weiner.

1607
02:19:45,920 --> 02:19:54,880
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here today for this important hearing for the thoughtful questions for all of the

1608
02:19:54,880 --> 02:19:59,880
that's been shared by the other members of the panel and are also from the public.

1609
02:20:02,200 --> 02:20:22,340
I went to touch on one other point that we haven't talked about so much today, and that's that lung cancer is a highly stigmatized condition, because of the strong link with smoking, even though we know that there are other factors that contribute to lung cancer risk.

1610
02:20:22,340 --> 02:20:31,640
But I want to say that nobody, no veteran, no person deserves lung cancer and we are here to help.

1611
02:20:32,120 --> 02:20:44,760
We are here to the VA and other healthcare systems in this amazing city are here with screening to try to identify cancers early and get people into treatment.

1612
02:20:44,760 --> 02:21:11,740
I love the ideas about navigation, including veteran peer-to-peer navigation, which we have in the VA and using the power of the community-based organizations that veterans have access to spread the word about screening and help people get connected to services.

1613
02:21:12,660 --> 02:21:17,540
I also just want to say, because this is a stigmatized condition, sometimes doing the community

1614
02:21:17,540 --> 02:21:23,400
events like we did or like, you know, like you're talking about doing, sometimes it doesn't

1615
02:21:23,400 --> 02:21:31,140
reach the people who most need to be reached, because they maybe reluctant to go to something

1616
02:21:31,140 --> 02:21:36,500
that's about lung cancer or whatever, because of the stigma and the shame and blame that people

1617
02:21:36,500 --> 02:21:43,280
feel. So one thing we learned from our work and got peer connects was that one of the most powerful

1618
02:21:43,280 --> 02:21:47,640
things was actually reaching people who maybe weren't eligible for a long cancer screening,

1619
02:21:47,920 --> 02:21:54,780
but then they went and talked to other members of their community who didn't come to the events,

1620
02:21:55,360 --> 02:22:00,720
but like spreading the word that way and helping convince people to come in and get the healthcare

1621
02:22:00,720 --> 02:22:02,320
that they need and deserve.

1622
02:22:03,480 --> 02:22:04,000
Thank you, Dr.

1623
02:22:05,020 --> 02:22:12,700
Before I go to Council Fitzgerald for closing statement, Dr. I just want to make one quick point

1624
02:22:12,700 --> 02:22:19,300
or ask a brief quick question. Many veterans, or whatever I've sent you, I go both of you.

1625
02:22:19,640 --> 02:22:30,120
Many veterans don't even know the veterans, and they don't even realize that they can participate in services

1626
02:22:30,120 --> 02:22:37,660
full of veterans, they might be older at this time, but they're still eligible for services

1627
02:22:37,660 --> 02:22:41,760
and programs at the VA, and it's not too late to sign up.

1628
02:22:41,900 --> 02:22:42,420
Is that correct?

1629
02:22:43,300 --> 02:22:43,500
Correct.

1630
02:22:43,500 --> 02:22:43,820
That's correct.

1631
02:22:45,460 --> 02:23:00,100
Rob, what should someone do if they, if they're all the person, they, for years, they weren't

1632
02:23:00,100 --> 02:23:02,320
they haven't engaged in the system yet.

1633
02:23:03,360 --> 02:23:04,420
What's there for a stop?

1634
02:23:05,300 --> 02:23:05,660
Contact us.

1635
02:23:06,800 --> 02:23:06,920
Contact us.

1636
02:23:07,140 --> 02:23:08,040
Contact us.

1637
02:23:08,180 --> 02:23:08,960
Get a hold of us.

1638
02:23:09,200 --> 02:23:12,060
We could navigate and communicate with you.

1639
02:23:12,160 --> 02:23:13,780
What's available to you.

1640
02:23:14,720 --> 02:23:16,600
Give the system a second chance.

1641
02:23:17,040 --> 02:23:17,520
It's not.

1642
02:23:18,420 --> 02:23:21,640
Now, I know that speaking of stigma that there's

1643
02:23:21,640 --> 02:23:24,720
been a lot of veterans have been stigmatized

1644
02:23:24,720 --> 02:23:27,860
because of the services they got in the VA back in the 70s,

1645
02:23:27,860 --> 02:23:34,060
and eighties where they didn't have the kind of services that are being provided today.

1646
02:23:35,280 --> 02:23:40,160
And the pack that covers a lot of that, especially when it comes to the presumptive conditions

1647
02:23:40,160 --> 02:23:43,360
that we're talking about here today, that include many different cancers.

1648
02:23:44,360 --> 02:23:51,900
So contact us, ask us a few questions, give the system a chance, and let us help you navigate

1649
02:23:51,900 --> 02:23:56,720
the system so that you can get the services and benefits that you have deserve and

1650
02:23:56,720 --> 02:24:02,700
continue to to earn. So contact us, contact your local VSO, contact your local

1651
02:24:02,700 --> 02:24:08,140
veteran organization, and let us do our job for you.

1652
02:24:08,480 --> 02:24:12,900
Give us your contract information once again. I know you provided it already, but

1653
02:24:12,900 --> 02:24:14,200
give it to us one more time please.

1654
02:24:14,680 --> 02:24:18,200
For the Boston Office of Education Services, you could contact us

1655
02:24:18,720 --> 02:24:24,720
Boston.gov slash veterans, or you could give us a call at 617-635-3030.

1656
02:24:25,200 --> 02:24:26,140
Thank you, Rob.

1657
02:24:27,520 --> 02:24:28,280
Council Fitzgerald.

1658
02:24:30,020 --> 02:24:30,440
Thank you, Chief.

1659
02:24:31,240 --> 02:24:36,660
I just want to say thank you all for the important work that you do, because not only

1660
02:24:36,660 --> 02:24:43,240
we have the subset of veterans that we can help, but it will have it impact on everybody.

1661
02:24:43,760 --> 02:24:44,760
Veterans are not veterans.

1662
02:24:45,160 --> 02:24:48,220
When we talk about health, we're all the same human individuals.

1663
02:24:48,780 --> 02:24:53,860
So if we can figure out what's wrong with one subset, hopefully we can apply it to another and so on and so on.

1664
02:24:53,860 --> 02:24:59,420
And so, just thank you all for your leadership and the important work that you do, and please

1665
02:24:59,420 --> 02:24:59,980
always feel...

1666
02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:07,720
So I'll feed, reach out to to add to myself when you have to teach us what we need to do for you.

1667
02:25:07,940 --> 02:25:11,480
You guys are the ones going through it and experiencing it and so.

1668
02:25:11,760 --> 02:25:17,420
And that goes on, we touched on it a lot but even for the women veteran services, not a veteran

1669
02:25:17,420 --> 02:25:22,280
and not a woman and so I do tread lightly and say I take my cues from you all.

1670
02:25:23,000 --> 02:25:26,760
And so please educate me and tell us what we need to do but thank you again.

1671
02:25:27,640 --> 02:25:31,120
Well, thank you. Thank you, John. Thank you for being here.

1672
02:25:33,800 --> 02:25:35,500
It was an important discussion

1673
02:25:36,780 --> 02:25:43,660
on support services for women veterans, for how we support veterans of color, on medical

1674
02:25:43,660 --> 02:25:51,420
care, including lung cancer screening. I think my colleague, Council Fitzgerald, highlighted

1675
02:25:51,420 --> 02:25:58,900
an important point that I kind of wanted to close with is the importance of listening,

1676
02:26:01,080 --> 02:26:01,300
you know,

1677
02:26:01,560 --> 02:26:09,060
listening to women veterans, listening to veterans of color, listening to LGBTQ veterans.

1678
02:26:09,900 --> 02:26:18,300
I don't have that experience, but I want to continue to be a strong supporter of all veterans,

1679
02:26:18,300 --> 02:26:26,280
especially in encoding women veterans veterans of color, LGBTQ veterans, but it is about

1680
02:26:26,280 --> 02:26:34,100
listening, it's about learning and that's why I called this hearing today so we can give

1681
02:26:34,100 --> 02:26:41,380
an opportunity for you to speak about your experiences but more importantly there might be someone

1682
02:26:41,380 --> 02:26:47,940
sitting home that this information might connect with them, and maybe they'll pick up the

1683
02:26:47,940 --> 02:26:55,540
phone or send an email next week to Rob Santiago or to the other veteran leaders here

1684
02:26:55,540 --> 02:26:57,120
as well.

1685
02:26:57,560 --> 02:27:06,840
But we have to acknowledge the incredible service sacrifice of women veterans and veterans

1686
02:27:06,840 --> 02:27:13,360
of color, we're not giving them any services, we're not giving them any programs, they're

1687
02:27:13,360 --> 02:27:14,380
in these programs.

1688
02:27:15,440 --> 02:27:22,960
And as a nation historically we haven't been welcoming to many women veterans with veterans

1689
02:27:22,960 --> 02:27:23,820
of color.

1690
02:27:24,200 --> 02:27:36,620
In fact, I'm going to send to the City Council a resolution to support a piece of federal legislation

1691
02:27:36,620 --> 02:27:45,260
and to support it, and it's basically to ensure that when black veterans return from World

1692
02:27:45,260 --> 02:27:52,920
World War II, they really didn't participate or receive the services that they earn, specifically

1693
02:27:52,920 --> 02:28:04,360
on housing, VA housing programs. Because of that, they didn't generate generational wealth, like

1694
02:28:04,360 --> 02:28:14,290
other veterans have. But this piece of federal legislation would provide grandchildren,

1695
02:28:14,870 --> 02:28:19,650
what children maybe. I have to do a little bit more research. Giving them an opportunity

1696
02:28:20,670 --> 02:28:29,230
to get a little bit of services such as real estate, such as first-time home by a program

1697
02:28:29,230 --> 02:28:38,090
through the VA because they were denied that benefit due to racism. They were denied that specific

1698
02:28:38,090 --> 02:28:45,630
program due to the color of the skin due to discrimination. But that's a piece of legislation

1699
02:28:45,630 --> 02:28:51,630
I'm going to look at. I know you and I talked about that rub for a while and want to also acknowledge

1700
02:28:53,130 --> 02:29:02,750
Commission of Santiago, we worked on, especially under President Biden, when gay and lesbians

1701
02:29:02,750 --> 02:29:11,990
were discharged from the service, they were discharged with a discharge that wasn't honorable.

1702
02:29:13,090 --> 02:29:16,810
So when you have that discharge that is not honorable,

1703
02:29:19,170 --> 02:29:21,290
it limits what benefits and services

1704
02:29:21,290 --> 02:29:27,910
you can get as a veteran. But through the work of Commissioner San Diego, we did a lot of work

1705
02:29:27,910 --> 02:29:36,410
at the federal level. And I say gay and lesbian, now it's LGBTQ plus. But we have to ensure

1706
02:29:38,070 --> 02:29:44,130
that they are also treated with respect and dignity that they've earned. In if they were discharged

1707
02:29:44,130 --> 02:29:49,510
for reasons due to their sexual orientation.

1708
02:29:50,230 --> 02:29:53,690
I believe that that discharge should be upgraded,

1709
02:29:54,410 --> 02:29:59,870
and maybe that's an issue we're going to have to continue to work on as we go forward.

1710
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:05,820
I know I'm committed to it, and Rob, you are committed to that as well. But having said that,

1711
02:30:05,820 --> 02:30:13,820
this is about justice, this is about respect for all veterans, especially veterans that

1712
02:30:13,820 --> 02:30:20,700
historically have been denied access to the VA into services and programs that they've

1713
02:30:22,000 --> 02:30:26,900
This hearing on docket number

1714
02:30:29,080 --> 02:30:36,840
0, 7, excuse me, 0, 2, 7, 3, 0, 2, 7, 4, a hearing to discuss

1715
02:30:36,840 --> 02:30:41,900
long cancer rates among black veterans and services for women veterans is adjourned.