[0:10] good morning.
[0:14] My name is ed flynn.
[0:16] Boston city council I am the
[0:18] vice chair of the boston city
[0:20] council committee and veterans
[0:22] military families military
[0:22] affairs.
[0:26] Today is AUGUST 28th, 2026.
[0:29] The exact time is 10:00.
[0:32] This hearing is being recorded
[0:32] .
[0:34] It is also being live streamed
[0:39] at boston.Gov/city council tv
[0:41] and broadcast on xfinity
[0:45] channel eight rcn channel 82
[0:47] fios channel 964.
[0:50] Written comments MAY be sent to
[0:55] the committee email at seek dot
[0:57] that's at boston.Gov and will
[1:00] be made part of the record and
[1:01] available to all city
[1:01] councilors.
[1:05] Public testimony will be taken
[1:07] at the end of this hearing or
[1:11] if anyone would like to testify
[1:12] virtually.
[1:14] We'll try to get you in during
[1:15] during the hearing.
[1:17] If you have any scheduling
[1:20] related issues and you need to
[1:23] testify immediately, please let
[1:24] me know and I'll try to get you
[1:27] in to testify as we speak.
[1:31] Individuals will be called on
[1:32] in the order in which they sign
[1:34] up, and they'll have two
[1:35] minutes to testify.
[1:38] I will not cut anyone off if
[1:39] you need to speak for more than
[1:40] two minutes.
[1:42] Please take the time that you
[1:43] need.
[1:46] If you are interested in
[1:48] testifying in person, please
[1:49] add your name to the sign up
[1:50] sheet near the entrance of the
[1:52] city council chamber.
[1:54] If you are looking to testify
[1:56] virtually, please email our
[1:59] city council central staff
[2:03] liaison shane pac and shane s h
[2:06] a n a.Pack@boston.Gov.
[2:09] For the link in your name will
[2:09] be added to the list.
[2:13] Today's hearing is on actually
[2:16] two dockets docket 0273.
[2:19] It's an order for a hearing to
[2:20] discuss lung cancer rates among
[2:21] black veterans.
[2:25] And the second docket is docket
[2:27] 0274, which is an order for a
[2:29] hearing to discuss services for
[2:30] women veterans.
[2:37] Docket 0273 was sponsored by um
[2:38] by myself.
[2:42] Councilor councilor murphy and
[2:45] councilor santana and it was
[2:48] referred to the committee on
[2:49] FEBRUARY 4th 2026.
[2:52] I am joined by my
[2:53] council colleagues in order
[2:55] of arrival of arrival
[2:55] council murphy.
[3:00] Um I do want to acknowledge
[3:02] well, I do want to acknowledge
[3:04] as the vice chair I will be
[3:07] chairing this um this hearing
[3:10] today and councilor um henry
[3:13] santana does, um, express his
[3:15] respect for the veterans that
[3:16] are here in the veterans
[3:17] throughout the city of boston.
[3:19] He's just unable to be here.
[3:21] But he wanted me to know that
[3:24] he is paying close attention to
[3:26] this and want to acknowledge
[3:28] his chief of staff ana calderon
[3:31] ,who really helped set up this
[3:32] meeting as well.
[3:34] So I want to say thank you to
[3:37] ana for her support and
[3:39] commitment to veterans military
[3:42] families across the city
[3:43] of boston as well.
[3:47] Um, I do have a letter
[3:49] of absence that I do want to
[3:51] read into the record and then
[3:52] I'm going to give an
[3:53] opportunity for my
[3:54] council colleague
[3:55] councilor murphy to give an
[3:59] opening statement and then I
[4:02] and then um, I want to ask each
[4:04] panelist, um, to give an
[4:06] opening statement as well.
[4:07] But before we do that, could I
[4:11] just ask the panel maybe to um
[4:14] go go starting from
[4:15] commissioner santiago, could
[4:16] you just, um, state your name
[4:19] for the record and what
[4:21] organization um, you you were
[4:21] with?
[4:23] So let me start with that,
[4:24] commissioner santiago, please.
[4:26] Uh, good morning,
[4:26] councilor flynn.
[4:27] Councilor murphy, uh, thank you
[4:28] very much for.
[4:28] Having me.
[4:29] I am commissioner robert
[4:31] santiago, city of boston
[4:32] veterans services.
[4:33] Thank you commissioner.
[4:37] Good morning, councilor flynn.
[4:38] Councilor murphy, my name is
[4:39] craig diehl, a resident of the
[4:40] city of boston.
[4:42] And I am the state commander
[4:43] of the veterans of foreign
[4:43] wars.
[4:51] Good morning, councilor flynn.
[4:52] Councilor murphy.
[4:53] My name is mark kennedy.
[4:54] I'm with the boston.
[4:56] Public health commission.
[4:58] Good morning.
[5:00] My name is malika whitley.
[5:01] I'm with the american legion
[5:04] post 78 and I also work with va
[5:04] benefits.
[5:07] And good.
[5:09] Is this on?
[5:09] Yes.
[5:10] >> okay.
[5:10] Good morning.
[5:12] Uh, councilor flynn and
[5:13] councilor murphy.
[5:14] My name is brenda wiener.
[5:16] i am a pulmonary physician and
[5:17] researcher at the va boston
[5:20] health care system and the, uh
[5:22] ,center for health
[5:24] optimization and implementation
[5:24] research there.
[5:26] Thank you to this distinguished
[5:27] panel for being here.
[5:32] Um, thank you for testifying.
[5:34] More importantly, thank you for
[5:35] your commitment to veterans and
[5:37] military families across the
[5:39] city really across the country
[5:39] as well.
[5:41] I'm going to read a letter into
[5:42] the record that I'm going to go
[5:43] to straight to council.
[5:46] Murphy dear chair santana, this
[5:48] is from city councilor city
[5:50] council PRESIDENT Bratton I
[5:51] regret that I am unable to
[5:54] attend to tomorrow's hearing on
[5:58] docket 0273027 for hearing to
[5:59] discuss lung cancer rates among
[6:02] black veterans services for
[6:02] women veterans.
[6:06] While I am unable to attend the
[6:07] hearing, members of my team
[6:09] will be listening in to this
[6:10] critically important discussion
[6:12] and I plan to review the
[6:12] recording.
[6:15] I kindly ask that you read this
[6:15] letter into the record.
[6:16] Thank you.
[6:18] Elizabeth and city
[6:19] council PRESIDENT.
[6:22] Uh we are also joined by city
[6:25] councilor at large large rosie
[6:25] louijeune.
[6:26] Let me go to councilor murphy
[6:27] for an opening statement.
[6:28] Thank you.
[6:30] Councilor flynn and.
[6:32] Thank you to the panelists.
[6:33] Thank you.
[6:35] Commissioner santiago for all
[6:37] you do here at the city and
[6:39] obviously across the state and
[6:40] country always showing up for
[6:42] veterans as a veteran yourself.
[6:45] Um, I mean I don't want to take
[6:47] all my time just thanking
[6:48] people for being here but craig
[6:50] also and coming from like the
[6:52] va and the different posts
[6:53] across the city, we know that
[6:55] many veterans when they come to
[6:58] those places it's not just for
[6:58] socialization even though
[6:59] that's a wonderful thing.
[7:02] It's also to connect and help
[7:03] connect to the benefits that we
[7:04] know the veterans.
[7:07] Earned and in many times aren't
[7:08] always aware of what's out
[7:09] there for them.
[7:11] And when we have subgroups like
[7:12] this I think it's very
[7:12] important.
[7:13] >> that.
[7:14] We're talking about and thank
[7:16] you for uplifting these
[7:18] concerns about the lung
[7:19] cancer rates among our black
[7:20] veterans and making sure our
[7:22] women veterans are getting
[7:23] everything they need while
[7:25] they're enlisted but also when
[7:26] they come home making sure that
[7:27] they're supported.
[7:30] So as a veteran mom, I know
[7:32] it's important that we always
[7:33] support our veterans.
[7:35] But as a councilor I think it's
[7:36] also important that we're
[7:37] making sure and there's no
[7:39] groups around the city who are
[7:39] feeling as though they're not
[7:40] getting what they need.
[7:42] So just happy to be here and
[7:43] also public health commission
[7:44] in the va.
[7:47] My pop up papa jack, my step
[7:49] dad 92 now and he's getting a
[7:51] lot of support from the va and
[7:53] the senior home health care and
[7:55] it's just wonderful to see full
[7:56] circle, you know, spending your
[7:58] life giving and then when
[8:00] you're near the end people
[8:01] showing up for you and it's
[8:01] just great.
[8:03] So thank you for all you do.
[8:05] And thank you councilor murphy
[8:05] .
[8:06] I do want to give
[8:07] council louijeune an
[8:08] opportunity for an opening
[8:09] statement louijeune.
[8:11] Good morning everyone and thank
[8:12] you for being here.
[8:13] I want to thank you,
[8:13] councilor flynn for your
[8:14] leadership and for your service
[8:15] to our country.
[8:17] I also want to thank all of our
[8:18] panelists for your leadership
[8:19] and your service to our
[8:19] country.
[8:21] And uh, I want to thank you,
[8:22] starting with the commissioner
[8:24] for all the incredible work
[8:25] that you do in the office
[8:26] of veterans services to make
[8:28] sure that our veterans in the
[8:29] city have the resources that
[8:31] they need, uh, once they come
[8:34] home, um, to thrive and to
[8:36] really, uh, be thanked for the
[8:37] work that you've done.
[8:40] I know you're celebrating, uh,
[8:41] a lifetime of service this year
[8:43] and it is a well-deserved one.
[8:45] And uh, to everyone who is
[8:48] here, uh, doctor wiener to um
[8:50] uh and all of the panelists I'm
[8:51] really, really appreciative
[8:53] of the work that you do at the
[8:54] post.
[8:57] Um, uh, george is that I'm
[8:57] sorry.
[8:58] Craig.
[8:59] Craig.
[9:01] Craig I'm sorry craig and uh
[9:02] and mark craig and mark, thank
[9:03] you for being with us today.
[9:05] Um, we there are a lot of race
[9:07] based health gaps in this
[9:08] country.
[9:09] um, and that is also true for
[9:11] our veterans when it comes to
[9:12] lung cancer and other types
[9:12] of cancer.
[9:14] So just know that in me and in
[9:16] the city council you have
[9:17] allies and people who are
[9:18] committed to making sure that
[9:19] we're doing everything we can
[9:20] to close those gaps.
[9:22] So thank you and we look
[9:23] forward to continuing working
[9:24] with you and partnering with
[9:24] you.
[9:25] Thank you.
[9:26] Thank you, councilor louijeune
[9:26] .
[9:28] I'll give an opening statement
[9:29] then I'll go right to our
[9:30] panel.
[9:32] Um, hopefully I only take two
[9:32] minutes.
[9:35] Woman veterans are one of the
[9:36] fastest growing populations
[9:37] within the united states
[9:39] military and the department
[9:40] of veterans affairs.
[9:42] Yet many continue to face
[9:44] barriers after leaving the
[9:44] service.
[9:48] Women veterans make up nearly
[9:51] 20% of those serving military
[9:53] personnel and about 10% of the
[9:54] veteran population.
[9:56] But many struggle to access
[9:58] gender specific health care,
[10:00] mental health services,
[10:02] childcare, housing employment.
[10:05] Approximately 25% of women
[10:07] experience military sexual
[10:09] trauma, which can increase the
[10:11] risk of ptsd, depression,
[10:13] substance use suicide.
[10:16] Some women also avoid va
[10:17] services because returning to a
[10:20] military environment can cause
[10:20] anxiety.
[10:22] The va has taken steps to
[10:24] improve care through efforts
[10:25] such as the deborah sampson
[10:27] act, which expands primary care
[10:29] in counseling services for
[10:30] women veterans.
[10:34] Other legislation including um
[10:36] ,the coding the brave act and
[10:38] other pieces of legislation
[10:40] focus on maternity and mental
[10:41] health needs.
[10:44] Massachusetts also supports
[10:45] women veterans through the
[10:48] women veterans network which
[10:50] provide information resources
[10:50] support.
[10:53] However, more gender specific
[10:54] health care counseling
[10:56] childcare career transition
[10:57] programs are needed.
[11:01] The va should also work to fill
[11:02] counseling positions and
[11:04] increase the number of women
[11:05] providing care.
[11:07] Veterans also face serious
[11:09] health risk including lung
[11:10] cancer.
[11:12] Military exposure such as a
[11:15] dose can increase veterans risk
[11:16] of developing the disease.
[11:19] African american veterans face
[11:23] additional disparities in lung
[11:24] cancer diagnosis, treatment and
[11:27] survival, improving access to
[11:29] early screening and quality
[11:31] treatment is especially
[11:32] important for those communities
[11:33] .
[11:35] In boston, organizations such
[11:37] as the va health care system
[11:38] and the veterans outreach
[11:41] center at harvard street
[11:42] neighborhood health center
[11:43] provide veterans with health
[11:46] care in other resources.
[11:48] Expanding these services can
[11:50] help address the racial gap,
[11:52] gender disparities ensure
[11:54] veterans receive the support
[11:57] they need after their military
[11:57] service.
[11:59] We must continue to work
[12:01] together to provide all
[12:03] veterans with access to the
[12:06] critical care and services they
[12:06] earned.
[12:08] Before I go to council,
[12:11] fitzgerald uh for an opening
[12:12] statement I do want to
[12:14] acknowledge the incredible work
[12:16] uh, commissioner santiago
[12:19] of your team um of you of your
[12:22] dedication and support of women
[12:24] veterans, of support
[12:27] of veterans of color and also
[12:31] working closely to ensure lgbtq
[12:32] plus veterans are treated with
[12:34] the dignity and respect that
[12:35] they have earned.
[12:38] Um, so having said that, I
[12:39] wanted to give
[12:40] councilor fitzgerald an
[12:41] opportunity for an opening
[12:41] statement.
[12:43] Uh thank you chair.
[12:44] Uh, I appreciate it and thank
[12:46] you all for being here today.
[12:48] Uh, in regards to this matter,
[12:50] um, really here to learn more
[12:52] about uh what sort of some
[12:53] of the, uh, deficiencies MAY be
[12:55] where we can be better how we
[12:57] can help, uh, strengthen those
[13:00] uh, going further, um, and
[13:01] really look to you guys have
[13:01] the answers.
[13:03] So, uh, I just here for you to
[13:05] educate us on how we can be
[13:06] more, uh, supportive of you
[13:06] all.
[13:08] Um, and as always, thank you
[13:10] for everything that you guys do
[13:11] not just for our city but for
[13:11] our country as well.
[13:13] So thank you, councilor flynn,
[13:13] I appreciate it.
[13:15] Thank you, councilor fitzgerald
[13:15] .
[13:17] Um, at this time I do want to
[13:18] ask the panel if they would
[13:20] like to provide an opening
[13:22] statement on women veterans on
[13:26] how we're able to support, uh,
[13:27] veterans of color.
[13:29] Um, I know there's two specific
[13:31] dockets, but we can combine
[13:32] them into one if that's okay
[13:33] with everybody.
[13:36] And, um, I don't necessarily
[13:38] have any time um, that I'm
[13:39] putting the panelists on.
[13:41] So take the time that you need
[13:43] to make sure your message gets
[13:45] out to the public.
[13:46] I'd like to do.
[13:48] These hearings because the
[13:50] public does watch these and I'd
[13:52] like to educate the public
[13:54] about what we're doing here in
[13:56] city hall and to ensure that if
[13:58] veterans are watching they know
[14:00] who to contact if they are in
[14:00] need of services.
[14:02] So let me start with
[14:04] commissioner santiago and we'll
[14:05] go right down the right down
[14:07] the line and take the time you
[14:09] need to discuss whatever is
[14:09] important to you.
[14:11] Uh thank you.
[14:11] Chair flynn.
[14:12] Good morning.
[14:13] >> chair flynn.
[14:14] Councilor murphy,
[14:15] councilor louijeune
[14:16] councilor fitzgerald, thank you
[14:17] for, um for having us here.
[14:19] Um, I do just want to touch on
[14:19] something.
[14:20] I wanted.
[14:21] >> to thank.
[14:22] The city council.
[14:23] I know, um.
[14:26] You know, it's it says a lot
[14:28] about, um, your actions.
[14:30] And, um, in your passion for
[14:31] our veterans here in the city
[14:33] of boston by showing up not
[14:35] just on memorial day or
[14:36] veterans day but also year
[14:37] round for our veterans.
[14:38] And that is definitely
[14:40] something that, uh, that I see
[14:41] on a daily basis and as a
[14:42] veteran and as a commissioner
[14:44] um, I do thank you.
[14:46] Um, I also just want to thank
[14:47] my fellow panelists who are
[14:47] here today.
[14:49] Uh, my fellow veterans who are
[14:51] watching advocates and
[14:51] neighbors.
[14:52] Um, this is an important
[14:53] hearing.
[14:56] Um, and one thing that I love
[14:57] about having this hearing is
[14:59] that it's more of just a
[15:00] hearing is also a conversation
[15:01] about what we could do best for
[15:03] our veterans when it comes to
[15:04] the topics that we are talking
[15:05] about today and sometimes it
[15:07] rears into other topics as well
[15:08] which is also welcomed.
[15:10] Uh but today we're talking
[15:12] about lung cancer uh rates
[15:13] amongst african-american
[15:15] veterans and uh our support
[15:16] of our women veterans.
[15:19] Uh, lung cancer is not simply a
[15:20] medical issue and going to hear
[15:21] a whole lot more about that a
[15:22] little bit later on from uh,
[15:24] doctor wiener who is here from
[15:24] the va.
[15:27] Uh, it's an issue that as far
[15:28] as I'm concerned and many of us
[15:30] are concerned um, is a racial
[15:32] equity issue of access trust
[15:34] early detection and whether
[15:35] veterans receive the care that
[15:37] they earned through their
[15:37] service.
[15:40] Many veterans face elevated
[15:42] risks because of smoking
[15:44] secondhand smoking uh, asbestos
[15:46] especially those like myself
[15:48] who have served on older navy
[15:48] ships.
[15:50] Uh, those who served in burn
[15:51] pits around burn pits.
[15:53] Uh airborne hazardous chemicals
[15:55] and other toxic exposures that
[15:56] are encountered through
[15:56] military service.
[15:59] Yet exposure alone does not
[16:00] determine an outcome.
[16:01] Timely screening.
[16:03] Early diagnosis.
[16:06] Access to specialists, reliable
[16:08] transportation and trust in the
[16:09] health care system can
[16:10] determine whether cancer is
[16:11] found when it is treatable or
[16:12] after it has also progressed.
[16:15] Va research indicates that
[16:17] fewer than 10% of the
[16:18] approximately 1.
[16:19] >> million eligible.
[16:20] Veterans studied have received
[16:22] lung cancer screening, with
[16:24] screening rates even lower
[16:25] amongst black veterans.
[16:25] The research.
[16:26] The research.
[16:29] Also indicates and identifies
[16:31] barriers including limited
[16:34] awareness, mistrust, stigma,
[16:35] unequal relationships with
[16:37] their providers and adverse
[16:38] social determinants of health.
[16:41] These are not failures of our
[16:41] veterans.
[16:44] These are warnings that our
[16:48] systems must do a better job
[16:49] of reaching the people that
[16:49] they were created to serve.
[16:52] There is also encouraging
[16:53] evidence studies that found
[16:54] that when black veterans
[16:55] receive care within an
[16:57] integrated va system, their
[16:58] lung cancer treatment and
[17:01] outcomes can be comparable and
[17:02] sometimes better than those
[17:03] of their white veteran
[17:04] counterparts.
[17:06] That tells us something that's
[17:06] very important.
[17:09] Disparities are not.
[17:11] Inevitable when care is
[17:13] accessible and it's coordinated
[17:16] ,culturally responsive and
[17:16] equitable.
[17:20] We can save lives and our women
[17:20] veterans.
[17:22] As the councilor has mentioned,
[17:24] our fastest growing segment
[17:25] of the veterans population with
[17:27] more than 2.1 million women
[17:28] veterans in the united states
[17:29] today.
[17:32] Approximately 20% of veterans
[17:34] women veterans are black and
[17:36] 42% of women using va health
[17:39] care system belong to race, a
[17:39] racial or.
[17:40] Ethnic minority group.
[17:42] Yet women veterans are still
[17:45] too often overlooked, mistaken
[17:47] for military spouses or made to
[17:49] feel that veteran programs and
[17:50] facilities were designed
[17:51] primarily for their male
[17:52] veteran counterparts.
[17:54] Women veterans.
[17:56] Need comprehensive and
[17:57] respectful care that includes
[18:01] primary care, cancer screening,
[18:02] reproductive and maternal
[18:02] health care.
[18:03] Mental health.
[18:06] Treatment support following
[18:06] military sexual.
[18:07] Trauma.
[18:09] >> menopause care toxics
[18:10] exposure evaluations as well.
[18:12] Homelessness prevention and
[18:14] assistance navigating
[18:15] disability claims and benefits.
[18:18] They also need providers who
[18:20] understand how systems, risk
[18:21] factors and treatment
[18:22] experiences are different for
[18:23] them as women.
[18:26] I want to recognize the
[18:27] outstanding work of the women
[18:29] veterans care center within the
[18:30] va boston health care system
[18:32] and its program manager carolyn
[18:34] mason holly, whom I spoke with
[18:35] yesterday.
[18:37] This program here in boston
[18:39] provides women veterans with
[18:40] comprehensive coordinated care
[18:42] in an environment where their
[18:44] service, their experiences and
[18:45] individual health care needs
[18:47] are understood and also
[18:47] respected.
[18:50] Its specially trained providers
[18:53] offer primary care gynecology,
[18:54] maternal and postmortem
[18:56] support, mammograms and other
[18:57] preventive screenings,
[18:59] menopause care mental health
[19:00] counseling, support for
[19:01] survivors of military sexual
[19:03] trauma and also.
[19:04] Family planning services.
[19:07] Just as importantly, the
[19:08] programs help women veterans
[19:11] navigate the va health care
[19:12] system and it connects them
[19:13] with the specialists and
[19:15] resources that they have earned
[19:16] because of their service.
[19:18] The center reflects an
[19:20] important promise that women
[19:22] veterans should never feel
[19:25] invisible or like an
[19:26] afterthought within the system
[19:28] that they serve to defend.
[19:30] They deserve timely,
[19:31] compassionate, gender specific
[19:33] care and a place where they are
[19:35] recognized first and foremost
[19:36] as veterans.
[19:39] Also available to our women
[19:40] veterans is the veterans call
[19:43] center, which provides women
[19:44] veterans with information about
[19:46] va services and resources,
[19:47] benefits and eligibility.
[19:48] It's a toll free hotline which
[19:49] is available monday through
[19:52] friday from 8 A.M. To 10 P.M.
[19:54] Eastern standard time and on
[19:56] saturdays from 8 A.M. To 6:30
[19:57] P.M. Eastern standard time.
[20:00] The phone number is 855 va
[20:06] women or (855) 829-6636 and
[20:07] I'll repeat it again.
[20:12] (855) 829-6636 and if you
[20:13] wanted to contact the boston
[20:18] office you can call
[20:19] (617) 981-9277.
[20:21] Also here in the commonwealth
[20:23] of massachusetts the primary
[20:25] program for women veterans as
[20:25] was mentioned by
[20:27] councilor flynn within the
[20:28] massachusetts executive office
[20:29] of veterans services or any
[20:31] of us is a massachusetts
[20:33] women's veterans network which
[20:35] acts as a central resource peer
[20:36] group an advocacy body
[20:38] dedicated to empowering women
[20:41] who have served in the military
[20:41] since nine.
[20:44] Since 2019, the mayor's office
[20:45] of veterans services here in
[20:46] the city of boston has hosted
[20:48] an annual women veterans
[20:50] retreat roundtable which has
[20:51] provided women veterans with a
[20:53] welcoming and trusted space to
[20:55] share their experiences, learn
[20:57] about available benefits and
[20:58] healthcare resources and speak
[21:00] directly with the leaders and
[21:02] organizations that serve them.
[21:04] Most importantly, the
[21:05] roundtable ensures that women
[21:06] veterans help shape the
[21:09] programs and policies intended
[21:10] to meet their needs.
[21:12] It reinforces a simple but
[21:13] essential message that women
[21:15] veterans are not invisible.
[21:17] They served, they sacrificed
[21:19] and the voices must be heard.
[21:21] Also here in the city of boston
[21:23] we host an annual black
[21:25] veterans appreciation brunch
[21:26] recognizing the extraordinary
[21:28] service, sacrifice and
[21:30] continuing contributions of our
[21:31] black veterans throughout
[21:32] boston's history.
[21:34] It is also an opportunity to
[21:35] connect veterans and their
[21:37] families with benefits, health
[21:38] care and community resources
[21:40] while creating honest
[21:41] conversations about the
[21:43] disparities that they have and
[21:45] MAY encounter by celebrating
[21:46] their achievements and
[21:48] listening to their experiences.
[21:50] We affirm that honoring black
[21:52] veterans requires more than
[21:52] recognition.
[21:55] It requires sustained advocacy,
[21:57] equitable access and meaningful
[21:58] action.
[22:00] Here in boston, we are
[22:01] fortunate to have the va health
[22:03] care system which is one of the
[22:05] best in the country and the
[22:07] world which includes campuses
[22:09] in west roxbury and in jamaica
[22:09] plain.
[22:11] We also have world class
[22:12] hospitals and cancer centers.
[22:13] We have the boston public
[22:14] health commission which we're
[22:15] going to hear from here very
[22:16] shortly.
[22:17] We have community health
[22:19] centers, the massachusetts
[22:20] executive office of veterans
[22:21] services with secretary eric
[22:23] grinnell and deputy secretary
[22:25] andrea gail bennett at the
[22:25] helm.
[22:26] We also have the massachusetts
[22:28] women's veterans network led by
[22:30] director jessica frost.
[22:32] Veterans organizations like the
[22:33] vfw, like the american legion
[22:35] and the dav and trusted
[22:36] neighborhood leaders.
[22:38] And of course our partnerships
[22:39] with our fellow city
[22:40] departments like the boston
[22:42] public health commission, h
[22:43] strong, the office of food
[22:45] justice, the mayor's office
[22:46] of housing and neighborhood
[22:47] services just to name a few.
[22:49] We all work together to help
[22:50] connect veterans and their
[22:51] families with.
[22:51] Health care.
[22:53] And wellness resources,
[22:55] nutritious food, food access
[22:57] programs, housing assistance,
[22:59] transportation benefits
[23:00] advocacy, mental health support
[23:02] and services for our older
[23:02] veterans.
[23:04] By working across agencies, we
[23:07] can and continue to address the
[23:07] social and.
[23:09] Practical barriers that too
[23:11] often prevent veterans
[23:12] especially women veterans,
[23:13] black veterans and all the
[23:15] veterans and those facing
[23:16] financial hardships from
[23:17] receiving the care and support
[23:19] that they have earned.
[23:21] My hope is that this hearing
[23:23] here today will lead to greater
[23:25] awareness, measurable and
[23:27] measurable action where more
[23:28] veterans are screened.
[23:31] More cancers are detected early
[23:31] .
[23:33] More women veterans receiving
[23:34] the care designed around their
[23:36] needs and life saved.
[23:38] Lastly.
[23:40] >> as part of our continuing
[23:42] commitment to honor service and
[23:44] sacrifice and as our nation not
[23:46] only marks the 250th
[23:48] anniversary of our country but
[23:51] also here in a couple of weeks
[23:53] the 25th anniversary
[23:55] of SEPTEMBER 11th 2001
[23:55] terrorist.
[23:57] Attacks we must never forget
[23:59] the nearly 3000 innocent lives
[24:00] taken that day.
[24:02] The first responders who ran
[24:04] toward danger and all those who
[24:06] continue to live with this
[24:07] lasting effects.
[24:09] SEPTEMBER 11th forever changed
[24:11] our country and redefined
[24:13] service for an entire
[24:13] generation.
[24:15] And in the days and years that
[24:16] followed, americans step
[24:17] forward to serve.
[24:17] In our.
[24:18] >> armed.
[24:18] Forces.
[24:20] >> in our fire and police
[24:22] departments, in our emergency
[24:24] service and in our communities
[24:25] united by shared commitment to
[24:27] defend our nation well more
[24:28] importantly to care for one
[24:28] another.
[24:31] We especially honor the post
[24:33] 9/11 veterans who answered that
[24:35] call, including those who never
[24:36] returned home and those who
[24:38] still carry the visible and
[24:39] invisible wounds of war.
[24:42] 25 years later, our
[24:43] responsibility remains clear.
[24:45] Remember every life lost.
[24:48] Honor every person who served
[24:50] our country and ensured that
[24:52] their sacrifices are never
[24:53] forgotten.
[24:54] The city of boston will never
[24:54] forget.
[24:57] This year we're also going to
[24:59] host our annual recognition
[25:01] ceremony on SEPTEMBER 18th in
[25:01] city hall plaza.
[25:03] We will gather with veterans,
[25:05] families, community members and
[25:07] the state leaderships of the
[25:08] vfw, dav and the american
[25:10] legion to reaffirm that our
[25:11] prisoners of war and our
[25:13] missing personnel will never be
[25:14] forgotten.
[25:16] We also invite everyone to join
[25:17] us for boston's veterans day
[25:18] parade on NOVEMBER 9th, where
[25:20] we will recognize veterans
[25:21] of every generation including
[25:24] the post 911 veterans who
[25:26] answered our nation's call
[25:27] during these past 25 years.
[25:29] together, these observances
[25:31] remind our veterans that boston
[25:34] remembers their service, boston
[25:36] honors their sacrifices and
[25:38] boston remains committed to
[25:39] supporting them and their
[25:40] families.
[25:42] Thank you to the council for
[25:43] bringing attention to these
[25:44] critical issues and for your
[25:45] continued commitment to our
[25:47] boston veterans and their
[25:47] families.
[25:49] And I'm looking forward to the
[25:49] conversation here today.
[25:52] Commissioner santiago, thank
[25:54] you very much for the um for
[25:55] your testimony for your
[25:56] leadership.
[25:58] I do want to make one one
[25:59] change to what I mentioned
[26:00] earlier.
[26:01] I know we were going to go
[26:02] straight down the line.
[26:05] Uh, commander meredith tuitt is
[26:07] a member of the american legion
[26:10] in the court of post and I know
[26:11] she's going to the american
[26:12] legion post convention now.
[26:15] Um, I do want to take her out
[26:16] of order.
[26:18] Give her the opportunity to
[26:18] speak.
[26:20] Uh, provide an opening
[26:21] statement.
[26:22] Um, because I have great
[26:25] respect for her as a as a
[26:27] veteran as a as a as a woman
[26:29] veteran, a veteran of color but
[26:31] also um, a member of the court
[26:31] opposed.
[26:33] So I have to take care of my
[26:33] commander as well.
[26:34] All right.
[26:37] Um, so could we ask, uh,
[26:40] commander to it to um if we
[26:41] could bring up sir?
[26:43] Oh good morning, commander.
[26:43] It's good to be with you.
[26:44] Good morning.
[26:46] morning, CHAIRMAN.
[26:47] And morning everyone.
[26:51] Um, I do appreciate you, um,
[26:53] chair and the committee pulling
[26:54] me out of turn.
[26:56] As you know, I am out running
[26:58] errands getting ready to head
[26:59] to louisville, kentucky for the
[27:01] national american legion
[27:01] convention.
[27:02] So I appreciate.
[27:04] You pulling me out of turn.
[27:06] Um, also I want to, um, thank
[27:07] commissioner santiago for all
[27:08] the work that he does.
[27:09] >> for.
[27:10] The veterans here in the city
[27:12] of boston and all the other
[27:13] panelists that are going to be
[27:13] speaking.
[27:15] Um thank you.
[27:17] That will be we all have to
[27:17] continue.
[27:18] Our service.
[27:19] For veterans veterans of color.
[27:22] Um, and also for female
[27:23] veterans.
[27:24] I am district.
[27:26] Seven suffolk county
[27:27] council commander for the
[27:28] american legion.
[27:30] So I have about 20 posts under
[27:31] me and then also commander
[27:32] of the carter post in mattapan
[27:33] .
[27:35] So I'm always speaking with my
[27:36] veterans veterans of color
[27:37] female veterans.
[27:41] I'm part of the vn, um and and
[27:43] many other organizations.
[27:46] Um first I want to say I, I
[27:48] applaud and I appreciate the
[27:51] doctors and the um the
[27:52] advocates from the va who have
[27:53] been working around the
[27:55] screening of lung
[27:57] cancer especially for african
[27:59] american veterans and how
[28:01] indigenous um veterans here in
[28:04] the city of boston they have
[28:06] been doing um screening and
[28:08] going to different locations,
[28:09] different posts over the past
[28:11] uh, say two years or more.
[28:14] Um, to be able to screen as
[28:17] many of our comrades as they
[28:20] possibly can to um, you know,
[28:21] get them assistance and get
[28:23] them help for those that um are
[28:25] detected or and also to make
[28:27] sure that those that don't have
[28:29] a no they don't have but the
[28:31] problem that I want to touch on
[28:34] this base is here is that even
[28:36] though they're visiting our
[28:37] communities and coming into our
[28:39] post and hello, we still lose
[28:41] and we're still missing some
[28:44] of our comrades who might have
[28:45] lung cancer.
[28:47] Our older generation who
[28:50] sometimes can't get out to be
[28:51] screened or at these locations
[28:52] .
[28:54] So how do we improve upon that
[28:54] ?
[28:55] And I'm going to throw that on
[28:56] your desk, commissioner
[28:57] santiago.
[28:58] I'm going to throw it on the
[29:01] desk of our va um, doctor
[29:03] because we need to be able to
[29:05] work with our, um our system
[29:07] and how we are doing the
[29:08] screenings to be able to
[29:11] accommodate our elders who
[29:12] don't come out when they.
[29:14] When there's a screening
[29:15] because one they don't.
[29:17] Follow social media to they
[29:19] might not see a flier.
[29:21] Um and ah we we've done
[29:22] barbershops.
[29:23] We've done all sorts
[29:24] of different locations when we
[29:26] were doing it at the um carter
[29:27] post but we still MISS It.
[29:29] So I just wanted to put that
[29:30] out there was still missing a
[29:32] lot of our comrades that should
[29:32] .
[29:33] Be able.
[29:34] >> to get screened.
[29:34] Right.
[29:37] But I do applaud them for what
[29:38] they have been doing.
[29:41] Um, let's talk about service
[29:43] for, um, female veterans.
[29:44] A lot of times I have veterans
[29:46] that say we shouldn't say
[29:47] female veterans.
[29:48] A veteran is a veteran.
[29:51] Yes, but female veterans health
[29:53] care is different.
[29:58] We we, um you know, we give
[29:59] birth.
[30:02] We we carry children so we need
[30:04] that um, again we need that
[30:07] that that ob doctor to to deal
[30:09] with and it took a while for
[30:11] when the ob doctor left jamaica
[30:12] plain it took them.
[30:12] >> almost two years.
[30:14] Before they found another one
[30:16] and I I applaud carolyn for all
[30:17] of the hard work she does to
[30:19] make sure that we do have
[30:20] doctors within.
[30:20] The the.
[30:22] Women's clinic and the new
[30:24] clinic that they opened up
[30:25] focused on.
[30:27] Um menopause I think it's in um
[30:31] in the bedford location but men
[30:34] don't think about those things
[30:35] women do.
[30:37] So we have perimenopause, we
[30:37] have menopause.
[30:40] We have we have um carrying
[30:42] children, we have our fibroids.
[30:44] We have all these things that
[30:48] men don't have that are crucial
[30:51] to our livelihood and and our
[30:53] health and our our mental
[30:55] health is also something else
[30:57] that is a different you know,
[30:59] we we struggle with depression
[31:02] in a different way because not
[31:03] only depression about.
[31:04] Our service.
[31:06] especially women who have msi
[31:08] and our military sexual trauma
[31:10] and those that have the post
[31:13] trauma, you know, um, and so
[31:13] on.
[31:15] But at many times we are all
[31:17] focused on our children and and
[31:19] taking care of our household
[31:22] and and keeping our jobs and
[31:24] you know, and being looked as
[31:26] if we you know, as we are being
[31:28] too aggressive and to this and
[31:28] to that.
[31:31] So the the the mental health
[31:33] for female veterans is
[31:33] different.
[31:37] So that's something that we we
[31:37] could do better.
[31:40] You know um I have a lot of my
[31:42] sister uh sister veterans who
[31:44] say to me sometimes when they
[31:45] go to a therapist that they
[31:47] don't think the therapist is
[31:48] really listening to them
[31:50] because some therapists say, oh
[31:52] ,you know, you could you can
[31:53] handle it.
[31:53] You got.
[31:55] Your strong you know, sometimes
[31:57] we don't want to hear that, you
[31:59] know and um those are things
[32:01] that we need to be able to have
[32:03] that cultural competency that
[32:07] that um mental competency, that
[32:08] environment that we're in.
[32:10] So those are the things that we
[32:12] we need to focus in that I
[32:13] don't know if it's more
[32:15] training or or how do we do it,
[32:17] but those are the that I hear a
[32:19] lot about from my sister um
[32:21] comrades and I want to say um
[32:26] for myself I went through um a
[32:28] traumatic loss of like my
[32:30] second mother uh, about a year
[32:31] and a half ago.
[32:34] And I want to tell people I
[32:37] went to therapy because that
[32:39] loss put me in a depression
[32:41] that I didn't even realize i
[32:42] could experience it.
[32:44] And I'm always out here telling
[32:46] my sisters go get help, go
[32:47] going talk going this.
[32:49] And I finally had to say to
[32:50] myself go and get help.
[32:53] Go and talk to someone because
[32:53] it.
[32:54] >> was very.
[32:56] Hard and when I walked out my
[32:57] door I still had to put on that
[32:59] face that strong face because I
[33:00] was working with veterans,
[33:02] working with women and trying
[33:03] to get things done.
[33:03] But internally.
[33:05] I was screaming.
[33:08] But I was able to talk to a
[33:10] therapist that was able to get
[33:10] me through that.
[33:13] So a lot of times we have to
[33:13] think.
[33:15] About women's depression.
[33:17] Women's mental health is
[33:19] impacted in different ways, you
[33:22] know, um, also again I want to
[33:23] thank commissioner santiago for
[33:24] bringing it up.
[33:26] A lot of times female veterans
[33:27] are looked at as just the
[33:31] spouse of a veteran and I've
[33:32] been you know, talking about
[33:35] you know, ways that we can
[33:38] acknowledge that women served
[33:39] you know, if it's a license
[33:40] plate or whatever, I'm going to
[33:42] have to go back and rally this
[33:44] year to see if we can get some
[33:45] legislation around that because
[33:48] my veteran's plate on my car
[33:50] people think it's my husband's
[33:50] plate.
[33:53] I don't have a husband yet, you
[33:55] know, but those are things we
[33:58] we um we work we talk.
[33:59] About um.
[34:02] Within the the female veterans
[34:04] community it being acknowledged
[34:05] not we used to be invisible.
[34:07] We are now we're still in a
[34:09] little bit in the saddle but
[34:10] we're coming coming out you
[34:14] know and um but it's not it's
[34:15] not done.
[34:16] We have more.
[34:17] Work to do.
[34:17] Right.
[34:20] >> and a lot of times too.
[34:21] Now what I'm having a lot of my
[34:22] sister um.
[34:24] Veterans talk about.
[34:26] Is how they get looked at say
[34:26] they go.
[34:27] >> through a.
[34:28] Divorce and there's child
[34:29] custody issues and.
[34:30] So on.
[34:33] A lot of times because they're
[34:35] female veterans, they're being
[34:37] treated a certain way in the
[34:39] court system because of the
[34:41] they have female veteran or
[34:43] they might have messed they
[34:44] might have ptsd, it might have
[34:45] this and.
[34:46] >> the judges are.
[34:48] Using that that because the
[34:49] spouse that the.
[34:50] The uh um battling.
[34:52] With is using that against
[34:52] them.
[34:54] So those are things that I want
[34:56] to put out there so we can
[34:57] figure out how are we going to.
[34:58] Work with our.
[34:59] Systems to.
[35:01] >> help our sisters that help
[35:02] my sisters help my.
[35:05] Sister comrades and I never you
[35:07] know I'm not going to leave um,
[35:09] my my veterans of color.
[35:11] I serve as a.
[35:14] Commander at, uh, long stand at
[35:17] 107 year old um post that was
[35:18] strongly, um.
[35:19] Veterans of color.
[35:20] Um.
[35:26] We we are treated differently.
[35:28] And that's another thing when
[35:29] you think about how different
[35:30] ways.
[35:32] That veterans are treated, you
[35:33] know, and then you have to.
[35:33] Think about.
[35:35] When you are a veteran of color
[35:36] and an indigenous.
[35:38] Veteran and or also on how.
[35:39] >> people look at you if it's
[35:42] not your medical claim, if it's
[35:42] not.
[35:43] Your housing, if it's.
[35:46] Not your mental health and and
[35:46] so on.
[35:48] People think that oh we're
[35:50] making this up but no we are
[35:50] treated.
[35:53] Differently in all of these
[35:53] avenues.
[35:54] Because of the pigmentation.
[35:56] Of our skin.
[35:56] You know.
[35:59] And is that fear?
[36:02] No, because we all served when
[36:03] we're on the.
[36:05] Field together we don't see
[36:07] skin color anymore like they
[36:09] used to do back in the days
[36:10] because when I went in they
[36:11] still saw it.
[36:13] But here we are now.
[36:15] We're still going through.
[36:17] Things because we are veterans.
[36:19] And military attached of color
[36:19] .
[36:22] And so I want to say that
[36:23] commissioner santiago's.
[36:26] Office does as much as they can
[36:31] um, comrade flynn, as a fellow
[36:33] sailor we know that.
[36:34] There are.
[36:34] Still struggles.
[36:35] Out there.
[36:37] And we and that's what I
[36:39] appreciate when you have these
[36:40] hearings so we can.
[36:40] Talk about.
[36:42] What has.
[36:43] Been done.
[36:45] Good and what still needs.
[36:46] >> to be worked on.
[36:49] and um, I know I'll get beaten
[36:51] up by by haywood fanelli and
[36:53] some of my other comrades if I
[36:53] don't talk.
[36:55] About the veterans that are
[36:55] still.
[36:57] >> on the streets.
[37:00] Still homeless, still looking
[37:03] for a single room somewhere or
[37:04] our.
[37:04] Veterans that.
[37:06] >> are on the street because
[37:07] they don't take their meds and
[37:08] they're off their meds.
[37:10] I have one of my comrades right
[37:12] now who we can't even find him
[37:13] on the streets.
[37:13] He.
[37:15] Um stopped his meds.
[37:17] He lost his apartment.
[37:18] We know he's on the streets.
[37:20] We know he's checking into pine
[37:22] street but we haven't seen him
[37:22] in months.
[37:24] And we're still trying to.
[37:24] Find him.
[37:25] You know?
[37:27] So these are things we need to
[37:27] do.
[37:28] Maybe we need to put together.
[37:31] A group where we can go out and
[37:31] .
[37:33] Look for those that we know.
[37:35] Are on the streets.
[37:36] And their families are worried
[37:37] about them and so on.
[37:39] So those are things that I'd
[37:40] like to get on.
[37:42] >> to the the um onto.
[37:44] The table onto a piece
[37:44] of paper.
[37:46] Somewhere so we can do more
[37:46] work.
[37:47] And maybe pull some.
[37:48] Types of.
[37:49] >> meetings together to talk
[37:51] about how do we do this, how do
[37:53] we walk the corridor and find
[37:54] our missing homeless.
[37:56] Veterans that are out there?
[37:57] and I want to thank you for
[37:57] the.
[37:58] Time that you.
[37:59] >> gave me counselor.
[38:00] Um.
[38:00] >> I want to thank the.
[38:01] Committee for.
[38:03] Allowing me to, um, join you
[38:05] today and speak and also again
[38:06] thank you to everyone.
[38:07] Else who is going to be
[38:07] speaking.
[38:09] Behind me on the.
[38:10] Panels and thank you,
[38:12] commissioner santiago for the
[38:13] work that you do.
[38:14] And um.
[38:17] I'm going to enjoy louisville,
[38:18] kentucky for you guys.
[38:19] Thank you so much.
[38:20] Well thank.
[38:20] >> you.
[38:22] Thank you commended to it and I
[38:25] know I speak on behalf of my
[38:26] council colleagues in for the
[38:27] panel, but we have a tremendous
[38:30] amount of respect for you for
[38:30] the work you do.
[38:33] So safe travel and um enjoy the
[38:35] conference and we'll talk when
[38:35] you get back.
[38:36] Thank you.
[38:36] Committed to it.
[38:41] Um, let us let us continue.
[38:42] Uh, commander.
[38:45] Good morning, councilor flynn.
[38:47] Councilor murphy
[38:47] council fitzgerald.
[38:48] Um.
[38:50] There's not many people that I
[38:52] would let, uh, hop the line in
[38:54] front of of myself, but, uh, my
[38:55] comrade commander and good
[38:57] friend uh, the commander to it
[38:59] uh, she's definitely one that I
[39:01] would yield waved for so yeah.
[39:02] Yeah.
[39:02] Enjoy.
[39:03] Louisville commander.
[39:06] Uh, again my name is craig
[39:07] dealed.
[39:09] I am, uh, resident of the city
[39:10] of boston and live in south
[39:11] boston.
[39:13] Uh, I'm a member of the boston
[39:17] police post vfw 1018 uh, and I
[39:19] currently serve the vfw as the
[39:21] state commander uh, in that
[39:24] role um overall responsible for
[39:26] 146 posts across the
[39:29] commonwealth, uh, between our
[39:30] combat veterans and our
[39:32] auxiliary members, brothers and
[39:34] sisters, uh, there's over
[39:36] 20,000 of us across the
[39:37] commonwealth and just here
[39:39] within the city of boston we
[39:40] have four vibrant posts that
[39:42] are out advocating for our
[39:44] veterans, advocating for our
[39:45] neighborhoods every single day.
[39:48] Um, so there is always a
[39:50] presence of our veterans and
[39:53] I'm not here only on behalf
[39:55] of the state organization of of
[39:57] the vfw but also again as a
[39:59] resident of the city of boston
[40:01] and uh, to speak on uh on
[40:03] behalf of our four vibrant post
[40:03] here in the city.
[40:08] Um overall the the lung
[40:10] cancer rates with our our black
[40:13] veterans is alarming and a lot
[40:15] of it goes back to uh, a darker
[40:18] time within the defense
[40:19] department, department of war,
[40:20] whatever you want to call it,
[40:22] uh, where there was significant
[40:25] ,uh, segregation of different
[40:26] types of people in different
[40:28] types of units and doing
[40:28] different work.
[40:31] Uh, as commissioner santiago
[40:33] mentioned before there there's
[40:35] folks that would be, you know,
[40:36] serving in the navy that would
[40:37] always be below decks.
[40:39] They'd never see the light
[40:41] of day and they're in
[40:43] environments where there's
[40:45] going to be a substance in that
[40:47] environment and breathing in
[40:49] fumes from the engine rooms
[40:50] they're around hazardous
[40:52] materials is just you know, the
[40:55] part and parcel of uh, being on
[40:58] the navy a navy ship, uh, you
[40:59] know, the land forces they're
[41:01] they're always going to be
[41:04] again, uh, toxic exposures the
[41:06] ,uh between the burn pits
[41:09] again being in hazardous uh,
[41:12] locations of uh even being in a
[41:13] in a tank in an armored vehicle
[41:15] and infantry fighting vehicle
[41:17] you're around those uh, you
[41:17] know.
[41:20] Those fumes you're around the
[41:21] the fluids and those
[41:23] environments are inherently
[41:23] hazardous.
[41:26] Uh, I mean, we all understand
[41:27] when we raised our right hand,
[41:29] uh, enjoyed the service, uh, as
[41:31] a volunteer that we were going
[41:33] to be putting ourselves into
[41:35] these situations and for the
[41:36] benefit of our communities
[41:38] of of our country and in for
[41:40] the world in general.
[41:40] Uh, overall.
[41:43] Know we don't go into the
[41:46] service um broken.
[41:47] Yeah.
[41:49] But a lot of times will come
[41:50] out of the service in that
[41:53] state uh, again you know, it
[41:55] might not be due to a
[41:55] combat injury.
[41:57] It could be just regular
[41:59] occupational hazards within uh,
[42:01] our our nature of our service.
[42:03] But the the cancer rates within
[42:06] our african-american, uh, black
[42:07] comrades.
[42:08] Uh.
[42:10] >> is something that needs to
[42:11] be continue to look at looked
[42:15] at by by not only the va but as
[42:17] as part of the overall health
[42:19] care system that we're you
[42:20] know, we're involved with it.
[42:22] Uh, you know, I've had the you
[42:23] know, the honor and pleasure
[42:25] of working at uh both brigham
[42:27] and women's and dana-farber uh
[42:30] ,for cip for many years and I
[42:33] know firsthand and used to see
[42:35] the the outstanding effects
[42:38] that our health care system has
[42:40] for not only our black veterans
[42:41] but, you know, every anybody
[42:43] within the city of boston in
[42:44] the world at large.
[42:46] Boston is a medical mecca
[42:46] of the world.
[42:47] You know there's no better
[42:49] place to get sick or be hurt
[42:51] now than that within the city
[42:53] of boston between uh, the
[42:55] pre-hospital care that boston
[42:57] ems provides right through uh
[42:59] through the va hospitals and
[43:02] our uh our great, uh, you know,
[43:03] health care system here in the
[43:03] city.
[43:05] Uh, what we're looking at
[43:07] though is making sure that all
[43:09] veterans and especially our
[43:11] black veterans within uh, this
[43:15] subset, uh, do have that access
[43:15] of care.
[43:17] Uh, we need to make sure that
[43:18] we have between our
[43:20] partnerships with, you know,
[43:21] through the vfw, the
[43:23] commissioner's office and the
[43:25] through the va that we need.
[43:28] To make sure that when I have a
[43:29] veteran come to me saying hey,
[43:32] I've got this stuff going on,
[43:32] where can I go?
[43:34] Uh, you.
[43:36] Know, the vfw is there to be
[43:36] able to.
[43:36] Help.
[43:39] >> uh, steer the veterans in
[43:41] the right direction to get that
[43:43] care be it uh, city service
[43:44] going back through that through
[43:45] the va.
[43:48] Uh, we have a an incredible
[43:51] network of veterans service
[43:53] officers who assist uh, any
[43:55] veteran not just vfw members,
[43:59] any veteran with filing their
[44:01] va, uh, disability claims and
[44:02] we'll take them right through
[44:05] the initial intake and if they.
[44:07] Need if they get denied
[44:08] initially we'll help them
[44:09] through the appeals process
[44:11] even though going as far as to
[44:12] a hearing in front of an
[44:13] administrative judge and we'll
[44:15] take them through that whole
[44:18] process free of charge to that
[44:18] veteran.
[44:20] Uh, we don't look for anything
[44:20] in return.
[44:21] We don't put any membership
[44:22] requirements on anything.
[44:25] We'll if you will help any
[44:27] veteran uh, so that that's
[44:28] important that's an important
[44:30] distinction that, uh, we want
[44:31] and need to make sure.
[44:34] That through that process the
[44:38] the vfw uh, in their power
[44:39] of power of attorneys through
[44:42] the veterans that receive va
[44:43] benefits, uh, since the start
[44:45] of the federal fiscal year this
[44:49] past OCTOBER 1st have brought
[44:51] $87 million back directly back
[44:53] into the economy of the
[44:55] commonwealth of massachusetts.
[44:56] That doesn't get filtered to
[44:58] any other attorneys that goes
[45:00] directly into the pockets
[45:03] of our veterans, um, that are
[45:05] within our our commonwealth.
[45:06] You know, the numbers are a
[45:08] little skewed because some
[45:10] of the south coast does get
[45:11] pulled into the providence
[45:11] numbers.
[45:14] Uh, but that's you know, that's
[45:15] fine as long as where those
[45:16] veterans are being taken care
[45:17] of.
[45:18] Uh, if we extrapolate the
[45:21] numbers, we're looking at $105
[45:23] million directly into the
[45:25] pockets of veterans, uh, with
[45:25] across the commonwealth.
[45:28] Uh, I wish I was able to then
[45:30] break out what the what comes
[45:31] back directly into the city
[45:32] of boston?
[45:33] Uh, I'm sure it's a very
[45:34] impressive number.
[45:37] Uh, but again through the vfw
[45:40] and our service officers, um,
[45:43] that economic impact that we're
[45:45] making is huge and that does go
[45:47] towards the access of care.
[45:50] You know, if they're secure and
[45:51] financially they're going to be
[45:53] a little bit more secure in
[45:54] themselves, you know, seeking
[45:54] the medical help.
[45:56] They feel like they're going to
[45:58] be able to to go and seek that
[45:58] help.
[46:00] Uh so we get to get better to
[46:02] get that at home so they get
[46:02] that care through.
[46:05] Uh and from start to finish.
[46:09] Um uh transitioning to uh
[46:09] women's veterans.
[46:12] Uh, I had the.
[46:14] I entered the service and uh I
[46:17] got commissioned in 1991 uh,
[46:19] over the years the the nature
[46:22] of our military has has changed
[46:23] quite drastically.
[46:26] We have women serving in uh in
[46:28] the air force in combat, uh,
[46:30] equipped jets and strike
[46:30] fighters.
[46:34] Uh, we have uh, women sailors
[46:36] serving on um armed combat and
[46:39] ships and uh, the submarines
[46:41] uh, we have women in the army
[46:42] in the marine corps serving in
[46:43] infantry billets.
[46:45] Uh, there's they're doing the
[46:47] same thing that the men are
[46:47] doing.
[46:48] uh.
[46:49] We we.
[46:52] Need to look at you know, again
[46:53] embracing overall our women
[46:55] veterans and we try to do that
[46:57] by through the vfw.
[46:59] We're encouraging our women
[47:01] veterans that are members to
[47:03] take on leadership positions
[47:05] within our post, you know, to
[47:06] so we can uplift their voices
[47:08] to get another different point
[47:10] of view than just the old boy
[47:13] network of, you know, the smoky
[47:17] uh, cave of a vfw or american
[47:19] legion post of the days
[47:19] of yore.
[47:20] And those who thankfully don't
[47:23] exist anymore uh, as uh,
[47:25] commander tuitt had mentioned
[47:28] uh uh, how you know, she's had
[47:30] experiences where as somebody
[47:32] has come up to to her and you
[47:33] know, didn't recognize her as
[47:35] the as the veteran.
[47:36] Um.
[47:38] >> you know, we make I try to
[47:41] make my own personal point if I
[47:42] have a couple come in front
[47:43] of me.
[47:44] Uh, I'll start with the with
[47:47] the woman in front of me and
[47:49] ask her where did you serve?
[47:52] And oh, great, I served here I
[47:54] served there or oh, I'm not the
[47:56] veteran my my husband is well
[47:58] still she's part of the veteran
[48:00] family and that's important as
[48:03] well that we embrace you know
[48:04] not just the veteran the
[48:07] service member but the entire
[48:08] veteran and service members
[48:09] family because they're serving
[48:09] as well.
[48:11] They're going through hardships
[48:13] just as much as the service
[48:14] member does is what, you know
[48:16] when they go deploy and do
[48:17] their jobs.
[48:19] Uh, so it's very important that
[48:21] again, we're uplifting our our
[48:23] feet and women veterans making
[48:25] sure their voices are heard uh
[48:27] for uh expanding their the
[48:28] leadership.
[48:31] Uh of of our service
[48:32] organizations to reflect the
[48:34] true nature and the
[48:36] demographics of our military
[48:36] service.
[48:39] Uh, you know, finally at the uh
[48:41] at the police post we have our
[48:43] we currently have our first
[48:45] female or woman uh, command
[48:46] post commander and lisa venus,
[48:48] she's retired or soon to be
[48:50] retired uh, boston police
[48:53] sergeant, uh, army veteran and
[48:54] uh she is our post's first
[48:56] female commander and uh and
[48:58] we're excited she's she's been
[48:59] a hard charger coming up
[49:01] through the ranks and uh, we're
[49:03] looking forward to some great
[49:04] opportunities with her uh,
[49:06] through this year and going
[49:06] forward.
[49:09] Uh, so there is a changing
[49:10] of the of the scenery, you
[49:13] know, throughout the veteran
[49:13] service organization.
[49:15] So you know, I applaud you know
[49:17] commander to it and there are
[49:19] commanders here that know again
[49:21] they're taking that leadership
[49:23] role and their voices matter.
[49:23] You know.
[49:25] >> without their voices nothing
[49:26] will change across our our
[49:28] service organizations to
[49:31] reflect the true nature of our
[49:32] environment right now.
[49:34] Um.
[49:36] Uh, last I'd like to mentioned
[49:39] as uh commander tuitt mentioned
[49:42] the uh uh our homeless
[49:42] veterans.
[49:42] Yeah.
[49:44] They count they're out there.
[49:46] You know, it doesn't matter
[49:49] that you know there are part
[49:50] of any of our organizations
[49:51] they served there.
[49:53] They deserve our respect,
[49:54] deserve our support.
[49:57] Uh, the vfw will do everything
[49:58] that we can to make sure that
[50:00] across the board and through
[50:02] our partnerships with, uh, the
[50:05] with commissioner santiago and
[50:07] his department that we do look
[50:09] out and look after these
[50:09] veterans.
[50:10] Uh.
[50:12] >> and the veterans of foreign
[50:14] wars has a a national home.
[50:16] Oh, meeting rapids michigan
[50:18] that, uh, has been around for
[50:20] over 100 years and they help
[50:23] support uh servicemen service
[50:25] members, their families that
[50:27] are looking for a little, you
[50:28] know, not a handout but a hand
[50:28] up.
[50:30] You know, they can go they move
[50:31] their family there.
[50:34] They stay rent free utilities
[50:35] free for a number of years to
[50:37] get back on their feet so
[50:39] they're able to move on back to
[50:41] you know, their communities
[50:43] that you know that they're
[50:46] looking to join or rejoin and
[50:47] uh that might be something that
[50:49] we can look at to uh within the
[50:51] city there's a lot
[50:52] of opportunities out there.
[50:54] There's a lot of great
[50:56] organizations that are doing
[50:58] incredible things in their own
[51:00] little of uh, their own lands.
[51:03] But again, you look across the
[51:05] table and across the room here
[51:08] uh, it does take a village to
[51:10] uh to support the veterans
[51:12] community and all of our
[51:12] communities.
[51:13] Yeah.
[51:15] This is not an individual
[51:15] sport.
[51:17] uh, we can't do it by
[51:17] ourselves.
[51:19] It does take a team and then
[51:20] we've got a great team here
[51:22] and, uh, we I do applaud the
[51:23] the the city councilor.
[51:25] Councilor flynn.
[51:26] Councilor murphy.
[51:28] Uh, councilor fitzgerald, I do
[51:29] appreciate you taking the time
[51:30] on.
[51:30] >> a.
[51:32] On a friday morning at the end
[51:34] of AUGUST, uh, as the waning
[51:35] days of summer are closing in
[51:36] on us.
[51:38] Uh, I do appreciate that you
[51:38] guys.
[51:40] You're all taking the time to
[51:40] listen to us.
[51:43] Uh, I would implore that you
[51:45] take the time, um, in your busy
[51:48] days to go visit our posts not
[51:49] just when they're having a, uh,
[51:52] a chicken bake or any type of,
[51:55] um, you know, a fundraiser or
[51:57] anything like that, you know,
[51:58] reach out to the post, go to.
[51:59] One of.
[51:59] >> their meetings.
[52:02] Um, that's when you're going to
[52:04] have the one on one
[52:05] conversations with our veterans
[52:06] and you're going to find out
[52:07] really what's on their mind.
[52:09] So you got to take that with a
[52:10] grain of salt that you might
[52:11] not want to hear everything
[52:12] that's on their mind.
[52:15] But the you know, the veteran
[52:17] is going to be able to give
[52:20] you, uh, a true perspective on
[52:21] the ground what they're dealing
[52:23] with and it's going to be that
[52:25] one on one interaction that is
[52:27] going to really bring it home
[52:27] to you.
[52:30] Uh, when you're making your
[52:31] deliberations, you're having
[52:33] your your discussions, uh, in
[52:35] matters not only dealing with
[52:36] veterans but across the city
[52:36] that.
[52:37] You know.
[52:40] Veterans are a small subset
[52:41] of our society.
[52:44] But you know, it's a very
[52:46] diverse and distinctive group
[52:47] that has already dedicated
[52:49] their lives to public service.
[52:51] Uh, they've raised their right
[52:51] hand.
[52:53] They've served uh they've given
[52:56] their blood, sweat, tears, uh,
[52:59] body parts and some of them um,
[53:00] part of their minds to the
[53:02] defense of our country and the
[53:03] betterment of our society.
[53:06] So again, thank you for your
[53:07] support and I look forward to
[53:08] any questions that you might
[53:08] have.
[53:09] Thank you.
[53:10] Thank you commander.
[53:13] Um, we have uh, mr kennedy from
[53:14] the boston public health
[53:16] commission, sir.
[53:17] Thank you for being with us.
[53:19] And I want to give you an
[53:21] opportunity to, um, give an
[53:23] opening statement again.
[53:25] Uh, want to make sure we you
[53:27] take the the amount of time
[53:29] that you need to make sure that
[53:31] your message gets out because I
[53:32] do know a lot of veterans watch
[53:35] this program on television and
[53:36] want to give you an opportunity
[53:37] for your opening statement.
[53:39] Mr kennedy, uh, thank you for
[53:39] being here.
[53:41] Excuse me.
[53:41] Uh.
[53:43] Thank you, councilor flynn.
[53:43] .
[53:44] >> and of course, uh,
[53:45] councilor murphy.
[53:46] >> and fitzgerald as well.
[53:47] Uh.
[53:47] >> if I MAY.
[53:48] for just.
[53:48] >> one second.
[53:51] Um, it was a real pleasure to
[53:53] hear from, uh, matter to it.
[53:54] I worked with her quite a bit
[53:55] in the past while she was.
[53:56] With state rep gloria fox.
[53:57] Okay.
[53:57] Yeah.
[53:59] I was just a real pleasure to
[53:59] hear from her.
[54:00] Um.
[54:01] >> again, my.
[54:02] >> name is mark kennedy.
[54:03] Thank you so much for having
[54:03] me.
[54:04] It's my pleasure and honor to.
[54:05] >> be here.
[54:07] I'm a senior program manager in
[54:08] the chronic disease prevention
[54:10] and control division at the
[54:11] boston public health commission
[54:11] .
[54:13] And I'm leading the creation
[54:15] and implementation.
[54:16] Of the commission's first
[54:16] chronic.
[54:17] Disease and cancer.
[54:18] Early detection initiative.
[54:21] The mission of the boston
[54:22] public health commission is to
[54:23] work in partnership with
[54:24] communities to protect and
[54:26] promote the health and
[54:27] well-being of all boston
[54:29] residents, especially those
[54:30] that have been impacted by
[54:32] racism or systemic inequities.
[54:33] To put my comments.
[54:35] About lung cancer among
[54:36] african-american veterans in
[54:36] that.
[54:37] Context.
[54:39] >> let me start by highlighting
[54:40] the city of boston and the
[54:41] boston public health
[54:43] commission's first population
[54:45] health equity agenda, which we
[54:48] refer to as live long and well
[54:50] to live longer well agenda is
[54:50] about.
[54:51] Convening partners across
[54:53] sectors to address the three
[54:54] leading causes of premature
[54:57] mortality in boston unintended
[55:00] drug overdoses, cardiometabolic
[55:02] disease and yes preventable
[55:03] cancers.
[55:05] Major cancers including lung
[55:07] cancer are referred to as
[55:08] preventable because there's a
[55:08] screening.
[55:10] Guideline associated with them
[55:11] that can help to.
[55:13] Detect these cancers early when
[55:14] they can be treated with the
[55:15] with the best chance
[55:15] of survival.
[55:18] Nationally.
[55:21] ,statewide and in boston, lung
[55:21] cancer is the top cause
[55:24] of cancer related mortality in
[55:26] boston, lung cancer is the
[55:28] deadliest and most frequently
[55:29] diagnosed fatal cancer for both
[55:30] men and women.
[55:32] For black men.
[55:34] Low I'm sorry lung
[55:37] cancer causes more death than,
[55:40] colorectal and prostate cancers
[55:40] combined.
[55:42] Overall.
[55:43] >> when we look at trend data
[55:45] mortality from lung cancer has
[55:45] trended.
[55:47] Downward but of course not for
[55:47] everyone.
[55:50] Massachusetts is near the top
[55:52] nationally for early diagnosis
[55:54] ,surgical treatment.
[55:56] And overall survivorship but
[55:58] total incidence which includes
[56:00] new cases is higher than the
[56:01] national average.
[56:03] This could be due to increased
[56:03] screening.
[56:04] But new cases are.
[56:06] Not necessarily.
[56:07] >> cases where the cancer was
[56:08] diagnosed early.
[56:11] we'll continue to.
[56:11] Track local.
[56:13] Data on age and stage of.
[56:15] Diagnosis to quantify that.
[56:15] Finding more.
[56:18] >> new cases early leads to.
[56:20] Less mortality.
[56:22] Meanwhile, boston's black
[56:23] population has a lower
[56:24] incidence of lung cancer than
[56:24] the.
[56:25] National average.
[56:27] Nationally, black individuals
[56:28] with lung cancer.
[56:30] >> were 13%.
[56:31] Less likely.
[56:32] To be diagnosed early.
[56:34] They were 19%.
[56:36] Less likely to receive surgical
[56:38] treatment, 11% more likely to
[56:39] not receive.
[56:42] Any treatment and 13% less
[56:42] likely to survive.
[56:43] Five years.
[56:45] When you compare to white
[56:45] individuals.
[56:49] All that said, lung cancer is
[56:50] the leading cause of cancer
[56:52] related death among U.S.
[56:52] Veterans.
[56:54] Veterans have a higher.
[56:55] Rate of.
[56:56] >> lung cancer and a lower rate
[56:58] of survival than the general
[56:58] population.
[57:01] African american veterans face
[57:03] higher risk to military related
[57:05] exposures like asbestos,
[57:07] according to the us department
[57:08] of veterans affairs, veterans
[57:12] have a 25 to 76% higher risk
[57:14] of lung cancer and asbestos
[57:16] exposure remains a significant
[57:18] contributor to salivated risk,
[57:20] which exacerbates risk for.
[57:21] Black men.
[57:23] African american veterans
[57:25] experience disparities in
[57:26] diagnosis.
[57:27] Treatment and.
[57:28] survival rates compared to
[57:28] other groups.
[57:31] The U.S. Department of veterans
[57:33] affairs diagnosis it treats
[57:34] approximately.
[57:36] 8000 veterans for lung cancer.
[57:37] Each year.
[57:40] >> veterans have a higher risk
[57:40] for lung cancer due to.
[57:41] Older age.
[57:43] Smoking and.
[57:44] Environmental exposures during
[57:46] and after military service.
[57:48] Smoking is the primary cause
[57:49] of lung cancer, with many
[57:50] veterans reporting that.
[57:52] They started using tobacco
[57:53] after.
[57:54] Entering military service.
[57:56] Exposure to radon gas is the
[57:57] second leading cause.
[57:59] I want you to note here.
[58:01] If you would, that in addition
[58:02] to these risk factors that
[58:04] contribute to incidents, not
[58:07] getting screened is also a
[58:08] significant risk factor and
[58:10] that contributes to mortality
[58:11] because for lung cancer.
[58:14] And any other cancer catching
[58:15] and treated it.
[58:18] Early exponentially increases
[58:18] survivorship.
[58:21] Systemically black veterans
[58:21] have lower odds of completing
[58:23] lung cancer screening than
[58:24] white veterans, particularly
[58:26] due to loss between referral
[58:28] and the connection with
[58:28] screening programs.
[58:30] Let me conclude.
[58:33] By saying this for lung
[58:34] cancer veterans and the
[58:34] general.
[58:36] Population would benefit
[58:38] tremendously from changes.
[58:38] To the.
[58:39] >> screening guidelines that
[58:40] would further.
[58:43] Expand access to screening in
[58:44] 2021, the U.S. Preventive
[58:47] services task force expanded
[58:48] access to lung cancer screening
[58:50] to catch lung cancer earlier in
[58:52] high risk groups, particularly
[58:54] women as well as black adults
[58:55] who adults who often develop
[58:57] lung cancer with lower smoking
[58:57] exposure.
[59:00] The task force the task force
[59:02] and talk expanded access by
[59:04] lowering the starting gate from
[59:06] 55 to 50 and from reducing the
[59:08] pack history requirement from
[59:09] 30 pack using a to 20 pack.
[59:12] Use it here a year I'm
[59:14] sorry you do still have to be a
[59:15] current smoker or have quit
[59:17] within the past 15 years to be
[59:17] eligible.
[59:21] In 2023, the american
[59:22] cancer society went further and
[59:24] eliminated 15 years since quit
[59:25] criteria.
[59:27] But lung cancer screening is
[59:29] still tied strictly to tobacco
[59:31] use for veterans who are
[59:33] exposed to radon and or
[59:34] asbestos.
[59:36] For individuals who work in
[59:38] occupations such as firefighter
[59:42] construction, hair salons, etc.
[59:43] For general public city
[59:44] dwellers they were exposed to
[59:46] elevated levels of automobile
[59:48] exhaust and other environmental
[59:50] carcinogens on a daily basis.
[59:52] Lung cancer screening
[59:53] eligibility needs to be
[59:56] expanded beyond just tobacco
[59:56] use.
[59:59] Also, systemic changes need to
[1:00:00] be made so that veterans who
[1:00:02] are referred to or referred to
[1:00:03] screening don't fall through
[1:00:04] the cracks.
[1:00:05] I'll conclude there and again
[1:00:07] thank you for allowing me an
[1:00:09] opportunity to speak and I look
[1:00:09] forward to any questions that
[1:00:10] you might have.
[1:00:12] Thank you, mr kennedy.
[1:00:14] Uh, we have with us now um,
[1:00:16] doctor whitley who is also a
[1:00:18] veteran and a member of the
[1:00:19] american legion post.
[1:00:20] Okay.
[1:00:20] >> thank you.
[1:00:21] Thank you.
[1:00:23] Councilor flynn murphy
[1:00:23] fitzgerald.
[1:00:27] I didn't write anything.
[1:00:28] Um, because, um.
[1:00:32] One of the things that you know
[1:00:35] happened to me yesterday was I
[1:00:37] attended a debate and my
[1:00:38] question was.
[1:00:41] What laws or what funding.
[1:00:45] Would you implement for high
[1:00:48] denial cases denied among black
[1:00:50] men?
[1:00:53] And that question wasn't quite
[1:00:53] answered.
[1:00:55] So then I thought about.
[1:00:58] When then I thought about.
[1:01:02] When councilor murphy was um.
[1:01:05] She she was campaigning for
[1:01:06] her, um, you know, to compete
[1:01:09] become a city councilor at
[1:01:09] large.
[1:01:11] And I stopped her and she was
[1:01:13] in hyde park and I was having
[1:01:16] this trouble with my claims and
[1:01:17] I said to her, well, what do.
[1:01:18] >> I do?
[1:01:20] >> I need a 5 to 6 0995 and she
[1:01:21] was like, give me your number
[1:01:24] and then I have someone call
[1:01:26] me um a via cell to walk
[1:01:28] me through those um claims.
[1:01:30] But I started to think about
[1:01:33] when I wrote my dissertation
[1:01:35] and why I became a doctor
[1:01:36] of education.
[1:01:39] So one of the things that I
[1:01:40] noticed and I started to study
[1:01:42] black women so that made it,
[1:01:43] you know, kind of limited too
[1:01:44] to black women veterans.
[1:01:46] I one of the.
[1:01:50] things I thought about years
[1:01:53] ago because I just I just um
[1:01:54] retired JUNE 1st.
[1:01:56] I spent many years in the
[1:01:56] military.
[1:02:00] I had trouble navigating the
[1:02:04] system and so I am happy.
[1:02:07] With the statistics.
[1:02:11] The lung cancer, the nasty.
[1:02:16] But when I will press the
[1:02:18] participants for my my study.
[1:02:22] At all the 70 black women that
[1:02:25] in that ten participant the
[1:02:26] data exaggerated.
[1:02:28] And one.
[1:02:29] >> of the things they said to
[1:02:31] me and you know we talked about
[1:02:33] the va and how great the
[1:02:35] healthcare was and um, women
[1:02:37] the women trauma center they
[1:02:38] said.
[1:02:40] How how.
[1:02:41] >> do I get there?
[1:02:43] How do I navigate?
[1:02:48] So with the.
[1:02:50] Programs and all the great
[1:02:52] things that we have, how do we
[1:02:54] get our women black women vets
[1:02:56] to go for screening.
[1:03:00] If it's a high number of denial
[1:03:03] for claims maybe not the fault
[1:03:03] of.
[1:03:03] >> them.
[1:03:05] Themselves, maybe they just
[1:03:06] don't know how to write the
[1:03:08] claims or maybe they.
[1:03:08] >> need.
[1:03:09] Help with the claims that maybe
[1:03:11] they MISS A part after they
[1:03:12] hear the claim closes.
[1:03:14] So I think about.
[1:03:17] In the community.
[1:03:22] We need to implement of if.
[1:03:23] We're at the post.
[1:03:23] That someone.
[1:03:25] Can walk in and say you know
[1:03:27] how do I do you know, how do I
[1:03:30] complete a um claim if I'm able
[1:03:31] to walk into the municipal
[1:03:32] building in hyde park?
[1:03:33] how do I.
[1:03:34] Complete a claim as a vet?
[1:03:36] So one of the things that I
[1:03:38] want to say is that if I was.
[1:03:39] If I was.
[1:03:40] Watching this and I was just
[1:03:44] out of the military and um or
[1:03:45] msd, a trauma happened to
[1:03:46] me because I served 30 years
[1:03:47] ago.
[1:03:50] How would I do it?
[1:03:52] How would I navigate through
[1:03:52] this?
[1:03:55] So I oftentime just think about
[1:03:56] that were to navigate.
[1:03:58] Through the system and that.
[1:03:58] Was that was.
[1:04:00] >> my dissertation um black
[1:04:03] women veteran navigating the
[1:04:05] mental health system after
[1:04:06] trauma.
[1:04:09] So you know, I think I thank
[1:04:10] you guys all for um the
[1:04:11] statistics.
[1:04:13] But I think that.
[1:04:18] We need to focus on how do we
[1:04:20] get them into the va.
[1:04:22] What do we do on a city level?
[1:04:23] What do we do.
[1:04:24] On a community level?
[1:04:27] To bring them in?
[1:04:27] What if we.
[1:04:28] >> want to talk?
[1:04:30] You know what if we want to.
[1:04:32] Say hey I want to do a claim.
[1:04:33] Where do they go.
[1:04:36] If they've never been to the va
[1:04:38] or maybe denied for the va?
[1:04:39] So.
[1:04:42] >> thank thank you doctor.
[1:04:45] Um important recommendations I
[1:04:47] know we'll we'll be discussing
[1:04:48] them in a couple of minutes.
[1:04:49] So thank you for bringing
[1:04:50] bringing that information
[1:04:51] forward.
[1:04:52] Thank you for your service.
[1:04:58] Um, doctor wiener um, from the
[1:05:01] va the center for health
[1:05:04] optimization implementation
[1:05:04] research.
[1:05:05] Um, doctor europe.
[1:05:07] Thank you so much.
[1:05:10] Um good morning everyone and
[1:05:11] thank you to the council for
[1:05:13] the opportunity to participate
[1:05:14] today and such an important
[1:05:14] hearing.
[1:05:17] And I want to also thank the
[1:05:19] veterans who are present for,
[1:05:21] uh, your service to the country
[1:05:21] .
[1:05:24] Um, my name is brenda wiener
[1:05:26] and as I've already mentioned,
[1:05:28] I'm a pulmonary physician and a
[1:05:29] researcher at the va boston
[1:05:31] health care system and it's
[1:05:32] been my great honor and
[1:05:34] privilege to take care
[1:05:34] of veterans with lung
[1:05:36] conditions for more than 20
[1:05:38] years, including lung cancer,
[1:05:39] and to engage in research to
[1:05:41] try to address some of the
[1:05:43] issues that we're talking about
[1:05:43] today.
[1:05:45] How do we improve veteran
[1:05:46] health?
[1:05:48] How do we improve access to
[1:05:51] care and uh, and improve
[1:05:51] equity?
[1:05:55] Um, in addition to my roles as
[1:05:57] a physician and researcher, I
[1:05:58] also am the deputy chief
[1:06:00] consultant for the national
[1:06:01] center for lung
[1:06:02] cancer screening for the
[1:06:03] veterans health administration.
[1:06:05] And I'm a professor of medicine
[1:06:07] at the boston university
[1:06:09] chobani and and avid dc school
[1:06:09] of medicine.
[1:06:11] I have also been a physician at
[1:06:13] boston medical center.
[1:06:16] So um I'm speaking from those
[1:06:18] various perspectives but I do
[1:06:20] need to also disclose that, um,
[1:06:22] the perspectives I'll share in
[1:06:23] this hearing are my own views
[1:06:25] and don't necessarily represent
[1:06:27] the positions or policy of the
[1:06:28] department of veterans affairs
[1:06:29] or U.S. Government.
[1:06:32] So I'm here today because.
[1:06:34] Veterans in our city,
[1:06:35] especially black veterans are
[1:06:38] dying from lung cancer and many
[1:06:39] of these are needless deaths.
[1:06:41] We are so fortunate that the
[1:06:44] greater boston area is home to
[1:06:45] some of the most active lung
[1:06:47] cancer screening programs in
[1:06:49] the country, including at the
[1:06:49] boston va.
[1:06:51] And if we were reaching more
[1:06:53] veterans for screening we could
[1:06:54] be saving more lives.
[1:06:56] You've heard that lung
[1:06:58] cancer is a critical issue
[1:06:59] facing veterans.
[1:07:02] Uh, and that 8000 veterans are
[1:07:03] diagnosed with lung
[1:07:04] cancer every year.
[1:07:07] And just take a moment to think
[1:07:08] about that and how many
[1:07:10] families are affected by this
[1:07:10] disease.
[1:07:13] You've also heard that, uh,
[1:07:14] veterans have higher rates
[1:07:16] of lung cancer than others and
[1:07:18] the us population due to um
[1:07:20] military exposures among other
[1:07:21] issues.
[1:07:24] But perhaps more dire still is
[1:07:25] this.
[1:07:26] So I.
[1:07:27] Testified before this
[1:07:29] council about a year and a half
[1:07:31] ago and during that time
[1:07:34] approximately 7500 veterans in
[1:07:35] this country have died from
[1:07:36] lung cancer.
[1:07:38] It's an average of 15 veterans
[1:07:39] every single day.
[1:07:43] In fact, lung cancer is far and
[1:07:44] away the leading cause
[1:07:45] of cancer deaths among veterans
[1:07:46] .
[1:07:48] But again, many of those deaths
[1:07:49] could have been prevented.
[1:07:51] catching cancer early when it's
[1:07:55] still treatable is critical to
[1:07:57] improving lung cancer outcomes
[1:07:57] .
[1:07:59] Early detection through lung
[1:08:00] cancer screening followed by
[1:08:03] timely treatment represents our
[1:08:05] best hope to improve outcomes
[1:08:06] for veterans and others at risk
[1:08:07] of lung cancer.
[1:08:09] Lung cancer screening means
[1:08:11] getting a simple cat scan
[1:08:13] of the chest takes just a few
[1:08:13] minutes.
[1:08:15] It's painless and having a
[1:08:17] screening cat scan every year
[1:08:18] can reduce lung cancer deaths
[1:08:19] by 20%.
[1:08:22] One of the hard truths we've
[1:08:24] already begun to hear about is
[1:08:26] that black veterans and black
[1:08:28] men nationwide die of lung
[1:08:29] cancer more often than any
[1:08:31] other group in the us
[1:08:31] population.
[1:08:34] Um many develop lung cancer at
[1:08:36] a younger age and with a lower
[1:08:37] smoking history than white
[1:08:38] americans.
[1:08:40] And why is that?
[1:08:42] It's because they don't often
[1:08:43] know that screening is an
[1:08:45] option or how to access it.
[1:08:47] As you alluded to um and.
[1:08:48] Then they experience.
[1:08:50] Delays and gaps in every step
[1:08:52] of the pathway from diagnosis
[1:08:54] through treatment and are less
[1:08:56] likely to get the best, most
[1:08:58] effective treatments for lung
[1:08:58] cancer.
[1:09:01] The good news is that the va
[1:09:04] system breaks this pattern when
[1:09:05] black veterans.
[1:09:06] Get care through the va.
[1:09:07] >> their lung cancer survival
[1:09:09] is the same as white veterans.
[1:09:12] Va lung cancer screening rates
[1:09:14] early cancer detection rates
[1:09:16] and survival rates are equal or
[1:09:17] better across the board than
[1:09:19] those outside of the va system
[1:09:19] .
[1:09:21] And the difference here isn't
[1:09:22] biology.
[1:09:23] >> it's access to timely,
[1:09:24] equitable health care.
[1:09:27] And we're fortunate that within
[1:09:29] the va system, va bostons lung
[1:09:31] cancer screening program is one
[1:09:32] of the leaders in the nation.
[1:09:34] But many.
[1:09:35] People who are eligible for
[1:09:36] lung cancer screening veterans
[1:09:37] and.
[1:09:38] Other bostonians have never
[1:09:40] heard of screening and they
[1:09:41] don't realize that they qualify
[1:09:43] for this lifesaving test.
[1:09:46] In fact, fewer than 25%.
[1:09:47] >> of eligible americans have
[1:09:49] been screened for lung
[1:09:50] cancer and black people are
[1:09:51] even less likely to have been
[1:09:52] screened than others in the
[1:09:53] population.
[1:09:55] So let me just take a.
[1:09:56] Minute to raise awareness on
[1:09:57] some key facts.
[1:09:59] Guidelines recommend.
[1:10:00] Lung cancer screening for
[1:10:01] people ages.
[1:10:02] 50 to 80 years.
[1:10:04] Old with a significant smoking
[1:10:04] history.
[1:10:06] And regardless of whether you
[1:10:07] get it through the va or.
[1:10:08] Outside of the va.
[1:10:10] Screening is covered by
[1:10:10] insurance.
[1:10:12] >> and completely free with no
[1:10:13] co-pays for people who qualify.
[1:10:16] But sharing information.
[1:10:17] >> at meetings like this isn't
[1:10:18] enough.
[1:10:20] Our teams at va boston.
[1:10:22] >> and at our research center
[1:10:22] choir.
[1:10:25] Are actively working to improve
[1:10:26] lung cancer screening.
[1:10:28] awareness and expand access to
[1:10:28] screening.
[1:10:30] And we're doing this work.
[1:10:31] Right now here in boston.
[1:10:33] So first uh, the vet peer
[1:10:34] connect study.
[1:10:35] Um, last.
[1:10:37] >> year we partnered with black
[1:10:38] veterans and community.
[1:10:40] Groups like nab vets, the
[1:10:41] national association for black
[1:10:43] veterans and the triad veterans
[1:10:44] league led by boston's own
[1:10:45] heywood for now.
[1:10:47] To co-design a community.
[1:10:49] Outreach program by black
[1:10:50] veterans for black veterans.
[1:10:52] We partnered.
[1:10:54] Actually with with many people
[1:10:55] um, here today.
[1:10:56] We partnered with.
[1:10:58] The um office of veterans
[1:11:01] services from the city and the
[1:11:01] commonwealth.
[1:11:04] And veteran organizations
[1:11:06] including the vfw and american
[1:11:08] legion um, including
[1:11:11] specifically uh vfw post uh
[1:11:14] 1018 and the carter post.
[1:11:16] So thank you again for your
[1:11:17] support and partnership.
[1:11:18] Um.
[1:11:22] So uh we partnered with those
[1:11:22] groups to hold.
[1:11:24] Community events around greater
[1:11:26] boston trying to reach
[1:11:26] veterans.
[1:11:27] Where they.
[1:11:28] >> are and help get them
[1:11:29] connected to lung
[1:11:30] cancer screening.
[1:11:34] So we're now building on what
[1:11:34] we.
[1:11:34] Learned and vet.
[1:11:36] >> peer connects to create a
[1:11:36] sustainable program.
[1:11:37] >> with greater reach.
[1:11:40] We launched a new website and
[1:11:42] social media campaign developed
[1:11:42] together with.
[1:11:43] veterans to share their stories
[1:11:44] .
[1:11:45] About screening.
[1:11:46] And we're creating a toolkit.
[1:11:48] >> for veteran organizations.
[1:11:49] ,uh, to use with.
[1:11:50] Their own members.
[1:11:54] We're also leading a precision
[1:11:56] screening trial across 28 va
[1:11:58] medical centers, including va
[1:12:00] boston that's designed to
[1:12:02] engage veterans who have the
[1:12:02] highest benefit.
[1:12:04] From screening but haven't yet
[1:12:05] been reached.
[1:12:06] And many of these are black
[1:12:06] veterans.
[1:12:09] And finally, we're kicking off
[1:12:11] a project to connect veterans
[1:12:13] who have a history of toxic
[1:12:15] military exposures.
[1:12:18] ,um, to uh, the whole health
[1:12:18] well-being.
[1:12:22] Services at the va and also
[1:12:23] connecting them to clinical
[1:12:24] trials that will help better.
[1:12:26] Understand the relationship
[1:12:26] between.
[1:12:27] Military exposures.
[1:12:29] And lung cancer and what the
[1:12:31] role of screening might be for
[1:12:32] those veterans.
[1:12:35] And these things are working
[1:12:36] one veteran at a time.
[1:12:38] People are talking to their
[1:12:39] doctors getting screened.
[1:12:42] Regaining trust in the va and
[1:12:43] accessing the health care that
[1:12:44] they.
[1:12:45] Earned and deserve.
[1:12:47] I want to acknowledge and thank
[1:12:47] the.
[1:12:48] Many veterans, community
[1:12:49] partners.
[1:12:50] And va staff who have helped.
[1:12:52] Make this series of studies a
[1:12:54] success as well as the support
[1:12:54] of.
[1:12:55] >> the city and the
[1:12:55] commonwealth.
[1:12:57] most importantly, I want to.
[1:12:58] Thank the men and women
[1:13:00] veterans who inspire our team
[1:13:00] every day.
[1:13:02] But there is still more work.
[1:13:03] >> to do.
[1:13:04] And we.
[1:13:06] >> need the council and all
[1:13:08] of your uh, help in these
[1:13:08] efforts.
[1:13:11] First, we hope you'll help us
[1:13:12] to continue to build.
[1:13:13] >> on this momentum.
[1:13:14] The approaches that we've
[1:13:16] developed are resonating with.
[1:13:17] Boston veterans.
[1:13:18] And let's continue to sustain
[1:13:20] these partnerships and the.
[1:13:21] Trust that we've built with.
[1:13:22] Veterans and community
[1:13:23] organizations.
[1:13:25] And second, please help us to
[1:13:26] continue to get the word out.
[1:13:28] Partner with us to amplify
[1:13:30] screening awareness through the
[1:13:31] city's many channels.
[1:13:32] >> and resources.
[1:13:34] And then also as individuals
[1:13:35] tell other veterans.
[1:13:37] About lung cancer screening.
[1:13:39] These one on one interactions
[1:13:40] are.
[1:13:41] Incredibly powerful and could
[1:13:43] help save a veteran's life.
[1:13:45] I can't think of a more
[1:13:46] important goal than getting
[1:13:48] veterans the screening and.
[1:13:49] >> the health care that they
[1:13:49] earned and deserve.
[1:13:50] Especially black.
[1:13:53] >> veterans and women veterans.
[1:13:53] Who have.
[1:13:55] >> been left behind.
[1:13:57] That's not just my mission as a
[1:13:57] doctor.
[1:13:58] I really.
[1:13:59] Believe that for all of us,
[1:14:01] improving equity is a value we
[1:14:02] all share.
[1:14:04] And I'm honored to fight for
[1:14:05] that and hope you'll continue
[1:14:07] to work with us to achieve that
[1:14:07] goal.
[1:14:09] Thank you doctor.
[1:14:10] Thank you for being here.
[1:14:12] Thank you for the important
[1:14:12] work you were doing.
[1:14:16] Before I go to my colleagues to
[1:14:19] ask questions um I do want to
[1:14:22] go to public testimony and if
[1:14:24] there is anyone here I know my
[1:14:27] friend, um, donald mitchell is
[1:14:27] here.
[1:14:29] I believe he's an air force
[1:14:30] veteran.
[1:14:32] Uh, want to give him the the
[1:14:34] opportunity to to speak and to
[1:14:36] ,testify?
[1:14:40] Usually, donald, you got 2 or 3
[1:14:41] minutes, but, uh, I don't cut
[1:14:42] off any veteran.
[1:14:44] A veteran thought a veteran
[1:14:45] could speak as long as they
[1:14:46] want you.
[1:14:46] You've earned it.
[1:14:49] I also want to acknowledge our
[1:14:50] our friend that is not here.
[1:14:52] I know he's been mentioned
[1:14:54] heywood finnell a wonderful
[1:14:57] advocate in the city um for for
[1:14:58] veterans, military families,
[1:14:59] veterans of color.
[1:15:01] But donald um, would love to
[1:15:02] hear your testimony.
[1:15:04] Uh, my name is thomas you I'm
[1:15:06] the PRESIDENT And ceo of don
[1:15:07] foundation, which is a
[1:15:09] nonprofit organization that
[1:15:13] helps veterans to, uh, with the
[1:15:16] resources that they need to get
[1:15:19] housing, uh, a rent housing,
[1:15:20] uh, furniture.
[1:15:22] So, uh, certifications to help
[1:15:25] them get jobs in the industry.
[1:15:26] Uh, key to uh, key.
[1:15:28] Problem with veterans or people
[1:15:30] who are homeless is the fact
[1:15:33] that they, uh, when come out
[1:15:34] of incarceration or out there
[1:15:36] they feel they you don't have
[1:15:41] the the housing and employment
[1:15:43] which is key to for their
[1:15:44] salvation.
[1:15:45] We help them out.
[1:15:47] I organization will help them
[1:15:49] out to uh find these resources
[1:15:52] to to pay for some of these
[1:15:53] things that they need.
[1:15:57] Um um uh friends with my
[1:15:58] brother here.
[1:16:00] Uh, robert here we go back and
[1:16:01] forth here.
[1:16:04] Uh, cousin friend we just had a
[1:16:05] roundtable veterans roundtable
[1:16:07] ,uh, obviously delivered.
[1:16:08] Um, getting ready to prepare
[1:16:10] for a stand down, uh, SEPTEMBER
[1:16:13] 11th so we could do free, uh,
[1:16:16] resources, um, uh, and research
[1:16:18] on what the veterans needs are
[1:16:19] what their complaints are and
[1:16:20] and and their concerns.
[1:16:23] Um, we just sent, uh, through
[1:16:26] just the, uh, roundtable we
[1:16:27] just sent, uh, gentleman named
[1:16:30] uh, brian mullen, uh, to one
[1:16:32] of the partners that we met at
[1:16:35] the uh, uh, roundtable and he's
[1:16:37] been um, assisting because he's
[1:16:40] had multiple uh, situations
[1:16:42] that he's he's had problems.
[1:16:44] So, our goal is to help our
[1:16:45] veterans out.
[1:16:48] Uh, I've been a, uh, veteran.
[1:16:52] Uh, it was the um also on the
[1:16:57] um uh uh retired uh local four
[1:17:00] uh uh local four uh operator
[1:17:03] and also uh within a half was
[1:17:05] uh some uh civil engineering
[1:17:05] construction.
[1:17:08] So the construction part of it
[1:17:11] is is part the other part of um
[1:17:13] a company is called damage and
[1:17:15] the soldiers uh llc, which
[1:17:18] helps to find employment for
[1:17:20] those, uh, people who who work
[1:17:21] who needs, uh, plumbing.
[1:17:24] So we'll be working there to
[1:17:24] try to find.
[1:17:27] The resources with these uh, uh
[1:17:30] ,veterans, uh, who want to uh,
[1:17:31] I'm aware of uh.
[1:17:33] Um.
[1:17:38] Cosmo flynn and san diego um,
[1:17:40] just coming to get involved and
[1:17:42] I think I know mr kennedy.
[1:17:44] We met uh, come to us.
[1:17:45] >> so I going to be contacting
[1:17:47] you in the future to try to
[1:17:49] figure out how we could further
[1:17:50] help our veterans on out.
[1:17:53] Thank you.
[1:17:53] Donald.
[1:17:55] Thank you for being here.
[1:17:57] Thank you for your testimony
[1:17:58] and thank you for your
[1:18:01] commitment to, um, supporting
[1:18:04] veterans across our across our
[1:18:05] commonwealth.
[1:18:07] Um, I'm going to go to my
[1:18:08] colleagues.
[1:18:09] I'm going to start with
[1:18:10] councilor murphy then go to
[1:18:11] council fitzgerald.
[1:18:12] I'm going to give each
[1:18:14] councilor uh, maybe ten
[1:18:16] minutes, um, to ask questions.
[1:18:18] I know there's a lot of people
[1:18:20] on the panel that might want to
[1:18:23] weigh in to so um, if the
[1:18:24] council goes over ten minutes,
[1:18:25] that's that's fine.
[1:18:26] We'll, um we'll just continue
[1:18:28] the conversation.
[1:18:29] Councilor murphy europe.
[1:18:29] Thank you.
[1:18:32] >> thank you for your.
[1:18:33] Testimony, everyone.
[1:18:36] One of the things I kept
[1:18:40] hearing from all of you is the
[1:18:40] screening.
[1:18:41] >> and the.
[1:18:43] Statistics are trending in.
[1:18:43] >> a good way.
[1:18:44] We are.
[1:18:46] Fortunate to live here where we
[1:18:47] have such great health care.
[1:18:49] But at the same time, even
[1:18:49] though nationally.
[1:18:50] Our numbers MAY.
[1:18:52] look good when we zone in on
[1:18:55] you know, boston the state you
[1:18:56] know specifically.
[1:18:59] That we're still seeing that
[1:19:00] more black women and men are
[1:19:02] just not getting the care they
[1:19:03] need.
[1:19:06] So how do we make sure that you
[1:19:07] know, because without the
[1:19:09] screening they're not going to
[1:19:11] get the support the health
[1:19:12] support they need.
[1:19:13] So what.
[1:19:15] What should we do?
[1:19:16] What can.
[1:19:18] >> we do not just as a
[1:19:18] council just.
[1:19:20] >> as a city like to make sure
[1:19:22] and as a medical doctor like.
[1:19:24] Do you.
[1:19:27] Do enough do you think to make
[1:19:28] sure that you don't have to.
[1:19:29] >> ask.
[1:19:30] For it right that if a.
[1:19:32] Doctor knows while you were in.
[1:19:34] The navy we know you were on
[1:19:35] the ship, you were in the
[1:19:37] military, you probably were
[1:19:39] exposed because many times
[1:19:41] people you know aren't aware to
[1:19:42] even ask for.
[1:19:42] >> the.
[1:19:43] Help and obviously you've said
[1:19:45] it yourself and others saying
[1:19:45] that too.
[1:19:48] So what can we do from you
[1:19:49] know, the medical side but also
[1:19:52] all of you who are advocating
[1:19:54] and working alongside our
[1:19:55] veterans every day.
[1:20:00] I'll say from.
[1:20:02] The uh the medical standpoint
[1:20:05] at the va we have implemented
[1:20:06] um.
[1:20:07] Systems to.
[1:20:10] Help doctors on the front line
[1:20:12] identify when um, the veterans
[1:20:13] that they're seeing or.
[1:20:15] Eligible for a lung cancer.
[1:20:17] Screening and flag them to
[1:20:18] remind them to make sure that
[1:20:19] they offer it.
[1:20:21] And I know that's the case and
[1:20:23] um, in many health care
[1:20:25] settings outside of the va as
[1:20:25] well.
[1:20:30] Um, that said, uh especially
[1:20:33] primary care um, clinicians who
[1:20:36] are handling so many issues um,
[1:20:37] in a brief visit sometimes they
[1:20:39] don't get to it.
[1:20:43] So um I think it is also
[1:20:45] important um, to raise
[1:20:47] awareness uh, among the.
[1:20:47] Public.
[1:20:49] >> um, about lung
[1:20:50] cancer screening and and
[1:20:54] empower uh, folks to ask their
[1:20:55] doctors about it.
[1:20:57] Most insurance not cover it if
[1:20:59] you don't qualify because when
[1:21:00] you say qualify would the
[1:21:02] doctor have to kind of say you
[1:21:04] you smoke or there's reasons to
[1:21:06] believe it it wouldn't
[1:21:07] automatically be covered if a
[1:21:08] doctor referred it.
[1:21:12] So uh, insurance companies do
[1:21:12] cover.
[1:21:15] >> for people who meet uspstf
[1:21:15] eligibility.
[1:21:17] Criteria and there's no charge
[1:21:19] for that and that's inside
[1:21:20] outside the va system.
[1:21:24] Um, but as mr kennedy alluded
[1:21:26] to, uh, those criteria don't
[1:21:29] catch everybody, um, who could
[1:21:30] benefit from screening.
[1:21:32] That's one of the things that
[1:21:33] we are studying in that trial
[1:21:34] that.
[1:21:34] I mentioned.
[1:21:37] We are doing precision uh, um,
[1:21:40] approaches to predict who would
[1:21:40] benefit from.
[1:21:41] Screening.
[1:21:41] .
[1:21:43] Including people who fall
[1:21:45] outside of the us preventive
[1:21:46] services task force criteria
[1:21:48] and offering screening to those
[1:21:48] veterans.
[1:21:51] Um, that's a clinical trial.
[1:21:54] So it's not, you know, for
[1:21:55] everybody but uh, hopefully we
[1:21:57] will be able to reach uh
[1:21:59] veterans in uh va boston as
[1:22:01] well as the 27 other va sites
[1:22:04] that are participating in that
[1:22:04] trial.
[1:22:05] Thank you.
[1:22:07] Um.
[1:22:10] I don't have any other really
[1:22:11] specific questions other than.
[1:22:14] You know, it was said people
[1:22:16] just don't always know that
[1:22:17] there are services out there
[1:22:18] and how do we connect them.
[1:22:20] And it's never at a loss of.
[1:22:22] Hard work and.
[1:22:24] Advocacy from your commission.
[1:22:26] It happens I think.
[1:22:27] For every department across the
[1:22:29] city we often hear like well
[1:22:30] how do I get that fixed?
[1:22:32] Who should I have called or so.
[1:22:33] Do you.
[1:22:35] >> um is.
[1:22:37] >> there some sort of like ad.
[1:22:37] >> or.
[1:22:38] Campaign or support?
[1:22:41] Uh, you know, thinking of the
[1:22:44] city level how to support our
[1:22:46] veterans and advocate that way?
[1:22:50] Um, I think one of the.
[1:22:51] Uh, quickest way that we could.
[1:22:54] Uh, collectively as a as a city
[1:22:55] do it is to continue
[1:22:56] partnership with the boston
[1:22:59] health uh commission with
[1:23:00] strong uh with the office
[1:23:01] of neighborhood services.
[1:23:03] So basically pretty much um the
[1:23:05] village here in the city
[1:23:07] of boston municipality to to
[1:23:09] get together when we do go out
[1:23:10] into the community and talk to
[1:23:11] not just our veterans but our
[1:23:12] veterans families, our
[1:23:13] community members, our
[1:23:15] community leaders it's just the
[1:23:17] biggest thing that sometimes I
[1:23:20] see is that, um, they see one
[1:23:21] of our events that is just for
[1:23:23] veterans but it's open to
[1:23:24] everybody.
[1:23:25] Is open to the whole community
[1:23:26] .
[1:23:27] >> is open to even to somebody
[1:23:27] who.
[1:23:29] Who MAY not even live in
[1:23:29] boston, who.
[1:23:30] >> could just be in.
[1:23:30] >> the.
[1:23:32] Area to come by and go to to to
[1:23:33] the fair and expo that we had
[1:23:34] according park this past
[1:23:36] weekend and see what's
[1:23:37] available to our veterans, see
[1:23:38] what's available to the
[1:23:40] community as well and that's
[1:23:41] information that they could
[1:23:42] pass on to someone who they MAY
[1:23:44] know who's a veteran or someone
[1:23:46] who they MAY know is uh is a
[1:23:48] son of a veteran or a daughter
[1:23:48] of veteran.
[1:23:51] So um, all these events all
[1:23:53] these uh, communications that
[1:23:55] we MAY have or leaflets they
[1:23:56] while.
[1:23:56] From my.
[1:23:58] >> office they MAY be geared to
[1:23:59] veterans but actually they're
[1:24:00] for everybody because everyone
[1:24:02] should know a veteran or knows
[1:24:03] somebody who knows a veteran
[1:24:05] who has a person in their
[1:24:06] family who was a veteran that
[1:24:07] they could pass that
[1:24:07] information onto.
[1:24:09] So you know what I implore
[1:24:10] people who MAY be listening who
[1:24:13] who MAY be watching uh, to
[1:24:15] understand is that read these
[1:24:17] informations, come to our
[1:24:19] events, be a part of our event
[1:24:22] because it is for the benefit
[1:24:23] of the whole community.
[1:24:25] Um and part of that community
[1:24:26] is our veterans because
[1:24:28] veterans do cover all
[1:24:29] demographics here in the city
[1:24:30] of boston and we all in our
[1:24:30] community.
[1:24:33] So I think that um
[1:24:35] communicating this to to to
[1:24:36] everyone in the city and beyond
[1:24:37] is very important.
[1:24:41] I take the one of the uh,
[1:24:44] things that um, we must do is
[1:24:46] is to safeguard the resources
[1:24:48] that that uh that comes in the
[1:24:50] veterans uh, um, budget.
[1:24:53] Um, we're being cut because
[1:24:57] of ways and and we also we
[1:24:59] really help them uh, funding to
[1:25:02] do their research uh, the
[1:25:03] policies funding to do what
[1:25:04] they have to do boston helps
[1:25:06] us, which is to do what the
[1:25:09] city would be if if if you see.
[1:25:10] Uh.
[1:25:12] >> including the federal
[1:25:13] government giving all these
[1:25:14] cuts and everything are they we
[1:25:16] need to safeguard our funding
[1:25:18] that goes into our veterans,
[1:25:19] uh, pool and make sure these
[1:25:21] individuals get the resources
[1:25:22] that they need to do the work
[1:25:23] that they need to do.
[1:25:24] Thank you.
[1:25:26] >> um, I was going to mention
[1:25:27] that too when we were going
[1:25:29] through the budget cycle, the
[1:25:31] fire department who many of the
[1:25:32] members are veterans.
[1:25:34] Did not.
[1:25:36] >> receive that $1.2 million
[1:25:38] grant and many much of that
[1:25:40] grant was directly related to
[1:25:41] screening and health care
[1:25:41] support.
[1:25:44] So it is important and if we
[1:25:45] see that we're losing federal
[1:25:47] state grants like how do we on
[1:25:47] the council shift?
[1:25:49] I know that we work closely
[1:25:50] with your department to make
[1:25:52] sure we're not losing any money
[1:25:53] and if any way we can add more
[1:25:54] to your department.
[1:25:56] But thank thank you just.
[1:25:57] >> all.
[1:25:58] For being here and advocating
[1:26:01] and just know I'm a support and
[1:26:02] resource any way I can help
[1:26:04] more than I am.
[1:26:05] I'd love to thank you.
[1:26:07] Thank you councilor murphy.
[1:26:11] At this time I'm going to go to
[1:26:13] council fitzgerald
[1:26:14] councilor fitzgerald, you have
[1:26:15] ten minutes.
[1:26:16] Thank you CHAIRMAN.
[1:26:17] I appreciate it.
[1:26:18] Um.
[1:26:20] >> so thank you all.
[1:26:22] Uh, for the testimony as I was.
[1:26:24] Sort of listening to everybody
[1:26:26] I was writing down, uh, you
[1:26:26] know.
[1:26:27] The data is the.
[1:26:27] Data, right?
[1:26:28] And when so we.
[1:26:29] Know that what we're.
[1:26:31] Focusing on here today is an
[1:26:31] issue.
[1:26:33] >> and that's not being told
[1:26:34] that that is being told to us
[1:26:34] by.
[1:26:35] Boots on the ground but also
[1:26:36] through the data that we're
[1:26:36] collecting.
[1:26:38] And so I was trying to.
[1:26:39] Think of.
[1:26:40] >> uh, you know, what is the.
[1:26:41] The number one.
[1:26:44] Source of why this discrepancy
[1:26:44] exists?
[1:26:46] I'll refer to lung cancer at
[1:26:46] the moment among.
[1:26:47] Among black veterans.
[1:26:49] And you know, I started writing
[1:26:50] down a list of what.
[1:26:52] >> I think could act right just
[1:26:53] and I'm no doctor.
[1:26:54] So you guys this is why you
[1:26:55] guys are here, right?
[1:26:57] but I was like there's either
[1:26:59] genetics, there's education and
[1:27:00] awareness about it.
[1:27:02] There is the insurance, there
[1:27:04] is your personal lifestyle that
[1:27:05] can affect it.
[1:27:06] There's the work lifestyle such
[1:27:07] as where you might be where you
[1:27:08] might have served.
[1:27:10] Um and I added navigating the
[1:27:12] system and because from uh what
[1:27:13] I heard from this panel too is
[1:27:15] that just navigating the system
[1:27:15] um.
[1:27:18] Like of all the things what do
[1:27:20] we think of that sort of list
[1:27:22] might be like if we were to
[1:27:24] hone in on what would have the.
[1:27:26] Biggest impact and there MAY be
[1:27:27] others that I could add to
[1:27:27] this.
[1:27:30] List, but what would be the.
[1:27:32] The area that we would say is
[1:27:33] is it you know, hey.
[1:27:35] >> if we collected insurance a
[1:27:35] lot more.
[1:27:36] People would be covered and we
[1:27:39] could identify more early or is
[1:27:40] it hey is it the education
[1:27:41] awareness and getting.
[1:27:42] And I know it's a mixture
[1:27:42] of all.
[1:27:44] Right but what what I'm asking
[1:27:45] is if we were to prioritize it
[1:27:47] right um you can't do much
[1:27:50] about genetics uh, you know,
[1:27:50] the.
[1:27:51] Work lifestyle that's already
[1:27:53] occurred right in black
[1:27:53] veterans.
[1:27:55] And so how do we know where we
[1:27:56] can place people in the future?
[1:27:56] Sure.
[1:27:56] >> it might.
[1:27:58] >> help future generations but
[1:27:58] um.
[1:28:00] Uh, that just knowing.
[1:28:02] Where they are and making sure
[1:28:03] that certain benefits are
[1:28:05] available to them um, and then
[1:28:07] and then helping navigate the
[1:28:09] system I think that's in in any
[1:28:13] sort of large, um, you know,
[1:28:15] heavy paperwork type of setting
[1:28:17] I mean car insurance, health
[1:28:18] insurance, whatever it MAY be.
[1:28:18] Right?
[1:28:19] I think we all have trouble
[1:28:21] nabbing people walk into this
[1:28:22] building and the first thing
[1:28:24] they usually say is I'm here to
[1:28:25] help me.
[1:28:26] Navigate city hall.
[1:28:26] Where do I go?
[1:28:27] Right.
[1:28:28] Who do I talk to for this
[1:28:28] issue?
[1:28:30] So um I think that's important
[1:28:31] one but.
[1:28:33] Just trying to hone in because
[1:28:34] I feel like if you extrapolated
[1:28:35] out.
[1:28:36] Outside of veterans to that the
[1:28:38] data probably correlates right
[1:28:38] .
[1:28:40] Uh, that that uh, lung
[1:28:41] cancer among black individuals
[1:28:43] is also probably higher than
[1:28:44] white counterparts.
[1:28:45] And so that's what got me.
[1:28:47] Thinking to the other things
[1:28:49] of like well if we help one we
[1:28:49] can.
[1:28:50] Help the veterans.
[1:28:50] If we.
[1:28:51] Help the larger.
[1:28:53] Continuum then we can help the
[1:28:53] veterans.
[1:28:55] But at the same time, what can
[1:28:56] we learn from helping the
[1:28:57] veterans that can educate us
[1:28:59] that we can bring it out to the
[1:28:59] larger continuum?
[1:29:00] Right.
[1:29:01] Um.
[1:29:03] >> that you know, a lot of you
[1:29:04] guys spoke on this but I guess
[1:29:05] what I sort of.
[1:29:07] Uh, is wondering is if.
[1:29:09] We were to hone in, right?
[1:29:10] because government gets pulled
[1:29:11] in a lot of different ways and
[1:29:13] we'd love to hone in on every
[1:29:14] single one of these and but
[1:29:15] that would be all day every day
[1:29:16] and there's a lot of other
[1:29:17] people asking for our help.
[1:29:18] .
[1:29:19] >> if we could hone in, what
[1:29:21] would you think.
[1:29:23] Would be the the best parameter
[1:29:26] to sort of say let's solve this
[1:29:26] one.
[1:29:28] Let's solve education awareness
[1:29:29] and put the money towards that
[1:29:30] and put our effort towards
[1:29:30] that.
[1:29:31] Let's let's.
[1:29:33] Tackle insurance and make sure
[1:29:34] I think insurance is a sham
[1:29:36] anyway I don't know how you got
[1:29:37] you guys are the doctors but
[1:29:38] just from a guy on the outside
[1:29:40] the layman's person I think
[1:29:41] that's the biggest thing we got
[1:29:41] to tackle next.
[1:29:43] But um, you know.
[1:29:44] >> is it making sure.
[1:29:45] >> the system is more
[1:29:47] streamlined or at least more um
[1:29:49] ,you know that you.
[1:29:50] >> can.
[1:29:51] Work with it easier to
[1:29:53] understand um I don't know.
[1:29:54] >> so I put I put that all to
[1:29:55] you guys and say if.
[1:29:56] >> you had to prioritize.
[1:29:56] What would you.
[1:29:58] Think would be the the most.
[1:30:00] Impactful one to attack?
[1:30:05] And we could all have different
[1:30:05] answers.
[1:30:06] I'm sort of just wondering from
[1:30:07] personal.
[1:30:07] >> point of.
[1:30:08] >> view it's it's.
[1:30:08] >> there.
[1:30:09] Is no right answer.
[1:30:11] I'll guess I'll start counselor
[1:30:11] .
[1:30:11] thank you.
[1:30:14] Uh for for for your question
[1:30:15] and bringing that up and it's
[1:30:16] it's it's everything you
[1:30:17] mentioned, right.
[1:30:18] It's it's a little bit
[1:30:19] of everything but I think part
[1:30:21] of it has to do also um which
[1:30:23] we alluded to and incidentally
[1:30:25] myself and uh and craig here
[1:30:26] before we even came to the
[1:30:27] council hearing we actually
[1:30:28] were having a cup of coffee and
[1:30:30] talked about it talked about
[1:30:32] you know, what is the
[1:30:34] underlying reason why uh, the
[1:30:36] cancer rates are so much higher
[1:30:38] in the black veterans community
[1:30:39] and also in the minority
[1:30:40] community as a whole.
[1:30:42] And we could speak on that uh,
[1:30:43] from our experience of the
[1:30:45] veterans, it a lot of it has to
[1:30:46] do with whatever their job
[1:30:49] duties or collateral duties
[1:30:51] were given to the black
[1:30:53] veterans um in service um I
[1:30:54] could speak.
[1:30:54] >> on.
[1:30:54] On on.
[1:30:56] >> my experiences as a navy
[1:30:58] veteran where you know, um a
[1:31:01] lot of uh, minority veterans
[1:31:02] of on average sailors like
[1:31:05] myself we were told to go
[1:31:07] sandblast a void on a ship, you
[1:31:10] know, or we were working in an
[1:31:11] engine room pretty much what
[1:31:12] craig had mentioned earlier in
[1:31:13] his testimony.
[1:31:15] So, uh, you know, so a lot
[1:31:15] of the.
[1:31:18] And I'm not saying that that's.
[1:31:18] >> the.
[1:31:19] Reason why the rates are so
[1:31:19] high.
[1:31:20] I'm just you know, speaking
[1:31:22] again on my experiences and
[1:31:23] from what I've seen and talking
[1:31:25] to other veterans as well, um,
[1:31:26] that that could also be.
[1:31:27] An underlying reason why.
[1:31:29] Those numbers MAY be high is
[1:31:31] because of of also the the
[1:31:33] duties that we were given while
[1:31:34] we were uh in service.
[1:31:36] Now um, add that to the fact
[1:31:38] that when you know, we're no
[1:31:39] longer um in service and now
[1:31:41] we're veterans navigating the
[1:31:43] system, knowing the system,
[1:31:44] knowing what um is out there
[1:31:46] for us and like, uh, doctor
[1:31:47] wagner had mentioned.
[1:31:47] >> in.
[1:31:49] Her testimony at the va, um,
[1:31:50] they're doing a great job in
[1:31:51] trying to get the word out
[1:31:53] there but when it's not enough
[1:31:55] to um it there's always work to
[1:31:58] be done and that and so I guess
[1:32:00] the the educational piece and
[1:32:00] again trying.
[1:32:02] To let everybody know that
[1:32:05] these um that you know the lung
[1:32:06] cancer screenings are there for
[1:32:08] for veterans for for pretty
[1:32:09] much anybody the city of boston
[1:32:11] also has a policy for lung
[1:32:11] cancer screening.
[1:32:13] Um, you know amongst us uh
[1:32:14] municipal workers, you know,
[1:32:16] you know, go to contact your
[1:32:18] cpa and see what those are,
[1:32:19] what those MAY be.
[1:32:20] But I think as far as veterans
[1:32:22] are concerned, um, um the
[1:32:23] education piece is huge.
[1:32:27] Um, getting to those veterans
[1:32:29] and and and malika had
[1:32:30] mentioned that doctor wheatley
[1:32:32] I mentioned uh in her testimony
[1:32:34] when these service members
[1:32:37] become veterans, you know, what
[1:32:38] is the department of defense
[1:32:40] doing when service members are
[1:32:42] transitioning into becoming
[1:32:43] veteran that coming back into
[1:32:43] our communities?
[1:32:46] Are we reaching them um, in a
[1:32:46] timely fashion?
[1:32:47] Um.
[1:32:48] Once they.
[1:32:50] >> come out I know uh, that the
[1:32:52] state does what they can to
[1:32:54] notify us municipalities us uh,
[1:32:54] veteran services.
[1:32:56] Offices throughout the state to
[1:32:58] let us know who in our
[1:32:59] community is returning from
[1:33:02] service and reaching then and
[1:33:03] letting them know and also
[1:33:06] being able to be, uh, an asset
[1:33:07] to them when they transition
[1:33:08] and integrate back into the
[1:33:10] system, um back into their
[1:33:10] communities as well.
[1:33:12] So it's it's it's it's really
[1:33:16] not something that um that that
[1:33:18] uh it's going to be um taken
[1:33:20] care of immediately but it's
[1:33:21] something that we're going to
[1:33:22] be able that we have to
[1:33:23] continue the conversation on
[1:33:23] amongst.
[1:33:24] >> our.
[1:33:25] Groups and uh, advocacy groups
[1:33:27] amongst the vfw that the dvs,
[1:33:30] the american legion's um you
[1:33:32] know, don and his and his
[1:33:33] organization uh haywood and his
[1:33:35] organization um and pretty much
[1:33:36] all the veteran organizations
[1:33:38] in the community as well.
[1:33:40] And it also takes uh, the
[1:33:41] council as well that, you know,
[1:33:43] if and when you also go out
[1:33:44] into the community, you bring
[1:33:44] it up.
[1:33:45] You know what,
[1:33:46] councilor fitzgerald?
[1:33:47] You know, if you're running
[1:33:48] your community to be like you
[1:33:49] know, I was at a hearing about
[1:33:51] veterans and we talked about
[1:33:51] lung cancer here.
[1:33:52] You know, you know, lung
[1:33:54] cancer amongst veterans this is
[1:33:55] what's available.
[1:33:56] So you know, just spreading the
[1:33:57] word out there whenever we go
[1:33:59] on to the community just bring
[1:33:59] it up.
[1:34:00] Even if the subject matter MAY
[1:34:02] not be about veterans I always
[1:34:03] bring up veterans.
[1:34:03] Why?
[1:34:04] Because I am a.
[1:34:05] Veteran you know why not?
[1:34:07] But uh but you know but you
[1:34:08] know, make it part of the
[1:34:10] conversation make it part
[1:34:12] of the community conversation
[1:34:13] about veterans, you know, about
[1:34:15] lung cancer screening, about
[1:34:15] women veterans.
[1:34:17] You know, right now there's
[1:34:20] close to I believe is 940,000
[1:34:22] women that are there are
[1:34:23] enrolled in the va.
[1:34:25] But there's a there's 2.1
[1:34:26] million women veterans that we
[1:34:27] know.
[1:34:28] So you know those numbers need
[1:34:29] to go up as well so women
[1:34:30] veterans could also get the
[1:34:31] care that they need in the va
[1:34:33] system um because it's there
[1:34:34] for them.
[1:34:36] Um, how many of them actually
[1:34:37] went to the va to get that care
[1:34:39] or is it the trust thing as
[1:34:39] well?
[1:34:40] Are we talking about trust?
[1:34:42] They just don't trust the
[1:34:43] system to help them out.
[1:34:44] Just the same thing with black
[1:34:45] veterans, the same thing with
[1:34:46] minority veterans.
[1:34:47] You know that there's been that
[1:34:48] stigma for many, many years
[1:34:50] that the va is not there to
[1:34:50] help them.
[1:34:51] You know, it could be the
[1:34:53] trusting that we need a
[1:34:53] breakthrough as well.
[1:34:54] So there's a lot.
[1:34:54] >> of there's.
[1:34:57] It's it's it's it's it's a it's
[1:34:59] a big web that we're weaving
[1:35:01] here that we need to go through
[1:35:01] and break through.
[1:35:03] But I think the uh what it all
[1:35:05] comes down to is the word
[1:35:06] communication and you know,
[1:35:07] talking to the veterans,
[1:35:09] getting them out there, letting
[1:35:10] them know that the va has gone,
[1:35:11] you know, has come a long way.
[1:35:13] And you know, I'm proud to say
[1:35:14] that the boston va is
[1:35:16] definitely the best va we have
[1:35:17] in this country and it's
[1:35:18] because of the partnerships
[1:35:20] that we have with the state,
[1:35:21] the partnerships that we have
[1:35:22] with all these medical
[1:35:22] facilities.
[1:35:23] We have one of the best
[1:35:25] nonprofits like home base is
[1:35:27] located here through the mdh as
[1:35:27] well.
[1:35:30] So uh, you know all those
[1:35:31] partnerships uh getting
[1:35:32] together and communicating that
[1:35:34] hey, we're here for you and
[1:35:35] we're going to make sure that
[1:35:36] you get what you deserve.
[1:35:37] That's excellent.
[1:35:38] Thank you very much.
[1:35:39] Appreciate it.
[1:35:39] But so.
[1:35:41] Education from our point
[1:35:42] of view of what a council could
[1:35:42] do.
[1:35:44] Education awareness is where we
[1:35:44] should.
[1:35:45] Yes tackle.
[1:35:47] I just want to make sure I had
[1:35:48] I don't know if anyone else you
[1:35:50] don't have to but if anyone
[1:35:51] else would like to chime in I
[1:35:51] have other questions as well.
[1:35:55] Uh I don't.
[1:35:56] Okay.
[1:35:59] >> but um um
[1:36:00] councilor fitzgerald, thank you
[1:36:01] for the question.
[1:36:05] Um, I'm going to say from my
[1:36:07] particular lane because
[1:36:08] everybody here is bringing
[1:36:10] whether it's an experiential or
[1:36:12] a professional perspective into
[1:36:12] this.
[1:36:14] Again, as I said in my
[1:36:18] introduction, my focus is on
[1:36:20] early detection of in this
[1:36:21] particular case of course like
[1:36:23] it I've never had lung cancer.
[1:36:25] I'm not a veteran.
[1:36:27] I've never smoked.
[1:36:31] I listen to your your list
[1:36:32] of the things that could be
[1:36:34] causing this genetics was the
[1:36:35] first thing you said.
[1:36:36] I don't know if it was any
[1:36:37] particular order no particular.
[1:36:40] But I would say that family
[1:36:41] history or other genetics or
[1:36:42] issues of a lot of cancers.
[1:36:44] I think the biggest issue for
[1:36:48] lung cancer is exposure to both
[1:36:49] factors because we all have
[1:36:50] said in various ways and shapes
[1:36:52] and forms people didn't start
[1:36:54] smoking until they entered
[1:36:56] military service or some other
[1:36:57] type of position that put them
[1:36:59] in an exposure situation to
[1:37:01] something other than tobacco.
[1:37:02] A lot of that is what's driving
[1:37:04] lung cancer rates up in a
[1:37:05] particular for for black
[1:37:06] veterans.
[1:37:08] To answer your question, my
[1:37:10] single word again from my lab
[1:37:12] basically goes right back to
[1:37:13] the guidelines and let me just
[1:37:15] put some context around it.
[1:37:18] What we do at the boston public
[1:37:19] health commission at least in
[1:37:20] terms of my job because I don't
[1:37:22] provide any direct service so I
[1:37:24] don't actually do the scope.
[1:37:26] What I basically do in my role
[1:37:29] is to communicate about school
[1:37:30] okay.
[1:37:33] But I always tell myself I am
[1:37:34] doing a disservice to the
[1:37:38] public if I don't go into that
[1:37:40] job acknowledging that there is
[1:37:41] a balance.
[1:37:43] There's two dimensional chess
[1:37:44] being played here because I
[1:37:46] have to communicate something
[1:37:48] that provides a call to action
[1:37:49] to the public.
[1:37:51] But when they get into the
[1:37:53] medical system the doctor has
[1:37:56] to do what I want them to do
[1:37:57] when the patient shows up.
[1:37:58] Right.
[1:38:00] If the doctor's not going to do
[1:38:02] that, why should I tell people
[1:38:04] to go have it done if they
[1:38:05] can't actually get it done?
[1:38:07] The guideline piece I'm trying
[1:38:10] to talk about here goes to the
[1:38:13] fact that lung cancer screening
[1:38:15] is basically tied to tobacco
[1:38:18] use and a lot of the lung
[1:38:20] cancer that veterans suffer are
[1:38:22] from things other than tobacco
[1:38:23] .
[1:38:24] Okay.
[1:38:24] Gotcha.
[1:38:27] You also talk about veterans
[1:38:29] that weren't smoking before
[1:38:31] they came into military service
[1:38:33] and they began to smoke as a
[1:38:33] result.
[1:38:36] So if you think about this this
[1:38:38] this particular group and again
[1:38:40] the other context of that is
[1:38:41] I'm with the boston public
[1:38:42] health commission.
[1:38:44] But what we're talking about
[1:38:45] here is population health.
[1:38:48] It's a segment of our
[1:38:50] population I.E. Veterans are
[1:38:52] experiencing lung
[1:38:52] cancer differently than the
[1:38:53] general public.
[1:38:56] What can we hone in on and
[1:38:57] focus on with that?
[1:39:00] You talk about we've heard the
[1:39:01] tremendous work that the va
[1:39:03] hospital is doing here which is
[1:39:04] different, unique and better
[1:39:05] than what's happening across
[1:39:05] the country.
[1:39:06] Yeah.
[1:39:08] >> my hope is that there's an
[1:39:10] opportunity with local
[1:39:12] legislation engaging local
[1:39:15] payers and a strong medical and
[1:39:16] clinical institution like the
[1:39:18] V.A. Hospital to say let's
[1:39:20] let's set the tone for the rest
[1:39:22] of the country for how to get
[1:39:25] this right because we now can
[1:39:28] basically create a local closed
[1:39:31] loop that says what we do is we
[1:39:32] screen people not just for
[1:39:35] tobacco use but for exposure to
[1:39:37] the things that we ask them to
[1:39:38] do in the context of the
[1:39:41] military service get payers on
[1:39:41] board.
[1:39:44] Open up lung cancer screening
[1:39:46] to people that actually need
[1:39:48] it, not just smokers.
[1:39:51] Look at the financial benefits
[1:39:54] of that over a period of time.
[1:39:55] Look at the outcomes benefits
[1:39:57] which is reduce mortality over
[1:39:58] a period of time.
[1:40:00] Present this to the country and
[1:40:01] say look we are getting it
[1:40:04] right in massachusetts you
[1:40:06] could be doing more in wherever
[1:40:06] you are.
[1:40:07] That's not massachusetts
[1:40:09] because we've got as you said,
[1:40:12] we've got a community of local
[1:40:13] resources clinically that are
[1:40:14] probably the best in the
[1:40:16] country if not the world and if
[1:40:19] we get it right here for
[1:40:21] veterans, not only will it
[1:40:22] inform the way we treat
[1:40:24] veterans across the country,
[1:40:26] but that navigation system and
[1:40:27] everything else that's involved
[1:40:30] literally opens up cancer early
[1:40:32] detection for other cancers in
[1:40:33] other areas in a way that
[1:40:35] informs the whole system.
[1:40:36] Okay, I think we've got a
[1:40:37] unique opportunity here and i
[1:40:39] think the city council uh,
[1:40:42] local clinicians, uh advocates
[1:40:43] like myself communicators like
[1:40:45] myself can really get on board
[1:40:46] and put a plan together.
[1:40:47] But it's what boston does lead
[1:40:48] the way.
[1:40:49] So I believe that we can do
[1:40:51] that uh on that I know some
[1:40:52] other folks wanted uh, to
[1:40:54] potentially chime in.
[1:40:54] So not.
[1:40:55] >> just quickly.
[1:40:56] >> as one might go.
[1:40:57] Yes.
[1:40:58] >> yeah, we can have a.
[1:40:58] Big mouth.
[1:40:59] >> um.
[1:40:59] One of.
[1:41:01] >> the things about veterans as
[1:41:01] we.
[1:41:03] Look for community.
[1:41:04] Organizations because
[1:41:05] of brotherhood sisterhood, um,
[1:41:08] and we also lean on our faith
[1:41:09] based churches.
[1:41:10] So if.
[1:41:12] We're talking about education
[1:41:14] and you know, how would we
[1:41:15] employ that education, how will
[1:41:17] we get veterans in the door?
[1:41:17] And you.
[1:41:19] >> know, the va is a great
[1:41:20] system and we have great
[1:41:22] screening, but at.
[1:41:24] A point we need to get um our
[1:41:25] back.
[1:41:26] To the door into.
[1:41:27] Those screenings and then how
[1:41:28] do we do.
[1:41:28] >> that.
[1:41:30] Any time that we are opening up
[1:41:32] something in boston, I think
[1:41:32] that any.
[1:41:35] Community organization that
[1:41:36] vets are attached to whether
[1:41:37] it's the ymca.
[1:41:39] Or whether they go to their.
[1:41:41] Local communities um system.
[1:41:43] Uh local community.
[1:41:44] like um.
[1:41:46] Hall or the polls all of that.
[1:41:48] >> needs to be filtered down.
[1:41:49] So if I'm walking into.
[1:41:54] Any community um place that I
[1:41:56] love to visit, I should be able
[1:41:56] to know.
[1:41:58] That this is free screening
[1:41:59] because.
[1:41:59] >> we can.
[1:42:00] Offer it.
[1:42:01] But the education.
[1:42:02] Part of it.
[1:42:02] How do.
[1:42:03] >> we get them.
[1:42:04] >> to the door and I keep how.
[1:42:06] Do you how do you get us to the
[1:42:07] door because you couldn't get
[1:42:07] me through the door.
[1:42:09] Ten years ago.
[1:42:10] Um so.
[1:42:12] So how do we do that?
[1:42:13] So we really need to.
[1:42:14] Start thinking about.
[1:42:18] Where is our underserved.
[1:42:19] Communities for that?
[1:42:21] Where do they often.
[1:42:23] Visit maybe the local
[1:42:24] coffee shop.
[1:42:26] Maybe um, the va in west was
[1:42:27] always having a screening.
[1:42:29] >> why do we need to hit the
[1:42:29] local coffee shop.
[1:42:30] Down the street.
[1:42:31] At the ymca?
[1:42:33] Because I know if I can.
[1:42:35] See it and I say hey, this is a
[1:42:35] screening.
[1:42:38] You know, I MAY go and say oh
[1:42:39] maybe call this.
[1:42:40] Number for some information.
[1:42:42] So I really think about the
[1:42:44] educational piece and how we
[1:42:45] build and bring them into the
[1:42:45] door to.
[1:42:46] Get the screenings.
[1:42:47] Got to.
[1:42:49] Doctor and uh I.
[1:42:51] Completely agree with
[1:42:52] everything people have said so
[1:42:53] far.
[1:42:54] I'll add one other thing.
[1:42:56] Um I think I.
[1:42:57] >> do think that.
[1:42:59] It's uh access to health care
[1:43:01] and then the costs as well.
[1:43:03] I mentioned that the initial
[1:43:04] screening if you meet the
[1:43:05] criteria.
[1:43:07] Is free of cost no matter where
[1:43:09] you get it.
[1:43:11] But what is often a barrier is
[1:43:13] like if you need something more
[1:43:13] than just.
[1:43:15] That screening test if there's
[1:43:17] a screening detected finding
[1:43:18] that needs further workup.
[1:43:21] There is cost associated with
[1:43:23] getting the subsequent tests
[1:43:24] and that's a real barrier for a
[1:43:25] lot of people.
[1:43:29] Um, so that's something uh, you
[1:43:31] know, within the va those costs
[1:43:32] are often lower outside the va
[1:43:32] .
[1:43:33] Yeah.
[1:43:34] .
[1:43:34] That can add up.
[1:43:37] Um so I think that's something
[1:43:38] that that could be addressed.
[1:43:41] That goes a imagine that goes
[1:43:42] to the insurance right.
[1:43:43] That's yeah that's right.
[1:43:45] Uh I know I'm well over my time
[1:43:47] but just a two more if you
[1:43:47] don't mind chair.
[1:43:48] Thank you.
[1:43:52] Um what I thought about is the
[1:43:52] military doing anything.
[1:43:54] >> now when we talk about the
[1:43:55] workplace that has caused.
[1:43:55] It.
[1:43:56] >> uh.
[1:43:57] >> is the military.
[1:43:58] Doing anything now to identify
[1:44:00] those positions that say, okay,
[1:44:01] what are we.
[1:44:02] Doing to prevent if.
[1:44:03] >> I'm working.
[1:44:03] Below deck.
[1:44:05] >> in the engine room, you
[1:44:07] know, 24 seven uh, are there
[1:44:09] steps being take I don't.
[1:44:09] >> need to know.
[1:44:10] >> the.
[1:44:11] Specific steps now but other
[1:44:12] steps being taken to say.
[1:44:13] How are we.
[1:44:14] >> making that area a healthier
[1:44:16] workplace for our military?
[1:44:18] Uh, so that when they come out
[1:44:20] they do not have these issues
[1:44:21] uh post service.
[1:44:25] Thanks for that question,
[1:44:26] counselor.
[1:44:27] Uh, across the military.
[1:44:28] You know.
[1:44:29] We we did.
[1:44:31] Mention a lot of different.
[1:44:32] Environments where you know,
[1:44:33] you are in hazardous
[1:44:33] conditions.
[1:44:34] Uh.
[1:44:35] You know.
[1:44:38] Part of being commander is
[1:44:39] looking after your troops.
[1:44:41] So it behooves every commander
[1:44:43] no matter what level from your
[1:44:45] lowest level up through, um,
[1:44:47] you know, the PRESIDENT Or any
[1:44:49] of your service secretaries
[1:44:51] that you want to have your
[1:44:51] group.
[1:44:52] I guess.
[1:44:53] At the.
[1:44:55] >> end of the day your your
[1:44:58] employees you know, in the most
[1:45:00] uh, healthiest, safest
[1:45:01] environments.
[1:45:01] Yep.
[1:45:04] Um, a lot of times it's not
[1:45:06] possible due to the conditions
[1:45:08] where, uh where they send us to
[1:45:09] do our work.
[1:45:11] Uh, we're not always sent to
[1:45:13] the most, uh, lush garden spots
[1:45:13] across the world.
[1:45:18] Um, but a lot of times you want
[1:45:21] to take those necessary steps
[1:45:23] to make sure that your soldiers
[1:45:24] ,your sailors, your marines,
[1:45:27] your airmen, uh, are in the
[1:45:28] safest environments if that
[1:45:30] includes, you know, additional,
[1:45:31] uh, personal protective
[1:45:31] equipment.
[1:45:33] Uh, a lot a lot of times the
[1:45:34] you know, the guidelines within
[1:45:36] the military don't always
[1:45:37] follow osha.
[1:45:38] Uh, but they you know, they're
[1:45:40] very, very similar and
[1:45:41] sometimes they're even more
[1:45:43] more stringent, uh, to make
[1:45:46] sure that, you know, again, if
[1:45:47] you're if you're uh, service
[1:45:49] members getting sick and unable
[1:45:50] to perform their duties, then
[1:45:52] you're no longer going to be
[1:45:54] mission capable as a unit as a
[1:45:56] as a vessel, as a piece
[1:45:57] of equipment.
[1:45:59] Uh, so at the end of the day
[1:46:00] you're your biggest your
[1:46:03] greatest asset is your
[1:46:04] individual service member.
[1:46:06] So you want to make them we
[1:46:08] want to make sure that whatever
[1:46:11] means are are appropriate and
[1:46:14] uh uh for every situation you
[1:46:15] are going to take care of that
[1:46:17] service member uh, so that is,
[1:46:20] you know, top of mind for for a
[1:46:22] commander at any level is to
[1:46:23] make sure uh, your your service
[1:46:25] members are getting taken care
[1:46:26] of as best as I can.
[1:46:27] Okay.
[1:46:28] >> but as long as.
[1:46:29] We talk the military continues
[1:46:29] .
[1:46:31] To constantly review where.
[1:46:33] They're sending, uh, their most
[1:46:34] important assets and making.
[1:46:35] >> sure.
[1:46:36] That the the healthiest they
[1:46:37] hope that, um, that.
[1:46:38] >> would be.
[1:46:38] More of the.
[1:46:39] >> preventative work right is
[1:46:40] all in making sure.
[1:46:42] Absolutely and coming.
[1:46:45] Home um, you know, back in 1998
[1:46:47] 99 I served a tour over in
[1:46:49] bosnia at that point in time,
[1:46:52] uh, the air quality was not the
[1:46:54] greatest uh a lot of uh the
[1:46:55] local you know, the bosnians
[1:46:58] were burning their trash.
[1:46:59] Their trash would go into the
[1:47:00] rivers.
[1:47:03] It was a uh an environmental
[1:47:03] nightmare.
[1:47:05] Uh, one of the things that as
[1:47:07] we were redeploying, you know,
[1:47:08] back home after our tour was
[1:47:10] over was that we had chest x
[1:47:12] rays, you know, to to get a
[1:47:14] baseline of, uh, where our
[1:47:15] respiratory system was at.
[1:47:16] Um.
[1:47:18] >> you know, it was a just a
[1:47:20] few years ago but then
[1:47:22] redeploying to places like the
[1:47:23] middle east again, you're
[1:47:25] you're not in the the most
[1:47:27] healthiest environments and
[1:47:29] again as a soldier again a lot
[1:47:31] of times you're out outside
[1:47:32] you're doing things but again
[1:47:34] you can be in confined spaces
[1:47:36] such as an armored vehicle or
[1:47:38] any types of vehicles or or you
[1:47:40] can be on a ship you could be
[1:47:41] on an aircraft that again
[1:47:43] you're not always in that most
[1:47:44] healthiest environments.
[1:47:46] And again it comes down to the
[1:47:48] commanders uh to make sure that
[1:47:49] they're taking care of their
[1:47:50] service members.
[1:47:52] So we're not ending up having
[1:47:54] to visit the va afterwards
[1:47:55] after we're done.
[1:47:56] And to say thank you.
[1:47:58] Um thank you.
[1:47:59] I know well at the time.
[1:48:00] >> thank you very much for the
[1:48:01] added time to.
[1:48:02] Thank you.
[1:48:03] >> thank you.
[1:48:03] Councilor fitzgerald.
[1:48:03] Um.
[1:48:07] Just one quick thing that I.
[1:48:08] >> wanted to add also and I
[1:48:09] know mark.
[1:48:10] Has mentioned a lot about um,
[1:48:12] uh, tobacco use of being
[1:48:14] prevalent in the military and.
[1:48:15] Part of the.
[1:48:16] >> main reasons why that is is
[1:48:17] because of the stressors that
[1:48:19] military folks go through, uh,
[1:48:22] in the job um, and to to
[1:48:23] piggyback off what uh, the
[1:48:24] commander here, you know, said
[1:48:25] is uh, you know, the military
[1:48:27] they do do what they can to try
[1:48:29] to mitigate um, any dangers
[1:48:31] from their assets, which is the
[1:48:33] main asset which is which is a
[1:48:33] service member.
[1:48:35] Um, and I know that they do
[1:48:36] have uh, you know, one of the
[1:48:39] highest uh, uh, funded
[1:48:40] cancer researchers in, you
[1:48:43] know, in the world um, but uh,
[1:48:44] they they do what they can but
[1:48:45] of course there's there's
[1:48:46] always more that could.
[1:48:47] >> be done.
[1:48:49] Could I make one other comment?
[1:48:50] Um, I.
[1:48:51] >> just want to.
[1:48:53] Make sure that, uh, people who
[1:48:54] have served veterans are aware
[1:48:57] that, um, if they have had
[1:48:58] military toxic exposures at
[1:49:00] something the va is now
[1:49:02] routinely screening everyone
[1:49:04] enrolled for and uh, adding
[1:49:06] them to registries to
[1:49:06] understand what the health
[1:49:08] effects are and that uh,
[1:49:10] veterans who develop lung
[1:49:12] cancer a number of other
[1:49:13] cancers, other respiratory
[1:49:15] conditions as a result of um,
[1:49:17] uh well, they don't need to
[1:49:19] approve it's considered a
[1:49:20] presumptive condition.
[1:49:23] Um, that entitles them to
[1:49:25] benefits uh, from the va, um,
[1:49:27] health care and benefits.
[1:49:29] So yeah, that's all part of the
[1:49:30] pact act that was signed by
[1:49:31] PRESIDENT Biden.
[1:49:33] Great.
[1:49:34] >> excellent.
[1:49:35] >> um thank you.
[1:49:36] Thank you, councilor fitzgerald
[1:49:37] .
[1:49:40] Also give myself ten minutes.
[1:49:42] But before I do that, um.
[1:49:47] I have another absence that I
[1:49:48] just want to read it into the
[1:49:48] record.
[1:49:52] Uh, dear chair santana, I
[1:49:53] regret to inform you that I MAY
[1:49:55] be unable to attend today's
[1:49:55] meeting.
[1:49:58] Uh, committee on veterans
[1:50:01] military families, um, to
[1:50:03] discuss lung cancer rates among
[1:50:04] black veterans services for
[1:50:04] women veterans.
[1:50:06] I will follow up with
[1:50:08] additional questions upon
[1:50:10] reviewing my staff's notes in
[1:50:10] watching the recording.
[1:50:12] Please do not hesitate to
[1:50:13] contact my staff with any
[1:50:13] questions.
[1:50:15] Sincerely and vk pep and
[1:50:17] counselor boston city
[1:50:20] council district five um I'm
[1:50:20] going.
[1:50:21] >> to give.
[1:50:22] >> myself five minutes all I
[1:50:23] made ten minutes so.
[1:50:31] Um okay so I want to say thank
[1:50:34] you to the panel for the
[1:50:35] important testimony you
[1:50:38] provided in the exceptional
[1:50:41] answers and thoughts you you
[1:50:43] responded to from from my
[1:50:43] colleagues.
[1:50:47] Um and I do want to ask um.
[1:50:49] Two maybe.
[1:50:51] >> two specific questions if i
[1:50:55] may and I want to ask um both
[1:50:56] both.
[1:50:58] Doctors a question if that's
[1:50:58] okay.
[1:51:03] Um so and I listen closely to
[1:51:06] to your testimony um maybe I'll
[1:51:07] start with doctor whitley if
[1:51:08] that's okay.
[1:51:11] Um so so doctor whitley, as as
[1:51:12] it relates.
[1:51:15] To women veterans or black
[1:51:18] veterans or both and I, I
[1:51:20] listened about claims.
[1:51:21] Related issues.
[1:51:24] And and some of you points
[1:51:25] about that which which I
[1:51:26] certainly agree with.
[1:51:31] So a woman veteran for example
[1:51:35] that has a claim maybe it's for
[1:51:37] military sexual trauma, maybe
[1:51:38] it's for other military women
[1:51:40] related health issues.
[1:51:44] Um how challenging is.
[1:51:44] >> it.
[1:51:48] To to speak to someone at a vso
[1:51:48] .
[1:51:49] Or the va.
[1:51:51] That when they're submitting
[1:51:53] their claim that they can talk
[1:51:57] to a woman that can understand
[1:51:58] some of the challenges that
[1:52:00] they are going to but also when
[1:52:05] they go to the c and p exam um
[1:52:07] ,before the va that.
[1:52:08] They're able to speak.
[1:52:10] To a woman health care provider
[1:52:13] because I think having a woman
[1:52:15] health care provider or a woman
[1:52:18] at the vso or at the va can
[1:52:19] better understand some.
[1:52:20] >> of the issues.
[1:52:22] A a woman veteran is going
[1:52:24] through and that MAY.
[1:52:28] Because of because of that you.
[1:52:29] >> might see the.
[1:52:31] Percentage is lower than male
[1:52:32] veterans.
[1:52:34] Which which is totally totally
[1:52:35] unfair.
[1:52:38] Um in terms of success of a
[1:52:40] claim but just wanted to get
[1:52:42] what you get your thoughts
[1:52:43] might be on that doctor.
[1:52:45] So um, thank.
[1:52:46] >> you for that question
[1:52:47] because actually that question
[1:52:48] um came up.
[1:52:50] One of the things um.
[1:52:51] ,with the vso.
[1:52:52] Um.
[1:52:54] >> we don't have.
[1:52:55] >> as many vs.
[1:52:58] O's as you know, 1st MAY think
[1:52:59] and.
[1:53:00] Obviously it's about hard.
[1:53:01] Around the clock.
[1:53:02] You know.
[1:53:06] So when if a woman walks in.
[1:53:07] And a lot of times mst.
[1:53:10] Is is an old.
[1:53:11] Claim that you know.
[1:53:12] They never.
[1:53:14] Got any counseling maybe
[1:53:15] they're ready to file that
[1:53:18] claim and um they're sitting in
[1:53:19] front of uh.
[1:53:19] >> you know.
[1:53:22] A male vso sometimes it's hard
[1:53:23] to get out exactly.
[1:53:24] >> what happened and it goes.
[1:53:25] Back to shame.
[1:53:26] Like I'm I'm ashamed it's
[1:53:28] happened to me and I was.
[1:53:29] >> supposed.
[1:53:29] To be.
[1:53:29] >> a.
[1:53:30] You know, strong soldier.
[1:53:34] So a lot of times when, you
[1:53:35] know, I talk to women.
[1:53:37] That's that's the first thing
[1:53:38] that they say is that when.
[1:53:39] >> I did my.
[1:53:39] Comp and pin.
[1:53:41] Um, a male.
[1:53:41] Showed up.
[1:53:42] >> yeah.
[1:53:42] And I wasn't.
[1:53:44] Given you know, I wasn't given
[1:53:44] an.
[1:53:45] Opportunity to talk to.
[1:53:47] talk to a female.
[1:53:50] And a lot of times, you know, I
[1:53:52] felt that you know, his face
[1:53:52] was.
[1:53:54] Looking at me like that.
[1:53:56] I can't believe that.
[1:53:56] >> that.
[1:53:57] Happened to you or maybe it
[1:53:57] didn't happen.
[1:53:58] >> to you.
[1:54:01] So it can be quite difficult to
[1:54:01] get a.
[1:54:02] Female vso.
[1:54:03] It's not.
[1:54:05] Impossible and maybe the wait
[1:54:06] might be a little longer.
[1:54:07] Or maybe the, um wait might.
[1:54:08] Be longer.
[1:54:09] For, you know, comp.
[1:54:11] And pin you know, with the
[1:54:11] male.
[1:54:13] So how do we reduce that?
[1:54:13] I think.
[1:54:15] That females that should have
[1:54:16] an.
[1:54:17] Opportunity and.
[1:54:19] Not a long wait to talk to a
[1:54:20] vso.
[1:54:21] Who's a female.
[1:54:23] But again I go I go back to um.
[1:54:25] Commissioner santiago if you
[1:54:28] call his office he could put.
[1:54:28] You in.
[1:54:30] >> touch with um someone who on
[1:54:31] how to work a claim and.
[1:54:32] >> a female.
[1:54:33] >> to know how to.
[1:54:33] >> work a claim.
[1:54:34] But sometimes.
[1:54:35] Often when you call for a vso.
[1:54:37] You MAY have a male vso.
[1:54:38] I had a male vso.
[1:54:40] When it was time to work.
[1:54:41] My client.
[1:54:43] I didn't get a choice and for a
[1:54:43] comp and.
[1:54:46] Pin I had a female, you know.
[1:54:48] Physician but that.
[1:54:48] >> could.
[1:54:49] Be difficult and that's one
[1:54:50] of the reasons.
[1:54:50] Why.
[1:54:52] >> um, someone MAY.
[1:54:53] Give up and they MAY get a
[1:54:54] denial because they MAY not
[1:54:56] give enough information.
[1:54:57] On, you know, the.
[1:54:58] Claim or exactly what happened
[1:54:58] to.
[1:55:00] So I think that.
[1:55:02] Sometimes that's a 5050 what do
[1:55:03] you think?
[1:55:04] Um um.
[1:55:09] So um so um and thank you and
[1:55:10] thank you council for bringing
[1:55:11] up that question which does
[1:55:13] come up uh, quite a bit and I
[1:55:15] had known some cases where a
[1:55:16] woman veteran when.
[1:55:16] >> she.
[1:55:18] Was going through her camp that
[1:55:20] ended up with a male physician
[1:55:22] and she felt uncomfortable and
[1:55:24] in some cases, um it was at a
[1:55:25] private practice in his own
[1:55:27] home, uh, which is totally
[1:55:28] unacceptable.
[1:55:32] Um, but your point um, while it
[1:55:32] .
[1:55:34] MAY be difficult, it's.
[1:55:36] It's not impossible to get a
[1:55:39] woman vso um, in our office
[1:55:40] here in the city of boston we
[1:55:42] have a diverse group
[1:55:43] of veterans benefit specialist
[1:55:46] to include, uh, women veterans
[1:55:47] benefit specialists to help out
[1:55:48] uh, through these claims.
[1:55:50] But also we also have a network
[1:55:51] of vsos throughout the state
[1:55:52] through the massachusetts
[1:55:54] veterans services officers
[1:55:54] association.
[1:55:56] There are a lot of vsos out
[1:55:58] there in the commonwealth that
[1:56:00] um that that are women and that
[1:56:03] do specialize in women.
[1:56:05] Uh the veteran claims as well.
[1:56:07] We also have uh, you know,
[1:56:08] organizations like the american
[1:56:11] legion that the av the the vfw
[1:56:13] um who also has vsos uh within
[1:56:15] their organizations that are
[1:56:18] both uh um uh uh women and men
[1:56:19] as well to help on those
[1:56:19] claims.
[1:56:21] So if there is a woman veteran.
[1:56:22] Who feels uncomfortable.
[1:56:24] Working their claim with with
[1:56:27] with with a male vso, uh, we
[1:56:29] could definitely ensure that we
[1:56:31] get her to that comfort level
[1:56:33] that that she needs to get her
[1:56:34] claim through uh, with with
[1:56:36] with a woman vso.
[1:56:39] So so rob just on just as a
[1:56:42] follow up if if if a woman
[1:56:44] veteran is watching this now
[1:56:46] and a woman veteran does want
[1:56:49] to file a claim and I would
[1:56:51] hope they would go to a vso
[1:56:52] because they they do
[1:56:53] exceptional work.
[1:56:56] Dave and I went through the dmv
[1:56:59] um I know the vfw there's other
[1:57:01] other ways to do it other vsos
[1:57:04] american legion but how would
[1:57:05] you how would you help that
[1:57:09] woman veteran get in touch with
[1:57:12] um, someone that could help her
[1:57:13] with her claim?
[1:57:15] That's that's a woman that
[1:57:15] that's a woman.
[1:57:17] I would recommend first, uh,
[1:57:19] going through your local.
[1:57:20] Veteran services office.
[1:57:21] So if you're in boston,
[1:57:23] obviously that's through the
[1:57:23] the mayor's office of veterans
[1:57:25] services, which is my office.
[1:57:27] Um, and then, uh, you know,
[1:57:29] talk to uh, cudahy who's the
[1:57:30] senior veterans benefit
[1:57:31] specialist there myself.
[1:57:33] Uh, we're not open.
[1:57:34] So who's a veterans benefit
[1:57:34] specialist there?
[1:57:37] Um, and and get their
[1:57:39] comfort level to see another
[1:57:40] way is like I mentioned was to
[1:57:42] the msoa the uh the message.
[1:57:43] >> to the veterans services
[1:57:43] officer.
[1:57:44] Association another way is
[1:57:46] through the executive office
[1:57:47] of veterans services for the
[1:57:47] state.
[1:57:50] Um, contact them and they will
[1:57:51] uh, connect you to the women's
[1:57:54] veterans network who also um is
[1:57:57] uh has uh women vsos that that
[1:57:58] are part of that uh
[1:57:59] organization and that in that
[1:58:00] network as well.
[1:58:01] So there are many different
[1:58:03] avenues that a woman a veteran
[1:58:05] could take to reach a vso that
[1:58:05] they feel comfortable with.
[1:58:07] Okay, excellent.
[1:58:10] Um maybe oh yes doctor.
[1:58:12] >> so it's two different.
[1:58:13] Things that I you know, I just
[1:58:13] noticed.
[1:58:16] If if a woman veteran is.
[1:58:16] Watching right now.
[1:58:18] Some people.
[1:58:19] >> start at the va.
[1:58:20] They pick up the.
[1:58:21] Phone and there's an intake
[1:58:22] person that calls.
[1:58:23] The in person.
[1:58:25] So now they don't recognize the
[1:58:25] poea.
[1:58:26] Which could be.
[1:58:26] >> the.
[1:58:28] Dab a bsl.
[1:58:30] So they're talking directly.
[1:58:31] >> to an intake person and then
[1:58:33] they signed up a competent and
[1:58:34] then.
[1:58:35] They MAY not have a choice
[1:58:36] whether.
[1:58:37] >> it's male or female.
[1:58:39] So if a woman veteran is
[1:58:40] watching.
[1:58:41] Right now I.
[1:58:42] Would say you know call
[1:58:44] commissioner santiago, call
[1:58:44] your local.
[1:58:46] American legion.
[1:58:49] call your vfw, call a vso.
[1:58:51] Then once you get in touch with
[1:58:54] one of these organizations, we
[1:58:55] will help you navigate the the
[1:58:57] system of putting your claim to
[1:58:58] will.
[1:58:59] So I think that's the best.
[1:59:01] If I was a woman vet watching
[1:59:03] right now that's what I want to
[1:59:04] know because the first thing I
[1:59:04] would say is claims.
[1:59:07] Let me dog the va and get it
[1:59:08] and get it started.
[1:59:09] You know.
[1:59:10] Yeah that's a very very good
[1:59:11] point.
[1:59:12] Thank you willing to for saying
[1:59:13] that that's a very good point
[1:59:14] because that's what we do run
[1:59:16] into that people do go to the
[1:59:17] va first instead of going to
[1:59:19] the local vso and um they
[1:59:20] should always contact their
[1:59:22] local vso first and then
[1:59:24] eventually get that po po done
[1:59:27] and then uh help that uh that
[1:59:28] that veteran navigate the
[1:59:29] system through that way as
[1:59:30] opposed to going directly to
[1:59:31] the V.A. Because that's exactly
[1:59:32] what happens.
[1:59:33] Thank thank you.
[1:59:35] Um, let me get the vfw there,
[1:59:36] counselor.
[1:59:36] >> I'm sorry.
[1:59:37] Okay.
[1:59:38] Uh, we do have a.
[1:59:41] Female, uh, veteran, uh,
[1:59:42] services consultant that is
[1:59:44] based at the jfk federal
[1:59:46] building right here in boston.
[1:59:46] Okay.
[1:59:47] That is a great resource.
[1:59:50] And again, the vfw will walk
[1:59:52] the veteran through the entire
[1:59:55] process from intake through any
[1:59:56] potential appeals.
[1:59:59] Um, so we don't just take your
[2:00:00] poea and, you know, send you
[2:00:02] off to the to the va and you
[2:00:03] know, good luck to you and
[2:00:05] we'll be able to walk you
[2:00:06] through the process to make
[2:00:08] sure that you are taking care
[2:00:10] of your looked after and you
[2:00:11] get your appointments scheduled
[2:00:12] in a timely manner.
[2:00:14] So you know, again within the
[2:00:15] city of for the city of boston
[2:00:19] per se, um the vfw at our state
[2:00:19] level.
[2:00:21] Uh, we do have a benefits
[2:00:22] consultant that's based
[2:00:24] straight at the jfk building
[2:00:26] and we're happy to be able to
[2:00:28] assist any veteran especially a
[2:00:30] woman uh, veterans that uh um
[2:00:31] that need any help.
[2:00:33] Another thing I would like to
[2:00:36] add, counselor, if I MAY, sir,
[2:00:40] is that no veteran, no veteran
[2:00:43] and I repeat no veteran should
[2:00:46] have to pay to get their claims
[2:00:47] processed.
[2:00:49] So do you have a lawyer out
[2:00:50] there or someone who thinks
[2:00:51] they know and say, well, if you
[2:00:54] give me 10%, 20% of whatever
[2:00:56] you get from the va, I'll make
[2:00:58] sure you get your procedure.
[2:00:59] You clean processed.
[2:01:02] Um that's a red flag.
[2:01:04] You not go to that person.
[2:01:07] There are many, many qualified
[2:01:09] uh vsos out there you've heard
[2:01:11] of up here through all these
[2:01:11] organizations through your
[2:01:13] local, uh, municipal offices as
[2:01:14] well here in boston.
[2:01:16] It's through my office to get
[2:01:19] those claims done and processed
[2:01:22] accurately and and and and for
[2:01:23] free.
[2:01:24] No veteran.
[2:01:25] And I repeat again no veterans
[2:01:27] should have to pay or should
[2:01:29] pay to get their claims
[2:01:29] processed.
[2:01:32] And one more thing that I know
[2:01:33] if someone's watching who has
[2:01:35] denials of um service
[2:01:38] connections we still we still
[2:01:39] take care of you do the denial
[2:01:40] yes.
[2:01:43] All pows we go back in and see
[2:01:44] why the denial happens because
[2:01:45] I know people are saying well I
[2:01:46] got denied so I'm not going
[2:01:48] back in for anything.
[2:01:50] All denials will look at that
[2:01:51] why the service connection was
[2:01:53] denied and it MAY be something
[2:01:55] you know, just you know, easy
[2:01:56] enough for you to correct.
[2:01:58] So I want to put that out.
[2:01:59] Yeah that's a that's a good
[2:02:00] point.
[2:02:01] Um with those you know you got
[2:02:04] us going now the green there.
[2:02:07] I know rob you and I worked on
[2:02:08] I think they called them at one
[2:02:10] time claimed shot to claim
[2:02:11] shots.
[2:02:13] Um the other point of of that
[2:02:15] rob bright is.
[2:02:16] Not only do they get.
[2:02:18] 10% of.
[2:02:21] What you earn, they get 10%
[2:02:24] of what you receive for the
[2:02:25] rest of your life in perpetuity
[2:02:25] .
[2:02:26] Yeah, perpetuity.
[2:02:29] Um so as long as you get va
[2:02:31] disability they'll continue to
[2:02:34] get 10% 15% of what you get
[2:02:35] every month.
[2:02:36] That's that's outrageous.
[2:02:37] That's outrageous.
[2:02:37] Yeah.
[2:02:38] Totally is outrageous.
[2:02:41] Um well let me go and rob thank
[2:02:42] you for bringing that up.
[2:02:42] That's a.
[2:02:43] Great that's a great point.
[2:02:45] Let me go to doctor.
[2:02:45] Doctor alina.
[2:02:48] Um, I was with you.
[2:02:50] I don't know, maybe a year ago
[2:02:52] I think we were at the kroc
[2:02:53] center and with a group
[2:02:56] of people and, um, you you were
[2:02:59] talking to black veterans and
[2:03:02] talking to them about, um, lung
[2:03:06] cancer related issues and you
[2:03:08] know, there was a steady group
[2:03:09] of veterans that did come in
[2:03:11] that did engage you.
[2:03:17] So my question is what what
[2:03:20] steps should a black veteran
[2:03:23] take if they want to talk to
[2:03:25] you they want to talk to
[2:03:26] someone from your team.
[2:03:28] Um, to learn more more about
[2:03:29] your services.
[2:03:30] Just give us an idea of what
[2:03:32] what the steps would be.
[2:03:34] Um, well.
[2:03:36] Anybody is welcome to reach out
[2:03:38] to me directly.
[2:03:40] Um, my email address I can
[2:03:43] provide it's renda dot wiener
[2:03:48] at va gov r e and d a w I e n e
[2:03:51] r uh vega and I'm happy to help
[2:03:53] direct anybody um who has
[2:03:55] questions or needs help about
[2:03:57] uh, you know lung
[2:03:58] cancer screening or or any
[2:03:59] other issues I can try to
[2:04:02] direct them, you know, um, to
[2:04:03] what they need.
[2:04:06] Know when when a black when a
[2:04:08] black veteran is at the va.
[2:04:13] Um, are they screened are they
[2:04:16] screened for um any type
[2:04:19] of respiratory issues or lung
[2:04:19] related.
[2:04:22] Issues automatically or do they
[2:04:23] do they have to request that.
[2:04:24] ?
[2:04:29] Um well so the process for lung
[2:04:31] cancer screening specifically
[2:04:33] is when somebody goes to their
[2:04:35] primary care uh, clinician at
[2:04:37] the va there's a process where
[2:04:40] there is um an automatic
[2:04:41] recording of their smoking
[2:04:43] history for people who fall in
[2:04:45] the age range for screening and
[2:04:47] if they meet criteria for lung
[2:04:48] cancer screening.
[2:04:50] again, this is using the uspstf
[2:04:52] criteria which doesn't capture
[2:04:52] everyone.
[2:04:56] Um, but uh, that will flag
[2:04:57] their primary care provider to
[2:04:58] discuss screening.
[2:04:59] So hopefully the veteran
[2:05:01] doesn't have to bring it up
[2:05:01] themselves.
[2:05:06] But um, and then the as I
[2:05:07] mentioned, the va also
[2:05:08] routinely screens that through
[2:05:10] primary care or other
[2:05:12] appointments for uh military
[2:05:14] toxic exposures and whether the
[2:05:15] veteran has any concerns about
[2:05:16] that.
[2:05:18] And oftentimes those are
[2:05:19] respiratory concerns that
[2:05:21] people have related to exposure
[2:05:25] to burn pits or other um, other
[2:05:26] uh toxic exposures.
[2:05:29] Um, and so that also flags uh
[2:05:31] puts a flag in the record to
[2:05:32] discuss those concerns and
[2:05:34] address them with the veteran.
[2:05:35] Yeah.
[2:05:36] >> thank and thank you, doctor.
[2:05:39] Just um just as a fyi for for
[2:05:41] the public I I've been I've
[2:05:43] been in I was in the military
[2:05:45] 24 years um most of the
[2:05:47] reserves but some active when I
[2:05:51] was stationed overseas I was in
[2:05:53] bahrain a small country got
[2:05:55] bahrain and we went up to the
[2:05:57] iraqi oil platforms all the
[2:06:00] time and then when I came back
[2:06:03] I also noticed um respiratory
[2:06:06] related issues and I was
[2:06:08] recommended to join or to enter
[2:06:12] into the um what am I calling
[2:06:12] it now?
[2:06:17] Uh, it's the it used to be the
[2:06:17] oh the registry.
[2:06:18] Yes.
[2:06:19] The gulf registry.
[2:06:23] Um that is still open um and
[2:06:25] accepting you don't necessarily
[2:06:27] make a claim there but you
[2:06:29] document that you were in a
[2:06:31] particular area of the country
[2:06:33] in what health related issues.
[2:06:37] But I do want to recommend to
[2:06:39] veterans that if you're in a
[2:06:40] particular area and you do have
[2:06:42] some health related issues that
[2:06:45] you should um, enter into this
[2:06:45] registry.
[2:06:53] Um, so my final my final point
[2:06:54] before we kind of conclude I
[2:06:56] gave every I give it all my
[2:06:59] colleagues um well over ten
[2:07:03] minutes and well let me ask um
[2:07:05] is there any public testimony
[2:07:06] from anyone else that's here?
[2:07:08] Okay.
[2:07:09] So there's no more public
[2:07:11] testimony here.
[2:07:13] If any person at the panel
[2:07:16] would like to give a closing
[2:07:19] statement that would be helpful
[2:07:21] and maybe as part of the
[2:07:25] closing statement if you can
[2:07:26] highlight what our next steps
[2:07:30] could could be as a committee
[2:07:32] on where we go from here
[2:07:34] because I would like to do a
[2:07:38] hearing maybe in outside
[2:07:40] of city hall but maybe in
[2:07:42] roxbury maybe in dorchester and
[2:07:46] I'll listen to veterans all
[2:07:48] veterans but um, specifically
[2:07:50] listen to veterans of color,
[2:07:52] listen to women veterans,
[2:07:55] listen to them and um, in their
[2:07:57] challenges, their concerns.
[2:07:59] But I do want to ask and give
[2:08:00] everyone the opportunity.
[2:08:02] If you would like to have a
[2:08:04] closing statement for 2 or 3
[2:08:05] minutes, uh, to take the
[2:08:06] opportunity then then I'll give
[2:08:08] my colleagues an opportunity
[2:08:10] for a closing statement for 2
[2:08:11] or 3 minutes as well.
[2:08:13] So let me start with um
[2:08:14] commissioner santiago.
[2:08:18] Uh, first and foremost, uh,
[2:08:19] thank you very much again for
[2:08:20] for holding this thank you.
[2:08:22] And also to councilor santana
[2:08:24] for setting up this uh this
[2:08:24] conversation here today.
[2:08:26] Thank you, councilor fitzgerald
[2:08:29] ,for also, um, being here and
[2:08:30] for your thoughtful questions.
[2:08:31] I'm sorry I took more most
[2:08:32] of your time, uh, earlier
[2:08:34] today, but, um, it's it's uh
[2:08:36] it's it's it really makes me,
[2:08:37] uh, optimistic.
[2:08:40] Uh, on our next steps, um, we
[2:08:41] we've talked a lot about
[2:08:42] navigating the system here.
[2:08:44] Um, and how do we get vets, uh,
[2:08:45] into the system and I think,
[2:08:47] um, you know, mark some of his
[2:08:48] comments when he was talking
[2:08:50] earlier about, you know, making
[2:08:53] boston uh, set the example
[2:08:54] locally for the rest of the
[2:08:54] country.
[2:08:56] I think that's, you know, a
[2:08:57] great idea and I think it's
[2:08:59] something that is worth looking
[2:09:00] forward to going into what
[2:09:01] councilor flynn said about
[2:09:02] going into the community,
[2:09:04] talking to the veterans and
[2:09:05] seeing where the need is and
[2:09:07] how we could get these veterans
[2:09:07] into the system.
[2:09:08] You know, like I mentioned
[2:09:10] earlier, there's uh less than a
[2:09:11] million women veterans that are
[2:09:11] in the system.
[2:09:13] But yeah, we have 2.1 million
[2:09:15] women veterans um, in the
[2:09:16] country, you know, and this is
[2:09:18] also a way that we could also
[2:09:19] work on getting them, uh, into
[2:09:20] the system and having these
[2:09:22] conversation now the continued
[2:09:24] partnerships uh, both locally
[2:09:26] statewide, federally and also
[2:09:28] with the with with with with
[2:09:29] other partner organizations is
[2:09:31] going to be key to ensuring uh
[2:09:33] the success of what we do to.
[2:09:34] >> ensure.
[2:09:35] That our veterans, um, have
[2:09:37] access um, you know, uh, for
[2:09:38] for all the benefits and
[2:09:40] services that that they have
[2:09:40] earned.
[2:09:41] So I'm looking forward to the
[2:09:42] future steps.
[2:09:42] Okay.
[2:09:44] Hey, craig.
[2:09:46] Uh, thanks again,
[2:09:48] councilor flynn, uh, for, uh,
[2:09:49] convening this today.
[2:09:50] Councilor fitzgerald, your
[2:09:52] great questions and, uh, we
[2:09:54] appreciate your, uh, the
[2:09:55] attention that these issues are
[2:09:55] being given.
[2:09:57] Uh, first off, uh,
[2:09:58] councilor flynn, I'd like to
[2:10:00] offer up the boston police post
[2:10:02] as some place to to host that,
[2:10:04] uh, offsite, uh, meeting
[2:10:06] hearing, you know, veterans
[2:10:07] town hall, whatever you want to
[2:10:07] call it.
[2:10:09] We would be more than happy to,
[2:10:10] uh, to host that and I work
[2:10:11] with you on that.
[2:10:15] Um, the overarching question is
[2:10:17] how do we take care of this
[2:10:17] problem?
[2:10:19] Uh, it you know, I'll ask the
[2:10:21] question of how do you eat an
[2:10:23] elephant one bite at a time and
[2:10:25] that's the way that we're going
[2:10:27] to be able to to make the
[2:10:28] conditions for not just the
[2:10:30] black veterans that are dealing
[2:10:32] with with lung cancer the women
[2:10:34] veterans in their their
[2:10:37] particular uh, health issues as
[2:10:38] as women.
[2:10:39] Uh but.
[2:10:42] >> all veterans uh, across the
[2:10:43] board, you know, no matter what
[2:10:46] their other demographics are uh
[2:10:49] it does take a village to to
[2:10:51] solve this problem and right
[2:10:53] up, you know, at this table
[2:10:55] right here where a bunch
[2:10:56] of folks that you know, we got
[2:10:56] a.
[2:10:57] Guy yeah.
[2:11:00] We might not have the answer to
[2:11:02] the question but yeah, I know
[2:11:05] somebody else that does uh and
[2:11:06] what we will do is make sure
[2:11:08] that we do share that
[2:11:10] information uh, with each other
[2:11:10] that.
[2:11:13] Okay, uh, you know, the.
[2:11:14] Commissioner might have a
[2:11:16] question if he asks me, I might
[2:11:17] not know the answer but I can
[2:11:18] reach out to my network
[2:11:20] of other of my fellow state
[2:11:21] commanders across the country
[2:11:24] and say, hey guys, how are you
[2:11:25] handling this issue?
[2:11:27] And I'll have somebody from
[2:11:29] idaho or from arizona or from
[2:11:31] texas say, hey, this is what
[2:11:31] we're doing here.
[2:11:32] Like wow, that sounds like a
[2:11:32] great idea.
[2:11:35] Maybe we can replicate that in
[2:11:35] boston.
[2:11:35] Um.
[2:11:37] >> it's those types of networks
[2:11:39] and those types of ideas uh,
[2:11:42] that will make this issue these
[2:11:44] issues, uh, attainable where
[2:11:46] we'll be able to help solve
[2:11:46] some of these problems.
[2:11:47] Um.
[2:11:52] >> again, uh, part of what we
[2:11:54] want what we do with the vfw as
[2:11:56] well as the other service
[2:11:56] organizations like the legion
[2:11:57] and the dav.
[2:11:58] Um.
[2:11:59] >> when we're out in our
[2:12:01] communities all the time that
[2:12:02] we are community based
[2:12:03] organizations.
[2:12:04] That.
[2:12:06] >> uh, we will be able to get
[2:12:08] uh, uh, our folks together and
[2:12:11] we come together monthly or a
[2:12:13] daily basis depending on the
[2:12:14] types of posts that we have.
[2:12:14] Uh.
[2:12:17] >> come out visit uh, we want
[2:12:20] to be able to uh, be productive
[2:12:21] members of the process here.
[2:12:22] Um.
[2:12:24] >> again like the last time I
[2:12:26] was here and uh, provide a
[2:12:26] testimony.
[2:12:28] Uh uh, one word of caution
[2:12:29] that.
[2:12:32] The the rest of the
[2:12:34] commonwealth pays attention to
[2:12:35] what goes on in the city
[2:12:37] of boston as far as as veterans
[2:12:39] are concerned, they see that
[2:12:39] oh.
[2:12:43] If we just cut $750,000 from
[2:12:44] the veterans budget, thank
[2:12:46] goodness we had a group like
[2:12:48] brighton one step up to help
[2:12:49] fill that gap.
[2:12:51] But that doesn't mean that next
[2:12:52] year or even tomorrow they
[2:12:54] their priorities change from
[2:12:56] what the city of boston's uh,
[2:12:57] veterans priorities are.
[2:12:59] Um and then.
[2:13:02] We'll never see that $750,000
[2:13:03] again into the budget.
[2:13:06] That's $750,000.
[2:13:07] Goes back into.
[2:13:11] The commissioner's ability to
[2:13:13] provide that outreach, to
[2:13:14] provide that education to the
[2:13:15] veterans community of the city.
[2:13:16] Uh.
[2:13:18] >> so I just want to be able
[2:13:20] to, you know, to implore upon,
[2:13:20] you.
[2:13:20] Know.
[2:13:22] >> what happens here in boston
[2:13:24] just doesn't necessarily happen
[2:13:25] here in boston.
[2:13:26] Uh.
[2:13:27] >> the rest of the commonwealth
[2:13:28] pays attention.
[2:13:29] Uh, and.
[2:13:31] I, I really.
[2:13:34] yeah yes, I do demand.
[2:13:35] That, you know.
[2:13:37] Our council shows the
[2:13:38] leadership across the
[2:13:39] council across the.
[2:13:41] Commonwealth that.
[2:13:43] You know, boston is going to
[2:13:45] take the best care of veterans
[2:13:47] that we can and we are going to
[2:13:48] stand up and provide that
[2:13:50] leadership to make that happen.
[2:13:51] So again, thank you for all
[2:13:52] your efforts.
[2:13:53] Thank you for your attention
[2:13:55] and we look forward to being uh
[2:13:58] again part of that village that
[2:13:59] comes together to take care
[2:14:00] of veterans again across the
[2:14:02] city and across the
[2:14:02] commonwealth.
[2:14:04] Thank you commander mr kennedy.
[2:14:05] Yes.
[2:14:08] >> uh, again we just start by
[2:14:10] expressing my sincere,
[2:14:12] heartfelt thank you for the
[2:14:12] opportunity to be here.
[2:14:14] And let me rephrase to
[2:14:16] privilege and honor to be here
[2:14:19] uh, amongst um, city
[2:14:20] council and esteemed members
[2:14:22] of this panel, I'm really
[2:14:23] thrilled to have been able to
[2:14:24] continue to participate in this
[2:14:25] discussion.
[2:14:27] I made a lot of comments about
[2:14:29] um the guidelines piece.
[2:14:31] So again I stand by that and
[2:14:34] um, what you said and what you
[2:14:35] said and also sort of what my
[2:14:37] comment it was basically a
[2:14:40] build and it's this I don't I
[2:14:42] think everybody in this on this
[2:14:43] panel at some point mentioned
[2:14:44] the word navigation.
[2:14:46] We know the word navigation is
[2:14:46] great.
[2:14:49] I have a very high level
[2:14:50] of resident residents.
[2:14:52] I'm sorry to that because I
[2:14:54] started my career in public
[2:14:56] health as a patient navigator
[2:14:58] at the at uh the dana-farber
[2:14:58] cancer institute.
[2:15:00] Um, I believe in that
[2:15:00] application.
[2:15:02] I believe in the power
[2:15:03] of navigation to support
[2:15:05] patients and get them to the
[2:15:06] best outcomes that they could
[2:15:06] have.
[2:15:09] The point I want to make as we
[2:15:11] talk about piece of the
[2:15:14] application and the implication
[2:15:15] is that there's a patient with
[2:15:18] a diagnosis that is going now
[2:15:19] through the system to make sure
[2:15:20] that they get the treatment
[2:15:20] that they need.
[2:15:23] And our cancer plan for the
[2:15:26] city I'm looking to move
[2:15:27] navigation for the upstream.
[2:15:30] I talk about the concept of a
[2:15:31] screening navigator.
[2:15:35] So pre patient how do you take
[2:15:37] that that that that that
[2:15:39] mentality that that um that
[2:15:41] focus on on supporting a
[2:15:42] patient while they go into
[2:15:44] treatment and move it up so
[2:15:46] that before the person becomes
[2:15:48] a patient they get help with
[2:15:50] navigating administratively and
[2:15:52] otherwise how you move through
[2:15:53] a system, how you get screened
[2:15:54] for a particular location.
[2:15:56] What are the follow up
[2:15:58] procedures that allow you to
[2:16:01] adhere to make sure that if uh
[2:16:03] ,as you mentioned earlier, you
[2:16:05] might get a screening mammogram
[2:16:06] but if there's something that's
[2:16:08] wrong with that which causes
[2:16:09] you to then have to come back
[2:16:11] and get a diagnostic mammogram
[2:16:12] ,do you show up?
[2:16:14] People understand the
[2:16:15] difference between the two and
[2:16:17] do you understand what it means
[2:16:19] to to do that from a cost
[2:16:19] perspective?
[2:16:23] because massachusetts passed
[2:16:25] legislation I think in 2024 we
[2:16:28] call it the um the
[2:16:28] cancer diagnostic bill.
[2:16:29] The official name of the bill
[2:16:31] is a little different, but it
[2:16:34] took that diagnostic mammogram
[2:16:35] cost sharing burden off
[2:16:37] of women so that they could
[2:16:39] continue to adhere to what that
[2:16:40] screening member williams said.
[2:16:40] Right.
[2:16:46] My point was this navigation
[2:16:47] sounds like all of us agree is
[2:16:48] a critical part of this.
[2:16:51] We know that cms put in
[2:16:54] physician billing codes in 2024
[2:16:57] that allow clinical practice to
[2:16:58] reimburse for navigation.
[2:17:00] Let's take advantage of that
[2:17:02] and make sure that navigation
[2:17:06] is a standard part, a standard
[2:17:08] sustainable part of the way
[2:17:09] people that waterfowl claims or
[2:17:11] whatever behaviors are
[2:17:13] introduced to and supported as
[2:17:15] they move through the clinical
[2:17:17] system in the va and again let
[2:17:20] the massachusetts va be the
[2:17:21] model for the rest of the
[2:17:23] country not only when we're
[2:17:25] talking about access to
[2:17:26] screening for lung
[2:17:27] cancer beyond just tobacco use
[2:17:30] ,but navigation for veterans
[2:17:32] through the system so that
[2:17:32] nobody falls through the
[2:17:33] cracks.
[2:17:34] Everybody has answers to
[2:17:36] questions that they want and
[2:17:37] they get through the system
[2:17:39] with the best outcomes.
[2:17:40] Navigation and guidelines I
[2:17:42] think are two main points
[2:17:42] of this.
[2:17:45] I think the va uh veterans have
[2:17:46] an opportunity to set the tone
[2:17:47] for the rest of the country.
[2:17:48] I hope you do.
[2:17:50] Thank you, mr kennedy.
[2:17:51] um, doctor.
[2:17:52] Thank you.
[2:17:52] >> council time.
[2:17:53] Thank you.
[2:17:54] Councilor fitzgerald.
[2:17:55] One of the things that I, you
[2:17:59] know, thought about is um, as
[2:18:01] veterans we connect by
[2:18:03] storytelling like we that's our
[2:18:03] connection.
[2:18:05] We we tell a story about, you
[2:18:07] know, how we served and and
[2:18:08] what we did and that's how we
[2:18:08] connect.
[2:18:12] But I think is, um, if we
[2:18:14] continue to advocate for
[2:18:16] equitable, equitable access to
[2:18:17] resources and ways and
[2:18:20] awareness about trauma, mental
[2:18:21] health needs and health needs,
[2:18:24] um, I think we can create a
[2:18:26] program that culturally
[2:18:29] identifies um, you know, black
[2:18:31] on black female soldiers.
[2:18:35] So why I said that is normally
[2:18:37] when we think about um when we
[2:18:39] are introduced to all these
[2:18:40] these programs and we're
[2:18:41] hearing these different things
[2:18:44] on tv or in the media we don't
[2:18:46] actually see see a person who,
[2:18:48] you know, actually work in that
[2:18:50] department or like you know,
[2:18:52] the boston public health
[2:18:54] scanner and the va.
[2:18:56] So as long as we continue these
[2:18:58] town halls and continue to have
[2:19:01] this discussion, we'll bring
[2:19:02] more veterans.
[2:19:04] And if I'm looking right now at
[2:19:06] this if I was I was if I was
[2:19:08] home and I'm watching this and
[2:19:11] I say hey you know I you know I
[2:19:12] had trouble following the claim
[2:19:14] right here on we have someone
[2:19:15] from the vfw.
[2:19:17] We have someone from the post
[2:19:18] now I know who was on the list
[2:19:20] so I just feel the same issue
[2:19:23] as long as we continue that
[2:19:25] navigating and making a system
[2:19:27] as easy as possible for someone
[2:19:29] to navigate through the system
[2:19:32] for health care needs um for
[2:19:34] mental health um needs and for
[2:19:37] education that's that's all
[2:19:40] golden ticket to get to you
[2:19:42] know on that's in the city
[2:19:42] of boston massachusetts.
[2:19:43] We have a direct.
[2:19:46] Excellent um thank you doctor
[2:19:48] and and doctor juana.
[2:19:52] Um, thank you so much for the
[2:19:53] opportunity to be here today
[2:19:55] for this important hearing, for
[2:19:57] the thoughtful questions for
[2:19:58] all of.
[2:20:00] >> the, uh, wisdom that's been
[2:20:00] shared.
[2:20:02] By the other members of.
[2:20:03] >> the panel and ah, also from
[2:20:04] the public.
[2:20:08] Um, I, uh, want to touch on one
[2:20:09] other point that we haven't
[2:20:11] talked about so much today.
[2:20:13] Um, and that's that lung
[2:20:16] cancer is, uh, highly uh,
[2:20:17] stigmatized condition.
[2:20:19] Because of the.
[2:20:22] Uh the strong link with um,
[2:20:23] smoking even though we know
[2:20:24] that there are other factors
[2:20:25] that contribute to.
[2:20:26] Lung cancer risk.
[2:20:29] But I want to say that nobody
[2:20:31] no veteran no person.
[2:20:34] Deserves lung cancer and we.
[2:20:36] >> are here to help.
[2:20:38] We are here to uh the va and
[2:20:40] other health care systems.
[2:20:42] And this amazing city uh, are
[2:20:45] here with screening to try to,
[2:20:47] um, identify cancers early and
[2:20:48] get people into treatment.
[2:20:51] I love the ideas about
[2:20:53] navigation including veteran
[2:20:55] peer to peer genetic navigation
[2:20:58] um, which we have in the va and
[2:21:02] uh and using the power of the
[2:21:03] uh community.
[2:21:04] based organizations.
[2:21:06] That that veterans have access
[2:21:10] to uh, to spread the word about
[2:21:12] uh, screening and help people
[2:21:14] get connected to um.
[2:21:16] To services.
[2:21:17] Um.
[2:21:18] >> I also just want to say
[2:21:19] because this is a stigmatized
[2:21:20] condition.
[2:21:22] Sometimes doing the community
[2:21:22] events like we.
[2:21:24] Did or like you know, like
[2:21:26] you're talking about doing um
[2:21:28] sometimes it doesn't reach.
[2:21:30] >> the people who most.
[2:21:33] Need to be reached, um, because
[2:21:35] they MAY be reluctant to go to
[2:21:36] something that's about lung
[2:21:37] cancer or whatever because
[2:21:39] of the stigma and and the shame
[2:21:41] and blame that people feel.
[2:21:44] So uh, one thing we learned
[2:21:45] from our work and that peer
[2:21:46] connects was that.
[2:21:46] One of the.
[2:21:48] Most powerful things was
[2:21:50] actually reaching people who
[2:21:51] maybe weren't eligible for a
[2:21:52] lung cancer screening.
[2:21:54] But then they went and talked
[2:21:56] to other members of their
[2:21:58] community, um, who.
[2:21:59] Didn't come to the events but
[2:22:01] like spreading the word that
[2:22:02] way and helping convince.
[2:22:04] People to come in and get the.
[2:22:05] The health care that.
[2:22:06] >> they need and deserve.
[2:22:08] Thank you doctor.
[2:22:11] Um, before I go to counselor
[2:22:14] fitzgerald, um, for a closing
[2:22:16] statement, doctor, I just want
[2:22:17] to make one quick point or ask
[2:22:20] a brief quick question many
[2:22:22] veterans and or to rob santiago
[2:22:24] ,both of you, uh, many
[2:22:27] veterans don't even know the
[2:22:29] veterans and they don't even
[2:22:31] realize that they can
[2:22:34] participate in um services for
[2:22:35] veterans.
[2:22:38] They might be older at this
[2:22:39] time, but.
[2:22:40] >> they're.
[2:22:42] Still eligible for services and
[2:22:45] programs at the va and it's not
[2:22:46] too late to sign up.
[2:22:47] Is that correct?
[2:22:47] Correct.
[2:22:48] >> that's correct.
[2:22:49] Absolutely.
[2:22:53] Rob what should someone do if
[2:22:55] they if they're an older person
[2:22:55] .
[2:22:58] They for years they weren't
[2:23:00] treated well coming back from
[2:23:00] service.
[2:23:02] They they are veterans.
[2:23:05] They don't they haven't engaged
[2:23:06] in the system yet.
[2:23:08] What's their first step?
[2:23:10] Contact us.
[2:23:11] Okay contest to.
[2:23:13] Contact us get ahold of us.
[2:23:15] We could navigate and
[2:23:16] communicate with you what's
[2:23:17] available to you?
[2:23:18] Um.
[2:23:20] Give this give the system a
[2:23:20] second chance.
[2:23:21] It's not.
[2:23:22] Um.
[2:23:25] Now I know that speaking
[2:23:25] of stigma that, you know,
[2:23:27] there's been a lot of um a lot
[2:23:29] of veterans have been stigma
[2:23:29] stigmatized because of the
[2:23:31] services they got in the va
[2:23:34] back in the 70s and 80s where
[2:23:35] um where they didn't have the
[2:23:37] kind of services that are being
[2:23:38] provided today.
[2:23:41] Um and the fact that, you know,
[2:23:42] covers a lot of that,
[2:23:43] especially when it comes to the
[2:23:44] presumptive uh, conditions that
[2:23:46] we're talking about here today,
[2:23:47] uh, that that include many
[2:23:47] different cancers.
[2:23:51] so um, contact us, ask us
[2:23:52] of questions, give the system a
[2:23:55] you know, a chance and let us,
[2:23:56] uh let us help you navigate the
[2:23:58] system so that you can get the
[2:23:59] services and benefits that you
[2:24:02] had deserved and continue to to
[2:24:03] earn.
[2:24:04] So, um, contact us, contact
[2:24:06] your local vso, contact your
[2:24:08] local uh, veteran organization
[2:24:08] .
[2:24:11] Um, and uh, let us do our job
[2:24:12] for you.
[2:24:12] .
[2:24:14] >> rob, give us your contact
[2:24:15] information once again I know
[2:24:17] you provided it already, but
[2:24:18] give it to us one more time,
[2:24:18] please.
[2:24:20] So for the for the boston
[2:24:21] office of veterans services you
[2:24:24] could contact us uh
[2:24:25] boston.Gov/veterans or you
[2:24:27] could give us a call at uh
[2:24:29] 617635 3030.
[2:24:32] Thank you rob um
[2:24:33] council fitzgerald.
[2:24:34] Thank you chair.
[2:24:36] Uh, you know, I just want to
[2:24:36] say.
[2:24:37] Thank you.
[2:24:37] >> all.
[2:24:38] >> uh, for the.
[2:24:40] Important work that you do.
[2:24:41] Uh, because not only are we we
[2:24:43] have the subset of veterans
[2:24:45] that we can, uh that we can
[2:24:45] help.
[2:24:47] Um, but it will have an impact
[2:24:48] on everybody, uh, veterans and
[2:24:50] not veterans when we when we
[2:24:51] talk about health, uh, we're
[2:24:52] all the same human individuals.
[2:24:54] And so if we can figure out
[2:24:55] what's wrong with one subset,
[2:24:57] hopefully we can apply it to
[2:24:58] another and so on and so on.
[2:24:59] And so just.
[2:24:59] >> thank.
[2:25:01] you all for uh, your leadership
[2:25:02] and and the important work that
[2:25:04] you do and please always feel
[2:25:06] free to reach out to uh to to
[2:25:09] add to myself uh, when when you
[2:25:10] have to teach us what we need
[2:25:11] to do for you.
[2:25:12] Right?
[2:25:13] You guys have you guys are the
[2:25:14] ones going through it and
[2:25:16] experiencing it and so uh and
[2:25:18] that goes I know we didn't uh
[2:25:19] we touched on it a lot but even
[2:25:20] for the women veterans services
[2:25:22] ,uh, not a veteran and not a
[2:25:23] woman.
[2:25:25] And so I do tread lightly and I
[2:25:26] take my cues from you all.
[2:25:28] Uh, and so please educate
[2:25:30] me and tell us what we need to
[2:25:30] do.
[2:25:31] Uh, but thank you again.
[2:25:33] Well, thank you, thank you
[2:25:35] john, thank you for being here.
[2:25:36] Um.
[2:25:40] It was an important discussion
[2:25:43] on support services for women
[2:25:45] veterans for how we support
[2:25:47] veterans of color, um, on
[2:25:49] medical care and coding, um,
[2:25:52] and lung cancer screening and I
[2:25:53] think my colleague
[2:25:55] council fitzgerald uh,
[2:25:56] highlighted an important point
[2:25:58] that I kind of wanted to close
[2:25:58] with.
[2:26:02] Is the importance of of
[2:26:05] listening, um, you know,
[2:26:07] listening to women veterans
[2:26:10] listening to veterans of color
[2:26:13] listening to lgbtq veterans.
[2:26:17] I don't have that experience
[2:26:20] but I want to and continue to
[2:26:22] be a strong supporter of all
[2:26:24] veterans especially including
[2:26:26] women veterans, veterans
[2:26:28] of color, lgbtq veterans.
[2:26:31] But it is about listening.
[2:26:33] It's about learning.
[2:26:36] And that's why I called this
[2:26:38] hearing today so we can give an
[2:26:41] opportunity for you to speak
[2:26:42] about your experiences.
[2:26:45] But more importantly, there
[2:26:46] might be someone sitting home
[2:26:49] that this information might
[2:26:51] connect with them and maybe
[2:26:53] they'll pick up the phone um or
[2:26:56] send an email next week to rob
[2:26:58] santiago or to or to the other
[2:27:00] veteran leaders here as well.
[2:27:04] Um, but we have to acknowledge
[2:27:07] the incredible service
[2:27:10] sacrifice of women veterans
[2:27:11] of veterans and veterans
[2:27:11] of color.
[2:27:15] We're not giving them any
[2:27:15] services.
[2:27:17] We're not giving them any
[2:27:18] programs that are in these
[2:27:18] programs.
[2:27:19] Right.
[2:27:22] >> and as a nation historically
[2:27:24] we haven't been welcome
[2:27:25] welcoming to many women
[2:27:27] veterans or veterans of color.
[2:27:32] In fact, I'm going to provost's
[2:27:36] I'm going to send a to the city
[2:27:38] council a resolution to support
[2:27:41] a piece of federal legislation
[2:27:42] to support it.
[2:27:45] And it's basically to ensure
[2:27:48] that when black veterans
[2:27:50] returned from world war two
[2:27:53] they really didn't participate
[2:27:55] or receive the veterans the
[2:27:57] services that they earned
[2:28:00] specifically on housing va, va
[2:28:02] housing programs because
[2:28:06] of that they didn't generate
[2:28:08] generational wealth like like
[2:28:09] other veterans have.
[2:28:13] Um, but this piece of federal
[2:28:15] legislation would provide.
[2:28:20] Grandchildren or children maybe
[2:28:21] I have to do a little bit more
[2:28:23] research, um, giving them an
[2:28:26] opportunity to get a little bit
[2:28:30] of services such as um real
[2:28:32] estate such as first time home
[2:28:34] by by a programs through the va
[2:28:37] because they were denied that
[2:28:41] benefit due to racism they were
[2:28:43] denied that specific program
[2:28:46] due to the color of their skin
[2:28:47] due to discrimination.
[2:28:50] Um but that's a piece
[2:28:51] of legislation I'm going to
[2:28:51] look at.
[2:28:53] I know you and I talked about
[2:28:55] that rub for a while and want
[2:28:58] to also acknowledge, um,
[2:29:00] commissioner santiago we worked
[2:29:04] on especially under PRESIDENT
[2:29:07] Biden when gay and lesbians
[2:29:09] were discharged from the
[2:29:10] service.
[2:29:12] They were discharged.
[2:29:16] With a discharge that wasn't
[2:29:16] honorable.
[2:29:19] So when you have that discharge
[2:29:21] that is not honorable.
[2:29:24] Um, it it limits what benefits
[2:29:27] and services you can get as a
[2:29:27] veteran.
[2:29:29] But through the work
[2:29:31] of commissioner santiago, we we
[2:29:32] did a lot of work at the
[2:29:33] federal level.
[2:29:36] Um, and I say gay gay and
[2:29:38] lesbians now it's lgbtq plus
[2:29:43] but we have to ensure that they
[2:29:45] are also treated with respect.
[2:29:47] And dignity that they've earned
[2:29:50] in if they were discharged for
[2:29:53] reasons um due to their sexual
[2:29:55] orientation, I believe that
[2:29:58] that discharge should be
[2:30:00] upgraded and maybe maybe that's
[2:30:01] an issue we're going to have to
[2:30:04] continue to work on as we go
[2:30:05] forward because I know I'm
[2:30:06] committed to it and we're
[2:30:08] committed to to that as well.
[2:30:11] But having said that, this is
[2:30:11] about justice.
[2:30:13] This is about respect for all
[2:30:16] veterans especially
[2:30:17] historically especially
[2:30:19] veterans that historically have
[2:30:21] been denied access to the va
[2:30:24] and to um services and programs
[2:30:27] that they've earned this
[2:30:30] hearing on docket number.
[2:30:39] Zero seven um excuse me 0273027
[2:30:41] for a hearing to discuss lung
[2:30:43] cancer rates among black
[2:30:45] veterans and services for women
[2:30:46] veterans is adjourned.
[2:30:49] Thank you.