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In this Update:

• State Budget Supports Veterans and Their Families
• Wilkes-Barre VA to Host Annual Veteran Carnival
• Veterans Assistance Available in Shamokin Dam Office
• New Law Connects Families of Deceased Service Members with Support
• Honoring Veterans with Visual Impairments with a Capitol Monument
• Addressing Veteran Homelessness
• No-Cost TSA Precheck for Eligible Veterans
• VA and Steak ‘N Shake Promote Veterans Benefits
• Free Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses for Blind Veterans

State Budget Supports Veterans and Their Families

On July 12, we finalized the 2026-27 state budget that included creating and enhancing programs and services aimed at assisting Pennsylvania veterans and their families such as: 

• Providing a 6.3% increase for tuition assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during a period of war or armed conflict and children of veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.
• Providing a 10.2% increase for the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans’ Pension, which gives eligible veterans a $150 monthly pension.
• Establishing the Veterans’ Trust Fund Board within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to increase donations to the Veterans’ Trust Fund and provide effective management of the fund.
• Requiring the Department of Human Services to expand online referral services and information for military veterans and their families for transitional, temporary and permanent housing, job placement and career counseling and other services for veterans returning to civilian life. 

Wilkes-Barre VA to Host Annual Veteran Carnival

The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center will host its Annual Veteran Carnival on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the chapel parking lot behind the medical center.

The event is organized by the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement and gives Veteran Service Organizations, community partners and volunteers an opportunity to spend time with and support veterans receiving care at the medical center.

Veterans residing in the Community Living Center, those receiving inpatient care and veterans enrolled in specific outpatient programs will be able to participate in carnival games, refreshments, entertainment and other activities.

The carnival is specifically for veterans currently receiving care through these programs at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center.

Veterans Assistance Available in Shamokin Dam Office – Aug. 21st

Each month, a Veterans Service Officer is available in my Shamokin Dam office to help veterans navigate benefits and resources including:

• VA disability compensation and pensions 
• Education benefits 
• VA health care enrollment 
• Burial benefits 
• Survivor benefits 
• Other veterans programs and services 

This is a free service available to all veterans and their families to ensure they receive the benefits they have earned through their service. 

This month Veterans Assistance hours will be available on August 21^st.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call my district office at 570-743-1918.

New Law Connects Families of Deceased Service Members with Support

In an effort to better connect families with their local veterans affairs office, the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 130, now Act 42 of 2026, which requires funeral directors and cemeteries to provide the family of a deceased serviceperson contact information for the county director of veterans affairs. They must also notify the county director of veterans affairs of the death of a service person within 96 hours of receiving their remains.

Pennsylvania county veterans affairs offices are available to assist veterans with accessing benefits for which they might be eligible, and their contact information can be found here. 

Honoring Veterans with Visual Impairments with a Capitol Monument

A Braille Flag monument honoring veterans with visual impairments could be installed at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building under legislation passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Braille Flag was created to honor the service of veterans who have been left with life-long visual disabilities. Under Senate Bill 1303, the monument would be made of bronze and include the Pledge of Allegiance in Braille.

The display would be sponsored by the Moose Lodge and the American Braille Flag Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the placement of these flags throughout the country. Read more about Senate Bill 1303 here.

Addressing Veteran Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Homeless Aging and Disabled Veterans Initiative aims to help homeless veterans with chronic, complex health needs secure affordable housing within their communities or transition more easily to any higher levels of care they need. The initiative works to better integrate home and community healthcare, social services and permanent supportive housing.

Veterans experiencing homelessness should visit their local VA Medical Center for assistance. To find a VA Medical Center near you, visit their website here. For immediate assistance, contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

To learn more about VA Homeless Programs, click here.

No-Cost TSA Precheck for Eligible Veterans

The federal VETS (Veterans Expedited TSA Screening) Safe Travel Act allows certain veterans to receive no-cost TSA PreCheck enrollment. TSA PreCheck provides an expedited airport screening process with a more secure and streamlined security screening experience.

Eligible veterans for the TSA PreCheck enrollment fee waiver must be enrolled in VA healthcare and have a VA-determined service-connected disability which requires the use of a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic limb due to loss or loss of use of an extremity, full or partial paralysis or permanent blindness.

A TSA PreCheck enrollment letter was sent to eligible veterans and can be accessed online through their VA account.

VA and Steak ‘N Shake Promote Veterans Benefits

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has teamed up with Steak ‘n Shake to promote VA benefits and services and make it easier for veterans to become owner-operators of Steak ‘n Shake franchises.

As a part of their agreement, Steak ‘n Shake will:

• Waive the $10,000 franchise fee for veterans seeking to run their own franchise under its Franchise Partner Program for Veterans.
• Promote awareness of VA benefits and healthcare on their website and through in-restaurant signage.
• Prioritize hiring veterans and VA beneficiaries, including family, caregivers and survivors for leadership positions across the company.

Find more information here.

Free Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses for Blind Veterans

Meta is donating free Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to every blind veteran in the U.S.

Veterans can apply after becoming a Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) member. Veteran organizations can apply to receive glasses for the blinded veterans in their communities here.