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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO PASS H.R.984/S.106, THE COMMITMENT TO VETERAN SUPPORT AND OUTREACH ACT
WHEREAS, veterans are fixtures in our communities and the sacrifices that our veterans in uniform make and their families who support them and sacrifice so much for our great country cannot be overstated; and
WHEREAS, many veterans and their families experience hardships during life after service. Some experience physical and mental health challenges, while others face challenges going back to civilian life altogether including difficulty obtaining employment and housing; and
WHEREAS, the number of veteran suicides nationwide continues to rise, and approximately 14 of the 20 veterans who die by suicide each day are not under Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed an important amendment to the 2024 County Budget, that as Chair of the Veterans Committee, I was proud to sponsor and that the full board supported as co-sponsors to provide $2 million in funding to the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County (VACCC) to provide increased direct benefits to qualified Cook County Veterans and their families; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to the 3rd largest population of veterans in the country and said amendment will assist qualified veterans in need, but the demand is great; and
WHEREAS, one of the goals of the VACCC is to increase the number of County Veteran Service Officers (CVSO’s) to assist our veterans in need; and
WHEREAS, CVSOs are local county employees who are nationally accredited by the VA to prepare, present, and prosecute U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims, and often are veteran’s first point of contact in the community for accessing services; and
WHEREAS, CVSOs assist veterans in accessing a range of benefits, including service-connected benefits, enrollment in VA health care, VA home loans, education benefits and available job placement assistance among others; and
WHEREAS, CVSOs also assist family members and caregivers as they navigate the complex intergovernmental chain of veterans services and resources; and
WHEREAS, although CVSOs’ primary focus is helping veterans navigate the federal benefits system, these officers are currently funded almost entirely by counties, which creates challenges for areas with high demand such as in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, despite their integral role in assisting veterans and their families and caregivers navigate federal benefits, there is currently no federal funding directly available for CVSOs; and
WHEREAS, earlier this year, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach (CVSO) Act (H.R. 984/S. 106) was re-introduced in the 118th Congress by Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and enjoys broad bi-partisan support in both chambers; and
WHEREAS, this legislation would offer federal funding for CVSOs for the first time, authorizing annual award grants of $50 million over five years to expand and support CVSOs or similar local entities to assist veterans in obtaining over $50 billion in benefits annually by awarding competitive grants to CVSOs via the state, to create, expand or support CVSOs and prioritizing areas with high rates of veteran suicide, Veteran Crisis Line referrals or CVSO shortages; and
WHEREAS, currently the CVSO Act is supported by the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO), the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the Military Officer's Association of America (MOAA), the America's Warrior Partnership (AWP), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby urge the United States Congress to pass The Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, which will greatly increase access to the federal benefits our veterans deserve; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the Illinois’ Congressional delegation, the House Speaker and Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader, and the White House.
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