By: Su Phelps and Megan Way | Photos by Su Phelps
On the morning of Thursday May 30th, 2019, United States Senator Catherine Cortez Masto invited local veterans and military non-profits to a roundtable conversation at the Lloyd D. George US Courthouse. Together, they discussed and heard feedback on her recent work regarding veterans and military families, which focused on access to health and mental health care and her recent introductions of the following bills: The S.E.R.V.I.C.E. Act, (stands for, “Show Esteem and Respect for Veterans by Increasing Care and Equity Act”) Better Military Housing Act, (to help increase the availability and options for military housing) and Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act (to establish an inter -agency task force to better utilize public lands for the medical treatment and therapy of veterans). The Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act is supported by numerous outdoor recreation and veterans’ advocacy groups including the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Minority Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, Vet Voice Foundation, PeopleForBikes, Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Alliance, Outdoor Research, the National Park Conservation Association, Adventure Not War, and the REI Co-op.
After brief introductions from everyone, Senator Cortez Masto led with opening remarks, she says “I want to make sure as a Senator that we’re communicating on a regular basis. I’m your advocate in Washington and so what is happening in Nevada in our communities is important for me because I want to make sure we’re together ringing our voices to make change.”
The attendees included Len Yelinek Commander of Purple heart of Nevada, Peter and Kelley Guidry, Co-Founders of Forgotten not Gone, Su Phelps, Publisher of Veterans Reporter News, representatives from NDVS, Operation Deep Dive, Goodwill, the Henderson Vet Center and other associates from veterans and military non-profits from the area.
