Hassan hears from veterans during Buddy Check Week

LACONIA — Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) observed Buddy Check Week with a visit to Wayfarer Coffee Roasters downtown to hear from veterans about their experiences navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs following the implementation of the PACT Act in 2022.

The Va's annual Buddy Check Week is meant to support veterans’ mental health and is modeled after a similar program operated by the American Legion which connects veterans with one another for social and emotional support.  

The SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 authorized nearly $800 billion in spending to expand and extend entitlement to health care and disability compensation for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service. 

“This law is a victory for the many veterans exposed to toxic substances who have waited too long to receive the health care and benefits that they have earned and deserve,” Hassan said after President Joe Biden signed it into law in 2022. “Our bipartisan toxic exposure law takes meaningful, significant steps forward in transforming how the VA addresses toxic exposure.

"I was proud to work across the aisle to get our law across the finish line, and look forward to continuing to work with the VA as it implements our law.”

Hassan met with veterans Timm Grant, Wayne Perra, Ed Harrington and Mike Scism Thursday to discuss the act's implementation and learned veterans service organizations are seeing increased numbers of applications and approvals.

Hassan also helped create and fund the 988 suicide hotline, which has a specified veterans crisis line that can be accessed by dialing 988 then pressing 1, or texting 838255.

Perra, who is an American Legionnaire, told Hassan he’s seeing a significant increase in cases filed pursuant to the PACT Act. 

“We’re starting to pick up 10 new cases a week,” he said, noting younger veterans aren’t waiting 40 years to file for VA benefits post-retirement. “They’re starting to come in now.” 

Hassan told the group she’s aware of the criticisms of the VA, particularly that the process is slow, cumbersome and can be difficult for veterans in transition to navigate. She said she’d continue working to improve the situation. 

“My colleagues and I do want to do right by veterans,” she said. “They’re supposed to work for you.”

And Grant, department surgeon of New Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars, told Hassan they’ve been swamped with inquiry since the PACT Act was instituted.

Scism, who served with the U.S. Air Force as a signals intelligence analyst and spent time in Afghanistan, said the memory of “burn pits” — a reference to waste disposal sites on military installations — is still present in his mind.

“They smelled wonderful,” Scism said, sarcastically. “Never quite leave your nostrils.”

Scism said he’s still working on adjusting to post-military life.

“It feels like what I did for 20 years doesn’t mean much on the outside,” he said.

He’s interested in woodworking and hopes to make that his career. He noted provisions in the PACT Act that saved the life of a friend of his, who needed medical attention and gained a 100% disability rating shortly before suffering a heart attack. 

Scism told Hassan there could be improvements in the VA system, particularly in looking at the process for service members who are soon to retire apply for medical benefits. He noted veterans don’t receive a disability rating until they’re officially retired, which can make planning difficult in the interim.  

“How am I to plan?” he said. “I gave you 19 years, you can lean ahead a little bit for me.” 

“As a civilian, I can never be fully in your shoes,” Hassan, whose father served in the infantry during World War II, said.

“He never wanted to be wet and cold again in his life.”

“It’s just nice to know somebody cares,” Harrington said. 

And Grant told Hassan veterans’ experiences in navigating the VA system may vary.

“I’ve had perfect luck with the VA,” he said. “I’m probably one of the few.”