NH House - Minority Leader Should Apologize to Veterans and Nazi Victims

CONCORD -- Today in a House session a member attacked the Speaker using a Nazi slogan from the House floor. The Speaker was quick to seek an apology from the member to the entire House, which was affirmed by an overwhelming vote by the House. However, Democrats at their minority leader's direction, chose to follow her lead and vote largely along party lines politicizing an issue that is offensive to all Granite Staters and Americans.

Chairman House State Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee, Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)

“Rep. Norelli should apologize to World War II veterans, holocaust victims, and their families for attempting to take political advantage over offensive comments instead of condemning ignorant remarks by someone so clearly in the wrong.  Her remarks were ignorant of the history of the many American veterans who fought and paid the ultimate price to protect us from Nazi hordes. There are many members of Jewish heritage in the House of Representatives and Jewish citizens of New Hampshire and Norelli  should apologize for failing to come to their side.”

SMITH HOLDS HUDSON TOWN HALL; RECIEVES ENDORSEMENT FROM PROMINENT VETERAN

MANCHESTER – Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for governor, will hold a town hall meeting on TUESDAY, MAY 15 at 6:00PM at the American Legion Post 48 in Hudson. Smith will talk about his New Hampshire’s Future Is Now plan and take and answer questions from the audience.

Smith will also be introduced and formally endorsed by Hudson resident, long-time Republican activist, and Past State Commander of the Veterans for Foreign Wars, Paul Chevalier. Chevalier has chaired veterans coalitions for numerous presidential and state candidates, including John McCain, George W. Bush, and Sen. John E. Sununu.

What:             Kevin Smith holds town hall meeting

When:            Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00pm

Where:           American Legion Post 48

                        2 Fulton Street

                        Hudson, NH 03051

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta statement on House passage of the Homes for Heroes Act for military veterans

“This bill can go a long way in helping to get more veterans off the streets and into a warm bed each night.”

(Washington – March 30, 2012)    Faced with mounting homelessness among military veterans, the U.S. House of Representatives addressed the problem this week.  It passed H.R. 3298, the Homes for Heroes Act, which would create a special position within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate services for homeless veterans, and also work with other agencies and private groups to assist them.  H.R. 3298 was approved on Tuesday with a strong bipartisan vote of 414-5.

Rep. Guinta issued the following statement:

“Homelessness among military veterans is unacceptably high, with one-fifth of our nation’s homeless population having once worn the uniform. Veterans Affairs estimates over 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and, over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. These numbers are deeply troubling and don’t reflect a grateful nation’s commitment to those who have served it.  I want to make sure these heroes who are facing trying circumstances get the assistance they deserve.  This bill can go a long way in helping to get more veterans off the streets and into a warm bed each night.  I urge the Senate to act swiftly and pass the Homes for Heroes Act.”

NH DHHS Announces Community Living Initiative for Veterans

Concord, NH – The NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Bureau

of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS) in collaboration with the Belknap

County ServiceLink Resource Center, Lakes Region Partnership for Public

Health and the VA Medical Center in Manchester have launched a new program

to better assist Veterans. The program is a consumer-directed option for

Veterans who are eligible for nursing home placement yet wish to remain in

the community.


"This program presents an exciting opportunity for New Hampshire Veterans

and their Caregivers," said DHHS’ Bureau Chief of Community Based Military

Programs, Jo Moncher. "Veterans can remain in their home while still

receiving the care they need. They have served our country, and this

program allows us to serve them - with the dignity and quality of life that

they deserve."


The Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program (VD-HCBS) is

in response to a national effort by the Veterans Health Administration to

allow Veterans receiving services more choice and control over the services

they receive.


The VD-HCBS program is being piloted in Belknap County through the

ServiceLink Resource Center. The program was officially launched with a

ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health in

Laconia.


“Cutting the ribbon symbolizes a radical change in how aging Veterans with

chronic and disabling conditions, choose, pay for, evaluate and modify the

home care services they need to remain in their homes,” said Erik

Johannessen, Social Work Executive at the Manchester VAMC. “The Department

of Veteran Affairs, in a true pioneering spirit, with state and community

partners, moves the control of necessary home care services from outside of

the Veteran to the Veteran.”



BEAS Administrator Diane Langley welcomes the implementation of this new

program. “The self-directed model that is critical to the Veterans Directed

HCBS program is consistent with the direction of home and community based

care programs offered by DHHS,” she said. “BEAS thanks all of the partners

involved in the start-up of this program, at the federal, state, and

community level, for their commitment to expanding the range of options

available to veterans and their families.”


More information about Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Care

Services can be found on the Veterans Administration website at:

http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Veteran_Directed_Home_and_Community_Based_Services_Program.asp

or by calling Belknap County ServiceLink at 603-528-6945.

US Rep Bass Announces Interns in District Office; All four interns previously served in armed forces

NASHUA, NH – Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) announced that several veterans have been interning in his Nashua Office this spring and assisting Congressional staff with research, constituent services, and other outreach.  All four interns also assist Bass with his military and veterans advisory boards, which meet on a regular basis to offer advice and suggestions on legislation and other matters affecting New Hampshire’s veterans community.

From left to right:

Nicole Costigan of Concord, a 15-year combat veteran of the U.S. Army and currently serving in the New Hampshire Air Force National Guard; Colin Beswick of Manchester, a three-year member of the New Hampshire Army National Guard who recently returned from combat duty in Iraq and is finishing an associate program at New Hampshire Technical Institute before starting his bachelor’s degree at the University of New Hampshire; Congressman Charles Bass; Scott Whitaker of Ashland, a member of the New Hampshire Army National Guard who recently returned from his second deployment and is now a first-year law student at the University of New Hampshire School of Law; and Congressional Fellow Bob Broneske of Londonderry, retired U.S. Air Force and currently Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire State Veterans Advisory Committee and Regional Director of the Combat Motorcycle Veterans Association.

http://bass.house.gov