WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following various meetings with veterans throughout Appalachian Ohio, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced legislation today during a news conference call that would expand access to services and benefits for veterans living in Appalachia. The Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would authorize a cooperative agreement between the Secretary of VA and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Rep. Wilson introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"Veterans in Appalachia deserve the same level of services and benefits received by veterans in Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati," Brown said. "But veterans in Appalachia face unique challenges - from geographic isolation to misallocation and distribution of resources - too many Appalachian veterans struggle with the VA. It is vital that the VA utilize the ARC's unique knowledge of the region so all of Ohio's veterans receive services and benefits they have earned."

"I'm grateful Senator Brown is spearheading this important effort in the Senate, and I am working on companion legislation that I plan to introduce in the House very soon," said Rep. Charlie Wilson (OH-6). "Our veterans not only deserve quality care, but they have earned it. Too often, our rural veterans lack the resources necessary to access their Federal benefits and services. That's just not fair and we need to fix it."

There are more than 179,000 veterans in Appalachia's 32 counties who received more than $271 million in VA Benefits in 2009. Sen. Brown and Rep. Wilson are working to inform veterans about all the benefits for which they are eligible. Brown released an analysis on Veterans in Appalachia and the county-by-county breakdown of benefits allocated to Appalachia.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Linking the VA with the ARC would help the VA adapt its outreach efforts to consider the unique challenges of the region. Brown's legislation would provide outreach and other technical assistance to Veterans in Appalachia. This joint effort would ensure that veterans are aware of all the VA benefits for which they are eligible, along with other services and credits, from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), to Small Business Association (SBA) loans, to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Earlier this month, Sen. Brown held a field hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs in Cambridge to examine access to services and benefits for veterans living in the Appalachian region. He heard from veterans living throughout southeast Ohio who discussed job retraining, education, and disability compensation. Sen. Brown also visited the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in April where he met with VA leadership, union representatives, and veterans to examine veterans' issues, including veteran homelessness and benefit reforms. Brown also toured the Special Care Unit at the facility.

Sen. Brown previously held a hearing in New Philadelphia in 2007 that explored medical issues facing Veterans in Appalachia. Following this hearing, Sen. Brown introduced the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007 to require the VA to reimburse private hospitals for emergency care before a veteran is transferred to a VA medical facility.

Brown, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, is the author of several legislative initiatives that would strengthen our nation's commitment to veterans by improving education reimbursements and expanding employment protection for former service members. Brown has held more than 140 community events since being sworn into office in 2007 - holding at least one roundtable discussion with community leaders in each of Ohio's 88 counties. Many of Brown's legislative priorities, including his jobs initiatives, originated from these discussions.

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