RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Strategy to Support Veterans Following Dangerous Layoffs at VA

Above: Gottheimer announces new legislation to get the backs of veterans.

HACKENSACK, NJ — Today, Friday, February 14, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined local Jersey veterans at the Hackensack VFW to announce new legislation aimed at improving services for veterans. This announcement comes in the wake of the Administration firing more than 1,000 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs, threatening access to the critical services that veterans depend on.

Gottheimer’s “Support Our Veterans Strategy” includes legislation to improve the quality and accessibility of housing for veterans, streamline the benefits appeal process, and connect service members with vital resources to combat food insecurity as they transition to civilian life.

Video of Gottheimer’s announcement can be found here.

Barriers that Veterans Face

• The average VA appeals process can take up to a year and a half just to reach a decision — and in some cases, it can take even longer.
• Each year, approximately 200,000 VA appeals are backlogged, while only around 90,000 cases are resolved.
• An estimated 200,000 service members transition to civilian life annually, with one in five non-active-duty military and veteran families facing food insecurity.

Gottheimer’s Support Our Veterans Strategy

• Gottheimer is introducing the No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act to help connect our service members and their families with access to nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP and WIC, during their transition from military to civilian life.
• Gottheimer is introducing the VA Appeals Reform Act to help streamline the appeals process for veterans. This legislation will require the VA to provide veterans with access to key documents related to their claims, create an electronic filing system to further improve access to case records, and give the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims more power to review decisions. 
• Gottheimer is introducing the Veterans Emergency and Timely Support Act, or VETS Act. This legislation will require a resident advocate at every veteran’s home in New Jersey and across the country. This advocate will be a direct line of contact and a voice for our veterans and their families, ensuring that every day they have access to someone who can immediately help with any concerns and respond and elevate their needs to the necessary levels.
• Gottheimer helped introduce new bipartisan legislation, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA), which passed the House unanimously earlier this week. This legislation will amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of annual income to exclude disability payments, giving our veterans greater eligibility for housing through the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

“Just last night, the Administration announced it was laying off one thousand employees at the VA who work so hard to help our veterans. After sacrificing so much, our veterans and active-duty military should never struggle to get the care, recognition, and respect they have rightfully earned,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’ve been proud, since my first days in Congress, to lead both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to care for and protect our veterans. It is our duty as Americans not only to honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen and women — but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. Here in the greatest country in the world, we will always take care of our own.”

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergenfield Mayor Marvin Amatorio, Bergenfield Council President Ora Kornbluth, Bergenfield Councilman Buddy Deauna, Bergenfield Councilman Marc Pascual, Bergenfield Councilman Hernando Rivera, Bergenfield Councilman Thomas Lodato, Bergenfield Councilman Domingo Almonte, Bergenfield VFW Post #6467 Commander Warren Williams, Bergen County Veteran Services Director Shaun Hutchinson, Assistant Director of Catholic Charities David Pearson, and Kyle Hansen of Catholic Charities.

Below: Gottheimer meets with North Jersey veterans

Below: Gottheimer makes Valentine’s cards for veterans with North Jersey children. 

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Happy Valentine’s Day, and we are here this morning to deliver Valentines from students across northern New Jersey to our veterans — to show them our love and appreciation. But, today is also the anniversary of the Parkland school shooting that took 17 lives seven years ago. 

There are no words to describe the loss of our children’s lives and their educators at senseless school shootings. We must never stop working to strengthen our gun safety laws and protect our children and families. 

We also must never stop fighting to help our nation’s veterans. In every era, the United States military, America’s heroes, have put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, our families, and the greatest democracy the world has ever known. 

The reality is that freedom isn’t free — and that’s not just a line. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I see it today with the new axis of evil — China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. We owe these brave men and women an immense debt of gratitude for all they do to protect our flag, our democracy, and our freedom.

I am so proud of all the students participating in our annual Valentines for Vets event, and this is just one small way we can say thank you to our veterans for their service. I just met first graders in Glenrock and so many other schools sent in cards — more than 3,000.

As President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

That’s why we are all here today — to show our gratitude for our veterans with our deeds, not just our words. Just last night, the Administration announced it was laying off one thousand employees at the VA who work so hard to help our veterans. After sacrificing so much, our veterans and active-duty military should never struggle to get the care, recognition, and respect they have rightfully earned. Unfortunately, and far too often, they do. That’s why I’m honored to announce my “Support Our Veterans Strategy” to ensure we get the backs of those who’ve bravely had ours.

First, we need to do more to connect our veterans with the benefits that they’ve earned, like their healthcare appointments at the VA or housing assistance. Too often, bureaucracy and red tape cause severe delays and force our veterans to jump through endless hoops just to get their benefits. And, they’re often turned down and forced to appeal. Shockingly, the average VA appeals process can take up to a year and a half just to hear a decision — and sometimes, it can take even longer than that. In fact, 200,000 VA appeals are backlogged every year, while only an estimated 90,000 cases get resolved.

I am introducing the VA Appeals Reform Act to help streamline the appeals process for veterans. This legislation will require the VA to provide veterans with access to key documents related to their claims, create an electronic filing system to further improve access to case records, and give the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims more power to review decisions. When you add it all up, we will help reduce delays, increase accuracy, and ensure veterans receive the hard-earned benefits they deserve.

Second, an estimated 200,000 Service members transition to civilian life every year — with one in five non-active-duty military and veteran families experiencing food insecurity. Yes, our veterans come home after protecting our freedom, and they can’t afford food for their families. That’s unacceptable. That’s why I’m introducing what I like to call the No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act to help connect our service members and their families with access to nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP and WIC, during their transition from military to civilian life. Our dedication to our veterans cannot end when their civilian life begins. With my legislation, we’ll help ensure that it doesn’t.

Third, the failure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at the Paramus and Menlo Park Veterans Home during the pandemic was one of the greatest tragedies New Jersey has ever witnessed. We can’t let it happen again. We must take steps to always protect the health and wellness of our veterans in state homes. So, I’ll also be introducing the Veterans Emergency and Timely Support Act, also known as the VETS Act. This legislation will require a resident advocate at every veteran’s home in New Jersey and across the country. 

This advocate will be a direct line of contact and a voice for our veterans and their families, ensuring that every day they have access to someone who can immediately help with any concerns and respond without delay.

I stepped in immediately when I learned there was a COVID outbreak affecting so many of our veterans here in Jersey during the pandemic. At least 190 veterans died from COVID at Paramus Veteran’s home and Menlo Park. We brought in the National Guard, more than 50 healthcare workers from the VA, and local medical support. 

We even helped bring in some of the top infectious disease doctors and physicians in the country to consult with medical staff. When the outbreak first occurred, and before many of us got a phone call from families, many veterans were in the dark and felt they had nowhere to turn. This legislation will help change that.

Finally, I’m proud to have helped introduce new bipartisan legislation, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA), which just passed the House unanimously earlier this week. 

Too many of our veterans have nowhere to live or they don’t qualify for assistance because their disability payments make them ineligible for more affordable housing. Many then end up with nowhere to go. This legislation will amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of annual income to exclude disability payments. This will give our veterans greater eligibility for housing through the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

I’ve been proud, since my first days in Congress, to lead both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to care for and protect our veterans — my first action in Congress was a VA amendment. I also successfully helped pass the bipartisan Korean American VALOR Act in the House of Representatives, to ensure that our Korean American War veterans — who sacrificed so much fighting arm in arm with Americans in Vietnam — get the care and recognition they earned. And, I helped get the bipartisan PACT Act signed into law to expand access to care and benefits for our brave veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances. 

Please know that I will never stop fighting for you. Whether that’s at the VA, a mental health issue, or helping a veteran get a job or support when you come back home, my office door is always open to our veterans. Just call my office at 201-389-1100 or email me at Josh.Gottheimer@mail.house.gov — we will get to work to help you, as we’ve done for hundreds and hundreds of veterans.

It is our duty as Americans not only to honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen and women — but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. And we can’t just do it on Valentine’s Day or Veterans Day — we must do it every day! Our veterans represent the best our nation has to offer — the ones who have sacrificed everything for the freedoms we cherish today. These are not red or blue issues — they are red, white, and blue issues.

Here in the greatest country in the world, we will always take care of our own. That’s how we ensure that our best days will always be ahead of us. God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

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