| Press Release |
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| December 10, 2008 |
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Governor Receives Final Report from Task Force on Veterans' Services
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today received the final report from his Task Force on Veterans’ Services in a meeting with task force members. The Governor appointed the task force in March and charged them to review all Oregon veterans’ policy and services and determine what works, what does not and how Oregon could enhance its services and benefits to veterans.
“This report is one of the most comprehensive efforts ever completed that identifies how we can better serve all of the men and women who have sacrificed for our country,” Governor Kulongoski said. “I am committed to making sure we implement the recommendations in this report and ensure we are doing all we can to help Oregon’s veterans.”
Some of the key findings of the report show that:
- Substantial amounts of federal aid are unrealized because only 80,000 of 351,000 Oregon veterans are identified through the Census are in the system;
- Expansion of Veteran’s Service Officers outreach should be extended to every public university and community college campuses;
- There is an increasing need for funding of local assistance to veterans in cases of unforeseen or catastrophic financial circumstances;
- Existing facilities for women veterans, especially those with children, are insufficient for current and projected needs;
- Existing reintegration collaborative strategies should be expanded in scope to provide regional “mini-summits” on a bi-monthly basis to better coordinate reintegration efforts on state and local levels.
The Governor committed to working administratively and with the legislature to address these key findings.
“This report gives us a road map on how to reach out to more veterans across Oregon and provide them whatever services they may need,” Governor Kulongoski said. “The goal is to ensure we are making every effort to provide the needed services veterans deserve and I look forward to collaborating with Oregon’s state and federal lawmakers to ensure we are doing everything we can to care for the men and women who have served our country selflessly.”
Some of the next steps the Governor will take to provide more assistance and support to Oregon veterans and their families include:
- Working with state agencies to help identify veterans through self-identification process;
- Working with the legislature to secure the $1.4 million in the Governor’s budget to expand Veteran’s Service Officers across the state and the $250,000 in additional funding for the Departments Veterans Emergency Aid Program, increasing the fund to $750,000;
- Working with the legislature to create a task force to research the feasibility of transitioning the Eastern Oregon Training Center and other sites into a women’s health facility in partnership with US VA;
- Introducing legislation to expand reintegration efforts and better identify veterans in order to obtain services for them.
Working since March, the task force reviewed policy, procedures and services for three months, and then traveled the state, holding public town hall meetings, as well as meetings with local leaders, in 24 Oregon communities. More than 500 Oregonians participated in discussions around the state and suggested nearly 60 proposals to improve veterans’ services. Those proposals were condensed into 39 recommendations presented to the Governor in the 277-page report.
To view a copy of the complete report, click here.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
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