Your Advocacy Matters: Passing of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act

Advocacy is at the heart of ALS New Mexico’s mission, and as such we want to highlight a recent victory for our Veterans in our community. On Monday, November 18th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Not only does this show that our voices can have an impact across the country, but will greatly assist Veterans in and outside the ALS community gain access to vital care and support.

What Is The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act?

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is a significant step forward for our country in fostering home- and community-based services, quality care options, and help provide timely, critical care for Veterans. Veterans will be provided with better support systems, more options for autonomy in home and community care, and improvement of resources, infrastructure, and the VA.

What Does The Passing of This Act Do for Veterans in the ALS Community?

Veterans with ALS will benefit from the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act as well. Allowing for better and higher-quality care for Veterans living with ALS. Specifically for Veterans living with ALS, this act will help provide them with:

• Improved access to VA healthcare services, and streamlined admin processes across the board.
• Expanded home care support for Veterans with ALS who want to receive care from the comfort of their home.
• Provides caregivers of Veterans with ALS assistance and support through mental health grants.
• Improvements made to long-term care services for Veterans with ALS and other disabilities.
• Outreach to First Nations Tribes and support, utilizing grants for tribal VSO assistance to Native American Veterans with ALS.

How You Can Get Involved and Help Advocate?

Using our voices to advocate for the ALS community is one of the most important things we can do at ALS New Mexico. Not only do we want to offer local support and resources, but we want to continue to fight for further funding and recognition of ALS’s impact locally and nationally. Outreach is vital for the continued betterment of our ALS community country-wide. If you want to help us make a difference, become an advocate, volunteer with us, or get involved and help us in the fight to end ALS the New Mexico way.