On Thursday, New York State Sen. Rob Ortt will attend the White House as a guest for a special conference that is being coordinated by the White House's office of intergovernmental affairs. This event will examine how veterans and their families are currently supported through state and federal government relationships.
As a veteran and a state legislator, Ortt is uniquely positioned to lend his first-hand experience with state and federal veteran services and help bring to light any positive or negative aspects of the way veterans receive care.
"I am thrilled to be headed to the White House where I'll have the opportunity to share my first-hand experiences with policymakers and senior administration officials and assist in improving care for our veterans," he said. "Our men and women of the armed forces and their families sacrifice so much in service to our country and it is imperative that they are provided with every service necessary once home. For many service members, battles against invisible scars such as depression and PTSD are far from over once they return back to the states, and it is important that our state and federal governments continue to communicate when it comes to caring for our veterans. I am honored to be part of this process."
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Ortt is keenly aware of New York's mental health programs and services available to veterans. His team said that, "While President Trump's administration has been very active in crafting legislation to aid families and caregivers of wounded veterans, improving access and availability to these programs continues to be an ongoing effort."
