Today, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston Spa) joined Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski), Assemblyman Jake Ashby (R,C,I,Ref-Castleton) and Sen. Daphne Jordan (R,C,I,Ref-Halfmoon) at a “Voices for Veterans” press conference in Albany. The legislators called for the immediate restoration of the governor’s proposed $5.68 million in cuts to veterans services in this year’s Executive Budget. Ashby has been holding “Voices for Veterans” events across the state to raise awareness of the drastic funding cuts.

“Our veterans, whether they have served in combat abroad or served at home, work tirelessly to protect our freedoms. We should be ensuring programs that benefit our veterans are fully funded. Instead, the governor proposes cutting almost $6 million to programs that assist our veterans. What does this say about the governor’s priorities regarding veterans? To protect our veterans services, I support legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Ashby that would conduct a study on making the Division of Veterans’ Services into a state agency, independent from the executive department (A.9149). These programs are too important to be gutted every year, then subject to the same horse-trading we see on other budget items,” said Walsh.

“The Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Veterans’ Counseling Program, an important resource for our veterans, is not only seeing cuts, but is proposed to be eliminated,” continued Walsh. “Peer-to-peer counseling for our veterans works. A rising number of veterans are experiencing PTSD and traumatic brain injury with 22 veterans committing suicide each day. Now, it’s more important than ever for programs like the Joseph P. Dwyer Program to exist. It’s unconscionable to balance this state budget on the backs of our brave and selfless service members. I’m calling for our veterans services to be fully restored immediately.”