Fairfield Reporter

The Ohio Senate has taken a significant step in supporting the nation's military heroes by adopting Senate Concurrent Resolutions 8 and 9, sponsored by State Senator Tim Schaffer. The resolutions aim to address critical issues affecting veterans and active-duty military members.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 focuses on urging the federal government to reduce the wait time for processing veterans' disability claims. Senator Schaffer emphasized the importance of providing prompt service to veterans, stating, "Our veterans deserve prompt service since they gave everything to serve us." The resolution aims to tackle the backlog of claims, with 378,000 veterans having a claim pending in December 2023.

On the other hand, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 calls on the U.S. Congress to prioritize comprehensive mental health services for active-duty military members and veterans. Senator Schaffer highlighted the mental health crisis affecting military members and veterans, stressing the need for improved care and resources. The resolution emphasizes the importance of using qualified and licensed medical professionals to approve or disapprove mental health treatments, ensuring that our heroes receive the necessary support.

Senator Schaffer also raised concerns about the current practices within the VA, stating, "The committee heard testimony that even college interns are utilized by the VA to conduct mental health intake evaluations." The resolutions aim to push for better consideration of conditions like PTSD and traumatic brain injuries when discharging service members, advocating for fair access to VA health benefits for veterans.

Both Senate Concurrent Resolutions 8 and 9 were unanimously adopted by the Ohio Senate with a vote of 30-0. The resolutions will now move to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration.