Dems show support for veterans’ budget request
Published February 3, 2023; 1:58 p.m.


NASHVILLE, TN -- The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus is asking Governor Bill Lee to support more aid for the state’s veterans. The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS) recently requested Governor Lee to add an additional $5 million into his upcoming budget to sufficiently address an expected increase in requests for assistance.

More than 5 million veterans nationally are now eligible for expanded healthcare benefits after President Joe Biden increased federal VA health care services for men and women who were exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, radiation and/or other toxic substances during Vietnam, the Gulf War and other combat operations. TDVS officials say they are experiencing a 30% increase in workload, including direct calls for assistance with aid. In a letter to Lee (see attached), Democrats state, “Our veterans deserve to be able to reasonably rely on our state, for which they have done so much, for timely and able assistance with their benefits.”

Minority Caucus Leader Karen Camper of Memphis says, “As a veteran myself, I’m thankful to the Biden Administration for providing additional help for those who have served their county and for the relief it will provide for Tennessee veterans. Now we need to do our part.” Leader Camper is a retired Chief Warrant Officer Three in the Army and worked in Military Intelligence.

“It’s a no-brainer that providing additional resources for the Department of Veterans Services is the right answer,” added Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville. Glynn served more than 23 years in the Army and retired as an Army Master Sergeant. “Years of breathing toxic fumes have taken a toll on so many of us, so processing applications and educating our veterans is vitally important to ensure we are taking care of them.”

The lead signatures on the letter are Democratic Caucus members who are also veterans: Leader Camper and Representatives Glynn, Antonio Parkinson and Dwayne Thompson of Memphis, and Bill Beck of Nashville, followed by the entire caucus membership.