Supporting Veterans
Sherman is working hard to ensure that our nation's veterans have access to quality health care and benefits, as well as jobs, education, and affordable housing.
Congressman Sherman's voting record has been rated 100% consistent with the policies of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion.
Below are some of Sherman's recent efforts to support our nation's veterans.
Help Getting Your VA Benefits
It has been Sherman's commitment to help veterans and their families secure the benefits to which they are entitled, including VA pensions, disability benefits, VA medical services, burial benefits, military records, and replacement medals.
Over the years, Sherman's office has helped thousands of veterans receive such benefits, including many who had originally been denied by the VA.
If you are having difficulty in obtaining your VA benefits, or if the VA has unfairly denied services or is simply unresponsive, Congressman Sherman's constituent services team stands ready to assist you.
Opposing Cuts to Veterans Health Coverage
Sherman continues to oppose any cuts to veterans health care, and Medicaid still plays a significant role in providing healthcare for low-income veterans and veterans with disabilities. An estimated 1.6 million veterans are currently enrolled in Medicaid, including for coverage of chronic health conditions, PTSD, and long-term services and support. These spending bills provided more than $140 billion to support our veterans including $119 billion for Veterans Medical Care.
Sherman voted against the health care cuts that will unfairly target veterans, placed in a highly partisan spending bill, known as H.R. 1 or the Big Ugly Bill. These cuts were made to pay for tax benefits for the most wealthy. While the bill did not directly cut VA benefits, it imposed new restrictions of health care access which will particularly harm those veterans with some of the most complex health needs.
"We should be improving veterans health care across the board, not cutting it," said Congressman Sherman.
The Honoring Our Pact Act and Expanding VA Eligibility
Sherman was proud to help pass the Honoring Our Pact Act (PACT Act). This legislation was the largest expansion of veterans’ health benefits in history. It will enable as many as 3.5 million veterans to access critical health benefits if they suffered toxic exposure during their service, including toxic burn pits and Agent Orange.
The PACT Act streamlined the VA process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions, ensuring that veterans do not have to wait decades for help. Last year, the VA began implementation of the PACT Act.
To reach the VA hotline and learn more about your eligibility, you can call 1-800-MYVA411 (800-698-2411). It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to answer questions about your benefits.
Increasing Housing Access for Homeless Disabled Veterans
Many disabled veterans – that needed assistance the most – had been unable to access housing programs on the West LA VA Campus designated for veterans because of how income has been defined.
In February, Congressman Sherman reintroduced the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA) to permanently ensure that VA disability benefits are not used to disqualify a veteran from eligibility for veteran housing.
Sherman is proud to report that the House of Representatives passed his bill without a single objection less than a week after Sherman reintroduced it. Sherman remains hopeful that the Senate will act quickly so that it can be signed into law.
Congressman Sherman also worked with his California House and Senate colleagues to help pass the West Los Angeles VA Campus Improvement Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2021. Due to this legislation, the VA is now allowed to contribute lease revenues generated at the West LA VA campus to the development of supportive housing and services for homeless veterans.
Approximately $300 million in federal funds has already been dedicated for improvements to the West LA VA for improvements to the campus to improve access to veterans healthcare services. Last March, Shermansecured an additional $1.5 million in federal funds to provide more housing for veterans at the West LA VA.
These funds will be used to transform an existing office building into permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans.
Additional Resources for Assistance
Congressman Sherman's Constituent Services Team has helped many of our veterans cut through red tape and delays to get the medical appointments they need. Don't hesitate to contact our team at (818) 501-9200 or visit BradSherman.house.gov/Help
The following information is for veterans. Please contact our office for assistance with any questions or problems you may have.
- How can I contact the Department of Veterans Affairs?
- How can I get education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill?
- How can I get medical benefits?
- How can I get information on suicide prevention?
- How can I get a home loan?
- How can I get life insurance?
- How can I get vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits?
- How can I get survivor benefits?
- What drug benefits are available?
- How can I get a copy of my military records?
- How can I apply for a medal, award, or decoration that I earned while in the service?
- What other services are available to me?
- Where can I get more information on Federal benefits for veterans?
- Where can I get more information on CALIFORNIA benefits for veterans?
- Where can I get help getting my veterans benefits?
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More on Supporting Veterans
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Representatives Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Levin (CA-49) and Ted Lieu (CA-36) introduced The Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act, a bill to ensure VA disability benefits are not used to deny veterans access to affordable housing.
Washington, DC – Today, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in coordination with the Department of Treasury and state and local programs, has decided to amend its definition of annual income to exclude VA service-connected disability payments received by a disabled veteran for eligibility purposes for housing built under the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), along with Reps.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On January 25th, Congressmen Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Ted Lieu (CA-36) urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to change its policy on counting service-connected disability benefits as income so that homeless disabled veterans can access housing.