CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN TO DELIVER DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES AT ALL-IN-ONE RESOURCE FAIR

May 25, 2024

Congressman Pat Ryan to Deliver Direct Assistance to Veterans and Military Families at All-In-One Resource Fair

Ryan will bring together over 25 organizations, government offices, and community partners from across the Hudson Valley for an all-in-one event to connect veterans and military families with resources and support

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan announced that he is bringing together organizations, government offices, and community partners from across the Hudson Valley for an all-in-one resource fair to connect veterans, servicemembers, and military families with support and resources. The Veterans and Military Families Resource Fair will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at Falcon Hall at Dutchess Community College at 30 Mascot Drive Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

“Our veterans, servicemembers, and military families make huge sacrifices to protect and serve our nation. As a West Point alum and veteran of two combat tours myself, I’m working every day to deliver the full support and resources they deserve, ” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Whether you need assistance accessing military records, signing up for PACT Act benefits, or want to come be a part of the Hudson Valley veterans and military family community, please join us on June 1. ”

“I would like to sincerely thank Congressman Ryan's office for all their assistance with reinstating my disability compensation benefit payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs and retrieving over $15,000.00 in retroactive benefit payments,” said Beacon resident and veteran Christopher Kattis.

“I have been waiting since July 2023 for my army records as I was advised to seek a claim after being exposed to Agent Orange during my military duty. There is a time limit and I was worried as I was not receiving any help,” said Benjamin Talutto, a veteran from Rosendale. “Two weeks after calling Congressman Ryan’s office, I am now picking up my 52 pages of military records tomorrow. I knew his office would be competent and get the job done. Thank you.”

“My father is a 100 year-old WW 2 veteran. He has been in fairly good health for probably 93 of those 100 years! Currently he is needing a lot of assistance to be able to stay in his own home,” said Barbara Sickler of Stone Ridge. “I reached out to Congressman Ryan’s office to see what services he would be eligible for through the Veterans Administration. I received a call from a staff member and we are on our way to getting the help we need. Thank you so much.”

“I had been trying to obtain my father's DD214 for over 6 months with no success,” said Janet Langdale of Red Hook. “Within weeks of contacting Congressman Ryan’s office, they got me the information that I needed. Thank you so much for your help in this matter.”

“I had been struggling with the VA about some disability benefits. I called Congressman Ryan's office and they resolved the issue in two weeks,” said Franklin Estevez, a veteran from Staatsburg. “I had been trying for months with no luck. The help was immediate and got better results than I could have imagined.”

Congressman Ryan’s office is hosting the Veterans and Military Families Resource Fair in partnership with Dutchess Community College, Dutchess County Veterans Services, and the office of Assemblymember Didi Barrett. Ryan’s team of expert caseworkers will be on hand to assist with federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD). A more complete list of the military and veterans related services that Congressman Ryan’s office provides includes, but is not limited to:

Assistance with VA benefits and claims, including appealing denials
Assistance navigating VA healthcare, including patient advocacy
Transition to civilian life support
Education and training benefits
Mental health resources
Accessing legal services
Obtaining military records and awards
Homelessness prevention
Support for caregivers, surviving spouses, and family members
Networking and engaging in the veteran community
Advocating for legislation

Over 25 community partners and organizations will be at the Veterans and Military Resource Fair to offer direct assistance to attendees. Current community partners include:

Dutchess Community College Veterans Services
Dutchess County Veterans Services
The office of Assemblymember Didi Barrett
Ulster County Veterans Service Agency
New York State Department of Veterans' Services
Dutchess County Vet2Vet
Clear Path 4 Vets
NY Helmets to Hardhats
SAR Flag
The office of Senator Rob Rolison
New York State Office of Mental Health
New York State Comptroller's Office
The IRS Office of Taxpayer Advocate
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
AARP
New York State Troopers
New York State Department of Civil Services
Westchester Medical Center
Vassar College
Rebuilding Together
Nuvance Health
Hudson Valley Hospice
Gateway Hudson Valley
Aetna Medicare Solutions
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

For more information about the Veterans and Military Families Resource Fair, please contact Congressman Ryan’s office at (845) 443-2930. Veterans, servicemembers, or military families who are in need of assistance, but cannot attend the Resource Fair are encouraged to reach out to Congressman Ryan’s office by calling (845) 443-2930 or visiting PatRyan.House.Gov/Services.

Congressman Ryan has previously hosted all-in-one resource fairs, including a Senior Resource Fair in April that brought direct assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County and multiple Flood Recovery Resources Fairs last summer in the communities impacted by July’s catastrophic flooding. Ryan also mobilized his Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van for a Veterans Week of Action in November to deliver direct assistance to veterans at veterans service organizations across NY-18.

Congressman Ryan is the first West Point alum to represent the Military Academy in Congress and is a veteran of two combat tours in Iraq. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and has made delivering for veterans, servicemembers, and military families a priority. After pushing for months for a partnership between VA and DoD, Ryan announced that Hudson Valley veterans will now be able to access expanded healthcare services at Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point. Ryan also recently delivered $1 million in federal funds for the Rumshock Veterans Foundation to build ten homes for unhoused veterans in Orange County as part of its Veterans Village Project.

Ryan introduced the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2023, the Expanding Home Loans for Guard and Reservists Act, and the Never Forgotten Korean War POW Act to expand access to benefits for veterans, servicemembers, and military families.

###