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If you know a Veteran, please forward this issue to him or her as it provides important updates, resources, and information.

In this Update:

• State Budget Supports Veterans and Their Families
• National Purple Heart Day
• New Law Connects Families of Deceased Services Members with Support
• Honoring Veterans with Visual Impairments with a Capitol Monument
• Addressing Veteran Homelessness
• VA and Steak ‘N Shake Promote Veterans Benefits
• Free Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses for Blind Veterans
• No-Cost TSA Precheck for Eligible Veterans
• Veterans Job Listing

State Budget Supports Veterans and Their Families 

On July 12, we finalized the 2026-27 state budget that included creating and enhancing programs and services aimed at assisting Pennsylvania Veterans and their families such as:

• Providing a 6.3% increase for tuition assistance to children of honorably discharged Veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during a period of war or armed conflict and children of Veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.
• Providing a 10.2% increase for the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans’ Pension, which gives eligible Veterans a $150 monthly pension.
• Establishing the Veterans’ Trust Fund Board within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to increase donations to the Veterans’ Trust Fund and provide for effective management of the fund.
• Requiring the Department of Human Services to expand online referral services and information for military Veterans and their families for transitional, temporary and permanent housing, job placement and career counseling and other services for Veterans returning to civilian life.

National Purple Heart Day

August 7 was National Purple Heart Day, which reminds us of the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice shown by the men and women who were killed or severely wounded serving our great nation.

One of the greatest blessings of holding elected office has been meeting and honoring the courageous individuals who gave so much in defense of our freedom. Their stories of service and resilience continue to inspire me every day.

We pause to remember, honor, and express our deepest gratitude to all Purple Heart recipients.

New Law Connects Families of Deceased Services Members with Support 

In an effort to better connect families with their local Veterans affairs office, the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 130, now Act 42 of 2026, which requires funeral directors and cemeteries to provide the family of a deceased serviceperson contact information for the county director of Veterans affairs. They must also notify the county director of Veterans affairs of the death of a service person within 96 hours of receiving their remains.

Pennsylvania county Veterans affairs offices are available to better assist Veterans access benefits for which they might be eligible, and their contact information can be found here.

Honoring Veterans with Visual Impairments with a Capitol Monument

A Braille Flag monument honoring Veterans with visual impairments could be installed at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building under legislation passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Braille Flag was created to honor the service of Veterans who have been left with life-long visual disabilities. Under Senate Bill 1303, the monument would be made of bronze and include the Pledge of Allegiance in Braille.

The display would be sponsored by the Moose Lodge and the American Braille Flag Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the placement of these flags throughout the country. Read more about Senate Bill 1303 here.

Addressing Veteran Homelessness 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Homeless Aging and Disabled Veterans Initiative aims to help homeless Veterans with chronic, complex health needs secure affordable housing within their communities or transition more easily to any higher levels of care they need. The initiative works to better integrate home and community healthcare, social services and permanent supportive housing.

Veterans experiencing homelessness should visit their local VA Medical Center for assistance. To find a VA Medical Center near you, visit their website here. For immediate assistance, contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

To learn more about VA Homeless Programs, click here.

VA and Steak ‘N Shake Promote Veterans Benefits 

VA has teamed up with Steak ‘n Shake to promote VA benefits and services and make it easier for Veterans to become owner-operators of Steak ‘n Shake franchises.

As a part of their agreement, Steak ‘n Shake will:

• Waive the $10,000 franchise fee for Veterans seeking to run their own franchise under its Franchise Partner Program for Veterans.
• Promote awareness of VA benefits and healthcare on their website and through in-restaurant signage.
• Prioritize hiring Veterans and VA beneficiaries, including family, caregivers and survivors for leadership positions across the company.

Find more information here.

Free Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses for Blind Veterans

Meta is donating free Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to every blind Veteran in the U.S.

Veterans can apply after becoming a Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) member. Veteran organizations can apply to receive glasses for the blinded Veterans in their communities here.

No-Cost TSA Precheck for Eligible Veterans 

The VETS (Veterans Expedited TSA Screening) Safe Travel Act was signed into law, allowing certain Veterans to receive no-cost TSA PreCheck enrollment. TSA PreCheck provides an expedited airport screening process with a more secure and streamlined security screening experience.

Eligible Veterans for the TSA PreCheck enrollment fee waiver must be enrolled in VA healthcare and have a VA-determined service-connected disability which requires the use of a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic limb due to loss or loss of use of an extremity, full or partial paralysis or permanent blindness.

A TSA PreCheck enrollment letter was sent to eligible Veterans and can be accessed online through their VA account.

Veterans Job Listing

Every week, the Pennsylvania National Guard Association updates its free job board with good openings for National Guard members, Veterans and their families across Pennsylvania and in nearby states. The board features nearly 10,000 employment and internship postings.