Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
ASHLAND, OH – Today, on Veterans Day, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined student veterans and leaders from Ashland University to tour the school’s new Military and Veteran Resource center. Brown also participated in Veterans Day activities organized by the University’s Veterans Service office, which included a silent watch every 15 minutes to raise awareness of mental health and suicide rates among veterans. Brown serves on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and in that role he advocates for the issues that veterans face.
“Too many college campuses locate student veteran resource centers in the back corners of the library and don’t provide the same sort of community atmosphere that Ashland is creating,” said Brown. “With this Veterans Resource Center, Ashland University is sending a clear message: veterans are an integral part of this campus community.”
Brown has long fought for veterans’ mental health needs, especially those who are returning to civilian life. Earlier this year, Brown introduced the Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act — bipartisan legislation named to honor the memory of two Marines who died by suicide, Iowan Cpl. Adam Lambert and Rhode Islander Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Harvey Jr. — which would create a pilot program to add a new component to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
Brown toured the new facility with Randy Spade, Director of Ashland University Veterans Services and spoke with student veterans.
“The mental health of our current and former service members is of the utmost importance to us at Ashland University. That’s why this Veterans Day, we’re doing everything we can to provide support, encouragement and comfort to our student veterans throughout the day with various activities and events that focus on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our students. We’re so excited to welcome Senator Brown to campus to help us in our efforts to lift up our military-connected students and celebrate and honor their service and sacrifice,” said Randy Spade, Director of Ashland University Veterans Services.
“We often lament the Veterans’ ‘loss’ of social connectivity, yet we do not provide them with the freedoms and tools necessary to associate, build communities, and regain civic and self-confidence. This does not mean that we ought to embellish their service-for it is already the most of what a citizen can give – but it does mean that we must bear the burden of showing our appreciation every other day than the 11th,” said Nathan Vacha, Ashland University student veteran, United States Marine Corps.
During a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing earlier this month, Brown pressed a Department of Defense (DOD) official for updates on issues facing veterans reentering civilian life. In the hearing, Brown focused on facilitating smooth, healthy transitions to civilian life with regard to mental health and exposure of environmental toxins.
During his questioning of Under Secretary Cisneros, Brown highlighted stories from Ohio veterans who have struggled with the transition from service to civilian life, and pressed for a plan to help servicemembers as they transition from DoD to VA care.
Brown’s legislation builds on his earlier work to improve the transition process for servicemembers. In 2018, Brown introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Sen Mike Rounds (R-SD), the Better Access to Technical Training, Learning, and Entrepreneurship for Servicemembers Act (BATTLE) for Servicemembers Act, which will better connect servicemembers with resources to secure quality education and good-paying jobs as they transition from military service to civilian life. According to a 2017 GAO report, only 14 percent of servicemembers completed at least one additional two-day training program after completing the three day required portion of TAP. Currently, TAP training covers a curriculum that includes sessions on veterans’ benefits, financial planning, and post-service employment. The BATTLE for Servicemembers Act will now supplement the current training and better tailor the sessions to fit the needs of servicemembers.
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