Veterans’ advocates are making sure President-Elect Trump has the best interests of the nation’s veterans in mind as he prepares to take office. The group Disabled American Veterans has a list of priorities the next commander-in-chief needs to address during his administration. One key provision is assuring vets have access to quality and timely health care – something that’s received a lot of scrutiny recently here in Alabama. Joy Ilem is the Legislative Director for Disabled American Veterans. She says the Veterans Affairs medical system is already undergoing reforms that may gibe with the new President.
“Secretary McDonald has already brought in a lot of people with outside business acumen, which I think Mr. Trump can appreciate. Really, I think everyone’s goal is the same: Have a really strong VA that’s there for our veterans, especially those that need those specialized services that you can only get at the VA.”
Ilem says those services include rehabilitation for blindness and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The list also includes traumatic brain injury recovery and other conditions associated with combat.