When individuals enlist in the military, they make a commitment whose demands can extend far beyond their years in uniform. In return, our government promises that support will continue after military service ends.
The promise should mean something practical: help navigating benefits, access to care, and support for families managing the lasting effects of service. Speeches and ceremonies matter, but gratitude must be matched by action.
In Connecticut, our HERO Acts (a series of laws supporting veterans, service members, and military families) put that responsibility into practice. Together, these measures address the financial, health care, and administrative challenges that can follow military service. Each builds on a straightforward principle: benefits are only meaningful when veterans can access them.
For many veterans, that begins with having someone who can help them navigate a complicated system.
We increased the required staffing at Connecticut’s Office of Advocacy and Assistance from 10 to 19 employees, including an increase from eight to 14 veterans’ service officers. These officers help veterans understand their eligibility and pursue the benefits they have earned.
Requiring more positions, however, is only the first step. We must ensure those positions are filled and that veterans can receive the assistance they need.
We also expanded protections so that certain federal veterans’ pension benefits are not counted as income when determining eligibility for specified state assistance programs, to the extent federal law allows. Those programs include help with energy bills, health coverage, Medicare costs, temporary family assistance, and home care for older adults.
For a veteran on a fixed income, that distinction matters. A pension intended to provide financial stability should not unnecessarily make it harder to qualify for help heating a home or receiving care. Eligibility still depends on the rules of each program, but these protections address a barrier that can leave families struggling despite the benefits they receive.
Our work on dental care shows how one law can lay the groundwork for the next.
The first HERO Act required an examination of gaps in veterans’ dental care. This year, we followed through by establishing a Veterans Dental Care Access Program, with applications scheduled to begin in January 2027.
The program is intended to help eligible veterans who do not receive VA dental care access services such as examinations, fillings, crowns, dentures, and oral surgery. It is an upcoming source of assistance, and making sure veterans understand how and when to apply will be essential.
We have investigated actions to improve access to nursing home care for qualifying veterans and begun examining ways to expand long-term care options.
These commitments extend to military families. Spouses manage households during deployments. Children change schools because of military orders. Families adjust together to the long-term effects of service.
The HERO Acts help military-connected children maintain educational support when they move, including children receiving special education services. They also support children transitioning into Connecticut’s early intervention programs. We expanded higher education fee waivers for eligible veterans and National Guard members.
These measures address everyday concerns: continuing an education, maintaining a child’s services, and managing household expenses.
Veterans and families seeking help understanding benefits and eligibility can contact Connecticut’s Office of Advocacy and Assistance at 1-866-928-8387.
Passing legislation is only the beginning. Our responsibility is to ensure that programs are implemented, services reach those who need them, and families know where to turn. Veterans and their loved ones should not have to navigate the lasting burdens of service alone.
Honoring our veterans takes more than gratitude. It takes leadership, legislation, and the commitment to follow through.
State Rep. Jaime Foster (D-57) is House Chair; State Sen. Paul Honig (D-8) is Senate Chair; and Rep. Hubert Delany (D-144) is Vice Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.