Pappas Fights to Support Service Members and their Families with Health Care, Financial Assistance

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, is recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of military members and their families, while promoting the numerous recent efforts to provide them with affordable medical care and financial assistance.

“People serving in the armed forces and their families make huge sacrifices to keep our country safe, and we should take the time to recognize their contributions,” Pappas said. “Supporting a loved one who is facing danger, often overseas and hard to reach, can be emotionally and financially draining. We owe it to the brave men and women serving to assist their families.”

Pappas has diligently pursued legislation to benefit veterans and their families. She backed Senate Bill 1468, which allows families to take advantage of the Veterans and Military Personnel Discount Program to receive discounts on a wide-range of important products. She also supported House Bill 3424, which would create the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Task Force to evaluate Illinois’ disability compensation system and to investigate the outbreak of Legionnaires at the Quincy VA home. Finally, Pappas voted for House Bill 120, which creates the Veterans Service-Related Ailments Task Force to generate new solutions to help with the physical problems veterans face as a result of their service time.

“I encourage everyone in our community to appreciate what military members and their families are doing for our country, and to lend a hand where it might be needed,” Pappas said. “We need to keep fighting to make sure they all get the support they deserve, especially when it comes to affordable health care that can be so critical for veterans when they return home. There is still a long way to go, but hard work is bringing us closer to that goal.”