The leadership of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is looking forward to working with the Legislature on
improving and passing the below listed bills which were introduced yesterday. This legislation is a first
step in improving the lives, wellbeing, and safety of our veterans under state care, and will bring
accountability and transparency to state government. These bills will ensure the Department of Military
& Veterans Affairs Healthcare Services is no longer a patronage pit led by unqualified leadership.

A5849/3918 Requires Adjutant General of DMVA send weekly reports to Commissioner of DOH on
status of veterans’ homes in State during public health emergency.
A5850 / S3906 Requires DMVA veterans’ memorial homes to hold quarterly town hall meetings with
veterans’ guardians.
A5851 / 3905 Allows veteran’s guardian to remove veteran from DMVA veterans’ memorial home under
certain emergency circumstances.
A5852 / S3904 Requires DMVA veterans’ memorial homes to communicate with veterans’ guardians via
at least two communication means.
A5853 / 3903 Requires administrator and assistant administrator at State veterans’ memorial home
have prior work experience in clinical setting.
A5854 / S3907 Requires position of resident advocate at each State veterans’ memorial home.

A5855 / S3908 Requires DMVA veterans’ facilities provide payroll-based journal information to NJ Long-
Term Care Ombudsman.

A5856 / S3909 Requires Director of Division of Veterans’ Healthcare Services in DMVA to have prior
clinical and long-term care experience.

We are thankful to the members of the Senate and Assembly who have listened to our concerns and
introduced this legislation.

Brian Wiener Luddie Austin Barbara Kim-Hagemann
State Commander Senior Vice Commander Past State Commander

About the VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war
veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally-chartered VFW is comprised entirely of
eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more
than 1.6 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in 6,200 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans
service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is
dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For

more information or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.