To the editor:

Our service members have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms we cherish, but the system designed to care for them when they complete their active and reserve service has too often failed to meet their needs.

Currently, there are nearly 250,000 backlogged claims, many of which have been pending for months or even years. This delay has contributed to an ongoing mental health crisis among veterans, who are one and a half times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. These issues are not just administrative, they are human, affecting the well-being of those who have served our country.

Specifically, Rhode Island’s veterans – which number over 46,000 – are suffering because of these shortcomings as well. According to reports from the VA, only 20% of veterans in Rhode Island currently receive VA disability compensation, a rate that falls below the national average. Changes to the system are needed to bridge this gap.

The Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act (SAVE Act), also known as House Bill 5419 (HB 5419), is a critical piece of legislation that seeks to address these issues by providing Rhode Island veterans with more choices, better care, and faster access to services.

The SAVE Act will ensure veterans can choose to receive care from both public and private providers, which would reduce waiting times, improve access to services, and foster competition that benefits them. Thus offering veterans real choice is crucial to improving their quality of life and helping them get the care they need in a timely manner. Furthermore, the Save Act addresses the issue of veterans navigating the benefits system by establishing guardrails around the use of private consulting agents to help navigate the complex VA disability benefits process.

While many of these private consulting agents currently operate in an ethical and transparent manner, limited safeguards now exist to protect against the unscrupulous minority that charge excessive fees and provide ineffective assistance. The SAVE Act creates a more transparent and accountable system, ensuring veterans have access to the support they need and deserve without fear of exploitation.

This SAVE Act also aims to streamline the benefits process, ensuring quicker and more efficient claims processing. It reduces the bureaucratic red tape that has led to the backlog of claims and delays in care. By empowering veterans with more choices and faster access to services, the SAVE Act represents a significant improvement over the current system and would establish clear disclosure requirements, a cap on fees, and stiff penalties for unethical private consulting agents and attorneys that violate the law.

If we are serious about honoring our veterans and providing them with access to the care and benefits they deserve, we must act now. It is time for Rhode Island to pass this crucial legislation and to ensure that veterans receive the support they have earned. They and their families have sacrificed so much in selfless service to our country; it is time we do right by them.

Peter Hewitt
11 Wendy Drive.