Congress indicators concern over uptick in veteran disaster hotline calls after lethal Afghanistan withdrawal

Congressional management of each the Home and Senate veterans affairs committees are expressing concern with the steep rise in calls to the Veterans Disaster Line within the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and up to date bombing on the Kabul airport, killing 13 U.S. service members.

Over 800,000 People have served in Afghanistan since October 2001, in response to the Pentagon, and the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) says calls to the Veterans Disaster Line elevated because the Taliban took management of Afghanistan in mid-August.

The Veterans Disaster Line is reporting a mean day by day quantity improve of 6% for calls, 83% for texts, and 40% for chat messages since Aug. 13. Nevertheless, a few of the elevated quantity is because of broader promotion of the road as a catch-all useful resource and people who are usually not in disaster utilizing it as a solution to present basic help for veterans or search choices to donate to reduction efforts. 

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Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the rating member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, stated given the lethal Kabul airport bombing, he’s requesting solutions instantly from VA Sec. Denis McDonough relating to the VA’s plans and preparation to help veterans throughout and following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Moran despatched Sec. McDonough a letter final week asking for a response by Sept. 13.

“Given [Thursday’s] horrific occasions and now predictions of additional troublesome days forward, I want solutions instantly to my questions. The planning to take care of our veterans should not replicate the disastrous lack of planning linked with our withdrawal from Afghanistan,” stated Moran in an announcement to Fox Information. 

“It’s our obligation to honor the service and sacrifice of all those that responded to the assaults on our nation since 9/11, together with those that misplaced their lives this week. I’ll stay in shut contact with VA’s psychological well being and suicide prevention program workplace and work to make sure they’ve each useful resource in place to fulfill the wants of our veterans in disaster.”

A spokesperson for Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., stated that the committee is consistently participating with the VA so it will probably meet the “elevated demand” for its providers, together with the disaster line.

“The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is carefully monitoring the state of affairs in Afghanistan, and persistently participating with the VA to make sure veterans have entry to essential psychological well being sources and the Division can meet the elevated demand for its providers,” stated Olya Voytovich, spokesperson for the committee.

“Any veteran struggling throughout this troublesome time ought to know that the VA is standing by and able to assist. Veterans in disaster ought to instantly make the most of VA’s psychological well being sources, together with the Veterans Disaster Line that’s accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days every week, 365 days a yr.”

AS KABUL FELL, AFGHANISTAN VETERANS BEGAN REACHING OUT TO THE VA CRISIS LINE

Home Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Rating Member Rep. Mike Bost, R-In poor health., instructed Fox Information that the Afghanistan disaster is already taking a “large toll” on veterans, stating that calls to the Veterans Disaster Line are up, and he expects it to proceed to rise. 

Bost additionally stated he’s working carefully with the VA “to watch demand for psychological well being care and different providers on account of this ongoing failure brought on by the Biden Administration.”

As well as, Bost is “calling on Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Takano to deliver us again to D.C. so we are able to meet with Secretary McDonough and leaders within the veteran group and do all the pieces we are able to to mitigate the pressure this catastrophe is placing on veterans and their households. I would like each veteran to know that their service was not in useless, and the world is a greater place for it.”

Nevertheless, regardless of the current lack of American lives, members of congress are remaining hopeful concerning the “untold tales” of the life saving work being nonetheless being performed by heroic veterans, who’re working to assist their fellow women and men in uniform and Afghan allies out of hazard.

“These veterans have been heroes in uniform and are heroes nonetheless,” Bost instructed Fox Information. “I’ll by no means cease working to ensure these courageous women and men have the assistance they want.”

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The Veterans Disaster Line is out there free of charge, confidential help 24/7 by calling 1-800-273-8255 and urgent 1 or texting 838-255.

Home Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., didn’t reply to Fox Information’ a number of requests for remark. 

Fox Information’ Austin Westfall contributed to this report. 

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