Sinema is working with the American Legion to secure an ‘ATLAS Pod’ in Arizona, helping more veterans access care
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke today at a joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing and thanked American Legion leaders for working with her to secure an ATLAS pod telehealth site for Arizona veterans, helping veterans access care.
“This year, we worked with the American Legion National and Arizona Chapter, the VA, and Philips North America, navigating the challenges of the pandemic to safely bring an ATLAS pod to an Arizona American Legion Post. The ATLAS site will provide free, internet broadband access to veterans and provide a private and secure interface for veterans to connect with VA providers. This site will save veterans lengthy travel time and cost, providing easier access to VA care,” said Sinema.
Sinema discussed how efforts like Project ATLAS can help VA continue expanding telehealth services for Arizona veterans.
Sinema has long been a champion for Arizona veterans and servicemembers. Last Congress, Sinema’s LEGION Act, which extends American Legion membership to honorably discharged veterans since World War II, and her Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act, which safeguards veterans from predatory loan practices and helps them more easily access their earned homeowner benefits, became law.
Sinema also championed into law the bipartisan Sgt. Daniel Somers Network of Support Act, which was named after Sgt. Daniel Somers—an Arizona Army veteran who lost his life to suicide. Sinema’s bipartisan law requires the Department of Defense to work with the American Red Cross to collect from new servicemembers the names of loved ones they consider to be their networks of support. The Department of Defense will provide those individuals with information about benefits and services available to military members. Last year, Sinema also passed into law her bipartisan Veterans Network of Support Act—legislation that ensures the VA has a similar system in place to help veterans thrive in civilian life.