ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Leaders of the largest veterans’ organization in New York state are asking lawmakers to restore millions in dollars in funding for programs that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Department of New York Commander Gary Schacher and other leaders of the American Legion’s statewide organization were at the state Capitol Tuesday to lobby lawmakers to restore $3.7 million that was left out of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal.
The funding is for the Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer program, which provides county veteran services agencies with money to support efforts to help veterans suffering from PTSD. The program is named after a Long Island soldier who suffered from PTSD after returning from Iraq and killed himself in 2008.
The American Legion is also seeking more funding and research for other PTSD treatments.
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This story corrects the spelling of American Legion commander’s last name to Schacher instead of Shacker.
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