Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, April 24th, 2023, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01), a Navy Veteran, introduced the bipartisan PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act. This program, named after Mount Sinai native and Iraq War Veteran PFC Joseph P. Dwyer, would create a grant program for state and local entities to carry out the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program at the national level.

“The greatest nation in the world owes its greatest heroes adequate mental health care. To meet this solemn obligation, Congress must provide more funding and more programs to support our heroes when they come home,” said LaLota. “As a Navy Veteran, I know firsthand the very real mental health challenges many Service Members face and Congress must ensure our heroes know that their sacrifice is recognized and appreciated.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

Background:

Original Cosponsors (16): Reps. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).

The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program, or Dwyer Program, is a highly successful Veteran support program that started in Suffolk County, N.Y. The Dwyer Program is named after PFC Joseph P. Dwyer, a native of Mount Sinai, New York, who served in the Iraq War.

When PFC Dwyer came home, he came back with serious psychological and emotional wounds from combat. The Dwyer Program created a peer-to-peer support program to help Veterans with challenges, like those PFC Dwyer faced, suffering from PTSD or TBI by connecting Veterans with other Veterans who are dealing with similar issues.

This bipartisan legislation would help nationalize the Dwyer Program. By creating a grant program for state and local entities, more Veterans will be able to access the highly successful program and get the support they need.

Original source can be found here.