{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases/lalota-hosts-leaders-suffolk-veterans-community", "LaLota Hosts Leaders from Suffolk Veterans\u2019 Community", "2024-10-18", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nick LaLota", "L000598", "lalota.house.gov", "lalota", "https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ROCKY POINT, NY - Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), a Navy Veteran, held a Veterans Roundtable at the Rocky Point VFW with key stakeholders and subject-matter experts to discuss the numerous issues facing Long Island\u2019s Veteran community.\n\n\u201cAs a Navy veteran, I deeply appreciate everyone who joined our roundtable in Rocky Point. Hearing directly from those on the front lines of veterans' issues is crucial in tackling the challenges our service members face every day,\u201d said LaLota. \u201cI am fully committed to ensuring that those who served our great country receive the care and support they\u2019ve earned. By working closely with local leaders and advocates, we can enhance the quality of care for veterans and make sure no one who wore the uniform is left behind.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe roundtable discussed the following issues:\n\nVeteran mental health, including LaLota\u2019s Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act;\n\nImproving healthcare options for Veterans, including increasing VA access and LaLota\u2019s Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act;\n\nHousing for Veterans, including the lack of affordable housing options and the high number of homeless Veterans including LaLota\u2019s Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act;\n\nIssues at the Northport VA, including ongoing construction updates and hospital conditions, and\n\nState Veterans Homes issues, including the high cost of medications and the need for more specialty care.\n\nThe following individuals took part in LaLota\u2019s Veterans Roundtable:\n\nSuffolk County Legislature Majority Leader and Legislator Nick Caracappa, Chairman, Veterans Committee\n\nMarcelle Leis, Director, Suffolk County VSA\n\nTom Ronayne, Former Director, Suffolk County VSA\n\nFred Sganga, Director, Long Island State Veterans Home\n\nFrancis Amalfitano, President & CEO, United Veterans Beacon House\n\nBill Hughes, Commander, Suffolk County VFW, District 11\n\nKenneth Dolan, Legislative Chair, Suffolk County American Legion\n\nMel Cohen, Vietnam Veterans of America\n\nRich Dellasso, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk - Veterans Affairs\n\nNancy Tappin, Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project\n\nJoe Cognitore, Commander of the Rocky Point VFW Post 6249\n\nSeveral staff members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases/lalota-hosts-leaders-suffolk-veterans-community"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8375338986515999, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}