ST HELENA
Thompson urges local eligible veterans and their families to Apply for PACT Act benefits before August 9
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) released the following statement urging veterans who are eligible to apply for PACT Act benefits before August 9 to receive retroactive benefits.
“Our veterans answered the call to serve our country and earned VA benefits for themselves and their families,” said Thompson. “Last Congress, I proudly voted for the PACT Act to help us live up to the promise we made our vets. The PACT Act is a historic expansion of benefits for our veterans and I encourage all eligible veterans and their families in our district to apply for PACT Act benefits before August 9 and receive backdated care through August 10, 2022.”
Visit this website https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ to learn about the PACT Act and to file a benefits claim.
The PACT Act is one of the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act:
- Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures
- Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
Helps improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
—Submitted
LUCERNE
U.S. Coat Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 08-08 of Lake County life jacket giveaway
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 08-08 of Lake County will hold a complimentary life jacket giveaway for children on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Lucerne Harbor Park in Lucerne starting at 10 am. Assisting the Flotilla will be the Konocti Women’s Service Club (KWSC) which made possible this free life jacket project.
The distribution of Child and Youth life jackets will be for children 12 years and younger within one of two weight divisions: 30 to 50 pounds or 50 to 90 pounds. The KWSC members will register and weigh the children. Qualified Flotilla members will fit the child with the correct size and demonstrate to the parent the proper wearing of the life jacket. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The event is scheduled to end at 2 pm or until the life jacket supply is exhausted. Information on Safe Boating and complimentary vessel safety checks will be available as well as invitations to join the Flotilla.
The Flotilla of Lake County encourages boat owners and especially those with children to stay safe on the water by utilizing these complimentary services the Flotilla offers. Play it safe “Wear Your Lifejackets”
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SACRAMENTO
McGuire’s Wildfire Survivor Protection Act stops mortgage companies from hoodwinking California homeowners
Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire’s legislation that would stop mortgage companies from hoodwinking wildfire survivors has overwhelmingly cleared the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Tens of thousands of Californians have lost their homes and businesses to wildfires in the last eight years. After facing the traumatic and life-changing experience of losing their home, survivors have to begin the challenging task of rebuilding their homes and lives.
Senator McGuire’s common sense piece of legislation, SB 455, will protect wildfire and other disaster survivors by keeping their home rebuilds on track and agreements with mortgage companies ironclad. The bill would mandate that mortgage companies honor existing rebuild contracts even when mortgages are transferred or sold to another mortgage vendor, a common practice in the banking industry.
Leading up to this legislation, hundreds of families had started rebuilding their homes only to have the terms of their rebuild changed when their mortgage was sold and the new mortgage company didn’t honor the previously agreed upon rebuild contract.
“Ensuring existing rebuild agreements aren’t weakened or changed when mortgages are sold is just common sense. Disaster survivors already face tremendous challenges to recover and rebuild after a wildfire or earthquake, and SB 455 will forever protect homeowners when they rebuild their home and lives,” said Senator McGuire. “Our legislation would make it illegal for mortgage companies to change the deal on disaster survivors here in California.”
In typical cases, survivors work closely with their mortgage company to negotiate the terms of their home rebuild and enter into a contract with a contractor to begin the rebuilding process. It’s a straightforward and seamless process for most.
But not for all:
- Some new mortgage companies have added additional terms to existing rebuild agreements such as requiring more inspections, significantly delaying the rebuild for months, even when the previous company had agreed to terms.
- An underinsured homeowner and their original mortgage company signed off on the rebuild of a smaller house, but the new mortgage company wouldn’t honor the agreement. The new company refused to release all of the remaining funds because the rebuild was different than the lost home.
- Other survivors have been forced to liquidate pensions and use hard-earned savings to finish rebuilding their home when their insurance funds are withheld by the mortgage company.
SB 455 will make sure that any agreements made between homeowners and their mortgage company on the rebuilding of their home after a disaster are ironclad and honored by any new mortgage company.
SB 455 passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee and is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
—Submitted
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