Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force: Presentations July 2022

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Welcome

Pledge of Allegiance

Introductions

NCSL Update

• Jim Reed, NCSL

State Policy Tools to Combat Military Veteran Suicide

Efforts to prevent veteran and service member suicide have been a focus of the task force for some time. This session featured a noted expert on state policies for suicide prevention who updated participants on recent initiatives, including 988 crisis hotline implementation, state legislation on veteran suicide prevention, innovative approaches and what is working to reduce the suicide toll.

• Presiding: Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington
• Speaker: Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth, Ph.D., associate project director of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Wyoming | Presentation

Serving the Employment Needs of Veterans With Disabilities

The Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor supports a number of initiatives that provide training and employment services to veterans and returning service members with disabilities.

• Presiding: Jim Reed, NCSL
• Speaker: Michael Reardon, supervisory policy advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.

Veterans Workforce Services in Arapahoe County, Colo.

• Presiding: Rep. Bill Henderson, Wyoming
• Speaker: Bill Holen, Arapahoe County commissioner. Holen is a Vietnam War Army veteran and a former member of the Colorado Air National Guard.

Spotlight: Colorado

The Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs delivers land, air, space and cyber power in support of state and federal operations and serves Colorado’s veterans and their families. The adjutant general of Colorado is both the chief of staff of the Colorado National Guard and the executive director of the department.

• Presiding: Sen. Larry Zikmund, South Dakota
• Speaker: Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, adjutant general of Colorado
• Speaker: David Callahan, director, Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs | Presentation

Task Force Member and Participant Roundtable Discussion

Task force members, legislator attendees and task force participants were invited to share highlights of 2022 legislation on military and veterans topics in their states.

• Presiding: Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington

Task Force Sponsor Update

Sponsors reported on services and programs that support the needs of veterans, service members and their families.

• Speaker: Rob Nydam, vice president of operations, Maximus Inc., Virginia

Americans for the Arts Programs for Military Veterans

• Introduction: Jay Dick, senior director of state and local affairs, Americans for the Arts, Washington, D.C.
• Speaker: Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO, Americans for the Arts, retired U.S. Army brigadier general, Washington, D.C.

Healing Through Songwriting

Music therapy approaches can provide powerful tools for overcoming post-traumatic stress and other challenges. This session focused on “Operation Song,” whose mission is to “empower veterans, active-duty military and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting.” The presentation included a musical performance.

• Presiding: Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington
• Speakers: Mike Byer, executive director, and Joe Forte, board member, Operation Song, Tennessee | Presentation

Updates From the U.S. Department of Defense

• Introductions: Jim Reed, NCSL
• Speaker: Kristin Thomasgard, director, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, Virginia
• Speaker: Mary Catherine Ott, acting assistant deputy director for federal partner and external engagement, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Virginia | Presentation
• Speaker: Tammie Perreault, regional liaison, Defense State Liaison Office, Washington | Presentation

Task Force Wrap-Up and Next Steps

Monday, Aug. 1, 2022

Risk and Resilience: The Impact of Natural Disasters on the Military | Presentations

Unprecedented funding levels for disaster mitigation and resilience can help states and local communities better prepare for worsening disasters. Department of Defense funding can be used to support natural infrastructure projects and compatible land use planning to complement state hazard mitigation efforts. Attendees learned about state projects and partnerships in areas where changing environmental conditions threaten military installations and training.

• Moderator: Rep. Cindy Ryu, Washington
• Speaker: Anne Miller, director, Colorado Resiliency Office
• Speaker: Tancred Miller, policy and planning section chief, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
• Speaker: Kristin Thomasgard, director, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C.

Jim Reed, NCSL

Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth, Ph.D., associate project director of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Wyoming

Michael Reardon, supervisory policy advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.

Bill Holen, Arapahoe County commissioner. Holen is a Vietnam War Army veteran and a former member of the Colorado Air National Guard.

Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, adjutant general of Colorado

David Callahan, director, Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs

Rob Nydam, vice president of operations, Maximus Inc., Virginia

Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO, Americans for the Arts, retired U.S. Army brigadier general, Washington, D.C.

Speakers: Mike Byer, executive director, and Joe Forte, board member, Operation Song, Tennessee

Kristin Thomasgard, director, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, Virginia

Mary Catherine Ott, acting assistant deputy director for federal partner and external engagement, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Virginia

Tammie Perreault, regional liaison, Defense State Liaison Office, Washington

Anne Miller, director, Colorado Resiliency Office

Tancred Miller, policy and planning section chief, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Kristin Thomasgard, director, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C.