NJ expands veterans services after scathing 2023 report
Advocates say the state VFW determined this was necessary after serious violations a few years ago.
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Roughly 350,000 military veterans call New Jersey home. Now, they’ll have a representative solely for them in the governor’s cabinet.
“The largest feedback that we got from families is that they had no one they could reach out to and call with a complaint or a concern,” said New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars Legislative Director Jay Boxwell.
A pair of bills signed by Gov. Phil Murphy take effect this month that aim to enhance veterans services in New Jersey.
One splits the former Department of Military and Veterans Affairs into two separate groups - one for active military and another for veterans.
“To have our voice not drowned out by commingling with the National Guard, with our own very separate commissioner,” said Boxwell.
The state came under fire in 2023 when a federal report exposed health and organizational violations at state veterans homes in Edison and Paramus.
These contributed to hundreds of veteran deaths during the COVID pandemic.
There will also be a new position created - a veteran advocate. It’s more than a liaison for those who have served. This position can lead investigations and even issue subpoenas.
"Too many stories that went unheard and uninvestigated,” Boxwell said. “Human rights violations were happening at the home. We felt that a lot of this could have been mitigated if we’d had a current advocate.”
Boxwell says there have been gaps in vital programming across the state - such as post-traumatic stress disorder services. The governorwill appoint the first veteran advocate to a five-year term at a salary no less than $150,000.
“We have some room for growth, and I think we can really take advantage of that, and put us to a gold star standard when it comes to veteran services in New Jersey,” said Boxwell.
