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In this Update:

• New Law Connects Families with VA Burial Benefits
• State Veterans Commission Meeting
• $1.2 Billion in Infrastructure Improvements Approved by VA
• VA Announces Clinical Trials to Help Veterans with Major Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder
• Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run
• Left, Right, Left 5K
• Shareapy Military
• Tech Deals for Veterans

New Law Connects Families with VA Burial Benefits

Under a new law, Act 42 of 2026, families of a deceased service person being buried or cremated in Pennsylvania after Sept. 18 will receive contact information for their county veterans affairs office from funeral directors and cemeteries. County directors of veterans affairs will also be notified by funeral directors and cemeteries within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased service person.

This will help connect families with this local veterans’ resource which will be able to help them access benefits for which they might be eligible.

State Veterans Commission Meeting

The State Veterans Commission (SVC) will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at Fort Indiantown Gap. The SVC advises the adjutant general and the DMVA on all matters pertaining to the status, welfare, benefits, employment and support of veterans and veterans’ programs in Pennsylvania. The public is welcome to attend either by phone or virtually.

• To dial-in by phone: (267) 332-8737; Phone conference ID: 654 091 486#
• To join via Microsoft Teams: Click here to join the meeting.

$1.2 Billion in Infrastructure Improvements Approved by VA

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approved $1.2 billion in VA infrastructure improvements which will be used by VA medical facilities to enhance operational capability and healthcare delivery for significant maintenance, replacements and upgrades.

This includes funds to 42 projects for Pennsylvania’s VA medical facilities including replacing a roof in Coatesville, replacing domestic hot water tanks in Erie, renovating air conditioning in Lebanon, installing exterior security measures in Philadelphia, repairing fire and smoke dampers in Pittsburgh, replacing a fire station roof in Butler and more.

VA Announces Clinical Trials to Help Veterans with Major Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

The VA announced a new clinical trial to evaluate psilocybin’s effectiveness and safety in treating major depression in veterans. Psilocybin is a classic hallucinogen and produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms worldwide.

The trial, Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression, will enroll veterans with a diagnosis of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and be conducted in five VA locations throughout the U.S., including Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.

This follows the VA’s announcement of a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of GLP-1 treatment for alcohol use disorder. This clinical trial, Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans, will be conducted in 18 locations throughout the U.S., including the Philadelphia VA Healthcare System.

As your state Senator and a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, I’m pleased to see the VA moving forward with innovative treatment options. In Pennsylvania, I am proud to have introduced a two-bill package designed to ensure veterans can access treatment for service-connected Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) with promising low-dose, psilocybin-assisted therapies.

My proposal will amend Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Try Act to offer lifesaving psilocybin-assisted therapies to veterans. The act will require psilocybin treatments to be administered under strict clinical supervision. This proposal will also automatically align Pennsylvania’s scheduling with any future federal rescheduling of psilocybin. These provisions will only take effect if the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassifies psilocybin from a Schedule I controlled substance or issues a waiver authorizing its use.

With promising federal action on the horizon, it is imperative that Pennsylvania enacts the necessary laws to ensure that, once federal agencies act, our veterans can promptly begin receiving the treatment they need. Together, these bills will ensure timely, safe, and medically supervised access to innovative treatment to support veterans and patients who urgently need new options.

Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

The Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) is a Pennsylvania-based, non-profit organization that provides programming, including Back to School Character Days, aimed to empower veterans and families of the fallen to develop character in future generations. The TMF is hosting several upcoming 5Ks throughout the U.S. in honor of 9/11, including these in the commonwealth:

• Philadelphia – Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. starting at The Navy Yard.
• Feasterville – Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. starting at Russell E Elliot Memorial Park.
• West Chester – Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. starting at Bayard Rustin High School.
• Pittsburgh – Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. starting at Youngwood VFD.
• Harrisburg – Sept. 19 at 9 a.m. starting at HACC.
• Lehigh Valley – Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. starting at PHS Stadium.
• Doylestown – Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. starting at War Memorial Field.

Left, Right, Left 5K

The Veterans and Military Employee Resource Group of Piedmont Airlines is hosting the Left, Right, Left 5K on Sept. 16 starting at 9:15 a.m. at Harrisburg International Airport. All proceeds from the $25 per person entry fee will go to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania to support a local village south of Harrisburg of 15 tiny homes surrounding a community center for homeless veterans.

Click here to register.

Shareapy Military

Shareapy offers free virtual peer support for active-duty military, veterans, first responders and their immediate family members. Once registered, you can:

• Join weekly virtual “Get Togethers”
• Connect with fellow veterans and family members
• Access wellness resources and community programming

There is no cost for eligible members. For more information and to sign up, click here.

Tech Deals for Veterans

• Apple offers a 10% discount through their Veterans and Military Purchase Program when verified through ID.me.
• HP offers up to 40% off for veterans verified through ID.me.