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In this Update:

• Ensuring U.S. and Pennsylvania Flags Are Made in America
• Expanding Eligibility for Free Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans
• Federal Government Shutdown Veterans Programs Update

Ensuring U.S. and Pennsylvania Flags Are Made in America

All Pennsylvania and U.S. flags purchased by the commonwealth for public display will be made in the United States under legislation approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 784, which requires the flags to be labeled with “Made in the USA”, was sent to the House of Representatives. I am hopeful this bipartisan measure will be approved quickly and signed by the Governor.

Expanding Eligibility for Free Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans

Earlier this year, the Senate approved and the Governor signed into law my legislation (Senate Bill 232 now Act 21 of 2025) to remove the annual fishing license fee and application for veterans with 100% disability. Recently, legislation to expand eligibility for free Pennsylvania hunting licenses to veterans who are 100% disabled due to service-connected injuries outside of combat was also introduced. Senate Bill 1020 provides discounted $1 hunting licenses to veterans who are partially disabled due to injuries incurred through training, non-combat operations, peacetime duties or other hazardous activities.

Federal Government Shutdown Veterans Programs Update

Despite the federal government shutdown on Oct. 1, 2025, the following operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are functioning as normal:

• VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics and Vet Centers;
• VA benefits will also continue to be processed and delivered;
• Burials at VA national cemeteries, as well as processing of applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits;
• Board of Veterans’ Appeals;
• Call Centers; and
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services and caregiver support.

Operations which are unavailable due to the shutdown include:

• Transition program assistance and career counseling;
• GI Bill hotline and Memorial Products Applicant Assistance unit;
• VA benefits regional offices;
• Public Affairs and unfunded outreach to Veterans, including social media, VetResources emails and responses to press inquiries;
• Grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries;
• Processing of pre-need burial at VA cemeteries;
• Printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates; and
• Outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based and community-based partners by the VA Central Office.

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