Specter seeks to aid 5 Pa. veteran centers

[unhappycamper]

Specter seeks to aid 5 Pa. veteran centers
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 3, 2009 20:34:58 EST

WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter is trying to keep five federally funded centers that help predominantly older veterans in rural Pennsylvania open.

The Governor’s Veterans Outreach and Assistance Center offices in Harrisburg, Erie, Greensburg, Boyertown and West Pittston help veterans apply for disability compensation, pensions and health care. The state Department of Labor and Industry announced in November that they will close Jan. 1 due to economic troubles.

Specter wrote to the federal secretaries of veterans affairs and labor Thursday asking that they work to keep the centers open, saying they provide vital assistance.

Pennsylvania Veterans Commission Chairman Paul Hastings says the fate of the centers will be discussed Friday at the commission’s meeting at Fort Indiantown Gap, near Harrisburg.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_pa_vet_centers_120309/