NEWYORK STATE SENATE, cs January 14,2021, Senator John Brooks Room 806 LOB. Albany, NY 12247 Dear Senator Brooks, thas come to our attention that neither the Office of Mental Health (OMH) nor the Division ofthe Buiget have heen directed by the Senate Majority to release funding allocated in lst years budget forthe Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer-o-Peer Support Program. It is discouraging o see thie erica funding held up, particularly amidst the current pandemic and the stain it has placed onthe mental health of our [New Yorkers’ «including our veterans ‘The Legislature has consistently worked ina bipartisan fashion o fund the Duyer program since its inception in 2012, helping veterans in twenty-four counties snd New York City, The Senate Minority Conference writes you today o urge the Senate Majority to immeditely take the steps necessary to make svailable the $4,505,000 allocated inthe 2020-202 State Budget, as well the remaining allocation for the program from the 2019-2020 State Budget The mission ofthe Joseph P. Dwyer Program, to connect veterans sufering from posttraumatic stress or traumatic brain injury, has only become more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. At atime when Socal olation aggravates mental illness and substance-abuselsues, the Joseph P. Dur Peer to Peer Suppor Program provides an invaluable lifeline for veterans. Additionally, asthe economy’ continues to struggle, the Joseph P. Dwyer Program i an invaluable suppor for veterans struggling with housing and ‘employment issues ‘The Senate Minority Conference fully understands the fiscal imitations posed bythe pandemic however, the JorophP. Durer Peer.o-Peer Support Program i crucial for encuring the ll being of ‘veterans in New York Sate, ‘Our veterans continue to sacrifice so much for our state and our county. As policymakers, we often ook for opportunities to honor their service, New York State made commitment o our veterans; i's incumbent upon us to honor that commitmentstreet CBA QmiL Senator lames Tedisco Mel 9 ts — Senator Mike Martocel 3, Senator Daphne Jordan Que Qounse ‘Senator Sue Serino Cay Senator Paty Ritchie tk. Z Me Senator Thomas F. O'Mara Senator Mario Mattera Parnatah. Hebrioey Senator Pamele Helming Large nfhatyplly. Senator George M. Borel Pile Gall. ‘Senator Patrick M. Galvan PES senator Dan Stee Lela ae __ Senator Alesis WelkEE rear ge 4 Senator Peter Oberacker GOV Volos Senator Edward Rath Sent a Puig, Senator eseph A. Gritfo Grr — SenatorArthony H. Palumbo Ab we Senator Andrew J Lanza