Problem Solvers Caucus Endorses Bipartisan Bill to Create National Peer-to-Peer Veteran Support Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Problem Solvers Caucus announced its endorsement of the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act (H.R. 438), bipartisan legislation to establish a national peer-to-peer mental health support program for veterans.
Originally launched in Suffolk County, New York, the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program connects veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other service-related mental health conditions with veterans experiencing similar challenges. The program has expanded to every county in New York and has proven effective at reducing isolation and improving veterans’ mental health outcomes.
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act would award grants to state and local entities to replicate this model nationwide. The legislation is designed to complement existing Department of Veterans Affairs services by delivering peer support alongside them.
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act is led by Representatives Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and has 31 additional cosponsors, including 13 Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus. The bill was brought forward for Caucus endorsement by Representatives LaLota and Panetta.
“I’m grateful to the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus for endorsing my Joseph Dwyer Peer Support Program Act, a bill rooted in the simple but powerful idea that Veterans are often best equipped to help one another,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01). “As an Annapolis graduate who deployed overseas and the brother of a Marine who fought in the Middle East, I’ve seen firsthand how critical that connection can be. This endorsement shows that when we put politics aside, we can deliver real support for our Veterans and expand a proven program nationwide.”
“Too many of our veterans are fighting invisible battles with challenges like PTSD or TBI alone, without the support they need,” said Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19). “The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act ensures they never have to by connecting veterans with fellow veterans who understand their experiences and can provide around-the-clock support. This commonsense legislation empowers those who’ve served to lift each other up, strengthens our communities, and honors our obligation to care for the men and women in uniform.”
“This is what bipartisan problem-solving looks like—advancing a proven model and delivering real support where it’s needed most,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). “For too long, too many veterans have fallen through the cracks of a system that doesn’t always meet them where they are. The Dwyer Program works because it’s built on trust, shared experience, and the simple truth that veterans are often best able to reach fellow veterans. Expanding it nationwide is not just smart policy, it’s a responsibility. No one who served this country should have to fight the battle at home alone.”
“PFC Joseph P. Dwyer was a hero in Iraq, but carried invisible wounds back home with him to New York. The Dwyer Program recognizes that veterans are often best equipped at helping other veterans, and it only makes sense to expand that model nation-wide to complement other VA services. This bill does just that, forging a commonsense, bipartisan way to honor our commitment to those who served, and to never forget the vet,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03).
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The Problem Solvers Caucus is a group of Members of Congress — split between Republicans and Democrats — committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation.