Thompson Town Hall Highlights Strengths of Lake County Veteran’s Services Office

Congressman Thompson represents California’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Lake County. Sharing the Department of Veteran’s Services mission and beliefs, he hosted and led a town hall meeting on July 1st at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport. The purpose of the town hall meeting was to discuss veterans’ health care benefits alongside members from the Veterans Clinic (VC) in Clearlake, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Lake County’s Veteran’s Services Office.

The July 1st town hall meeting in Lakeport was one of four that Congressman Thompson hosted across Solano, Sonoma, Napa, and Lake Counties, where he reached out to over 200 veterans, their families, and survivors to support them in navigating health care benefits available to them. As a Vietnam veteran himself, Congressman Thompson explained that he uses the VA for an injury he incurred while on duty and encouraged others to also seek health benefits.

During the town hall meeting in Lakeport, Dr. Juliana Macri, physician and Medical Director of the Clearlake VA Clinic, explained the services offered to veterans through the clinic, which includes video visits, telehealth exams, and specialty care such as cardiology, pulmonology, and cancer treatment. Also in the meeting, Sergio Chao, Director of the Oakland Regional Office from the Veterans Benefits Administration, noted the PACT Act of 2022 has expanded health benefits eligibility and reported an increase in benefits payouts from $280 million to $393 million per month, with 1.4 million claims processed since January 2023.

The PACT Act is a bill that Congressman Thompson voted in support of to ensure veterans have access to the health care they require and the benefits they so rightly earned. The PACT Act allows for the following here:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.

• Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures.

• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.

• Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.

• Helps improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.

For more details on the PACT Act and to file a benefits claim, click here.

Additionally, Nancy Mitchell from Lake County’s Veteran’s Services Office was on-hand for the event, to share her expertise and experience of supporting Lake County veterans and their families.  Mitchell’s comments, and commitments to help, demonstrated her exceptional dedication to assisting veterans with their claims, particularly those who served during the Vietnam era. Her deep understanding of the benefits system and her ability to navigate its complexities have made her an invaluable resource for veterans seeking assistance.

Mitchell has made a profound difference in the lives of Lake County veterans. During the town hall meeting, Mitchell emphasized that “there are a high number of Vietnam vets in Lake County, and we have helped to file numerous claims. Veterans are welcome to call me to help make the process easy.”  Her commitment to helping veterans secure benefits for conditions, such as hypertension and MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance), has been instrumental. Known for her hands-on approach and empathetic support, Mitchell’s efforts in simplifying the claims process and providing clear guidance have earned her immense respect and gratitude from the community. Her proactive involvement ensures that veterans receive the benefits they deserve and enhances their overall well-being.

If you missed the town hall with Congressman Thompson, you can watch the video on the County of Lake's YouTube page. 

If you would like to contact the Clearlake VA Clinic, please call here:

More Veteran Resources Available in the County of Lake, Clearlake VA Clinic:

Address: 15145 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422-8106
Phone Number: 707-995-7200
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday