Jim Zenner — Jim Zenner, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs and legislative chair for the California Association of County BSOs, introduced himself, thanked the committee, and described his background and service. He then explained that county veteran service offices have helped bring nearly $580 million in federal benefits to California veterans and their dependents, while also noting that the current funding structure for this work is unsustainable.
Mo Cedar — Introduced as legal director for Swords to Plowshares.
Roberto Herrera — Introduces himself as Deputy Secretary of Veteran Services at CalVet and notes California's large veteran population.
Mo Cedor — Mo Cedor, legal director at Swords to Plowshares, testified based on over a decade of providing free legal services to California veterans in VA benefits claims. She explained that attorneys are essential to helping veterans secure benefits, but free legal assistance is insufficient to meet growing demand, especially as federal VA cuts and staffing reductions threaten to worsen delays. She argued California should fund nonprofit legal services to offset these harms, improve claim approval rates, and help veterans obtain benefits earlier and more efficiently. She noted that VA rules prohibit charging for help with initial claims, so nonprofits fill the gap by representing low-income and unhoused veterans at all stages of the process. Cedor emphasized the urgency of the issue with examples such as a Vietnam veteran who died while his claim was pending and described complex cases—such as mental health claims, military sexual trauma, psychosis, racist abuse, and less-than-honorable discharges—as especially in need of attorney advocacy. She also described Swords’ warm handoff referrals with CVSOs and reported strong outcomes from MHSA-funded work, including $1.56 million in back pay for 50 veterans, while noting that capacity limits force the organization to turn away meritorious cases. She concluded that more funding would allow more attorneys to serve more veterans, reduce reliance on state resources, and help veterans secure the benefits they deserve more quickly.
Laurie Davies — Laurie Davies opens committee questions by sharing her own military background and the difficulty she faced navigating veterans benefits and disability claims without guidance. She explains that legal and VSO assistance were crucial to her success, argues that veterans services are underfunded and understaffed, and criticizes inadequate VSO facilities in her district. She identifies herself as Assembly Member for the 74th District, including Camp Pendleton, thanks the witness for service and sacrifice, and asks what practical tools besides funding could help veterans and VSOs.
Unnamed witness — Explains that county VSOs save money by helping veterans avoid CalFresh reliance and incarceration, and notes quality-of-life benefits.
Mr. Herrera — Addressed directly and praised for serving all veterans.
Mr. Herrera — Mr. Herrera is asked to remain for the third panel on mental health and suicide prevention and is then invited to go first in that panel discussion.
Roberto — Describes the shock from the funding freeze and says his phone started ringing with calls about closed portals and missing websites.
Mr. Zend — Addressed as the person making points about cost savings.
Ms. Cedar — Referenced in connection with comments about critical funds and investment returns.
Mr. Zener — Referenced as having testified about how a small investment can bring back significant funds.
Amy Fairweather — Identified as Director of Policy at Swords and Plowshares and present for the panel.
Amy Fairweather — Amy Fairweather, Director of Policy at Swords to Plowshares, introduced herself and described the organization’s long-standing work supporting veterans. She noted that the group has worked in this area for 19 years and that her team provides community education, program development, evaluation, and technical assistance.
Robert Stor — Identified as Executive Director of U.S. Vets and acknowledged by the speaker.
AB1618 — AB 1618 is discussed as the 2017 bill that created the Certified Veterans Service Provider Fund, and the discussion continues by noting that it allows direct grants to NGOs and establishes eligibility regulations for veteran certifications.
Robert Storr — Robert Storr introduced himself as the executive director of a U.S. Vets site and explained his background leading the Suicide Prevention Center for Los Angeles and Orange County before joining U.S. Vets. He described his role as going upstream to identify veterans who may be in danger through outreach and prevention efforts, and illustrated that work with a story about a veteran who came in seeking a job and was then referred into the employment program.
Ms. Fairweather — Referenced as having described a crisis point and dismantling of care.
Steve Michael Blecker — Steve Michael Blecker is introduced as executive director emeritus of Swords to Plowshares and then begins testimony about his long involvement with the organization since 1976. He discusses the history of veteran homelessness, the legacy of the Vietnam War, the lack of support programs at the time, and the delayed recognition of Agent Orange and PTSD.
Stephen Hernandez — Introduced as Regional Director of Nation's Finest.
Jennifer Seeger — Introduced as Deputy Director of the Division of State Financial Assistance for the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Jennifer Seeger — Jennifer Seeger, deputy director of the Division of State Financial Assistance at the Housing and Community Development Department, introduced herself and began testimony on HCD’s efforts to expand housing opportunities for veterans and address veteran homelessness, focusing on two key programs.
Mr. Hanan — Introduced as the next witness and begins testimony for Nations Finest.
Mr. Hernandez — Mr. Hernandez testified that Nations Finest in the Sacramento region lost transitional housing beds due to flooding and water leaks, reducing capacity from 106 to 84 and then to 51. He explained that the organization needs capital project funding and building maintenance resources to restore and maintain facilities, and urged the committee to increase operating funding so sites can be properly maintained and staffed amid uncertainty about federal support. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of California’s veteran population.
AB639 — AB 639 is identified as the 2013 bill that created the veteran housing and homelessness prevention program, restructuring the Veteran Bond Act of 2008 and allocating $600 million for multifamily housing for veterans.
AB1386 — AB 1386 was discussed as a measure aimed at helping unhoused veterans access vacant supportive housing units restricted to veterans. The discussion explained that the bill allows a sponsor to petition for temporary redesignation of units originally restricted to 30% AMI so they can be used for veterans with incomes up to 60% AMI, improving placement flexibility for veteran housing.
Marie Lopez — Marie Lopez, legislative advocate for the California Nurses Association, begins public testimony opposing proposed VA staffing cuts.
Michael Harris — Michael Harris introduces himself as director of the California Black Farmers Working Group and then shares a personal story about how veteran services, including HUD-VASH, helped him after he experienced homelessness. He emphasizes that he returned to work, values self-sufficiency, and argues that programs supporting veterans should not be cut, especially for those who served and now need assistance.
Nick Bussey — Nick Bussey introduces himself, shares his military service and current work in military engagement and veteran nonprofit leadership, and explains his role as a steering committee member for Bosch’s Veterans Workforce Collaborative created under the CHIPS Act. He describes the initiative’s structure and purpose: to consolidate resources, create jobs, connect veterans and their families to education and nonprofit services, and close gaps in support. He closes by inviting the committee to Bosch’s next meeting so they can see the effort firsthand and consider supporting a broader regional collaboration.
Pilar Schiavo — Referenced as 'the Chair' having visited the district a couple of times.
Pilar Schiavo — Chair Pilar Schiavo is thanked and addressed by other speakers, then delivers a closing summary thanking the panelists and emphasizing that federal cuts are already creating chaos and uncertainty for veterans and their families. She warns that additional cuts, VA layoffs, and reductions to programs like Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare would harm veterans, threaten support agencies, and make it harder for veterans to survive and access services. She highlights California’s progress in supporting veterans through health care, mental health care, housing, reduced homelessness, and tuition waivers, and urges collective action to push back against these cuts and protect veterans and their families.
Robert Herrera — Introduced as Deputy Secretary of the Veteran Services Division for CalVet and invited to begin.
Jeff Gonzalez — Addressed as 'Assembly Member Gonzales'; the speaker thanks him and responds to his comments.
Jeff Gonzalez — Addressed by name and thanked for his service; asked for county-by-county veteran population data.
Jeff Gonzalez — The speaker refers to 'my vice chair,' which in this committee context is Vice Chair Jeff Gonzalez.
Pilar Schiavo — Referred to as 'our chair' in the commitment to look out for warfighters.
Major General Matthew Beavers — Major General Matthew Beavers is introduced as the first witness and Adjutant General of the California Military Department. He thanks the chair and members, offers condolences, and then previews his testimony, saying he will briefly walk through the department’s response to the LA fire emergency and discuss how federal government and Department of Defense actions may affect the California Military Department.
Jeff Gonzalez — Vice Chair Jeff Gonzalez thanks the witness for their service and assistance with the LA fires, then follows up by asking how service members interact with the VA system when they are injured under different duty statuses.