David West — David West is introduced as the Nevada County Veterans Service Officer and president of the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers. He then opens his testimony before the committee, thanking members for the opportunity to speak on behalf of California’s county veterans service officers and the veterans they serve. West explains that he serves as president of the association and begins outlining the work that county veterans service officers and their staff perform across the state every day for California’s 1.4 million veterans and their families.
David West — The section continues David West's testimony about underfunding and reimbursement rates.
Jim Zinner — Identified as Los Angeles County Veterans Service Officer and legislative chair of the association.
Jim Zinner — Introduced as Los Angeles County Veterans Service Officer and legislative chair of the association; begins testimony.
Morgan Boyd — Identified as San Luis Obispo County Veterans Service Officer.
Morgan Boyd — Morgan Boyd is introduced as the San Luis Obispo County Veterans Service Officer and then begins speaking, identifying himself as the county veterans services officer and department head for San Luis Obispo County and noting his combat service in the Iraq invasion as an enlisted cavalry scout.
Catherine Lewinsky — Identified on Zoom as Director of the Studies Center for a New American Security.
Kate — Mentioned as the person who will bring the Zoom participant on board.
Kate — Kate is acknowledged as present and invited into the discussion, with the chair noting that she has heard the local representatives’ comments and is being addressed directly. A later brief mention thanks Kate for her prior testimony and references her in the ongoing discussion of CVSO effectiveness.
Catherine Guminski — Catherine Guminski is introduced as the Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security and then begins her testimony. She identifies herself as the Director of Studies, notes that she is the spouse of an active-duty Army officer, and starts discussing California veteran demographics, including the number of veterans in the state and how that compares with the national average.
Catherine Guminski — Receives thanks for her testimony; the chair transitions to questions and notes the witness is remote.
Lisa Calderon — Addressed directly as 'Assembly Member' while the witness continues describing county veteran services infrastructure.
Roger Niello — The chair invites Senator Niello to ask questions of the representatives.
Catherine — The senator asks whether Catherine can explain how collaboration with other organizations works.
Catherine — Thanked for earlier testimony and for helping fill in gaps with national numbers and context about ESOs.
Mark González — The speaker repeatedly references Assembly Member Mark González while reinforcing a broader argument against predatory claims companies. González is cited as having made an earlier point that aligns with the speaker’s view that allowing such companies to operate creates additional problems and harms related services, including veterans services and funding concerns. The discussion remains continuous and thematic, with González used as a supporting reference throughout.
Jim Patterson — Jim Patterson is referenced first as the source of earlier comments being discussed, and then as a comparison point in a funding-related exchange about staffing levels and workload, with one speaker noting that Jim’s staff is larger than theirs.
Robert Herrera — Introduced as CalVet Deputy Secretary of Veteran Services.
Richard or Steve Johnson — Introduced as CDSO from Placer County; first name is uncertain.
Deborah Johnson — Introduced as president and CEO of the California Veterans Assistance Foundation.
Roberto Herrera — Introduces himself as Deputy Secretary of Veteran Services at the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mr. Johnson — The speaker thanks Mr. Johnson at the close of the remarks, indicating he is likely the prior speaker or a participant being addressed.
Luz Rivas — An Assembly Member is referenced as having asked for a quantitative context; the speaker does not name the member directly.
Luz Rivas — Speaker says legislators can share information with constituents.
96-year-old veteran — The speaker describes a very sick 96-year-old veteran whose needs were commodified by a for-profit claims company and who recently passed away.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — Likely the chair being addressed as 'Chair Schiavo'; the transcript may be garbled and should be treated cautiously.
SB1124 — California proposed SB 1124 in 2024 with the VFW as a co-sponsor, but it did not pass.
VFW representative — The VFW representative testified about predatory 'claim sharks' who delay veterans' claims and described the VFW's efforts to educate veterans through a flyer. The witness urged policy responses, including regulation, public education, and enforcement, to protect veterans, then concluded by thanking the committee for the opportunity to testify and inviting questions.
Deborah — Deborah was thanked for her work with the auxiliary and for her support of veterans, including women veterans.
Mr. Herrera — Thanked for his work at CalVet.
Natasha Johnson — Referenced as having shared a compelling story about a 96-year-old and an income-based claim.
Ms. Johnson — The speaker thanked Ms. Johnson for her clear, practical suggestions and emphasized appreciation for the concrete actions the committee can take, including ideas like a registry of authorized advisors.
David Kuda — David Kuda, a 28-and-a-half-year Army veteran and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, introduces himself and testifies that he is strongly opposed to the claim shark bill.