Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) thanked local Iraq War veterans for their service to our country during a tour of the East Los Angeles Vet Center and East Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Clinic, which are co-located at 5400 E. Olympic Blvd in the TELACU Building. The congresswoman visited the facilities to learn firsthand from the veterans about their experiences accessing health care and other services upon their return home. Both centers assist veterans who live throughout the 34th Congressional District, which also includes Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Boyle Heights, Commerce, Downey, Huntington Park and Maywood.

During the congresswoman’s discussion with the Iraq War veterans, she expressed her ongoing support for increased federal funding for veterans health care and other programs to help veterans adjust from military back to civilian life. The vet center provides combat veterans who served in a war zone with readjustment counseling services which include: post traumatic stress disorder counseling; job development services; assistance furthering their education and applying for financial aid; medical referrals to area hospitals; sexual harassment counseling for women veterans; domestic violence counseling; resources for homeless veterans; and bereavement counseling for family members who lost a loved one serving in the current conflict.

The vet center serves more than 620 veterans, including 77 Iraq War veterans. The neighboring posttraumatic stress disorder clinic provides individual, group therapy and psychiatric services to veterans who are suffering from combat-related post traumatic stress disorder. The clinic serves more than 560 veterans, including 55 Iraq War veterans.  

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