Continuing her efforts to support veterans in Illinois, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, filed legislation to urge Congress to create a national program to help check on veterans to make sure they are receiving the proper care they need.
“As a veteran, I understand that one of our most sacred responsibilities is to look out for each other and our fellow veterans,” said Kifowit. “We have seen immediate success with the Buddy Check Program, and it is an initiative we need to continue and grow to ensure that we are taking care of our veterans.”
In 2019, the American Legion pioneered the Buddy Check concept under past national Commander Brett Reistad. The initiative was to have local American Legions perform a couple wellness checks per year for veterans in their communities. The program was an immediate success and helped many veterans before and during the pandemic. Posts used buddy checks to help get prescription refills to veterans stuck at home, connected isolated veterans missing their comrades, and delivered food, resources, and personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
Kifowit’s legislation urges Congress to continue the successes of the American Legion’s “Buddy Checks” and encourages that Congress revitalizes the Veteran wellness checks and makes the initiative a national program.
“These crucial buddy checks have been vital to helping and protecting veterans, especially as we are still working to see our way out of a global pandemic,” said Kifowit. “I encourage Congress to make this national program permanent as it has helped countless veterans throughout our state and country.”
—State representative Stephanie Kifowit, MPA, USMC Veteran 90-94, IL House District 84