STATEN ISLAND, NY – Last week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) welcomed Veterans affairs Secretary Doug Collins to the Staten Island Community-Based Outpatient Clinic for a roundtable adn site visit on Friday, December 5. They were also joined by Timothy Graham, Executive Medical Center Director; Rosemary Cancel-Santiago, Deputy Executive Center Director of the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System; Joan mcinerney, VISN 2 Network Director; and other NY-11 veteran leaders. At the clinic, Secretary Collins also met with leaders from local veteran organizations.

At their roundtable,Secretary Collins and Rep.Malliotakis discussed several key issues impacting local veterans in NY-11. Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Collins, the backlog of veterans waiting for VA compensation and pension benefits has been substantially reduced.

VA Achieves Record in Homeless Veteran Housing, Addresses Access to Care Concerns

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country, marking the highest total in seven years.This achievement was highlighted during recent discussions focused on improving Veteran care and access to services.

Alongside the success in addressing homelessness, officials discussed ongoing efforts to bolster nursing staffing and recruitment, fully utilize the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program at the Brooklyn VA, and expand access at Brooklyn’s Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic.

However, concerns were also raised regarding limited access to specialty doctors at the Brooklyn VA Hospital and the Staten Island Outpatient Clinic. Many Veterans are currently required to travel to Manhattan or the Bronx to receive specialized care. A potential solution discussed with the Secretary involved bringing in specialty providers on a monthly basis, allowing Veterans to schedule appointments locally and alleviate the burden of extensive travel.

Last month, the VA also announced advancements in several key areas, including the PACT Act and improvements to disability claim processing times. These ongoing initiatives demonstrate a commitment to enhancing the quality of care and support available to the nation’s Veterans.

$800 Million Investment to Enhance VA Facilities on Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND, NY – December 8, 2025 16:45:23 – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is allocating an additional $800 million to infrastructure improvements at its facilities on Staten Island, New York. This investment aims to ensure these facilities continue to provide safe and effective patient care for veterans.

The declaration was made during a visit from VA Secretary Denis McDonough,alongside Representative Nicole Malliotakis.The funding will be used for a range of upgrades and repairs, addressing critical needs within the existing infrastructure.

“It was an honor to welcome Secretary Collins to Staten Island. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve consistently supported legislation that prioritizes and improves care for our veterans – including our recent Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, wich increased total funding for veterans’ medical care and benefits, and the PACT Act, which expanded VA health care and benefits for those exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances from the vietnam and Gulf War eras to Post-9/11 veterans,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Secretary to strengthen our veterans’ access to the high-quality care they deserve.”