,,iii #aai? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #baj ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,may #h1 #bjbe,mr4 ,moran 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,ms4 ,duckwor?1 ,mr4 ,hoev51 ,mr4 ,w>nock1 & ,mr4 ,cornyn7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ & agre$ to ,,resolution ,honor+ & comm5d+ ! #hj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association4 ,:]eas ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association 79 ?is preamble ref]r$ to z ,,bva7 0 f\nd$ 9 #aide by ,_w ,w> ,,ii vet]ans :o 7 bl9d$ 9 s]vice to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ) ! goal ( provid+ support & advocacy = vet]ans :o _h lo/ _! sight2 ,:]eas ,,bva is congressionally *>t]$ z ! (ficial advocate & repres5tative = all bl9d$ vet]ans be=e ! executive & legislative bran*es ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2 ,:]eas1 s9ce its inception1 ,,bva has be5 at ! =efront ( ef=ts to ensure t bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans receive ! s]vices1 recognition1 & respect !y des]ve1 advocat+ = improv$ access to heal? c>e1 rehabilitation1 & employm5t opportunities2 ,:]eas1 ov] ! pa/ #hj ye>s1 ,,bva has cont9u\sly work$ to advance ! rights & welf>e ( bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans by work+ alongside ,congress1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & o!r gov]nm5tal ag5cies1 advocat+ = critical legislative & policy *anges & provid+ a /rong voice = ^? :o h s]v$ 9 uni=m2 ,:]eas ! fir/ compreh5sive resid5tial ,bl9d ,rehabilitation ,c5t] program op5$ on ,july #d1 #aidh1 9 ,h9es1 ,ill9ois1 & op]ates /ill at ! ,edw>d ,h9es1 ,jr41 ,vet]ans ,adm9i/ration ,hospital z "o ( #ac compreh5sive resid5tial ,bl9d ,rehabilitation ,c5t]s across ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs heal? c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas ! ,bl9d ,rehabilitation ,c5t]s (f] a v>iety ( skill c\rses design$ to help bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans a*ieve great] levels ( indep5d5ce ?r\gh skill areas includ+ ori5tation & mobility1 comput] access tra9+1 communication skills1 manual skills1 & visual skills1 z well z social & recreational activities2 ,:]eas ,,bva has play$ a key role 9 fo/]+ a bett] und]/&+ ( ! *all5ges fac$ by bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 :ile also contribut+ to ! developm5t & implem5tation ( programs design$ to improve ! quality ( life ( bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 includ+ ! ,visual ,impairm5t ,s]vice ,team ,program1 :i* is responsible = ! coord9ation ( s]vices = sev]ely disabl$ visually impair$ vet]ans2 ,:]eas1 ?r\gh ,,bva's tireless advocacy ef=ts1 major /rides h be5 made 9 improv+ ! c>e & s]vices provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs = bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 su* z enhanc$ access to outpati5t bl9d rehabilitation s]vices t all[ ^? vet]ans to live indep5d5tly & ) dignity2 ,:]eas ! ,bl9d ,rehabilitation ,s]vices ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs "w to rehabilitate vet]ans by focus+ on five core areas ( liv+ skills1 ori5tation & mobility1 visual skills1 manual skills1 & te*nology access2 ,:]eas ,,bva has *ampion$ ef=ts to exp& b5efits & s]vices available to bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 includ+ improv+ ! disability rat+ s*$ule z x relates to visual impairm5t & bl9dness1 ! specially adapt$ h\s+ grant1 provision ( guide dog b5efits1 & cutt+-edge adaptive vision te*nology2 ,:]eas ,,bva has play$ a crucial role 9 advocat+ = policies t ensure safe & accessible environm5ts = vet]ans :o use guide dogs1 promot+ ! safe access ( guide dogs 9 public spaces1 facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & o!r areas inh]5t to ! well-be+ & indep5d5ce ( vet]ans ) visual impairm5ts2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs has made significant improvem5ts to its c>e = bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 ensur+ t programs su* z ! ,bl9d ,rehabilitation ,c5t]s cont9ue to evolve to meet ! ne$s ( an ag+ vet]an population1 (f]+ specializ$ tra9+ & s]vices to help ^? vet]ans adapt to _! vision loss2 ,:]eas !re is /ill "w to be done 9 ensur+ t bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans h consi/5t & equitable access to heal? c>e & b5efits1 mobility s]vices1 & job tra9+ opportunities1 z well z ! safety & accessibility ( guide dogs 9 public spaces2 ,:]eas ! rapid advancem5t ( artificial intellig5ce & teleheal? te*nologies pres5ts bo? opportunities & *all5ges = ! rehabilitation & accessibility ( bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans1 requir+ ongo+ evaluation & adaptation ( programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2 ,:]eas rural vet]ans (t5 face unique *all5ges 9 access+ specializ$ rehabilitation & support s]vices = visual impairm5ts1 necessitat+ t>get$ outrea* & teleheal? solutions2 ,:]eas ! increas+ preval5ce ( age-relat$ macul> deg5]ation & o!r vision-relat$ conditions among vet]ans requires ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to prioritize rese>* & developm5t ( innovative treatm5ts & rehabilitative /rategies2 ,:]eas ! gr[+ numb] ( ag+ vet]ans ) multiple comorbidities necessitates integrat$ c>e models t address bo? visual impairm5ts & o!r heal? conditions2 & ,:]eas ! ne$s ( female bl9d$ vet]ans are unique & require specific att5tion1 includ+ specializ$ pro/hetics & m5tal heal? support3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 honors & comm5ds ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association = its #hj ye>s ( d$icat$ s]vice1 advocacy1 & support = bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans2 7#b7 ackn[l$ges ! successes ( ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association 9 improv+ ! lives ( vet]ans ) visual impairm5ts & expresses gratitude = its advocacy ef=ts on behalf ( ! entire vet]ans community2 7#c7 urges ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to gu>antee safe access = guide dogs & guide dog us]s at ,dep>tm5t facilities1 & calls ^u ! ,dep>tm5t to ensure t ea* m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t has a tra9$ & capable ,s]vice ,dog ,*ampion on site2 7#d7 comm5ds ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association = its cont9u$ *>itable1 educational1 patriotic1 & civic "w to make c]ta9 t bl9d & l[-vision vet]ans c live & ?rive2 7#e7 wi%es memb]s ( ! ,bl9d$ ,vet]ans ,association cont9u$ success 9 _! ongo+ ef=ts to live out _! motto1 ,bl9d$ vet]ans help+ bl9d$ vet]ans1 by pres]v+ & /r5g!n+ a _s ( fell[%ip among bl9d$ vet]ans s t !y may give mutual aid & assi/ance to "o ano!r2 & 7#f7 reaffirms ! commitm5t ( ! ,s5ate to support+ & improv+ ! s]vices & opportunities available to all vet]ans1 includ+ ^? ) disabilities1 ensur+ !y receive ! respect & c>e !y des]ve4