In honor of Veterans Day and all of those who have served our country, we are presenting today Paul R. Lawrence, who’s written a new book, Veterans Benefits for You. It’s a terrific resource to help veterans who want help maximizing the veterans benefits that they deserve.In his book, Paul R. Lawrence, former Under Secretary for Benefits in the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides an up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible guide to all the benefits and services available to veterans of the US armed services and how to make the most of them. We’re proud to present Dr. Lawrence today and hope the information he provides will help veterans take advantage of the benefits and services to which they are entitled.Please note that this episode was recorded last year for Veterans Day and we are presenting it once again here.Meanwhile, as we continue to explore pressing social issues, I encourage everyone to share their stories and experiences with us by commenting. Your voice matters!"About Bob GattyA former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, co-authored with CJ Waldron, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version is also available. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction 00:56 Veterans guide explained01:10 Paul Lawrence background01:55 Host's personal experience04:03 Jumping out of airplanes07:26 Calling your Congressman08:43 Helping veterans at work as a civilian09:28 Insider advice for vets10:13 Key components of book11:44 Modernizing the VA12:04 Need to improve mental health services12:24 Step by step advice14:24 Can Congressional intervention really help?17:00 VA Improvements Needed 18:02 Needed Congressional action19:48 Family benefits20:19 Conclusion