Frye: Supporting our Hoosier Heroes

The newly renovated Indiana Veterans Center is now open in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS - Day in and day out, we experience freedoms that would not exist without the selfless service and sacrifice of Hoosier veterans. As a public servant and in my role as the chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, I remain committed to supporting the thousands of men and women who serve and have served our country.

Recently, I had the opportunity to help ceremonially open the newly renovated Indiana Veterans Center in Indianapolis. This new center, which was possible thanks to $7 million in funding from the General Assembly, houses multiple federal, state, city and nonprofit veterans service agencies under one roof. The building is meant to serve as the first and last stop for veterans and their families to connect to assistance, whether it's job training, legal help, healthcare or housing.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 777 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis. You can call 1-317-232-3910 or visit in.gov/dva for more information.

Over the last decade, I co-authored and supported legislation to help the men and women who served, including making it easier for our veterans to transition into civilian life, and receive the mental and physical help they might need.

For example, I authored a law to make it easier for veterans to enter law enforcement or become a firefighter after they finish their military careers. Before this law, the maximum hiring age in Indiana for firefighters and police officers was 36 years old. If an individual enlisted in the military at 18 years old and qualified for retirement after 20 years of service, they would be ineligible to enter these professional fields upon returning home. To ensure they had an opportunity to serve, we increased the max hiring age to 38.

In 2021, I also sponsored a law to ensure the state's hyperbaric oxygen treatment program continues through 2025 and is accessible to more veterans. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, and the procedure promotes blood flow and encourages healing for those with post-traumatic stress disorder who are dealing with anxiety and depression.

This law also removed regulatory barriers preventing veterans from receiving treatment. Previously, providers only received payment if a patient's health improved, which discouraged hospitals from offering the treatment. These changes were made to encourage more providers to offer the treatment and make the program more accessible to our veterans who need it most.

I'm thankful for our veterans who protect our nation, freedom and values. I plan to continue using my experience to improve the lives of these Hoosier men and women who have made countless sacrifices and put their lives on the line to defend our country. If you are a veteran in need of help or know someone who is, visit in.gov/dva. Veterans who need help can also reach out to my office anytime at h67@iga.in.gov or 317-234-9450.