Over 75 veterans and community members attended a panel discussion that featured United States Senator Joni Ernst in Jefferson on Friday.

Ernst was joined by Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Jefferson VFW Post Commander Don Ihnken, Greene County Supervisor Guy Richardson, Home Base Iowa Program Manager Jason Kemp and American Legion Post 11 Commander Jim Andrew was the emcee.

The event was originally scheduled to be in a meeting room at the Greene County Community Center, but the number of people moved the venue to the gymnasium. Andrew shared his reaction with Raccoon Valley Radio to the large number of veterans in the audience.

“I think it just shows the need for more communication in local communities. There’s a lot of need for communication and thank God for the media in Greene County, you all do such a wonderful job of covering of what we’re doing and what’s going on elsewhere.”

Ernst talked about a bill that would expand and provide access to mental healthcare for veterans, an initiative to utilize telemedicine program and the work for women who served as Air Force pilots to have their urns at Arlington National Cemetery.

A main theme that was brought up by veterans was the lack of compensation for exposure to chemicals and other diseases. Ernst said there’s a bill in the Senate that will deal with that issue.

“It’s called the Veterans First Act. I think it’s important that we are recognizing their needs to be additional research with Agent Orange, that is part of that package. So we’ll continue to look at that.”

The stop in Greene County was part of Ernst’s and Reynolds’ 99-county tour.