ORLANDO, Fla. — Veterans are getting help accessing medical care and mental health treatment at the 120th Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Orlando.

Thousands of veterans from across the country are meeting at the Orange County Convention Center to hear the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs talk about how he wants to improve veterans' access to care.

Valerie Bennett-Jones' husband was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries incurred during his service in Korea and Vietnam.

"He has shrapnel on his left side, ankle, knee, and he's lost hearing on that side," Bennett-Jones said Tuesday.

She said her husband's VA care is mostly good, but the VA has faced criticism in recent years about access to care.

During a speech to veterans at the VFW convention Tuesday morning, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie talked about a new initiative called the Mission Act. It aims to modernize care and increase veterans' health care access.

"Sometimes it depends on what your problem is, how seriously you're injured, as to whether you can tolerate long lines, waiting," Bennett-Jones said.

"Anything that can speed up the services for our veterans is a good thing," she continued.

More information about the Mission Act can be found here.

The convention is also connecting veterans who face mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, with services and treatments to help them overcome challenges.

The VFW convention wraps up Wednesday.​