Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva - Press Release - Grijalva: “Veterans Deserve Our Gratitude”

Tucson, AZ – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement today in observance of Veterans Day, November 11:

“The Nation will gather this Veterans Day to remember and honor the millions of brave men and women who have served our country to protect us and secure our most precious freedoms.

“How appropriate that we exercised one of the most precious, electing our leaders, in the same week we honor those who sacrificed their lives for that basic right.

“Let us pay tribute to our troops currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe as they have served our nation with honor and distinction and will become the veterans of tomorrow.

“We must take this opportunity to renew and reaffirm our commitment to the more than 24 million veterans in America. They have tremendous needs and we must ensure they have the support they were promised.

“Now is the time for the U.S. government to again fulfill our moral obligation to those who have fought for freedom and democracy. We have started by calling for a New Direction for America to honor our commitments to our nation’s veterans, including focusing on ending the Disabled Veterans’ Tax and on adequately funding veterans’ health care.

“We have also introduced the comprehensive New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. In 1944, Congress enacted the original GI Bill of Rights, to honor the Greatest Generation—providing our returning troops with educational benefits, loans to buy a home, and medical assistance. And in each major military conflict since, we have honored our service members and veterans through an improved GI bill. The New GI Bill will strengthen benefits for our men and women in uniform today, and provide more responsive benefits for many who have already served.

“This new Congress will honor their service with legislation worthy of our grateful nation. Our troops, veterans and the families of those who have given their lives in defense of our country deserve the gratitude, respect and support of the American people and their government.”