SCOTTSDALE - U.S. Rep. Harry E. Mitchell, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, made the following statement today in recognition of veterans across Arizona and the nation:

"On this Veterans Day, let us all take time to give thanks and honor our brave men and women in uniform who have risked their lives to protect our freedom, as well as those fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price for our country.  They have put country first, duty before comfort and sacrifice before luxury.

Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation.  We must always keep our promise to assist and protect them once they return home.  That's why since coming to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to make sure that Veterans receive the support and benefits they both deserve and earned.

We increased educational and economic opportunities for our veterans -- active duty, National Guard, and Reserve -- through a dramatically upgraded G.I. Bill.

We strengthened and improved health benefits for veterans and their families, and ensured that Medal of Honor recipients are eligible for priority status through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

We pushed the VA to provide more mental-health assistance for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan because too many of our returning veterans and those who served in past generations bear wounds that can't be seen. Too many continue to struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and are at risk for suicide.

Although we have made progress, there is still much work to do.  The special honor we pay our veterans on Veterans Day is no more than we should do every day.  They deserve no less."

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