Military Service & Veteran's Affairs

The current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are extremely important to our continued national security.  I am the proud father of an Army Infantryman who was wounded in combat during his 2008 tour in Iraq . His service has provided me a first-hand ground perspective of the situation in Iraq.  After being elected, I was fortunate to travel to Iraq and Afghanistan, to further learn from the experiences of these brave men and women. From this fact finding mission, I believe that it remains critical to our safety and security that Congress continue to adequately provide resources for our troops serving abroad – and those serving here at home. Similarly, all veterans deserve our greatest respect and thanks for their many sacrifices and honorable service.  Supporting the military and our veterans will remain among my highest priorities in Congress.

The Middle East:  I believe that Congress must provide our troops with adequate funding and all of the tools they need to achieve our goals in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In addition, I believe that we must leave the strategic decisions up to our Commander-in-Chief, our generals on the ground, and the leaders within the new Iraqi government.  While I wholeheartedly acknowledge that there have been mistakes made during the wars, I have visited the Middle East and sincerely believe that we are making real progress.  We must succeed in Iraq and Afghanistan and it would be disastrous to leave prematurely.

Veterans:  It is essential that we provide the best care and services for our veterans when they return home.  As your Member of Congress, I will work for this care and will support appropriate legislation that will do just that.  In rural America, many veterans are often forced to travel to distant hospitals to get the care they need.  I have an extensive background in rural healthcare and will use this experience to make sure that all of our brave men and women in uniform get the attention they need and deserve.  Should you require any Veterans Affairs assistance, please contact a casework specialist in 5th District’s Bellefonte office at (814) 353-0215.

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