WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), the ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:

"Today, Americans across the country will join together to honor our military veterans and troops. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and Coast Guardsmen put everything on the line to serve their country, and for that we will be forever grateful. I humbly salute these brave men and women and their families for their service and sacrifice.

"On Veterans Day, let us honor the memory of the 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1,300 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded, including nearly 32,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 9,000 in Afghanistan. As we remember their patriotic sacrifices, let us also remember our obligation to care for our veterans and troops. 

“As we prepare to begin the new Congress, I hope my colleagues both new and old will remember that politics and partisanship must never impact our support for American veterans or our troops. Without their sense of duty and love of country, we would not enjoy the many freedoms America has to offer.”