Honoring Wisconsin's Veterans

This Veterans Day, we honor the 24 million American men and women who risked life and limb performing a vital duty to the nation.  They deserve our deepest gratitude.  The best way we can demonstrate that is by giving our veterans the support and assistance they need to heal and successfully make the transition back to civilian life.

 

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armistice ending World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  The holiday was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson as a day to remember those who served in "the war to end all wars."  Today, we continue to welcome American soldiers home as they return to their families and communities throughout Wisconsin and across the United States. 

 

For many veterans, re-entering civilian life is a daunting task.  These individuals have often suffered wounds – both physically and mentally – during their time of service.  In a tough economic climate, they may also find it difficult to re-establish their lives and build new ones.  The federal government – in cooperation with state and local authorities, as well as veterans groups – has a critical role in helping these men and women.

 

Last year, Congress passed The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, a major step for helping our veterans.  This legislation, which I voted to enact into law, provides better care for returning soldiers and creates a roadmap for the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration to enable a smoother transition for them to civilian life.  It also addresses critical issues in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury; the invisible and often tragically overlooked injuries that are all too real for suffering veterans and their families.

 

It is also vital our veterans have the opportunity to go back to school and get the education they need to find well paying jobs that can sustain them and their families.  This year, I co-sponsored The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, which was signed into law in June.  The legislation expands the educational benefits offered to our veterans that have served our country since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and makes getting an associate's and bachelor's degree more affordable.

 

Along with these positive steps, we must also work to improve access to better care within our state.  Currently, Wisconsin has two Veterans Administration centers located in Milwaukee and Madison, and three Medical Centers in Tomah, Madison and Milwaukee.  Additionally, 17 clinics in communities around the state offer veterans additional health care options.  This network is struggling to keep pace with the growing demand of an aging veteran population and the needs of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  I meet with veterans who have to wait weeks before they can see a doctor for needed medical attention.  This is unacceptable.

 

I am hopeful one significant step in helping to resolve these issues is the construction of a new VA medical center in Green Bay that would be able to serve 15,000 Wisconsin veterans.  The addition of this site would reduce travel time for many veterans.   Also, it would improve conditions in Milwaukee, Madison and Iron Mountain centers by reducing the great burden on these facilities.  I will continue to urge the present and next presidential administrations to follow through with the resources necessary to build this clinic, and I hope to see construction begun as soon as possible.  I also believe, when it comes to the hallowed grounds of the Milwaukee VA, we need to find ways to help address the growing needs of our local veterans and better use of excess and under-utilized space on this land.  

 

The existing VA centers must have the best equipment and personnel to treat our injured vets.  Last year, I was successful in securing $32.5 million to upgrade and improve the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at the Milwaukee VA Zablocki Medical Center.  Certainly, more can be done to accommodate the influx of more patients in need of medical care at all VA centers. 

 

As we recognize the service of our veterans, it is important we also remember our enduring responsibility to them and their welfare.  They must never be forgotten.  Their service must never be overlooked.  As a nation, we are forever in their debt.