Our nation is a safer place because of the sacrifices our brave men and women in uniform have made. As a former guardsman, I will never forget the devotion our veterans have for this great country and will continue my strong support of programs that serve their best interests. That is why I have made caring for our nation’s veterans a priority- but there is still more work to be done.
Throughout my career in Congress, I have consistently voted to increase funding for vital programs and have fought to expand and improve benefits for veterans. For more information on veterans benefits that you or a loved one may be eligible for, please click here. With my support, Congress approved $122.2 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2012- this is an increase of $1.6 billion from last year.
I have also been a strong supporter of legislation that improves veterans’ health care, including a program to assist disabled veterans and their caregivers. I firmly believe that our veterans deserve the very best health care available and that is why I have fought to recruit and train more qualified medical professionals at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities.
I also remain vigilant to fight any waste, fraud or abuse that takes away from the care and treatment of our brave veterans. After all, those who risked their lives to protect ours should be made a priority and I am alarmed that individuals are trying to abuse the VA health care system while there are veterans waiting to receive vital procedures.
Rest assured, I will continue to be a voice for veterans and work hard to always honor their sacrifice and ensure that they receive the benefits they deserve. America is the greatest nation on earth because these courageous men and women served and defended our precious freedoms. I am truly grateful for the millions of veterans that have put their country first and stood up for the values that our nation represents.
