Veterans

I have always been an admirer and supporter of our nation’s veterans and their issues are of great importance to me.  I will be an advocate for our servicemen and women, as well as their families, and make certain they have the resources they need not only when they are serving our country but when they return home. I will make every effort to ensure they receive access to the health care, disability compensation, GI bill education and job training, home loan guarantees, and life insurance policies that they have earned while serving our country.

During my time in Washington I have had to make difficult decisions to reduce government spending and create a fiscally sustainable path, but I am proud to have been able to protect many of the programs that our veterans depend on during this process.  We have been able to provide greater assistance for veterans' medical care and have ensured Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers for the remainder of the fiscal year.

We have also passed H.R. 1383 which corrected the Post-9/11 GI Bill and allows student veterans to stay in the school of their choice as well as H.R. 1657, which imposes penalties for small businesses that falsely claim veteran-owned status. Additionally, we reissued the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment for veterans and survivors through the passage of H.R. 1407. These are all important pieces of legislation that recognize the debt of gratitude we owe to our veterans.  

I will continue to work to fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”