Military and Veterans

Our men and women in uniform promise, each and every day, to protect our nation whatever the cost.  They deserve our support from their first day of service on through the rest of their lives.  While serving on active duty, our troops must have access to the best training, equipment, healthcare, and education.  In this era of tough fiscal choices, Congress needs to work with the Department of Defense to identify and eliminate wasteful military spending without compromising the quality of training and services available to military personnel.  

On the other side of active duty, the nation has an obligation to honor our veterans’ service by helping them reintegrate into the civilian economy, with access to all of the job training, benefits, and support they have earned.  Backlogs and bureaucratic delays at the Veterans Administration undermine this commitment.  No veteran should call the VA only to be told there is a 60-day wait to book an appointment or file a claim – or that it will take over two years for them to see benefits.

There are over 40,000 veterans living in the 4th District of Massachusetts, and they are twice as likely as other workers to be unemployed.  Efforts by the VA, the Department of Labor, and community organizations provide job training and certification to veterans. However, we lack a coordinated system that integrates training providers, funding, employer contacts, and caseworkers to make these services available to all veterans who need them.  As we work to address those gaps in our system, I have established a Veterans Advisory Board in the 4th District to help outline priorities that will benefit veterans in our district and across the country.

Employers often do not “connect the dots” between the skills acquired during military service and the skills needed for private sector employment.  Many veterans return to the civilian job market with skilled military work experience as electricians, medical technicians, and logistics managers. That’s why I co-sponsored the bipartisan Troop Talent Act of 2013, which would provide educational assistance for veterans as they pursue civilian credentialing opportunities and build a career back home.  It is also our responsibility to combat homelessness, addiction, and unemployment in the veteran community, making sure that we defend their livelihood the way they once defended ours.  

Beyond easing the path to potential jobs for our returning heroes, we must also support the companies that are researching and developing state-of-the-art equipment that will protect our soldiers on the battlefield. In the 4th District, General Dynamics and their WIN-T program have provided soldiers with next generation communication technology that ensures our troops can remain connected. Network modernization through programs like WIN-T has been identified as a priority for the Army as their soldiers face evolving challenges and threats overseas. With the WIN-T program was facing budget cuts in 2013, I joined Rep. Tsongas and Sen. Warren in successfully urging the Department of Defense to preserve this critical funding.

The face of our military has evolved along with the face of our nation. As we see more and more women serving in uniform, we will need to work together to end sexual assault in the armed services, and to make sure that healthcare, training, and benefits meet the needs of each of our brave men and women in uniform.