Today, across the state of Maryland and throughout our country, we honor the millions of brave men and women who have donned our nation’s uniform and stood in defense of our democracy.  From those who answered the call to liberate Europe and the Pacific in the Second World War to those who have recently come home from Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s veterans deserve our respect and our gratitude.  I know in the Fifth District we are incredibly proud of those who serve at our extraordinary military installations, including Pax River Naval Air Station, Indian Head, Webster Field, and Joint Base Andrews. But in addition to offering our thanks for their service, we also have a duty to keep faith with them by ensuring that they receive the resources and benefits earned through their service.

Like most Americans, I was outraged by news of serious and unacceptable lapses at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with veterans forced to wait months on end to see doctors or receive treatment.  In July, I voted for bipartisan legislation, which passed overwhelmingly and has now been signed into law, that overhauls the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system and makes crucial reforms to reduce wait times and bring in more doctors.  I have also worked to obtain funding needed to open a new, ADA-compliant Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Charlotte Hall along with a new CBOC satellite site in Lexington Park. I continue to monitor the progress being made to ensure that Fifth District veterans are receiving the care they need in a timely manner and close to home.

In addition to improving access to quality health care services, Congress must do more to address other challenges our veterans face.  We must remain relentless in our efforts to end the VA disability claims backlog for veterans, which I have been working to address with my colleagues in Maryland’s Congressional Delegation. Additionally, veterans face unacceptable rates of homelessness and unemployment, and the suicide rate among veterans remains alarmingly high.

That’s why I will continue to work with my colleagues in both parties to ensure that our veterans have the tools they need to transition into the civilian workforce and access to affordable housing.  In addition to securing grant funding to assist homeless veterans, I was proud to work with area groups and local officials to get 21 HUD-VA supportive housing program (HUD-VASH) vouchers allocated to Southern Maryland to be used for housing veterans in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. The HUD-VASH program provides rental assistance for homeless veterans as well as case management and clinical services provided by the VA. I’m committed to strengthening suicide prevention and helping veterans get the counseling they need to heal the unseen wounds of war, and will continue to work with local stakeholders and my colleagues in Congress to address this issue.

There are a number of areas where Congress can – and must – come together in a bipartisan way to achieve real solutions that address these problems.  Our veterans know that there are no Democrats or Republicans in the foxholes – when it comes to meeting its responsibility to veterans, Congress must be of that same mindset.  We must do all we can to meet our commitment to those who stood on the front lines for our freedom.

Military service has always been an integral part of the fabric of American life and of our strong communities, especially here in the Fifth District.  I’m incredibly honored to represent so many veterans, service members, and their families here in our community, and on this Veterans Day, let us recommit ourselves to the important task of making sure that they are always supported and thanked for their dedication and service to our great nation.